Morbo

How would you define torture? Perhaps some of you would describe this blog as torture for your eyes and brain, but you can look away now, can't you? For me, torture would be leaving work with no tunes to listen to because my I-pod is 86'ed, realising that I've left my book (Morbo, The story of Spanish football by Phil Ball) at work and therefore being left with nothing to occupy my next hour+. Well, nothing apart from the night's Evening Standard and 4 pages on Wednesday evening's Messi demolition job. It should be said, however, that the chapter of Morbo I was reading was, as luck would have it, about football in Catalonia, so perhaps it was best that I left the book at work. My subconscious may have been at work on a much more insidious level than I thought possible. A quick stop at Charing Cross provided me with the latest issue of Q, reminding me that as yet, the Doves' compilation remains on my shopping list. A situation I will most likely attempt to rectify tonight.

And after that, slightly lengthy, preamble - a whole paragraph and no mention of the "A" word? Inconceivable! We can look at at how Arsenal's situation needs rectifying, both in the immediate future, i.e. before we go to Tottenham in a week's time and in the slightly longer term, i.e. at the end of the season. In the short-term, it doesn't seem like there's much room for manoeuvre. Colin Lewin's news that both Keiran Gibbs and Johan Djourou, who would both have been looking to build on impressive "break through" seasons last time around only to find that they would play next to no part in this season due to injury, will return to full training with the first team in the next two weeks is welcome. But it won't affect the boss' plans for the Spurs game and, I suspect, nor will it have much impact on the climax to the season. Robin van Persie's return to training, however, is described as "imminent". It seems like a cruel joke to me that three players who would have played a big part over the last few months become available just as the need for them becomes less pressing. I know, it's an old joke too.

I'm sure I don't need to explain how they would played their parts over the last few weeks, but just by way of an example regarding the two young defenders, Gibbs would certainly have started at home to Wolves on Saturday, leaving Silvestre to cover Sol's centre back slot, whilst Djourou could have deputised for Vermaelen and done so quite adequately. Robin's role in things needs no explanation to you.

Anyway, pointless to dwell on what won't be, maybe we could expect a bench role for Robin at the Lane, but it seems unlikely to me, especially when we have such a graphic illustration of the consequences of playing unfit players so fresh in our minds. On the other hand, it's certainly possible that Alex Song will have recovered from his knee and groin woes in time to take to the field, whilst Sol will have had a week to get his dodgy hamstring into shape. Important if Spurs decide to field Peter Crouch, though how Sol would cope with the pace of Jermain Defoe is another question. Elsewhere, how can Arsenal improve on Tuesday night's showing? Well, for a start a week's rest to train, refocus and get up for a game in enemy territory should do the lads the world of good. More to the point, it is unlikely, no matter what Spurs fans' hopes may be for the chances of Modric and Kranjcar against our midfield that Nasri, Diaby and Denilson will have to face anything like the quality on display at Camp Nou. Is my argument here simply that Arsenal will rectify their situation at the Lane next week simply because we are better than Spurs? Basically, yes I am.

Further ahead of us, most Gooners have woken to news over the last few days that Arsène will dip into the pot of gold at the foot of the rainbow over the Grove, with the Guardian mentioning Everton's Jack Rodwell as a possible target. Having spoken of his intention to discuss a new contract with the board in the months ahead, I feel sure that those of you wanting the Alsatian's head on a plate are going to be disappointed and I'm glad. I'm glad because throwing the baby out with the bathwater is not going to improve what is by no means a bad situation - no three points off the top is not a bad situation, I don't care what you say. There will be players leaving the club in the summer, I feel sure of that. As we have struggled, by the standards of our early season form, for goals of late and still the newly contracted Carlos Vela has not found a way in, you have to wonder what the future holds for him. And what of Eduardo? Is he, as many are speculating, really finished at the top level, or does he just need more time to fully get over his injury? I know he's had a year since he came back, but look at how long Abou Diaby has taken to recover from his own horrific injury and show that maybe, just maybe, he is worth persevering with. It seems that having recovered from his Public Enemy #1 status and become a cult hero, Eboue may be readying himself for a new adventure and as for Almunia... well, if Almunia begins next season as our number one goalkeeper, then I'll take Wenger's head for you.

That last line was a joke by the way. On the subject of things humourous, because I was watching the Masterchef final, I missed out on the joys of Manchester United's exit from the Champions League last night, though I knew they'd let a 3-0 lead slip. I switched over briefly at full-time and it sounded to me like Peter Drury was on the verge of tears at the fall of ITV's beloved Mancs. Reading Simon Rose's article on the Online Gooner today merely confirmed my suspicions and leads me to wonder just why Manchester United get such fawning treatment from the media. Fergie can't be that scary, can he?

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