Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. 800,000 visits last month
By Tony Attwood
It is nearly time to leave – well I have to go in 3 hours at 4pm, to meet Drew in Northampton (our rendezvous is right by the Northampton Town ground – one of only two grounds in the UK where there is a stand named after an Arsenal man. Did you know that?
So, the only thing left to put together is the team.
Those out are Theo Walcott with a shoulder problem as a result of some action by local ruffian in the last game. Kieran Gibbs and Gervinho are back, but I would expect them on the bench. But Santos is out, he has an abdominal muscle strain.
So who is left?
Wojciech Szczesny
Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Thomas Vermaelen (c)
Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere
Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain
Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud
Substitutes
- Gervinho
- K. Gibbs
- Vito Mannone
- Carl Jenkinson
- Francis Coquelin
- Aaron Ramsey
- Andre Arshavin
- Johann Djourou
Obviously we know that Mr Wenger likes to play Ramsey when he can so Oxlade-C could come out – but on the other hand young Alex needs some games and for his few minutes on the pitch as a sub he looked rather good.
Or put it another way I have no idea.
Meanwhile, as boldly predicted yesterday Chelsea are looking for a new manager. And as not predicted here because I couldn’t even dream it was on, everyone is saying that T. Henry is coming back on loan.
As one of the lucky ones who was at the ground when the great God came back and scored from his classic position (just in front of my seat) I can’t believe it could happen again or he would do it again. But he was at the game on Saturday and of course got his usual round of applause and cheering. Mind you I am still saying to Ian “We were there, when Henry came back”.
The second year running Africa Cup of Nats starts on 19 January so we lose Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh again, just as last year.
Actually I loved Mr Wenger’s comments this time:
“You know what he gives you, he gives you hope, especially when he comes on. That is the most important thing. Thierry is a communicator, an extrovert, very intelligent. He can only give good advice to players because he was in their position when he arrived here. I think now that this team has an exceptionally good character. There are not many flashy boys.
“What is most important is not whether you are an extrovert but what it means to you to do your job well … your will to win. I saw last night on French TV, for example, Jonny Wilkinson and when you see the dedication … he’s not an extrovert but when you see the dedication that the top, top players show in their sport, that’s what you want … multiplied by 25.”
Then he said…
“To sign Beckham, Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell? We had a staff game today. They could have played with us.”
Yup, I’d pay to go to that one.