El Dein-ablo and Pompey Preview

Apologies for lack of posting yesterday. A busy schedule involving mucho grande travelling and beaucoup de things to do meant I was unable to even get to my computer until midnight. Ho hum. I’m sure you’ve managed to immerse yourselves with all sorts of arsey goodness in the meanwhile, and in fact are quite bored already with all the David Dein talk. I for one certainly am. I am fed up of hearing about him and his dodgy dealings and how this and how that will affect Arsenal Football Club. I DON’T CARE ABOUT DAVID DEIN. I think the man is a prick and is essentially Judas incarnate. He is the devil.

If you need further evidence of his sheer wankerishness, check these quotes of an interview in The Times;

“I know, from speaking to him, that Arsène intends to commit in the next few days. I wouldn’t have advised him to if I didn’t have Arsenal’s best interests at heart.”

*cough* Prick *cough*

I want to see Arsenal become the best team in the world, and to that end I’ve been instrumental in getting Arsène to sign a new contract.”

*cough* Bullshit *cough*

“I don’t want to be adversarial, just the opposite”

Oh yeah, that’s right Dave. That’s why you secretly tried to sell the club to Kroenke from under the board’s nose. Co-operation wasn’t it. yes, of course.

It doesn’t take a genius to see that these are all lies uttered from the mouth of a weasely little shitbag who’s only interest is getting rich off the back the football team he supports. Enough of him. Enough talk perpetuating his media presence. Enough, enough , enough.

Footballistically, today sees the visit of Portmouth ~~Pirates~~ FC to The Grove. You have to give Pompey their dues; since their promotion they have become a very solid mid-table team. Ok, there was a wobble last season but overall Harry’s done a good job for them. He’s also made it a bit of a retirement home for ex-Arsenal players too. But joking aside, Harry Redknapp is no mug in the transfer market and has, again, bought well in the summer to augment his squad today will be a tough game.

In team news, nothing’s changed. The usual suspects are still out, as is Alex Hleb who is still feeling a bit peaky. Will we see Diarra today? In a word, no. But if I were to use 2 words they’d be “probably not”. It seems unlikely that our new midfielder would feature, but never say never. Just probably never.

Diarra’s was an interesting signing. Another CM or RB player adding to the masses we already have in those positions. To add my version of what’s going on to the billions already out there on the blogs, I see him as a long term Gilberto replacement and general utility player. I also (like others) think AW’s trying to get some kind of versatile squad together where everyone can play everyone else’s position. But in a nutshell, I think AW sees Diarra as our Essien. You all know I see Wenger phasing out Gilberto slowly over the next season or so, and while I like Gilbs, he is reaching the stage where he could be usurped by a younger man of burgeoning talent.

I expect the team to line up thus:

Almunia
Hoyte
Toure
Senderos
Clichy
Walcott
Fabregas
Gilberto
Rosicky
RvP
Adebayor

Ade should start to counter the height and muscle that Pompey undoubtedly have, but we may well see Eduardo thrown on to have a good crack at them with plenty of time remaining.

That’s it. Enjoy the match

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