The Soccer Blog: Diaby and Flaps Return; Wilshere Set for Busy Summer

Friday, 24 December 2010

Diaby and Flaps Return; Wilshere Set for Busy Summer

By: Martin | December 24th, 2010
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Apologies for the lack of any kind of real post today, but there just isn’t much in the way of news going on.

There’s a lot of pre-Chelsea talk, but honestly, it’s all so boring that I can’t even be bothered. Some people saying Arsenal won’t win because we’re scared, some people saying it’s Arsenal’s time, yada yada yada. We’re at home, we’re rested, and we just have to go out and execute.

In team news, Diaby and Flaps are both back for this one — I suspect Flaps will come back into the side and start in goal. He deserves it — he’s played very well this season, but I do worry about him, because it was Chelsea generally, and Drogba in particular, that “broke” him in the first place in that FA Cup semifinal at Wembley a few years back. That sent him into a downward spiral of a lack of confidence that lasted over a year. Hopefully we won’t have a repeat performance on Monday. I don’t think Diaby will see action — given that it’s his first game back, it would seem pretty stupid to throw him into the lineup against Chelsea when he hasn’t played in months. I can’t see it.

The other news making the rounds today is that Jack Wilshere is likely to be called up for the England U21 side for the European U21 championships in Denmark this summer. But he also seems to be a pretty important piece of Fabio Capello’s plans for the 2012 Euro qualifiers this summer. Wenger has preemptively spoken out against this, saying it doesn’t make sense for a player who has been called up as a senior international regular to be also included in the U21s. And he is right, of course. And we saw with Theo Walcott’s injury problems last season what happens when a young player gets overused with internationals. I suspect Wenger will definitely fight the FA on this, but I’m not sure what he can really do. As I’ve talked about ad nauseum, the system is broken, because the FA couldn’t care less if Wilshere gets hurt for the first 3 months of the 2011-2012 season — it doesn’t cost them anything and doesn’t hurt them in any way. We shall see how this all shakes out as it develops. I am not optimistic.

But that’s about it in terms of news. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas with your loved ones:

I’m with family and without regular internet access, so Sairax will shepherd you through the entire Chelsea game process — preview, match thread, recap & ratings, etc. You’ll just have to cope without me. Merry Christmas, everyone.

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Category: Arsenal News, Arsene Wenger

Tags: Arsenal News, Arsene Wenger
Tweet « Midseason Review, Part IV: Best of Arsenal Offside | Home | Paul NWho he heck is Flaps?PeevishMerry christmas everyone, may all of yours be full of good cheer, alcohol, family arguments and over-eating. And capped by a humiliating thumping of Chelski. Its what the baby Jesus would want, I just know it.SairaxI agree. Everyone knows baby Jesus is a gooner :p

Merry Christmas Peevish :)SairaxThe biggest issue is that Jack is stuck in some sort of purgatory between the senior team and the U20s. When Oezil, Mueller, Khedeira, etc were bumped up to the senior German squad after they won the U20 Euro, did they return back to the youth squad? No, they stayed with the senior team and went to the World Cup. Capello and Pearce can't have it both ways, they need to agree on which team he should be on. I vote for the senior squad because I hate Stuart Pearce, I think he is not good for the U20s and he'll ruin Jack way more than Capello ever could Plus, Jack is playing regularly for us on the first team with quality players, so I think he would be better off with the senior England squad.Darren_VStuart Pearce still has the U20s playing Route one, long ball football. It's horribly depressing, and shocking no one in the media mentions that.
Serious... pass the ball on the ground! It's not THAT hard.Gigi_manFeliz Navidad a todos los fanáticos del Arsenal!
From a very sunny (well La niña alomsot ruined it for us), windy, 27 Celsius Panama :) (did I just got you hating me hehe).

Good to hear Diaby's back, but he s got to be cool and focused.

So now maybe Mario Bobo-telli (bobo is like dull in Spanish) might check Jacky boy out haha, hope he gets it, I fel is better to start there than to go into an England team that is begging for a re birht?

Chelsea preview then none? :(

But I agree with ur words, we re fresh, home, and we love playing...

Go gunnersssssssSairaxDon't worry, I'll be previewing the Chelsea game :)

Merry Christmas Gigi, sounds like you'll be enjoying some lovely weather this weekend!Darren_VYa well... You can't go ice skating with your kids this afternoon. So there. :)BalaThe problem is Jack himself mentioned in Twitter that he would love to play in that U21 tournamentGorio BuencaminoJack, like every other footballer, especially as a young one, just wants to play above all. Of course he'd love to play in that U21 tournament. He'd play every single game if he could.CJIt makes perfect sense if your the u21 manager you want the best you can get if the u21 managers job is results related well only a fool would choose the good of someone else to your own /families goodDarren_VMerry Christmas to Martin and Sairax, and all the other commentators that come here. You all make the Arsenal experience all the more enjoyable.
Even if you secretly like Sp*rs.SairaxMerry Christmas Darren :) Hope you enjoy the shirt (when it arrives)Darren_VWhen it arrives? Arrived 2 nights ago... Currently wearing it under my 'dressy' sweater today. gotta love half days.SairaxOh good! I'm glad to hear! :)Perry S.Merry Christmas, Martin.

Regarding your issue with the FA -- Don't you wish some of the player's had some sense and simply refused the call-up to U-21 if they've been selected for the upper echelon? If I was a player, I'd be more dedicated to my club team who has the chance of winning something rather than some pointless U-21 call-up that gains me close to nothing.blog comments powered by Disqus