But hello!

I had an amusing text message the other day inviting me to the Arsenal End of Season Party on Saturday night – and it was from a fellow gooner too. Brilliant.

Thing aren’t that bad of course, and indeed in the grand scheme of things, things aren’t bad at all, but the plague of injuries and suspensions that has struck the club down this week has not exactly helped us in our quest to retain the cup and make it four in five years.

You can pretty much pick the team in fact, although I’ll be damned if I can work out who will play at left-back. We’re down to the bare bones in defence, and unless someone gets moved wildly out of position, then we only have four fit defenders.

To be frank, with Pires rested, Fabregas suspended, and Lauren and Gilberto injured, we’re hardly doing musical chairs for the midfield either. Again, unless someone gets brought in – Muamba or Song, for example, which just isn’t going to happen – then the only thing to think about is whether Diaby starts again or whether to drop Reyes back into midfield, or indeed whether to play five through the middle, with van Persie the lone striker.

It’s just silly old guesswork to while away Friday afternoon, but here it is anyway. Any advances on the below?

Lehmann
Gilbert Djourou Campbell Senderos
Ljungberg Diaby Flamini Hleb
Reyes van Persie

Or:

Lehmann
Gilbert Djourou Campbell Senderos
Ljungberg Diaby Flamini Hleb Reyes
van Persie