Disabled award tainted? / Cesc behaviour doesn’t surprise me as naive defence begins…

Finally we can start getting excited about the new season starting. I can almost taste the warm Underhill Stella Artois as I write. Sadly this year I am doubtful to be in attendance, but if you do have the chance to fly round the M25 to watch the game, I’d highly recommend it as an excellent day out. It’s kind of like going to an old school friends house who hasn’t done so well since they decided to pursue their dream of playing pan pipes on Britain’s got Talent. It really makes you appreciate the delightful stadium we have at the Grove and the calibre of some of our players.

Last time I went, Eboue told one of my chums that he reads Le Grove everyday and he loves it. A very sweet lie if ever I did hear one!

This years event should be quite exciting. I’m hoping that we’ll have a new goalkeeper to showcase. I’m hoping that we’ll get a dominant performance from Kozzer (Which I am reliably informed sounds like Koza which is Polish for Goat… which is the acronym of ‘greatest of all time’) and we’ll get to check out Moroccan heading sensation, Chamakh.

Mind you, don’t get too carried away with what you see. I’m pretty sure Vermaelen had an aerial nightmare against Barnet last year which didn’t prove to be the case as the season went on.

Rumours are still flying all over the place with regards to Joe Cole, people have been arguing the toss over the odds, asking how reliable Barry Silkman is and debating the quality of the player. I’ve got no idea what’s going on anymore, all I’d say is doubting his quality is foolish and judging him based on 15 minutes in a World Cup is also silly. We want quality players at Arsenal and it’s generally even better if they’re on a free from the not so classy ones on the other side of London.

I wrote this at 0800 last night

I’m not sure what to make of the Cesc comments doing the rounds,

“All I can say is that this (World Cup victory) is for all the Arsenal players and fans, they are a world-class club.
“I am an Arsenal player and proud to be.”

I then had to add this in at 1000 last night

Or is it the above a slimmed down version of this?

“I had a text message of congratulations from Arsene Wenger. He said I deserve it. I just think this is for everyone at Arsenal who helped me get to where I am now. I am really proud to have been an Arsenal player.”

I like the first one better to be honest. Not really a fan of the use of past tense when our Captain is talking about Arsenal. The source is pretty reliable as well, Eurosport aren’t known for telling porkies.

Then had to add this in at 1200 last night

The day got worse. As Spain celebrated winning the world cup in front of the worlds press, Reina walked Cesc to the front of the stage with a loose arm over his shoulder, two players came from round the back and apparently forced a Barca shirt over his head. Here is the video.

It’s a practical joke in poor taste, but my take on this is as followed:

• ‘Forced’ is an incredibly strong word. Reina is 3 inches taller than Cesc, he weighs 15kg more than him yet he is able to control him with the loosest headlock since my Grandma took up WWF at the age of 86.
• Would Tony Adams have reacted like that if a few Man United players had tried to put a Spurs shirt over his head back in the day? Or would you have seen a bull in a china shop type reaction? Seriously, just imagine what your own personal reaction would be to something like that? I’m not saying he should have reacted like a cage fighter who’s having a tutu forced on him… I’m saying there could have been a struggle of sorts. Standing there like a lemon isn’t a reaction.
• Even if Cesc was unaware, feeling incredibly weak and unable to identify a burgundy and blue shirt going over his head, what does it say about the conversations he’s been having this summer with his team mates? It says this story has been on the agenda and he’s been playing along.

I hope we can finally lay to rest the naive mindset that every leak to the press has been without prior knowledge of our Captain. The Barcelona players are despicable, Reina is conniving and the whole process the Spanish put in place to lure players back to the homeland is vulgar beyond belief. However, it is my view that Cesc is not an innocent party in all of this. His behaviour this summer has been deplorable considering his role at the club and allowing your team mates to disrespect you in that way is not captain material.

Though both of his original comments are encouraging. It’s interesting that he waited until now to say something. Wouldn’t you expect our Captain to come out with the above comments like that at the start of the World Cup?

It’s interesting that Man U don’t have a pot to pi*s in, yet none of the vultures are circling their players this summer. No one goes after the Chav players they want to keep. Yet Arsenal have this crap every single year without fail and someone always seems to go. So much for project youth commanding love and loyalty eh?

Anyway, none of this matters if you factor in that Barcelona have a deficit that would make the Greeks blush.  Arsenal’s stern stance on the matter also bodes well.  You’d have to suspect our captain isn’t going anywhere. Though a groveling apology should be heading our way.

Good job too… I just wonder how the faithful will react.

I see that Arsenal’s disabled supporters gave Tommy V the player of the year award. I’m not really sure why Arsenal have singled out disabled people for their own award? Surely they’re fans the same as the rest of us? Couldn’t they just vote in the same poll? Anyway, congrats Tommy V! I wonder if the disabled award was reflective of the Cesc situation? Interesting stuff…

Finally, a big fat congratulations to Nik Bendtner on the birth of his brand new child. I hope the baby didn’t inherit his fathers big head… it could have been painful for the Baroness if you catch my drift. Anyway, good luck, hopefully it’ll inspire him to a fantastic season this year. Did you know his lady friend is worth £400million? Imagine that…

Nik B: ‘Darling, let me get this…’

Baroness: ‘Honestly Nik, you keep your money, go and buy yourself something pretty tomorrow…I’ll take care of this Nando’s bill.”

A footballers salary and you’re still not the bread-winner!

Anyway, plenty to talk about in the comments section today!

I’m off to force my work shirt over my head.