Maybe that tackle will turn the season.
It’s a pity that Ivan Campo is out for 10 weeks with a broken foot.
And it’s a shame that Campo is 31 and his contract is up and he might not play for Bolton again.
That tackle by Abou Diaby was a foul and it might have been a red card.
It was a 50-50 that was 60-40 for the Bolton player and Diaby went to ground and Campo played the ball, saw him coming, pulled his foot away, and Diaby’s studs caught the end of Campo’s foot.
Diaby got a yellow card.
The ref felt sorry for a young boy in his second game, so he did not send him off.
If Patrick Vieira had made the same tackle he would have gone.
Will Diaby play against West Ham? I hope so.
That tackle was a landmark. Or at least it should be a landmark. It’s shame it was a foul and, ordinarily, a foul should never be hailed as a signpost for the rest of the season.
But since thousands of Gooners have been depressed by the events of the last six months, and dearly want to see some fighting spirit, they LOVED that tackle.
DIABY will never be another Vieira because a Vieira comes along once every 50 years.
Arsene wasn’t joking when he said, "There’s only one Patrick."
But Diaby is a warrior who can galvanise a team of raw kids and elderly artistes.
With Reyes and Fabregas suspended, and Hleb still refusing to shoot, even in training, maybe Arsene will restore Pires on the left.
Or maybe he will play Hleb in central midfield, where Hleb wants to play, in this team :
Lehmann; Gilbert Djourou Campbell Senderos; Ljungberg Diaby Hleb Pires ; van Persie and Henry.
Freddie said, “We have not put our foot in away from home, not wanted to fight. When we don’t win the ball we do not create chances. It’s not the best time, but hopefully we can learn something from it. We have not been missing chances because we have not created any chances.
“We are best when we win the ball high up on the pitch and break.”
QUITE !
The other day Arsene said, "We have to match the commitment of the other team."
Pros have to be told that ?
He should not have to tell them that.
Professional footballers, contracted to London’s biggest club, should show commitment in every game.
That is what they are paid for.
If Arsene has to tell them that, there is something seriously wrong with the players.
ALAN PARDEW did not field a weakened side against Blackburn in the FA Cup. He picked a strong team and beat them 4-2.
Bobby Zamora is playing as he never did for Spurs and Dean Ashton might start after a £7 million move from Norwich.
Marlon Harewood, a big strong boy like James Beattie and Kevin Davies, might give Arsenal problems.
Teddy Sheringham is 40 in March and would love to score one more goal against Arsenal.
It’s a must-win game, especially since the manager threw away the FA Cup to save players for the league. If those players lose this game they will make him look foolish.
I’m still amazed that Arsene threw away the Bolton game with the side he fielded at the Reebok.
My guess is that Arsene didn’t think Henry would perform there, so he dropped him and disguised it by resting Bergkamp and Pires as well.
So where are we?
We are where we have been before. Once again it’s cross your fingers and hope Thierry has a good night.
ROBBIE FOWLER back at Liverpool? A fantastic deal for Benitez, a masterstroke.
Robbie is 30 and not match fit but he will win games from the bench.
I WATCHED SPURS at Fulham on PPV.
It was 0-0 at half time and I couldn’t see where a goal was coming from. Neither side looked capable of scoring in open play.
Then Boa Morte flattened Jenas in the box. He kicked Jenas before he kicked the ball but referee Howard Webb did not give a penalty. Then McBride flicked the ball past Dawson and ran into him and Webb gave Dawson a second yellow.
If Dawson had still been on the field, Bocanegra would not have scored with a late header from a free-kick in the 91st.
Spurs did not deserve to lose 1-0 and Ledley King was the best player on the field.
But they are missing Mido even more than Arsenal are missing Toure.This was their third defeat in four games.
Clearly, Arsenal will finish above Spurs.
But Danny Murphy, just signed by Martin Jol, is a clever player and much-under-rated.
A good signing for £2 million.
WILL ARSENAL finish above Bolton and Wigan?
My gut feeling? If you can’t beat West Ham at Highbury, you can’t finish fourth.
So it’s all to play for tonight.
Tonight is the season.
SVEN admits Hiddink is the next England coach ?
Brilliant !
At last the FA have got something right !
Guus Hiddink is a great guy and a fantastic tactician and he speaks good English.
And he will be the first England manager who has previous experience of managing a national team.
Hiddink will make our team more than the sum of its parts.Sven can’t do that.
England will be European Champions in 2008 !!!
I take back everything I’ve ever said and written about the FA.
Arise, Sir Brian Barwick!