Today we’ve got: Sweaty Eboue in Portuguese Romp Sensation, The Future of Cesc and a daring exposé of the extraordinary rationale behind Arsene Wenger’s transfer market tomfoolery.
First off, last night. It was a bit pants, wasn’t it? A very under-strength team sent to Porto apparently with the frank instruction not to bother. Nobody playing last night did themselves any great favours, though Ramsey and Vela looked fairly encouraging and would surely have looked even better had they been part of a high-strength Arsenal team rather than the diet version.
There seems to have been a lot of internet credulity towards the sudden injuries afflicting our most senior players which meant none of them could even travel to the game. Concerned, 37, from Nuneaton wrote in to say “I’m so surprised that Fabregas, Sagna, Clichy, Van Persie, Adebayor and Toure are all injured – they looked fine on Saturday. I really hope they’ll be back for Saturday!”
Don’t you worry Concerned, they’ll be back for Boro sure as Gael’s a Gooner. Arsene was just playing silly buggers with Uefa.
Eboue’s return passed off largely without gaffe or aplomb. Not that I really know what aplomb actually constitutes – it just sounds sort of bouncy and flag-waving and since I didn’t see either of these things from Eboue yesterday I think it’s fair to say that he returned without aplomb. Though he did hurl his sweaty number 27 shirt into the crowd, so, erm, congratulations to the long suffering no-doubt delighted Gooner on the other end of that.
No originality points for pointing out that Bendtner had another poor game, losing the ball at important moments with chronic regularity. Would be interested to know just how thin Goonerish patience is wearing with him. I’m not really sure why, but I still think he’ll be worth it in the long run.
All of which means we’ll be playing one of AS Roma, Panathinaikos, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Juventus. You’d obviously pick Panathinaikos as the one you’d want while Barca, fun as that would be, is probably not what we need at this stage. Some BBC chappie wrote that if we drew them we’d have no chance. Must be because the BBC doesn’t have the rights to the Premiership – didn’t he see us beat United and Chelsea, teams at least on a par with Barca right now?
Nothing to fear I reckon and as many people have been pointing out, we only play well against the big teams because that’s the only time when any of our players can be collectively arsed.
Talking of Barca, much quoted around the British press this morning is Captain Cesc who has unfortunately done another interview with Radio Marca:
Everybody knows that one day I will return to Spanish football. It’s an experience I want to live. I want to play in Spain as a professional before I retire. The idea has always been the same. That’s why I signed such a long contract.
If these remarks are not being hideously mistranslated and decontextualised, then this sounds like a time-frame – another 6 years at Arsenal then off to Barca. I reckon Cesc may well have a similar view of contracts to Arsene, that is, you sign them for a reason and you stick to them (remember Arsene joined us late because he wouldn’t shave even a couple of months off his Grampus 8 tenure?
Seeing as Cesc obviously does want to go to Spain at some point in his career isn’t it in Arsenal’s interests to know in advance when that is going to be so that the inevitable speculation can be brushed aside (at least within the club) and plans can be made to fill the huge gap he will eventually leave? A relatively neat solution to an awkward problem, the problem of a loyal player who really loves the club, but who naturally wants to play for Barca, the team that is in his blood, at some stage.
I’ve always had a niggling suspicion that something like this might have been agreed upon, and it was a suspicion which grew wings when we signed Ramsey in the summer. He looks to me like a future midfield engine to be groomed under Fabregas as his long-term replacement.
Very interested to know your views on this.
Finally, yesterday Grabber pointed out that with Homer and Carl already involved, all we needed was a Lenny to complete the world’s first Simpson’s-based strikeforce. Terrifying indeed. Well, guess what? If the newspaper reports were right in November then that’s exactly who will be arriving in January – Palmeiras’ pint-sized scoring sensation Lenny!
So there it is, UpForGrabsNow has scooped the world’s media. This stuff about signing talented youngsters is just a cover for Arsene’s crazed attempt to assemble a team of Simpson’s characters. The next time you see a player linked with the club, you’ll know if Arsene’s really interested by his name.
Xabi Alonso? Don’t remember seeing him in Springfield Elementary too often, do you? Little known Bolivian hardman Barney Gumblinho? Expect to see his popular “Gumblinho 48″ shirt all over the Emirates come January.
Tags: Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Barcelona, Barney Gumblinho, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Eboue, lenny, xabi alonso
December 11th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
simpson should start!
