No doubt

As I write this afternoon, prior to the boss' midweek press conference, the lead story on the official site is Arsène's statement that Jack Wilshere will go on without "any doubt". I think we've seen on Jack's rare ventures into first team action that he needs to play regularly, getting thrown in cold clearly doesn't, and shouldn't be expected to, benefit him.

Now, if I was the editor of the official site, not that I have any wish to be - it's a big job with big responsibility, I might have chosen a different lead story. I might have chosen the story sitting a little further down the page and I would definitely have chosen a different headline for it, too. Something along the lines of "Alex Song Is Coming Home! Thank God!!!!!" Rather than the entirely neutral and therefore quite bland, Cameroon Knocked Out.

But then perhaps that's why I am a humble blogger and not a website editor. None of which is to say I haven't enjoyed seeing Craig Eastmond play in the first team, because I have, but it is abundantly clear that Song is - as I suggested a couple of weeks (make it a couple of years) ago - far better suited to playing the defensive midfield role than Denilson.

And, lest we forget, Manchester United will be in town on Sunday. I'm looking forward to that one, as you might expect. I'll be meeting up with James and various other miscreants from the Arsenal Mania forum for drinks before the game, which will be watched with James, before, hopefully, returning to the pub for some celebratory beverages.

So, without an Alex Song tracking device, it's difficult to say where he right now- has he made it out of Angola yet? But safe to assume he will not be appearing tomorrow evening at Villa Park. I wonder whether Eboue might make it back, if he isn't already, in time for a spot of bench warming. There is little fresh team news, though with Aaron Ramsey back early from his thigh injury, Tomas Rosicky presumably fit having been an unused sub on Sunday afternoon and Nick Bendtner being pencilled in for a return tomorrow night, our options seem be widening, which makes a nice change for the manager.

Speaking of whom, intriguingly, he has reportedly reacted to news of Fulham accepting a Manchester United bid for Chris Smalling saying: "It just looks like Manchester United offered more money than us, but as long as the player has not signed anywhere it is not the end of it. Let's see what happens there.

"We will not come out on what we are doing exactly. It has come out [elsewhere], but that does not mean it is true. If we have anything more to tell you we will let you know."

In other words, I guess; a) Arsène has indeed confirmed that he wants Smalling and, b) he's hoping Manchester United get One Finger Neville to show Smalling around Old Trafford. Incidentally, all this about Gary Neville and his one finger salute aimed at Carlos Tevez, has nobody stopped to consider the possibility Neville had only just realised he had a middle finger and was just checking out how it worked? Just me then? Oh well.

Happily, I've waited long enough now and the Wilshere main story has been replaced by a press conference trailer. And the news that not only Nick Bendtner, but Samir Nasri, too have both returned to full training whilst Sagna, Vermaelen and Gallas will all return to the first team tomorrow evening. So, that's excellent, option widening, news for us.

There's further news too, which is marginally less excellent, but Vito Mannone has signed a long-term contract with the club. If I could get really excited by that news, I would link to it. But one flappy goalkeeper seems indistinguishable from the next at present so it's a much of a muchness to me. The one contract I, and indeed most of us, would like to see inked is William Gallas' deal. However, despite good progress on it, according to Arsène, that one remains unsigned. You would think a trophy or two might tip the balance in our favour, and the process of winning one will begin in earnest tomorrow night.a

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