The Day Before Tuesday

Okay then. It's Monday. Made it through Sunday and Saturday with a face like Wenger's, and now wondering about Tuesday. It's funny how the mental calendar revolves around the Arsenal fixture list.

Home game, away game, mid-week game? European game, FA Cup weekend, mid-week Carling Cup game? Bloody international week? Knocked-out of FA Cup free weekend? Not to mention, of course, the dreaded purgatory of the months of June-August. This year will be particularly bad. One of those odd years between the EURO and World Cup years.

Anyway, we've still got something to watch on Tuesday night, and that's more than I could ask for. But before I go there, there's some rather "funny" news out there, concerning one disgruntled Arse fan.

It seems during last season's 1-1 home draw against Villa, a rather silly dude - this chap by the name of Michael Clancy, sitting in the HOME section, jumps up and celebrates Senderos' own goal. Now, there are many many things wrong about this:

(a) Celebrating an away goal in the home section (obvious)
(b) Celebrating an own goal (even worse)
(c) Celebrating a Senderos own goal (friggin' takes the cake)

So what happens is that this Arse fan, David Knight, walks up to him and pushes him down the flight of concrete Emirates stairs, whereupon Mr Clancy gets his face smashed in. What's particularly worrying is that Mr Arse fan was watching the game with Master Arse fan junior. Wonder what he said to his kid when he walked back to him.

Choose between:

(a) "Now STOP calling me a scaredy cat. I did it, okay??!!!"
(b) "Tell Mum and you're never coming to another game with me again."

Weirdos all around.

Elsewhere, Sir has come up with a brainwave in describing our problems: "I don’t think he likes buying defenders. That lacks balance."

Well, right now, I wouldn't say that our problem lies in defence. He says we've got great attacking players. But yeah, they're doing a real good job at attacking. The problem, as I said on Saturday then, is neither defence nor attack, but right in the middle.

Meanwhile, Arshavin’s having a nice rest this week, and thank god he’s ineligible for Tuesday’s game. So says the young man:

"If I played on Saturday in the Russian Premier League, I think I would have been okay but the English Premier League is quicker. So I will have to see how long it takes me to be up to speed."

"I enjoyed my debut in front of so many spectators but am disappointed we did not get the result. Sunderland played very defensive."

So, several things for him to get used to: more “tiring” games against the really tough sides like…Sunderland, and for teams to…defend. I’m so sick of this sad refrain about defensive teams. I suppose teams playing Man U don’t really defend, but like, give away goals. STOP DEFENDING AGAINST US, PLEASE!!

Elsewhere, as expected, Pool are contributing generously to the "Give Man U a Bigger Lead" Fund, after a draw at home to City. Sounds familiar. Wonder where I've heard that before. Anyway, Rafa thinks that they'll now have to beat United at Old Trafford to have any chance.

Well, I'd make the equation even simpler for the old man. Anything less than 6 points in your next games against Boro and Sunderland and you won't even have to worry about Old Trafford. Less than 3 points from the two games and you won't even have to worry about the contract you're refusing to sign.

Finally, fun (or sad) fact for the day: Don't think we've scored from more than 20 yards this season. No net busters. Nothing. Took it for granted with Henry, I suppose. Fingers crossed with Arshavin. Not sure there's anyone else capable, now than Cesc ain't around.

On to Tuesday then. I'm just brimming with confidence.