The world’s oldest cup competition kicked off yesterday and as expected, surprise results and upsets were the order of the day with Paolo di Canio’s Swindon Town pulling up the shock of the day with a victory of Wigan Athletic.
Liverpool lost star striker Luis Suarez for eight games after his racist abuse on Manchester United’s Patrice Evra but the club has been placed on the spotlight for the wrong reasons after more racial allegations on Oldham’s Tom Adeyemi.
The Mancurians lock horns in what promises to be a feisty encounter but the oil-rich noisy neighbors are short of firepower upfront while the Red Devils have defensive headaches but from an Arsenal point of view, I wouldn’t care less.
The King Thierry Henry has returned to a place he once called home and he has been given the jersey number he wore in his Les Bleus days. No one really expected Theo Walcott to relinquish his number 14 jersey knowing fully that Henry is just here for the short term.
The Arsenal legend returns back to the club he smashed in 226 goals in 369 appearances so a certain level of expectation would surround him but he was quick to tell the fans not to expect any fireworks:
“I hope people are not going to compare what I did here before. I’m going to be here most of the time on the bench, we all know it and I’m not stupid to think I’m going to start. It’s a helping process.”
Thierry Henry is now 34 years of age so the fans shouldn’t expect the va va voom football of yesteryear. He might be a bit lacking on the physical side but he still has that intelligence and clinical ability in front of goal and in the final third-a feature that has been lacking from Arsenal’s wing play this season.
Arsene Wenger believes that Henry still has the fire to compete at the highest level and he has taken a bold step by registering him in the Champions League squad that will play AC Milan next month.
Henry will get a chance to brace the Emirates tomorrow when Arsenal takes on Leeds and I’m sure many Gooners are relishing that prospect.
Moving over to transfer gossip, Arsene Wenger has said that he doesn’t want to sign a long term left back so a loan deal could be on the cards. With the injury problems worsening with each passing week, an emergency left back has to come in to help Arsenal’s depleted back line.
Wenger is also yet to make his mind over an imminent loan move for youngster Ryo Miyaichi. The starlet lit the Eredivisie last season with Feyernoord and I’ve reiterated my desire for the bloke to continue his football education outside the Emirates.
With the departure of Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh to the African Cup of Nations, Arsenal has been linked with many forwards all over the footballing galaxy.
Arseblog News has reported that Arsenal is linked with Anderlecht’s Matias Suarez. I know for sure that this ‘Suarez’ doesn’t spit on players, racially abuse fellow professionals and has the front teeth of a herbivore. He’s currently the top scorer in this season’s Europa League so we know that the goals will flow in if he comes to Arsenal, provided he gets the service he requires.
Football Friends Online has reported that Arsenal has become the favorites to sign VVV Venlo’s Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa. The starlet is a speed merchant and he also has good dribbling skills making him a potent force from the wings.
Finally, Arsenal has also been linked with a £10m move for the hottest African striker in the Premier League this season, Newcastle’s Demba Ba (via Caught Offside).
This guy has been a phenom for the Magpies this season and the other strikers will have very big boots to fill when he leaves for the African Cup of Nations.
That’s a wrap folks.
Enjoy the Manchester Derby today as neutrals.
Sayonara.
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