“Going to watch the match this afternoon then?” Ford glanced round at him. “No, no point,” he said, and looked back out of the window. “What’s that, foregone conclusion then you reckon sir?” said the barman. “Arsenal without a chance?” “No, no,” said Ford, “it’s just that the world’s about to end.” “Oh yes sir, so you said,” said the barman, looking over his glasses this time at Arthur. “Lucky escape for Arsenal if it did.”
Ford looked back at him, genuinely surprised. “No, not really,” he said. He frowned. The barman breathed in heavily. “There you are sir, six pints,” he said.
Early yesterday, all the blogs were a twitter as the match feed from UEFA dot com updated the England U21 match and said “Gibbs out, someone Arsenal fans don’t care about, in: 21st min.” I instinctively reached for a towel, my well worn copy of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and began the mantra “don’t panic.”
Rumors have it that it’s a metatarsal injury and that’s usually a long recovery time. Like, a whole season…. erm, Don’t Panic.
The good news is that Arsenal have plenty of cover at left back. Most folks are mooting Armand Traore to step in and that makes sense given Wenger’s track record of giving youth a chance but there’s another player that we need to consider there as well; Sagna.
It is an interesting idea, play Sagna at left back and Eboue at right back, but the boss has options and I think he’d rather keep both of those guys in their natural positions… don’t panic.
The one option that I’m surprised no one has mentioned is Vermaelen. He’s left footed, he’s played at left back and he’s got the speed and experience to cover there. I would welcome him at left back and, say, Senderos in the center, playing Vermaelen’s stopper position. This is the strongest combination in my mind, because Vermaelen and Gallas would be able to cover for Senderos, and Senderos provides size, experience, and the ability to score flat-footed headers.
There is one other option at left back, the one that I hear a lot of talk about: Silvestre. That’s right, the only player who played in all of our worst losses last season might very well be chosen at his “natural” position, left back. F*ck that, PANIC!!!
Seriously, I don’t see Wenger playing Silvestre while he has a healthy Vermaelen at left and Senderos in the middle. 7:00am Nov. 18, 2009 I’m calling it: Vermy at left back.
Meanwhile, fingers crossed that Clichy makes a quick recovery and that Gibbs is just a minor bruise or something.
The Salomon of Doubt
Here’s the thing about all these injuries that keep happening to Arsenal players during pointless matches like the U21′s and friendlies: the players are choosing to go and play in these matches.
Look at the Chelsea squad, ahead of this week’s pointless FIFA/UEFA masturbation, Lampard, Terry, Cole, Ballack and Drogba all came up injured. Meanwhile Salomon Kalou kicked someone in practice and got sent away, and Essien just didn’t even show up when called up. It’s more than a little suspicious that pretty much the entire Chelsea first team has not played for 2 weeks for various reasons. It’s even more suspicious when Terry and Cole are suddenly healthy again. Cunts.
There are a lot of factors that go in to a player choosing to play for country; how strongly they feel about their home side, how fit they are, the importance of the match, how old they are and thus how invincible they might feel, and whether they need to prove themselves to get into the full squad, just to name just a few. I think Arsenal’s youth here is actually the downfall. Both because young players often feel invincible, but also because they aren’t established internationals and thus have to play whenever their country calls them up. Throw in the work permit rules in England and et viola, as long as Arsene Wenger makes a team of aspiring, young, foreign players Arsenal are going to suffer more during international breaks.
I just wish that the Arsenal players were more picky about which matches they played in. I don’t mean Arshavin and Gallas, they have to play their teams are facing elimination from the World Cup finals, I mean Cesc. Cesc needs the rest, he’s the captain of Arsenal. He should be setting the example by feigning injury ahead of almost every friendly, just like those cunts at Chelsea. I think Cesc, at this point, could probably get away with saying he has a “tightness” in his hamstring ahead of his pointless friendly today.
Alas, no one has feigned injury and thus, Arsenal’s players have a huge batch of matches today, and almost all of them are important. Gallas and Sagna are playing in the fiery France v. Ireland clash, the one which will decide who goes into the World Cup Finals. Oh, and the one which features Robbie Keane playing for Ireland and imploring his teammates to leave it all on the field. This is the match I’m most worried about and since I’m stuck at home, I’ll probably be watching it, while touching wood.
Meanwhile, Arshavin is playing in another qualifier for Russia, another match, more wood touching.
