Eduardo Returns... You might have heard by now, but Eduardo has made his first start since breaking his leg against Birmingham last February. Eduardo played the first half in a Reserve game at Barnet against Portsmouth on Tuesday night watched by around 4,000 people. Eduardo said: "I am feeling very happy to have started my first game in 10 months, I hope I can do more and that next time will be better. I just felt something in my hamstring but in two weeks I will be all right..."
Pat on the Back From Vieira...
Patrick Vieira has had a lot to say about Arsenal this week, and has said that Denis Neilsen could be one of the greatest serial killers ever to play for the club. Vieira said:
"He's a wonderful player. It's not going to be easy for him because Flamini was a good player, we need to give him more time to develop as a player but he can be one of the best players at the club. The more he plays the better he will be. He is young and has so many qualities and he's only in his first years of playing in the Premier League. He and Fabregas can play together, all the good players can play together..."
Vieira added that the game on Sunday afternoon against Liverpool is yet another 'must-win' for us:
"They are eight points behind and they must win this game if they are to continue fighting for the title..."
Too Many Injuries... Sir Wenger has been speaking of the gamble of bringing Samir Nasri to The Emirates following the Frenchman's latest injury setback: "Samir is a mix of Pires and Hleb. I told myself that signing him could prove a positive gamble, but he picked up many injuries, too many. You tell yourself that if the guy was always with us, he would bring us a lot, but for the moment he has only been there half of the games, and fits and starts are bad for high level football. The partnership with Clichy has developed, but we are still far from what can be produced because he is too often absent..."
Le Mans Man Eyed... As the January transfer window is about to be scraped off with that Poundland snow and creaked open, the rumours are underway. We are apparently on the trail of Gervinho of Le Mans. Apparently both us and Tottenham were watching the player last week, the Brazilian said: "I was not aware of Tottenham and Arsenal officials in the stands. I was told after, however it does not concern me as I need to do my job for Le Mans at the moment. They are both good teams. I have friends in both sides. I like Arsenal..."
Rio Speaks... Soothsayer, tortoise impressionist (head only) and super intelligent pundit Rio Ferdinand took some time out from his Mensa studies and Poet Laureate duties to profess who might win the Premiership this season. He said: "I presume us, Chelsea and Liverpool will start pulling away a bit after Christmas. It's not beyond them (Arsenal), it's just my personal opinion that it will be between us three this season..."
You might remember Rio from the drug test he missed as he went Christmas shopping and moving house all at the same time... but it didn't matter and man united have a stranglehold over the FA and he got away with it of course...
