The North Bank – “It’s got va-va-voom” (An Arsenal blog)

First of all, apologies for no post yesterday. Although I finished work at 1pm, I had to go from Tokyo to Yokohama and then be back in Tokyo again by 6pm for a night of beer, so there just wasn’t any time to fit in the writing of a post. I have a feeling that the after effects of last night will have an impact on the length of today’s post…

As expected, the AGM revealed next to nothing in terms of surprises and things we didn’t already know. That’s what happens when the questions are pre-screened. It’s a pity that we still haven’t heard Kroenke Tonk Stan speaking yet, but I guess he can’t make any public statement of his intentions as it would go against the market rules.

Team news ahead of the ManShitty game is that only Sagna will return to the squad from the squad that was available against Shakthar. Van Persie, Koscielny and Vermaelen remain unavailable. Wilshere’s three game suspension starts this weekend and let’s hope that he takes this chance to rest and come back fresh. I am looking forward to seeing how his partnership with Cesc will develop over the season. Against Shakthar, 19 of the 70 passes that he completed were to Fabregas and it is a sign that they could forge quite a formidable partnership in the centre of midfield. If they can click and stay fit, then I think that we will have a good season. Of course, a season doesn’t depend on just two players, but they could make us a really formidable attacking force through their creativity and goals from midfield.

I imagine the team will line up with Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Walcott, Arshavin and Chamakh. Though I think the biggest question marks are over that line-up is the starting of Diaby and Walcott. It may be that we see Nasri start instead of either of them.

The biggest revelation during the week was that the only reason that we didn’t sign Yaya Toure all those years ago was because he hadn’t regularly represented his country and so it was a passport/visa problem. But for that, he would have been an Arsenal player. I remember seeing him playing for Barcelona against Yokohama F. Marinos a few summers ago and he was really impressive. Even from far away in the stand, he looked massive. He would have been a good signing for us but, anyway, let’s hope that we can beat his current team this coming Sunday.

Finally, a belated happy birthday to Arsene Wenger who turned 61 during the week.

I’m off to take the edge of this hangover. While having said cure, I will have a good laugh at how Rooney swindled ManUre into paying him £200k+ per week. The aging hookers aren’t the only ones being taken for a ride in Manchester.

Take it easy.