Written by Mean Lean on Friday, 11 February 2011 22:34

A slightly later than usual blog for you today... well tonight. Given that it is Friday evening in the UK, I fully expect half the usual readership to be in a pub somewhere sipping on beers with the rest of their work colleagues. Including that Norwich City supporter who is still making jokes about the weekend result to Newcastle even though his team haven't played top flight football since before time began.

Anyway, I didn't have much in the way of time to write anything earlier, plus the fact that news were somewhat scarce, I thought I'd slam down the laptop lid and do something else slightly more constructive. Since then, Arsene has had his press conference so we have a little bit more to chew on before our rather important game against Wolves tomorrow afternoon.

Arsene was rather dismissive of the Barcelona game in midweek, he didn't even contemplate talking about that game, he just picked up his bat and whacked it out of the press room. The focus is solely on the Wolves game and rightly so. I am kinda feeling that way myself to be honest although I have been frantically trying to gather up my Arsenal buddies and have an Arsenal lads Footy Feast of an evening but in terms of the football, the Wolves game is the only game that exists.

I hope the complete A team, minus Samir Nasri are selected and they give their all from start to finish. Should any damage happen to any of our players in those 90 plus minutes then we have to deal with it and think about the next game. The FA cup game at Orient is around the corner and that will be the time to stick important players in padded cells.

Wenger made sure he told the press room that Abou Diaby was injured as well as suspended to make his point about Barton's tackle, which I thought was interesting. I still frown in amazement when people suggest that his tackle was hard but fair. I don't want to go into the whole thing again but those with that opinion can easily get hold of the rules on the FA website.

Arsene has pretty much echoed my thoughts on his players actions. Diaby knew he was wrong to do so, yet Wenger understands why he reacted in that way. Hopefully it will be a lesson learnt. We know that fair treatment from the referee's will sometimes be absent, so we will have to keep our heads and keep playing our football even when the opposition are going to follow through with intent, then get up and shrug their shoulders as if everything is hunky dory, whilst watching our players rolling around in agony.

I have read the Diaby wants move to Barcelona or Real Madrid quotes on the news feeds but I haven't seen or read the full transcript so I'll save the lambasting for others. What I will say that our players should really be aware of what they say a little bit more. It seems as if our players get found talking about other clubs more than most. It is not difficult to work out how an answer would come across in print before you answer the question.

Tomas Rosicky picked up an injury playing for his country in midweek, but hopefully it is nothing serious and to be honest, he was unlikely to feature, especially after his recent substitute appearance.

I had almost forgotten one of the biggest talking points of the weekend. Johan Djourou.

He is back available to for the Wolves game. The Metro really should feel ashamed of themselves for their 'out for the season' bull but I don't believe that they will. They got the clicks that they were looking for.

Song and Denilson are back in the squad for tomorrow and that is good especially with Diaby and Ramsey unavailable for a few weeks.

Anyway, I shall talk more about the game tomorrow. In the meantime you should enjoy your Friday.

Back tomorrow.

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Comments (3)

• 12-Feb-2011 00:20 | | richie  - Wolves the only game in town.
  

  Ever politically correct Arsene has no time to chat about our reunion with Barca. This should actually be a lesson to us all, because our very next game is the only game in town. After our last outting (lets just leave it there)
  this is a big game for us because make no mistake MM will have his team well up for this encounter.
  
  That they beat Taggarts mob was not as much a shock to me as it seems it was to MM. I've been saying for a while that the real shock is how Manu'er have managed to go this long undefeated. Without the flair players Taggert has made them hard to beat, and as we know only too well to our cost. This comes along with a pinch of good fortune that borders on either devine intervention or bribery, possibly both! Nuff said.
  
  Following that theme, that Manu'er has a local darby against a current top 4 rival should also play no part in any deliberations (although I know the game will play a large part in Gooners enjoyment our game). We "read the team" need to be fully on our game. If Djourou plays the relief will be palpable, especially if he lines up behind our Song. On paper without third party interference we should have way too much at home for Wolves. Having closed the gap slightly last time out, I hope our boys are fully minded that the gap could narrow further.
  
  Come on Gooners lets get right behind our boys and let the team know that the Emirates crowd is loudly right behind them.

• 12-Feb-2011 00:28 | | Daygeedr  - Diabolical Diaby
  

  It's 1am and had to read it up. Very spot on, just one point I need to point out. I think the club should place a ban on players talking about some other club. Can't remember when last I heard a manutd player talk abiut playing for anoda club(except when Rooney was hunting for more cash) He didn't even talk about playing somewhere else, diaby rily is diabolical and that statement is not acceptable after his abject performances in the red and white. On that note, need to hit ma bed. goodnite Mean Lean...

• 12-Feb-2011 03:32 | | Karmapolice
  

  Don't worry we will wallop wolves, cos Diaby is not playing.
  But wait.. What's that? Denilson is back?! Blimey!

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