Theo and the One Man Army

Cesc Fabregas seemed like he was in a bit of a sulk on Saturday, didn't he? Allied to fears that Robin van Persie may be out for the season following his latest ankle mishap and that Laurent Koscielny is actually a boy band reject masquerading as a centre back, I think you'll all agree it's worrying times for the Gooners so far this season. After all seven points from a run of three very easy games to start the season is just the stuff of nightmares... isn't it?

Sorry guys (and gals), I wanted to see what it was like to walk a mile (or write a paragraph) in Mark Brus shoes and I guess I got carried away. I didn't like it much, either. In the real world, of course, things are looking much healthier.

I'm back now, so we can objectively state that the latest blow to Robin van Persie's ankle is just that. Not a hammer blow, not a hospital blow, just a blow. Nothing's been confirmed by Arsenal, but that crack team of doctors employed by the KNVB- wouldn't it be great if they were actually crack doctors?- reckon that RvP's ankle will keep him out of action for at least two weeks and maybe as long as four. I guess that's what you get for just hanging a leg out or, as someone described it in the comments section of Sunday's blog, a "horrible, studs-showing, over-the-ball challenge". Interesting that nobody, not even the Walrus himself, saw fit to refer to RvP's limp attempt as a tackle in such terms, wasn't it?

Anyway, contrary to what Tony Cascarino might think, I reckon Marouane Chamakh is more than capable of leading the line when we return to Premier League action at home to Bolton in 12 days time. I'm not too worried about Robin's fitness, but I do feel sure that he has walked under a ladder, broken a mirror and probably run over a black cat. Probably all at the same time. Get well soon Robin.

Elsewhere, with keen amateur psychologists apparently agonizing over Cesc's every move at Ewood Park on Saturday, Arsène Wenger has had a few words about the captain. He told Arse.com,

"He will be the player he was before without any problem and he will be stronger. And of course I think he will, once he is fit again, be involved mentally in the team."

"He is our leader, he is the leader of our team and he has a massive responsibility. I am convinced he will stand up for it."

It's a funny old game, isn't it? I clearly remember Andy Gray commenting more than once that Cesc looked more than a bit tired during Saturday's game, yet we seem to have expecting him to be skipping off happy as Larry with after his first hour in the Arsenal side since March 31st. In fact, that was his first hour of any kind of football since then. I think it's safe to assume he was bloody knackered when he came off the field. I guess this is the situation we're in now, Cesc is going to have to play like Pele, but with the smile of a young Kolo Touré on his face for the rest of the season. And even then you can bet some of us won't be happy. Well, it's not in our nature, is it? "I don't care whether he had a full pre season and has only played a game and a half- I want miracles! Now!" I think we should all give him a little time to get back up to speed, which he will.

I was amused by the suggestion made on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast yesterday that in RvP's absence- by Rafael Honigstein, no less- we're going to struggle. The reason? We can't rely on Theo to score all our goals. How quickly the young man's stature has grown- not good enough for England 3 months ago, now the spearhead of our "one man team". Nevermind the fact that Robin's absence, in this case, is only expected to be short-term, I wonder how the likes of Fabregas and Arshavin might feel about such an assertion. I also expect better from the author of the excellent Englischer Fussball.

Anyway. The transfer deadline looms large on the horizon and according to Sky Sports News, Mark Schwarzer will not be leaving Fulham to join us. Shay Given decided to stay at Man City yesterday and the injury to their young goalkeeper, Stockdale, seems to have done for any potential deal. I know many feel that Schwarzer shouldn't have been the limit of our ambition and that Almunia put in an encouraging shift on Saturday, but I just feel this would have been a neccessary improvement if we are to win the title this season. What I saw from our defence on Saturday does give me hope that perhaps replacing Almunia won't be the be all, end all of our title challenge, but I just feel he is all too likely to cost us when it counts. Away from the goalkeeping saga, Armand Traore has apparently signed for Juventus on a year's loan as a prelude to a permanent deal. Old favourite Alex Hleb is also on his way back to England to play for... Birmingham City. Er, good luck with that one Alex, bet you're really regretting that errant ice cream two years ago now.

Oh and, if you wondering about the start to this article, all I can say is that it's fairly obvious to me that Kieran Gibbs will be getting more than a few games as Arsenal's left back this season. Not featuring in the opening three games of the season, especially when two of them have been tough trips to the North West is no reason whatsoever to beating a path to the manager's door demanding a move. But I'm 100% confident that he's fully aware of that himself, it's just a shame the same can't be said of others, especially when they write for this website.

Follow (disagree with) me at http://twitter.com/rockthecasbah77

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