The proposition

It's a good thing I work on the Pentonville Road, you know. It's a good thing because there's sod all happening in the football world. However, the Pentonville Road, on this glorious, South Eastern trains managed to run a service on time this morning, day is teeming with life. Just minutes ago the movers and shakers, dudes and earthquake makers carousing down the street were interrupted by an altercation between a young man and the Police. One punch in the mouth, 8 police vans and a pool of blood later, I believe it's all sorted.

We carry on.

Last night, I was feeling a bit down, so after I went and bought some dill, amongst other things, for a dinner recipe which then went unused, I went to Borders. I was looking at the Arsenal books on display - including signed paperback copies of Arsènal: The Making of a Modern Superclub - and thinking to myself how many more books can I read about this football club? The answer, as it happens, is quite a lot but on this particular occasion, my eye fell upon Barça! by Jimmy Burns. Seeing as Barcelona make a habit of targetting our players every summer, I thought it might serve me to know the enemy. As an added bonus for me, the book begins its tale with El Clásico from the 1998/99 season, which coincided with a year of insomnia for me in Bilbao. So my interest has been well and truly piqued.

How funny to read this morning, then, that Arsenal are rumoured to be interested in, Barcelona captain, Carlos Puyol. I can't see it myself, but checking out that well known bastion of sports journalism, Marca and its website, Manchester City are also said to be in for him so there must be something afoot with him. Albeit not neccessarily that we're looking at him, but it would make a refreshing change for a club captain to be departing El Prat de Llobregat for Heathrow, rather than the other way round.

Could it really be possible that Barcelona are interested in Emmanuel Eboue, by the way? I mean, I know the guy's improved from last season- but that much?

The gaffer is using the international break to take stock. He's been talking up our displays this season, noting that even in defeat the quality has been there. I think that's something that is true, we've all commented on the improved attitude this season and, whilst it may not have been present once United went 2-1 up a few weeks back, it was there at Everton and Celtic and the guys have worked hard since that double disappointment in Manchester to get our season back on track. I know others may not agree, but this certainly feels to me like a team that is a much different proposition to the wet lettuce bunch that staggered through autumn and some of last season's winter.

Of course, we may also return from the international break with Samir Nasri and the two goalkeepers back in the reckoning. Which may, or may not, be a good thing. I'm looking forward to seeing Samir back anyway, just trying to work out where he'll fit in!

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