Arsene’s squad skittled over

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My days, what’s all this? Arsenal.com names eleven players out for tonight’s visit of Blackburn, though it does only go on to list ten.

Eboue and Song are both still on international duty (but not Toure apparently – where the dickens is Eboue?), while Djourou, Senderos, van Persie (leading the vanguard as always), Diaby, Flamini, Almunia, Denilson and Rosicky are all out. I imagine one or two of those might yet make it tonight, but bare bones it is nonetheless. Our thin squad is now skeletal.

Let’s hope it doesn’t affect what is an excellent chance to put some distance between us and the other chasing teams. It would be just typical if we dropped points tonight – and I suspect Blackburn sense they might be able to do something tonight with an absentee list like that. We’ve just got to go for it and defend well; what more incentive than going five points clear could the players want?

Interesting comments as ever about the ’39th game’ over the last few days. There is an overwhelming and justifiable negativity about this plan among Arsenal fans. The extra game makes no sense and cannot be divvied up fairly. More details came out yesterday about how it would work, and it seems the top five will not be drawn against one another. This hardly assuages my distrust.

Taking the current table as it is, that merely means that Arsenal could draw the Totts while Man U draw Derby. Or, of course, vice versa – but hardly an equitable way to dish out a random additional three points.

Anyway, I’m sure we’ll hear more about this crackpot plan in the fullness of time. In the meantime, it’s back to business for the game tonight.

Come on you rip-roarers…

Jim

Arsenal since about 1979. Thick, thin and all that.