What we would we do without you Arsene?

We have Hull coming over today and the anticipation of having some football to watch after a rather long week is very exciting. We are going into today’s game on the back of some cracking performances that has seen us score 14 goals and concede just 2 in all competitions and one must not forget that 3 out of those 4 games were by no means easy. The way we literally tore those teams apart has been a treat to watch. We’ve shown great resilience, composure and never compromised the Arsenal way of playing football. The most important aspect is that you can’t single out one or two players either; the entire team has stood up and come through where it mattered. Therefore, to expect an absolute decimation today would be quite fair.

Onto some team news now, nothing has changed thus far since what I told you lot in yesterday’s blog. To give you a brief overview though, Clichy & Silvestre are fit and apart from Silvestre returning to fitness, the team remains unchanged. Samir Nasri is still out injured. I swear, the left side of the pitch is jinxed for us.

While we are on the topic of left midfielders who are always out injured, one can not help but mention Tomas Rosicky. We were expecting to see his make his way back to the squad (finally) sometime in December but now the club is now rather “speechless” about him. It is not very surprising to hear that they can now not give an exact date towards his return. For a player who has been out since January for reasons unknown and who’d be coming back after Eduardo, you have to seriously think that his days at the club are numbered. This is the season where he has to come out and prove that his sole duty at the club is to not keep the physio’s occupied but also to perhaps sometimes play a little football as well. It’s very frustrating, I’m a big fan of the player but I think the shit has all but hit the fan with him.

In other news, it’s all Arsene Wenger today who has had a lot to say. He speaks about the possibility of packing up and leaving the club by the time his contract runs out in 2011. He says:

“I've not thought about my contract, “I will give myself to the end of my contract in 2011 and then have a serious check-point. You don't want as well to go on too long.”

It would be really sad to see him, should the day ever arrive. I don’t even know who we would replace him with. He’s one of the best manager’s in the world and I’d only place Alex Ferguson in the same category as him. This man is Arsenal, through and through.Its even in his name, Arsen – e. Arsen – al. Its going to be really hard. *sighs*

The boss also speaks about the fact that his upcoming anniversary on Sunday, that will mark his 12th year at the club (amazing in this day and age) is not a time to sit and gloat over past achivements but to remain focused on the future. The boss says:

“I’m not very happy to speak about my anniversary because what interests me in life is what is in front of me and not what is behind me.”

"I also believe that is part of the sickness of this job, as you know what you've done is forgotten and what is important is what happens tomorrow. You spend your life worrying about the future, and are always expecting the next game, the next game and the next game”

"It becomes something almost perverse. It takes over your brain completely and you never take time to look back."

He’s very right at this. The job of a football manager is the most thankless one in the world. No matter how good you are a sudden slip and the world climbs on top of your head and jumps on it. We’ve seen this happen with Alex Ferguson as well. The amount of trophy’s he’d won for United counted for nothing when they hit a barren phase whilst the team was in a state of transition. The club fans were calling for his head and the same has been apparent with Arsene Wenger. People who tend to do this are not fans and are just an ungrateful lot.

Finally, young Denilson has been looking to follow in the footsteps of Patrick Vieira & Gilberto Silva. Not the worst of role models to follow are they? Heh! He says:

"He (Patrick) helped Arsenal to achieve beautiful things so it’s an important reference for me. But it’s the same with Gilberto Silva. He is also an example for me to follow.”

"They have both made their mark and now it is my time to write my history in the pages of Arsenal."

We’re waiting as well Denilson. We hope you make 600+ appearances and score 200 goals for a midfielder and help us win a ton of trophies in the process.

Right then, a couple of hours to go till kick-off.

I can’t wait.

Come on you Gunnnnnnnneeeeeerrrrrrrrrssssss!!