How ironic that only six months after the media was writing us off for losing Henry, we’d be sitting here so content with the state of our strikeforce.
Robin Van Persie was expected to be the main man this season, and in the early part of the season he seemed to be stepping up, before injury cut him down once more. However, he will play against Spurs in the Carling Cup tomorrow night, a welcome return, especially with Adebayor carrying a slight niggle. It’ll be good to see the Dutchman back, and what better way to return that by scoring against the old enemy for the first time?
But it is a credit to the rest of the strikeforce that Van Persie has not been missed as much as we had feared. Bendtner has looked impressive in most of his appearances this season, especially those in which he’s come off the bench, but it has been Eduardo who has really caught the eye in recent weeks.
He coolness in front of goal is amazing, and when he missed a chance against Burnley on Sunday it was a genuine surprise to him and all of us. That can only be a good sign. It seems the six month settling in period really does ring true.
Which is something Lassana Diarra should note. He has only been at the Emirates for four months, and has been a regular in the Carling Cup, a common Wenger introduction for a new player. But he isn’t satisfied, and his complete absence from the team on Sunday was ominous. If he isn’t featuring tomorrow night, it can only mean one thing – he’s on his way out.
Which would be fine, of course, if we could just get Flamini to sign a new contract, but with less than six months to go on his existing deal, terms have not been agreed. Unlike Diarra, Flamini appears to want to stay, but at the moment he is free to talk to any club he likes, so the deal needs signing before he gets his head turned.
Lehmann will make up his mind in the next couple of days, apparently. It really is a shame that his time with us is ending as it is – we must remember him as the entertaining and fine keeper he has been over the grumpy old man he seems to have become.
Elsewhere, Dutchman Vincent van den Berg has joined the Go Ahead Eagles on loan. Although Sky’s report suggests he is a player of immense promise, the noises coming from the Emirates suggest that in fact his progression has not been as expected, and nor has his attitude, so it would be a surprise to see him return.
Which reminds me, whatever happened to Quincy?
Until tomorrow.
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