Congratulations to Pat Rice, this morning announced as the recipient of the MBE for services to sport in the New Year’s Honours List. Unfairly scapegoated when times were tough, his popularity was evident immediately after the final whistle at The Hawthorns last season. The official site has a tribute, I’ll settle for a simple expression of thanks for 44 years service to Arsenal Football Club.
The visit of Newcastle United to The Emirates for the teatime kick-off comes against a backdrop of the usual teasing of the media by Arsène. January, he observed, would be “busy” and I don’t think he was referring to the list of chores that he has to complete at home. The transfer market beckons and proving his point that the media would make up names, this morning’s papers are choc-a-block with stories about how Thierry Henry was back (“he has had a second spell at the Club that was very successful. You have to be cautious that it’s not one time too many“), Demba Ba is on but Arsène does not want to inspire him whilst the Daily Heil doesn’t know if Nani is coming or going. Nothing like hedging your bets. My concern over Nani is not so much the player but the fact that I cannot immediately remember us buying a good player off United. Loads have gone their way – Herd, Graham, Stapleton, Anderson, van Persie – but what of the reverse journey? Silvestre, Leighton? There’s a slight imbalance in those dealings. Andrey Arshavin meanwhile, is not going to Reading this Winter. Well, not unless they talk to Arsenal first.
All this and Chuba Akpom being named in The Independent list of those to watch in 2013 too.
Henry’s return – to me – makes sense from the squad perspective. I am not sure that signing him on a playing contract is a worthwhile venture but to have a player of that experience training with Theo Walcott can surely be a beneficial experience. For others, particularly the younger players, an Arsenal legend in and around the dressing room ought to be inspirational. The Times suggests that Walcott is holding out for £100k. I don’t have a problem with that size salary but only if a chunk of it is performance-related, not on the team but on the player himself. If he wants that money, he’s got to earn it. At a club like Arsenal, we need a 30-goal-a-season striker. There you go, Theo, take on the challenge. If, as Arsène suggested, Walcott plays in central and wide positions on a rotational basis, alter the totals to reflect the importance of creation as well. It won’t happen because despite being repeatedly told football is a results business, when players wages are discussed, it definitely isn’t.
With a full squad to choose from, Arsène has choices to make for the first time in a while. The week’s break has made those choices somewhat trickier in that there should be no obviously tired players having rested since last Saturday lunchtime. The win at Wigan muddies the water all the more, why should he change a winning line-up? The most consideration is whether there are square pegs in round holes or if he has the best options available. The visit to Southampton on Tuesday is a factor to bear in mind but the key focus is three points against a team with an appalling away record.
No matter how the media dress their performance at Old Trafford, Newcastle still lost, threw away the lead three times and conceded in the last minute. When you read any interview with a footballer who broaches the subject, scoring three goals away from home is expected to bring some reward. They had none and as much as they can draw on the positive of scoring three times against the league leaders, they conceded more readily and more often. That is something Arsenal can exploit, particularly with the team news suggesting that they will have a makeshift central defensive partnership.
In midfield, Tomas Rosicky returns to the squad but surely to a place on the bench at kick-off. I was about to offer the proposition that he may get on for half-an-hour or more if an unassailable lead is established but then I recalled St James Park and, more recently, the Madejski Stadium. With Arsenal when exactly is a lead established that can be considered unassailable?
The line-up I would expect this evening is:
Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Cazorla, Arteta, Wilshere; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Podolski
Being the last match of the day, Arsenal will know where they are going to finish the day. Everton and West Brom are in prime positions to drop points this weekend whilst Tottenham will be wary at the Stadium of Light. Ultimately though, it is up to Arsenal to win their games, to take maximum return from their fixtures and wait for others to falter. It is not must win any more than the matches are anyway.
Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.
’til Tomorrow.
No doubt Theo did great yesterday, but I don’t wholeheartedly agree with some of todays postings. If Giroud had had another 30 minutes, who’s to say he wouldn’t have grabbed a bagful. It sure did look as if he would have.
Not to take away anything from Theo’s performance at all, but if he wants to engineer a move for more money, his team have seen how to do it now and if that’s really what he wants, that’s what he’ll get. He ain’t no RvP, so the grass may appear greener to Theo. In life it nearly always isn’t.
I think, if he leaves, then he’s the enemy, and I don’t wish him well. Like RvP, I wish him no medals, and lots of bench time. I only want the Arsenal to succeed, and whomever wears our shirt.
I’ll be happy as long as we replace with at least an equal, which in my opinion shouldn’t actually be too difficult, as Theo is good but not great yet.
The events of the past couple of weeks (Theo starting at CF / Theo scoring / Theo looking like he knows what he`s doing) mean he really has to stay & not all for footballing reasons.
Should he leave we really will have to be seen as a `stepping stone` club. One where young players can come to , learn there trade under a great manager …then leave to win trophies & earn more money.
There`s nothing worse for a supporter than to see your own go where they think the grass is greener.
As Theo has regularly helped me fill my swear box over the years,him leaving just as he turns from ugly duckling would make it doubly hard to bear.
As it happens Duke ,I know more about that than you think
I remember merlot.
Nice story there George. Did your journalist friends give you that low down?
It works like this. Theo, do you want to play for Arsenal? We can tweak your contract upwards a little, no problem; I have publicly said you can be as good as Thierry and I mean this, he was the same age when I played him centrally but only after he learned his trade for some years; you are intelligent and I believe you can be a great player. If it is a wage thing, remember what Thierry earned here and why, what Robin was offered despite his 5 season injury record, and where we are headed, but only after you and we have earned it. The rest, young man, is up to you. Believe in yourself.
Like Cesc, Robin, Alex, Samir, Tomas, Jack, Chewie, TV, he will decide if he is an Arsenal player. If not, like any player, he is replaceable. They are individuals. They don’t replace the team.
Worry not. If he signs a new contract, he is going to be an Arsenal great, like Jack; and if not, he is a Team Walcott player, and not worth much concern. In the meantime, the team has a job to do.
It’s funny how the press are not all convinced that Theo is off.
While there has been previous mention off potential suitors in the summer, all of the talk at present seems to be about him winning the bumper contract with us.
Now, most of us, myself included, are usually whining on about how the press have an anti-Arsenal agenda, how they love to bang on about the bad times, drumming along to the tune of Arsenal at crises. Therefore, given their previous, I’d expect to see the rags repeatedly creating links between Walcott and the usual suspects, mocking the club for allowing the pattern to be replicated once again and telling us we have no chance of him signing other wise it would have already been done.
I’ve not seen any of the papers report this story this way.
I’m going to watch on and just believe he wants to stay and the club will make it happen, even if some signs suggest otherwise.
Alternatively, as some have suggested, if he really wants that bumper move away, we at least will reap the immediate rewards.
@Dukey
Lol
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=10294
Seven Circles Of Heaven And Hell For Arsenal!
seems Nani’s going nowhere….
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/8371938/Nani-will-not-be-leaving-Premier-League-leaders-Manchester-United-in-January
ok..JJ got that one right…
Adrian?
Zaha?