Arsenal’s next three games are away from home – and that’s a massive challenge after a two-week international break.
The team will re-assemble and then play at Blackburn, Dynamo Kiev and Bolton.
However, Blackburn is an opportunity when the league table has Chelsea and Liverpool on 7 points, followed by four clubs on 6 points : Arsenal, Man City and Middlesbrough. Then come Aston Villa, Bolton, Man Utd and Blackburn on 4.
Blackburn have had one home game so far and drawn 1-1 with Hull. They won 3-2 at Everton but crashed 4-1 at West Ham, a game where nothing went for them. That was never a 4-1 defeat, although it was a 4-1 result .
Knowing his background in east London, I warm to Paul Ince and wish him well. He kept Macclesfield up and got MK Dons promoted. When Roque Santa Cruz starts scoring again, Rovers should be OK.
Blackburn v Arsenal is at 3pm on Saturday, September 13.
Earlier that day Berbatov will make his debut for Manchester United at Anfield. That game is live on Sky at noon. He will play for Bulgaria against Serbia and will not be able to really train with Rooney and Tevez. But that’s not a problem. As I always say, the best thing you can do for a good footballer is to give him another good footballer to play with.
Naturally, thousands of Gooners are as sick as parrots after the club did not sign anybody on Monday.
So only the team can cheer the punters up. They can do that against Blackburn, Dynamo Kiev and Bolton, if they have the bottle to win those games. As we all know, results are often poor after international breaks, especially away results
Comments from the manager, telling us how well Eboue is playing in central midfield, won’t cheer them up. Such comments generate rage and dismay. The fans have been watching football all their lives and know a good player when they see one. And they know a bad player when they see one. Only Arsene knows why Eboue is in the Arsenal team. Maybe that’s what those banners mean when they say : Arsene knows.
When the Keegan news broke on Tuesday I asked myself : Pushed or jumped?
Jumped, I thought. Ever since, conflicting reports. He told friends he was sacked. He quit because they tried to sell Michael Owen. They’ve offered Owen a new contract on £120,000 a week.
Keegan looks at that clown Mike Ashley and thinks : I’ve tried for you, I’ve lied for you, you’ve hired Dennis Wise to find players without telling me, you’ve sold James Milner and we haven’t replaced him, this is the biggest farce I’ve ever seen – and I’ve starred in a few .
At the Emirates, Keegan was standing in technical area below us in the first half. Second half, he wasn’t there. Ten minutes from the end, Mighty Mouse was back. But the game was over by then. Keegan was at the end of his tether. He was at the end of his energy. He was at the end of his hope. And, it now appears, he’s at the end of his tenure.
Alex Hleb came on as a sub in Barcelona’s first league game at Numancia.
Dani Alves, a player I love, is now their right back. At Sevilla the little Brazilian was terrific going forward in a high tempo 4-4-2 team, a very tenacious and productive team leader. But his error left their right flank open, the ball came over, and the unmarked Mario whacked it past advancing keeper Victor Valdes in 12 minutes. That was the only goal of the game.
When Hleb replaced Yaya Toure in 56, Xavi moved to anchor. Hleb immediately cut a ball back from the byline to Eto’o, who scuffed his shot in a frantic, clumsy manner. Bojan replaced Henry in 62 and that and livened it up a lot.
Messi is tired and stale after the Olympics, where he played five games and Angel Di Maria scored the only goal of the game in the final against Nigeria. The little man is out on his feet and playing at 70%. Yes, Messi hit the post with a magical free-kick in the 90th minute.
But he should have a month off. Hleb can do that job for four weeks. He is fresh and keen. Laporta and Guardiola should not treat Messi this way. It’s brutal and stupid.
In Britain we would not treat a horse or a dog like that. If we did there would be questions in the House of Commons. Messi is a footballer of genius, the best player in La Liga. He is not a robot and he should NOT be playing against Numancia.
If Barcelona can’t beat newly-promoted Numancia without Messi, there is something seriously wrong with the club, the president and the coach. I’m wondering how long Guardiola will last