December 11th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
At the moment none of Man Utd, Liverpool or Chelsea are on a par with Barca. Have you seen them play this season? They are by far Europe’s best team right now. None of the top clubs in England can compare with them. MU, Pool and Chelsea pale in comparison. They are far far better than Milan were when we met them last season. They’re amazing to watch and they’re about to thrash Real Madrid at the Camp Nou this Saturday. Henry had his best game last Saturday against Valencia, scoring a wonderful hattrick. If we draw Barca, our inconsistent, dysfunctional first team are going to have to raise their game FAR FAR more than they did against Man Utd or Chelsea.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
roma or juventus. we have a good record against italian teams. teams like bayern or Panathinaikos are just the type of team we like to lose to by a last minute own goal!! and barca, what a game and what a way to get done. alebit that we’ll probably play out of our skins and deserve to win…..but wont!! nothing like optimism, hey! p.s the reason we play better against big teams is that they come to play footbal and not defend or pack the midfield. we play well against teams that play. we beat chels and man ure, we lose to stoke and fulham.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Can someone tell me what is really appealing to Arsené about Bendtner? The guys lacks composition and natural senses that characterises sportsmen. As for Sylvestre, i don’t know if his wife is the ‘man’ in his house. He’s just too indecisive to play before some 40,000 yelling and expectant fans. He looks lost in a labyrinth at some points. It’s oldness: poor reflexes. As for Eboue, i don’t know what to say. I guess he should shave-off, if that doesn’t work, we see Gazidis for some advice.
Ride on boys. Gunnes 4 life!
December 11th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
arsenal will beat anyone in the knockout stages.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
arsenal are shit this season
December 11th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
bendtner is wank,vela should be played ahead of him,
December 11th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
wenger is not going to sign anyone this season,let me tell u mr wenger u win nothing wid kids.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I can see why people are getting so frustrated with Bendtner, but they should be aware he is only 20 (or 21???) which means he is only starting his career. Yes, Wenger has probably spoiled us with talented teens like Fabregas, Ramsey, Denilson, Vela, etc. but different people all develop differently. I can see Bendtner as having a late peak, around 27-onwards, but I feel he’ll be a big hit for whoever he plays for. Look at Pires, peaked at what, around 30-ish, which is fairly late for an attacking midfielder. Just be patient. He needs support, just like Eboue does.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Totally agree with jat450, Bendtner will be a blinding playing. He is lacking confidence at the moment. He had his chance when Ade was out and Rvp was out but he didnt take it. This would knock anyones confidence i think you just have to look at the Keiv goal to see he has the potienal to be a quality striker. The injuries to the team are not helping either there is no natrual wingers so there is no width and we have all seen what he can do in the air (spuds) when the deliveries are there. With a full team and quality balls into the area he will kill teams.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
That is very bad and a shame with what Wenger is playing. I’m talking about some players like Bendtner, Abou Diabi, they don’t deserve to be in Arsenal team. that is a big shame because Wenger wants that. He is the only one who is kiling the team. Wenger doesn’t care about Arsenal’fan like we see at Liverpool, MU and Chelsea.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
totaly agree with Anicet – Bender and abou were shocking last night hope eduardo gets fit quick and keeps him out the team , i have never rated bender and am still amazed he is a Arseanl player he ,diaby,eboue, song are not good enough – u could say i have finaly lost patients with wenger his youth master plan is killing this club! – then what do i no!
December 12th, 2008 at 12:39 am
lol the diet version ARSENAL WILL WIN SOMETHING THIS SEASON U WILL ALL C
December 12th, 2008 at 12:45 am
mooqs,
by ‘diet version’ i do not of course mean this team in general, but the team we put out at porto, shorn as it was of players like Cesc, Ade, RvP, Toure, Nasri, Clichy, Sagna. you can’t seriously argue we were were at full strength.
i like your confidence. let’s hope it’s not woefully misplaced
December 12th, 2008 at 1:04 am
I worry for the youngsters who are being put under immense pressure on and off the pitch this season. Is fielding 17/18/19 year olds in an away champions league tie against a top side character-building or confidence-shattering?? Too much too soon??
December 12th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Would people be keen to retrieve Senderos and Traore from their loan spells?
December 12th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I will say no to Barca but see to any of the rest. Not that we can not beat Barca but the emotion of seeing Henry playing against us may be killing and if the truth has to be told they are playing wonderfully well at the moment.
Roma or Juve would be ideal for us But Bayern with their German aerial ball can be killing.
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