Hands up who's panicking?

Sunday, 15 November 09, 01:20 AM · Comments(12)

I wrote the following before I got the news that "Van Persie has torn his anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament, and his anterior talofibular ligament has unfortunately snapped- hes out for the rest of the season." No club confirmation yet, so let's hope this is just some little journalist jumping the gun.

After over a week mostly off the radar, it took until late Saturday evening, and an email from a South African in America (thanks Greg) for me to find out about Van Persie. Greg said he needed a drink after hearing about VP's injury, and I had no clue what he was talking about. The first thing that came into my head was 'break' so off I went to Sky Sports. Nothing. Arsenal.com. Nothing, though no surprise there as they are usually the last to break most Arsenal stories.

After finding it via google and emailed links, my next thought, after ‘for fuck's sake,’ was maybe this was the opportunity needed to play Theo through the middle. Eduardo is already accomplished there, and Vela should be getting more starts, so while it is an awful thing, I think we have more than enough all round to cover, and while I’m sure there’ll be doom and gloom merchants about, I think they either don’t know or forget how deadly Vela’s touch and finish are. And he's just one of many who can step in.

Finger’s crossed as like you I’m reading two months – rest of season so the best thing I think I can say is at least it’s not Vermaelen or Gallas.

The injury hokey-cokey and that damn November jinx hits again, but if you look around the clubs who had players away on pointless duty, most picked up knocks. No point yapping about it.

I'm sure there are quite a few Arsenal fans out there going ballistic at the news. After all, it was a friendly too far away from the World Cup to be of any benefit, but we also have to remember that this is Van Persie. This is what happens to him. This is what happens to Arsenal. I would be very interested to see the injury stats for the past year or so comparing us to all other clubs in the Premier League. I think we can safely assume it is one league we would be top off, yet you never hear Wenger bemoaning all the injuries (he might moan about VP, but that's an International thing, not an Arsenal injury crisis thing). Look at the crying Rafa has done over the past few weeks, and the Spuds. Boo fucking hoo as they say round these parts. I've asked it before and I'll ask it again, I'd love to know when we were physically able to field the same team two games in a row? Also, has there been a week in the last 12-18 months were we haven't lost a player to injury? Sure as hell doesn't feel like it.

And that wasn't yapping, it was just pondering. Just to be clear on that.

I suppose if you wanted to take positive thinking to a new level you could always look at the fact that all these injuries mean our players won't suffer so much from burn-out throughout the season, and who knows, if VP is out for a few months, we can always hope he can come back, fresh and firing, for the run-in.

Elsewhere, the Internationals were rather kinder to Aaron Ramsey who single handedly destroyed the Scots. Sagna and Gallas got the goal and clean sheet they wanted to take back to Paris for Wednesday, Arshavin & Russia won 2-1 against Slovenia, though I'm sure they're not best pleased about conceding an away goal, while Vermaelen showed he is ready to step in for VP if needed by bagging yet another goal as Belgium beat Hungary 3-0. Cesc and Spain beat Argentina 2-1, Xavi Alonso showing yet again why Liverpool are mental by scoring both, Eduardo also got two as Croatia spanked Lichtenstein showing he's ready to fill in as well, Senderos was not involved as Switzerland lost their 11-game unbeaten record 1-0 to Norway, Mannone played in goal as his Italian u21 side lost 2-0 away to Hungary, Lansbury got a call up to the England u21 squad which defeated Portugal, though he didn't get any minutes, and Gibbs played the full 90 and managed to not get one single mention in a minute-by-minute report which is good for a defender I suppose, but maybe not for one who likes to get forward as much as Kieran. Did I forget anyone? I don't think so, I think everyone else is injured.

Away from the Internationals and back to Arsenal and it is great to hear Fran Merida speaking about how he is only focused on Arsenal. Let's hope he gets his pen out pretty sharpish and signs his new deal. Who knows, with the need to shuffle things around, he might just get more game-time than he would have thought. He said ""I am committed to Arsenal and I am only thinking of playing there,” which is something he's probably going to have to say a lot in the next few years if he really does turn out to be Cesc Mark II.

To finish, I think there is only one thing to do, and that is to quote Greg, the South African in America. He sums everything up perfectly "This whole season's gonna be about us defying the odds, fuck the rest. Viva ARSENAL!"

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Tags: Arsenal

Topics: Arsenal

Posted by LadyArse | Comments (12)

12 Comments · Add yours

1. JamrockRover Wrote: 12.55GMT | Nov 15, 2009

It just had to happen, didn't it. As good as the others are we are playing RVP as the lynch pin of the front 3 in our new formation and it's hard to see another striker playing that role as well him. $:\$

1. ClownshoeVanClubfoot Wrote: 13.46GMT | Nov 15, 2009

Bugger!

1. LadyArse Wrote: 13.58GMT | Nov 15, 2009

I would just like to make the following points:
1. last season nobody believed VP could play the central role and many actually questioned, despite his obvious class and talent, if we could fit him in to this team
2. Eduardo is a natural centre forward
3. Carlos Vela
4. Bendtner will be back in four weeks
5. Walcott should be back in the next 1-2
6. Nasri is back which, if Wenger plays him where he is best, frees up Arshavin to play up front whcih would suit him perfectly
7. Sanchez Watt (hehe just threw that in to see if you're paying attention)

Nuff said me thinks

Off course it sucks big time that he's injured, I just don't think it's as big a blow as many are making out. OK, so the players mentioned above won't play the same way as VP, but then is that aways a bad thing?

I'm going to go back to work tomorrow I think so I'm trying to stay as positive as I can...this is the best I can do lol

1. LadyArse Wrote: 14.01GMT | Nov 15, 2009

What sets us apart from the other teams in the 'big four' is that we are a 'team' not reliant on individuals....I think we'll see that strength coming through now even more than we have already. Strength in depth folks, strength in depth

1. LadyArse Wrote: 14.03GMT | Nov 15, 2009

And if you think that miracles can't happen, have a read at this...LINK it's a decent article on Goal.com

1. JamrockRover Wrote: 14.27GMT | Nov 15, 2009

I admire your positivity.

1. JamrockRover Wrote: 14.29GMT | Nov 15, 2009

It's good to hear Reyes talking so positively about us considering he didn't quite make it at Arsenal.

1. ClownshoeVanClubfoot Wrote: 15.04GMT | Nov 15, 2009

Good points. I feel better about it already.

Y'know Bendtner's scheduled to be back by 29th - according to physioroom. He'd be my first pick to replace van Persie.

And it's not as bad as, say, an injury to either Gallas or Vermaelen.

1. ClownshoeVanClubfoot Wrote: 15.06GMT | Nov 15, 2009

The goal stats prove that.

Everybody's kncoking them in at the moment.

1. LadyArse Wrote: 19.28GMT | Nov 15, 2009

Looks like I was correct at the beginning of my blog LINK it's definitely torn ligaments, which is worse than a break, but they're still waiting to confirm if it's broken as well...I haven't watched the tackle, I don't think I want to. Probably will in a few days, but after the trauma watching Eduardo lose his leg live (which I know was a hell of a lot worse) I think I'll build up to it... $:\$