Waiting on Cesc + round-up

Good morning from Dublin where it is snowing like a fox. Stoopid country. We're broke, we now own the banks who then put up interest rates to make us even more broke, we're the only European nation to have a special needs sea slug as leader and now it's fucking snowing. I keep telling Mrs Blogs we need to move to the equator, I hope she can see I'm right now.

Anyway, let's move on and talk about much more important things for dwelling on this will make me more cross than Jesus on good Friday. We're anxiously awaiting news of Cesc Fabregas's involvement tomorrow night. The official site says:

There is a chance that the Arsenal captain will be available for selection against the Spanish champions. The 22-year-old continues to receive treatment for the severe bruising to his knee and leg that he suffered at Birmingham on Saturday.

Sounds iffy but if it's just bruising then I reckon he'll be all right to play. With Abou Diaby also a doubt apparently it'd be a huge blow to lose Cesc as well. I think we need both of them, to be honest, our strongest midfield at the moment is Song, Cesc, Diaby and when you're playing a team as good as Barcelona you need as many of your best players fit as possible. Cesc's dad is quoted in The Sun, via the Spanish press I assume, saying he's going to be ok and his leg hurts a lot less. There are pre-game press conferences today so we should find out for sure.

Whereas in previous seasons Cesc was seen as more a provider, this time around his added goals to arsenal. Arsene Wenger explains:

There is less tension in his finishing. You feel that before he wanted to force the chance and now he is more relaxed. Also he has gained more physical power. These two ingredients make a big difference.
 
Also I believe the change in formation has had an impact as well.

I think he's on 18 for the season which is a fantastic amount for a central midfielder. Having that kind of threat from midfield means the opposition don't just have to worry about our forward three. Yaya Toure plays the Song role for Barcelona and you can be sure he'll be given the task of trying to stop Cesc getting into dangerous areas. I think there's another factor in his scoring this season and that is an increase in pace. He's never been the quickest player but seems to have found an extra yard which has proved crucial on a number of occasions. The one that springs to mind is his second goal at home against Villa. The way he raced behind their defence to slot home was fantastic. As good as Barcelona are you do feel that's an area, certainly down their spine, where we might get some joy. They're not the quickest there.

Hopefully we'll get good news on Cesc and Diaby later on this afternoon. One man who will have to use all his experience tomorrow night is Sol Campbell. The manager has called the turnaround his career 'unbelievable' and it really is. From League Two at the start of the season to possibly the most glamorous football game of the season tomorrow night. From journeymen pros he's going to face a forward trio of Ibrahimovic, Messi and possibly Thierry Henry. That is what you call a challenge. The return of a rested Thomas Vermaelen should bring a bit more defensive stability to the side. His return also allows Alex Song to go back into midfield and the balance is a lot better with him there.

Nicklas Bendtner talks about Lionel Messi while Gerard Pique, who could well be an Arsenal player but for the fact United nicked him before we could nick him and he decided he didn't want to live in Manchester, calls Cesc the 'King of Arsenal' - all in the Mirror.

Thierry Henry says losing the Champions League final against Barcelona was the worst moment of his Arsenal career. Hopefully he'll be out for revenge if he plays tomorrow night. Erm ...

Dennis Bergkamp on Arsene Wenger:

Arsène Wenger’s idea is not only to play good football. It’s to play good football to win.

There's more in the article itself but I love his reasoning behind trying to score with lobs. I'll leave you to read it yourself but there can't be too many footballers who think like that.

Arsenal's reserves play Birmingham's reserves tonight. I hope we violate them in the face with an elephant's cock. Yes, I am a small and petty man. 

That's about that. Obviously there'll be a fuller preview of the game tomorrow, in the meantime let's hope fitness is on our side for once this season. Until then.