December 3rd, 2004 12:34pm
gilbertosilver
Robin van Persie and Jermaine Pennant have joined Dennis Bergkamp, Gilberto, Pascal Cygan, and Edu on the sidelines for Saturday’s game against Birmingham.
It’s a shame for Van Persie, who would’ve had a decent shot at a starting berth.
It means the same group of players who lost to Liverpool will have to pick themselves up in time to beat the Brummies.
I’d imagine the starting line-up could look something like this:
Cesc Fabregas, however, could retain his place in the side, though I’d expect him to get a rest.
With a substitutes bench that will contain one of Cesc or Flamini, Manuel Almunia, Philippe Senderos, and Justin Hoyte or Gael Clichy, a young striking substitute will be required in Van Persie’s absence. Could we see a Premiership debut for Arturo Lupoli?
Coooooome oooon yooouuuu reeeeeeeddds.
December 2nd, 2004 02:01pm
gilbertosilver
As I’m sure you can infer from today’s marvellously clear head-line, we lost.
Two cock-ups, one from Djourou, and another from skipper Manuel Almunia, allowed Avid Merrion to score within 19 seconds.
After that, there were 90 fairly dull minutes, though Robin Van Persie managed to stir things up a bit. With his elbow.
On the positive side, Philippe Senderos put in his best performance in an Arsenal shirt, whilst Seb Larsson and Mathieu Flamini were tidy and tenacious in the centre of the park.
Flamini, a player I’ve been championing for some time now, has a significant chance to start against Birmingham. Whatever the team put out, it is now absolutely vital that we win.
Roll on Saturday.
December 1st, 2004 12:56pm
gilbertosilver
1. They are â??Teenageâ?Â. This is irrefutable fact.
2. They are â??Heroesâ?Â. Fans all over the world look up to them for their outstanding ability to fight off Krang and his evil minions. And play football.
3. The Turtles were often heard shouting â??Itâ??s Pizza Time!â?Â. Coincidence? I think not.
4. The respective leaders, Splinter and Arsene Wenger, have more in common than you might think. Both found their talented youngsters in the most bizarre and remote of locations. Whilst Splinter discovered the Turtles in the sewers, Arsene went to Holland. It’s close enough. Greying, yet wise, they watch over and guide their young prodigies as they take on the forces of evil.
5.
Need I say more?
Hopefully the kids will give those bastards a good stuffing tonight.
COWABUNGA!
November 30th, 2004 02:04pm
gilbertosilver
I’m so knackered.
I really feel a lot like I’m dying.
In other news, we might go up for sale. That wouldn’t be good.
What else…
Oh, Matthew Upson is glad he left.
Fortunately, he’s not very good these days, so we haven’t got too much to feel bad about.
Tomorrow there’ll be something more substantial, what with the Biggest Game in the History of the World Ever against United.
Expect pizzas to be thrown, Vieira to manage to fall an imaginary tackle whilst on the substitues bench, and all of the Arsenal players to round upon and kill innocent Man Utd fans.
Obviously.
November 29th, 2004 09:35am
gilbertosilver
Winning the league is the most important thing in club football.
Winning the league is the most exciting, the most fantastic thrill a fan can have.
Winning the league is absolutely crucial to an Arsenal side that have never retained this title.
And most importantly,
Winning the league is not something that happens in November.
Admittedly, Arsenal werenâ??t at their peak yesterday.
Admittedly, Liverpool were arguably deserved winners after a display that finally matched up to the massive hype I gave them back in September.
But there were positives for the Gunners: Patrick Vieira, hideous diving aside, put in probably his best 45 minutes of football this season in the second half; Kolo Toure was a colossus, getting a head, knee, or foot to anything that came close; and Ashley Cole was as valiant and vibrant as ever.
On the 12th December, Arsenal face Chelsea in a match that will go some way towards deciding the destination of the Premiership trophy.
Should Arsenal win, the gap could potentially be closed to a tantalising two points. Perhaps even more important are the psychological implications of such a victory.
So maybe the team arenâ??t performing quite to their enormous potential at the moment. That doesnâ??t mean we ought to turn on them. Letâ??s get behind them, and drive them on through this difficult period.
Perhaps the ineffective form of Bergkamp and Reyes is almost rendering us a side of ten men. But let us, the fans, lend our support with such vigour that we counter this. Let us make up that extra man.
On Wednesday, we face Manchester United in the Carling Cup.
If youâ??re despairing about the health of this football club, watch those kids at Old Trafford.
And know that this season, Arseneâ??s Arsenal wonâ??t let us down when it comes to the crunch:
Winning the league.
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