I’m sure there’s more but as I type this I’m having an anxiety attack…
DON’T PANIC
Mostly Harmless, mostly
Of course it has to be that Egypt and Algeria would play in a one time, winner takes all match. It also has to be held on “neutral” ground in Sudan, because after playing through their group stage, they are exactly level on points, goals, and fervent hatred for each other. Though I hear Egypt has the bus stoning advantage.
Seriously though, this is the absolute worst of Nationalism Football and predictably FIFA is too busy worrying about Arsenal signing 16 year old’s to step in and do something about this.
For me, the moment the Egyptian fans stoned the Algerian bus, this whole debate ended. Egypt, sorry, you get docked points because you can’t ensure the safety of the opposition team. You don’t go to the World Cup and in fact you don’t go to the World Cup ever again until you can supply the minimal safety needed to ensure that opposition team buses aren’t stoned.
End of.
You can bet your ass that Septic Blatter would be screaming bloody murder if English fans had stoned the French bus and while chanting “Agincourt! Agincourt!”
So long and thanks for the dish
Finally, I don’t want to leave on a sour note so here is the world’s cutest ever video of Arsenal’s future #1. She’s got all the requisite skills, including the penchant for own goals:
See you tomorrow and I want all of you touching wood that the rest of the Arsenal team get through the day healthy, happy, and scoring goals.
Arsenal News 24/7
Panic ye not!
Fairytales have happy endings? Our beloved team reaches the end of the season, having captured the EPL title, FA Cup and Carling Cup. All that is left is the Champions League to complete the Quadruple.
Barcelona are our opposition in the final. In line with the usual trend, all of first team and reserves are off injured. All the pundits are saying, ‘oh what a shame this could have been Arsene’s greatest triumph.’
With nothing to lose Le Boss puts out a team of Juniors, some only 16 years old. Highly talented individuals, with little competitive experience, but all trained in the Arsene way.
You cannot get odds on Barcelona, whilst the odds for Arsenal are infinity to one.
Carefully nurtured and shielded by towering team spirit from the negative press; the ‘Islington Boys Club’ do not realize they are expected to lose.
From the outset the commentators are writing us off, ‘boys against men’ etc. However, the boys have not read the script, and with incredible skill, and lightning pace they shred the Barca defence, and are three nil up in ten minutes.
Complacency has crippled Barca from before the start,so demoralized they are arguing amongst themselves. The Barca back line, have two players sent off, for throwing punches, at each other. We go on to win seven – one, all goals scored by the Arsenal. Barca’s goal comes in the one hundred and first minute of extra time, when our goalie taps the ball into his own net, in act of unparalleled generosity, to save the opposition from total humiliation.
Viva!
November 18th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
@viva los gooners, What a great movie could that be!
Need I remind you Tim that 2 games in 2 consecutive weeks that Vermaelen played at left back for Ajax, they shipped 10 goals. Keeping a clean sheet is hard enough with our best back four in their respective positions – let’s not throw them off any more.
Traore reminds me alot of Gibbs – speed, skill, ability to cross. I honestly don’t see alot of difference between their style of play aside from experience.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Arsenal is not Ajax. But it doesn’t matter, mark your calendar, it will happen, he will play Left Back.
Let this be the first of much good news today…
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,2483_5703030,00.html
We are doing our very best not to panic, Tim. We know that we have versatile players who can adapt to different situations. The only downside is concern for stemming the tide of injuries.
As for the Egypt Vs Algeria incident, I concure with you, Tim. The Egyptian should have been barned to forfiture on account of their inability to control their fans from endangering the opposition.
November 18th, 2009 at 11:30 am
@LRV, Well, Algeria won, so I guess “the ball never lies” is true once again.
November 18th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
@Tim, Good for Algeria, it’s the least they deserve, an official Egyptian apology is in order.
Gibbs: just bruising, NO metatarsal fracture. Whew! Hopefully this is the final word on this injury and nothing shows up later in a delayed fashion.
In Sylvestre’s limited appearances this season he now waits for the action to come to him, he will not go to it or attack preemptively, he can also be easily bypassed. He is not a good option. He is now a training partner to make it 5 a side, not a front line player. As soon as he senses he has a chance to start, he suddenly has a lot to say in the press. He is no longer a ‘fighting for his place in the starting lineup’ player.
