Morning All…
These midweek games are keeping us bloggers very busy… the last blog was the match report from the Leeds away and before I can even finishing discussing the points from Wednesday’s game, it’s already time to think about Wigan! Before I do, if the bookies are to believed, then Gary Cahill is about to move down south from sunny Bolton to even sunnier London, and down to the Emirates… Bolton have signed David Wheater from Middlesborough and it may signal a move away from the club for Gary Cahill….
BUT… Arsene revealed today on the site that Thomas Vermaelen’s surgery was successful and he willing be back in training in two weeks… of course, it will be at least 6 weeks until he is back and fit and the Barcelona home game is out of the question, but the away game is certainly in that time frame…
Arsene commented on the surgery and said:
“It was not a real surgery, it is what you call a procedure. I am not a medical specialist but what they took off is what you call the plantaris tendon. This is a structure that is very rarely injured and they tell me many people do not have one at all. It’s a little tendon next to the Achilles tendon where he had the friction.”
That’s great news for us – to have such an awesome player back in for the run in could be an essential come back for us – not to disregard the excellent performances of Koscielny and Djourou but Vermaelen is out best centre back and to have him back would be a massive boost.
There was also some news on Squillaci – he’ll be back in about 7 days, the gaffer saying:
“Squillaci is not far away but he will not be completely ready for the weekend. He will be one week I think.”
So, based on those two interesting facts… do you think we will sign Gary Cahill? I seriously doubt it! The Bolton manager saying that they don’t want to sell Cahill but need re-enforcement in that area.
Okay, so on to team news and Denilson and Chamakh have slight knocks, so neither will start against Wigan, but Cesc and Van Persie should return to the side…
Szcznesy
Sagna – Djourou – Koscielny – Clichy
Wilshere – Song
Walcott – Cesc – Nasri
Van Persie
With a bench of Shea, Eboue, Gibbs, Denilson, Arshavin, Rosicky and Bendtner
That is the strongest side we can field and the desire to beat Wigan should be quite high considering we failed to beat them at the DW Stadium earlier in the year. I don’t see why Arsene wouldn’t field the strongest team at his disposal considering the new two games are against Ipswich and Huddersfield – both at home…
A special mention to Robin Van Persie, who has really come back into the team with some swagger and really made an impression on the team. Well done to the vice-captain and keep working hard… Good on you!
Come on you Gooners!
