Well, would you credit it – it’s another international week. Is this the fourth this season? And is that a record? One bright light is the fact that we only have one (healthy) England international, so we’ll only have one (unhealthy) England international at the end of it all. If Wenger’s got any sense he’ll spin a web of piffle about how Sol Campbell’s stubbed his toe, has got a light cold, or is suffering from an itchy inner ear.
In the world of the rip-roaring redcurrants, Dutch frontman (and brilliantly named) Dirk Kuyt has been grunting in a nice way about joining us. “I’m honoured someone like Arsene Wenger made all that effort to come to Holland,” he said, taking a bit of a gamble that it was indeed him that Wenger had come to watch last weekend. (It could have been Hossam Ghaly, Dirk, in case you didn’t know).
Who knows, we may even send £12m of used fifties fluttering in the direction of Feyenoord for My Kuyt, or so it says here.
And although his adopted team is doing less well than he might have hoped, Wenger is glad to see Justin Hoyte coming on in leaps and bounds at Sunderland. “To see Justin doing so well for Sunderland is good news for Arsenal. What makes it even more remarkable is that he is playing at left back at the moment and he is actually a right back. I’m very pleased with him.”
Talking him up yet further – as a possible future England right-back – le Boss added, “When you look at the senior England side… there is possibly a space in the squad in that position. It is a position Justin can play for England in the future, I don’t doubt that.”