Much is being made of Sol Campbell not being able to play two games a week but I think that is being somewhat overplayed. It is not written on his contract that he cannot play twice a week. This is an exceptional circumstance
Happy Monday morning, or not so happy I guess. Still a little deflated after our game on the weekend, my mind keeps harping back to what might have been had we held on for a few extra minutes. A tiny little decision like that could be the difference between winning the league and finishing second or third. There I go again, getting all depressed before I need to. I will feel much better once our rivals play out a dull 0-0 next weekend and then Liverpool score a late winner against Chelsea at Anfield. I am also looking forward to Craig Bellamy skipping past the falling Vidic to place the ball wide of Van Der Sar and into the net for a deserved 3-0 win for the home side. Meanwhile, the returning Rooney punches Adebayor in the face for a tangling of legs resulting in England’s star striker getting a red card and three match ban.
It would be much more interesting if I could play out the rest of the season, I swear I would make it nice and interesting. Why waste so much of the players energies with the world cup coming up?
Back to reality, we have a rather important game coming up in a couple of days time. If anyone has a spare ticket that they would like to give to me then just contact me and I will give you some good positive karma for the rest of your life. That is clearly a very good deal, you would be mad to pass up on that offer.
There are a few problems ahead of the tie on Wednesday for both sides. Andres Iniesta has been ruled out with a tweaked hamstring and Cesc is fighting to get fit for the game. Abou Diaby also picked up a knock in the game and that has to be a concern. Our midfield is our strongest area of the pitch and without Diaby and Cesc we would have a difficult task against the Spanish champions.
Iniesta missing from the Barca side is a good thing for Arsenal but I am not quite sure how I feel about it. First and foremost I want us to go through but I want us to beat them at full strength. If we win over the two legs I want the players to be able to look in the mirror and say that have faced the best and beaten the best, no if’s and no but’s.
Much is being made of Sol Campbell not being able to play two games a week but I think that is being somewhat overplayed. It is not written on his contract that he cannot play twice a week. This is an exceptional circumstance and unless Sol is physically (or mentally for that matter) injured then I expect him to stand side by side with Vermaelen at the Emirates.
Listening to Thierry Henry’s comments recently, it looks like he has had to put on his professional hat and address his initial reaction to coming back to Arsenal.
Henry said:
“I’m very emotional, but also staying calm, It will be a strange game for me. Before the draw I said that I did not want to face Arsenal. That was my wish. But now that’s the game we’ve got and we’ll have to give everything.
“It’s very special. To return home is strange and even more so in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It will be different because I spent seven years at Highbury and only one at the Emirates, but to see the people, the fans and the other employees at the club again will be very strange.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the management team at Barcelona had a word in his ear because he wouldn’t have been allowed to get away with saying what he did after the draw. I hope he plays and with Iniesta out injured his chances may have increased depending on who fills in the center of midfield. Xavi is fit for Barcelona again so I am sure that more than softens the blow. If Henry does start then Bacary Sagna will certainly have his work cut out but if you were going to choose a right back to deal with a quality wide player then Sagna would be my choice.
Sometimes we slap our legs at a cross that hits the first defender but we almost take for granted what he offers defensively. I cannot remember one game where Sagna was consistently beaten by an opponent, it just does not happen, even with Eboue being rested over the weekend, I cannot imagine Sagna not being selected in his best position.
I was speaking yesterday about how good Wilshere was against Manchester United and Owen Coyle has agreed, he also wants to keep Wilshere for another year.
Coyle said:
“That’s a conversation for the summer, but I felt he was terrific (against Manchester United on Saturday) and showed a mature head on young shoulders, That’s great for Arsenal, Bolton at the moment, and English football in the future. If Arsene Wenger wants to give him to me for another year, I’d be delighted to take him.”
If Wilshere continues on his rise to stardom then I am sure Wenger will want him in our squad for next season. It would easy to forget that Jack is only 18 years old. It is quite scary to think about how good he can and hopefully will become.
Back again tomorrow.
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