Superb blog today Tim. Keep up the great work man.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
@Marty, thanks Marty, and thanks for the shirt order! I’ll post it tomorrow with another batch I have going out.
So I have the Arsenal First-Team picture up on my desktop. Just looked at the entire roster and it’s astounding when you divide the team into two categories – 1) players who have been or are in the midst of missing meaningful time; and 2) players that have stayed relatively healthy. “Meaningful” is basically my sense, it’s obviously different for everyone, but here’s my tally for this season, still not even halfway finished:
Category 1
Wilshere
Nasri
Gibbs
Vela
Walcott
Clichy
Denilson
Bendtner
Van Persie
Rosicky
Eduardo
Traore
Djourou
Diaby
Category 2
Eboue
Mannone
Wally (Polish GK)
Silvestre
Song
Senderos
Arshavin
Ramsey
Merida
Fabregas
Almunia
Fabianski
Not going to panic; we’ve got depth in our youth ranks. But this is ridiculous.
Being of Slovenian heritage, the result today makes me extremely excited two fold, more so for the fact we don’t have to worry about Arshavin either:
a)Picking up a major injury during the summer in the WC or practice
b)Excelling so much in the WC that other clubs would be flirting with him for the next two years, as was the case with Euro 2008.
Go Slovenia!!
Gallas Gallas !!! even TT Henry handled the ball — I love seeing Gallas score and Keano cry!!
November 18th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
@Cord4Gooner, that’s a pretty fucking shameful goal though, blatant intentional handball by Thierry. He’s learning some bad habits down in Barcelona must be.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
@b, Henry admits he handled the ball but he is not the referee.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
@ctpa, My Manc and Liverpool friends are trying to have a field day with Arsenal since Henry handled that ball.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
@Cord4Gooner, Keane is an absolute dirty bastard. I couldn’t care less that Henry handled. Sorry Ireland (and you Gran), but Keane just ruins the Irish team for me.
At least she covers the near post, Tim. Almunia wouldn’t have kept that out.
I’d be surprised if Wenger didn’t pick Silvester, afterall that’s why he is in the squad, cover for LB and CB.
Each individual act of deception must stand on it own ‘merits’. One could recall that Henry had a goal disallowed againt CSKA Moscow for handball when he clearly chest trapped the ball. One could say that these things even themselves out. They don’t and they should not. Just ask the Irish who were robbed by an anachronistic governing body whose heads are so far up their a**es that they can see the sun. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that Henry cheated. Just because he’s a beloved ex-Arsenal player. Excuuuuuse me. He’s a professional football player playing for his country so what should/could we have expected? Not much. He played the ‘system’ and France are the beneficiary and Blatter will not say ‘boo’. Are there any Irish bureaucrats in FIFA?
Oh great, now we’ll get an Henry lynch mob and a daily fail “anti-handball” campaign. If people take the time to re-watch the incident, the ball pops up off the turf and comes past a defender blocking Henry’s sight, his reaction in the split second is to reach is hand out, which can easily happen involuntarily. The slow-mo makes it look much more intentional than it was.
Yes it was a free-kick, but every single professional player is told to play to the whistle, Tottenham obviously aren’t trained that well as that’s exactly how they conceded against Arsenal the other week :p. But of course now Henry is the devil, along with N’gog and Eduardo, due to the rampant nationalism and idiocy behind English football.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:17 am
@Alex, Google: “Gerrard, diving” to see one of the all time greats practicing his ‘craft’.
On the good news side, Eduardo signed new long term contract. He stated that he’s ready to play 90 minutes every 3 days. Now that’s the spirit!
OMG, Arsenal + D.A. = best post yet : )
November 19th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Thanks! I rather liked “The Salomon of Doubt!”
@GoonerGaz, Gibbs back for Chelsea. 90″ is still a long enough time for Sylvestre to get himself and us in trouble.
Elizabeth Lambert now in therapy. Give it a rest and just get on w/ your life. You never heard about Pepe going into therapy after his implosion which was far worse than.
Well, looks like I’m a day late, and that Gibbs might be back for the Chelsea match… but as long as Tim is leading with the Hitchhiker’s Guide, I’ll throw this in there.
The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything (but especially who will play left back on Saturday)?
42 – Kerrea Gilbert
(maybe not)
November 19th, 2009 at 9:57 am
@Zack, lol
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