Football teams improve slowly, most of the time.
When you turn it round, your improvement happens incrementally.
You don’t lose three games in a row and then suddenly win 4-0.
Arsene Wenger has run out of bodies and the only good news he has is that Adebayor, Toure and Eboue can play against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night. He will need big performances from those three players.
But Rosicky won’t play and Henry is doubtful with a foot injury.That means Henry might be on the field without being 100% and without the kind of training you need before the biggest game of the season.
Before PSV, Arsenal need to beat Reading to restore their confidence.
If you lose to Reading, you won’t have the belief to beat PSV 2-0, which is the required result.
Who will score the goals against PSV? Kolo Toure and Cesc Fabregas, I think.
Tomorrow’s game against Reading is a warm-up for PSV and that will be a tight game because Steve Coppell’s newly-promoted team is so honest and so hard-working and so good in the air on crosses and corners.
Wenger’s European Cup finalists need a 2-0 win and then another 2-0 win.
And I’ll be absolutely gobsmacked if Arsenal beat Reading 2-0.
All across Europe, top clubs are playing league games with the Champions League hanging over them. Consciously and unconsciously, big players will be holding back, knowing that next week is more important.
LIVERPOOL v Manchester United might even be a bit tame tomorrow lunchtime.
Sure, Anfield will boo Wayne Rooney. He’s an Everton supporter from an Evertonian family and he played for Everton, so they don’t like him, even if he is one of Stevie G’s big mates.
You’ll see a little smile from Wayne tomorrow. He’d be disappointed if they didn’t boo him.
Ryan Giggs made his debut for United 16 years ago today. Anfield will be his 700th game for his only club. That is a phenomenal achievement for a forward player in a league as rough as the top English division.
Unlike Arsenal, Liverpool are 2-1 up against Barcelona, and United are 1-0 up against Lille, and they have most of their players available.
Real Madrid, who travel to Munich next week, are at home to Getafe tonight, and David Beckham is still trying to send a message to Steve McClaren : pick me for the Israel game! I’m not finished ! I can save my country !
Shut up, David. You’re history.