So, i’m on my way to the airport ahead of my trip to Abuja. It’s Easter baby, and it affords me the chance to chill with the fam. This also means that I’m going to see the game with the Mrs. and @dkingpin, my brother from an Mbaise mom.
The international break is over and we can now focus on the final surge for a Champions League berth and of course, the FA Cup semifinal. Arsene Wenger would need every player he has at his disposal and it’s very encouraging to know that four of the injured lot, Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy are back in the mix. The quartet played a closed door friendly against Brentford where the Gunners ran out as 4-0 winners.
Wilshere did well to get a goal and assist to his name and when you consider the fact that his last match for the Gunners was as far back as November, you’d be hoping that his injury problems are now behind him. Wilshere is one player that the fans have always favored as he’s Arsenal through and through but injuries have dented his progress as a footballer times without number. It’s really interesting to see how Wenger manages the Wilshere situation, especially when the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla can be deployed in the box to box role.
Francis Coquelin’s remarkable appearances have made the fans to forget that the captain, Mikel Arteta, still exists but like Wilshere, I hope his injury problems are over. Arteta last featured for the team in the game against Dortmund and he had to go under the knife to fix a Wilfried Bony Tottenham, or spur, as the doctors would call it. I don’t see Arteta displacing Coquelin from the first team but I’d envisage that Wenger would deploy the elder statesman when he wants to see games out because he’s experience and calm will be vital to the team.
Debuchy is one player I expect to walk into the team following his return to full fitness. The former Newcastle man has ensured an injury-ravaged season and would be hoping to make up for lost time. In his absence, Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers put decent shifts in that position, and I expect them to get some more game time between now and the end of the season.
Finally, there’s the curious case of Abou Diaby. Believe it or not, his last and only appearance this season was against Southampton in September and he has been out injured since. When I saw pictures of the players in the friendly game, it was really nice seeing the Frenchman in action. With his current deal set to expire this summer, I have a hunch that the team would want to cut their losses by allowing him leave on a free transfer, and it’s up to his agent to get him a new club.
I’m really close to the airport. It’s time to check in.
Sayonara
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