The Roundhead and Cavalier

Tuesday, 25 November 08, 03:05 PM · Comments(0)

It's funny, you wouldn't have thought that the mere ceremonial act of naming a new club captain would make someone feel better about the November Arsenal have endured, but I woke up this morning feeling a lot better about things than I did yesterday.

Perhaps my mood was helped by watching a playful, yet defiant press conference from the boss on the eve of tonight's Champions League match, which, let's not forget amid all the hysteria, will see us qualified should we win it. The squad is still skeletal though, the return of the old and new club captains offset by injuries to.... go on, guess... well I'm sure you knew already, and even if you didn't, you could have guessed without too much trouble, yes Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby are on the treatment table. Again.

What is it about the way we train our players? Really, it's ridiculous. Other teams get injuries, of course, but it seems like we have half a team out on a regular basis. Though, I have to admit, I do remember about a month ago we had a full squad of players to choose from minus numbers 7 and 9. Seems like a long time ago now.

So William Gallas is back and I hope, I really do, that the fans go easy on him tonight. He fucked up, sure he did and no, he wasn't the best captain we've ever had but I do think, as far as he could he gave it his best shot. Perhaps not being the focal point of this young team will benefit him and he can show us the form that we have seen in flashes over the last year and a half. Put it this way, I think we'd all rather him at the back then Alex Song, or Mickael Silvestre, no?

Hopefully the ten days rest will have done the new skipper some good, he should get a heroes reception tonight and I hope that this can inspire him to lead us to a much needed victory, though it is safe to say that one yellow band is not going to turn Cesc into Superman. The man himself had this to say about his appointment (so tempting to call it a coronation, if we were in ruder health):

"It is a great honour for me to captain one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"It is a proud moment. I know it's a big responsibility but together with my team-mates, I know we have the spirit and commitment to get back to winning ways and fulfil our potential."

Wise words indeed from the man of the moment. People will have their doubts about this appointment, I include myself in that, but that isn't Cesc's problem. That is for another man to address, which we all hope he will in January, in the meantime Cesc was probably the only choice with the required stature at the club.

In other news, Bloc Party lookalike Kolo Toure has rejected transfer talk involving our conquerors at the weekend, though the sentence "Time will tell" will have Arsenal conspiracy theorists and professional worriers working overtime.

Enjoy the game tonight, y'all.

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