Paul Robinson Facing Major Back Trouble Again
Oct 3rd, 2009 by 'holic
“Right love, just so you don’t make any plans, Arsenal are on tv on Sunday lunchtime.” The management has not been talking to me since Thursday night! “Don’t get the ‘ump with me love, I don’t exactly look forward to watching teams like Blackburn, you know.” She doesn’t believe me…
Arsene Wenger, thankfully, understands the importance of beating the latest Sam Allardyce creation.
‘How well we deal with teams like Blackburn at home will determine our season’
Dudley’s answer to Victor Frankenstein brings his latest bunch of cloggers, nigglers, elbow-merchants and divers (Yes, Mr Pedersen, we remember last season) to the Grove. Sadly for Allardyce he is saddled with Paul Robinson in goal, and the former Tottenham porker regularly spends a couple of days in traction after facing Arsenal having strained his back pulling the ball out of the back of the net so often. 41 times in 15 matches actually.
Even worse for the visitors, they now boast Pascal Chimbonda in their ranks. He is so good that Tottenham sold him twice! Allardyce will pin his hopes on his dashing strikers, in particular that El Hadji Diouf can keep his team within spitting distance of the Gunners.
OK, I’ve had my fun. We know it won’t be pretty, but as Allardyce would doubtless remind us, it isn’t up to them to open the game up and entertain when away to Arsenal. It is up to Arsene’s team, currently building a tidy little run of wins. Five in a row to be precise, and we haven’t conceded a goal in the last four.
I was asked in the week if I would rotate the side a little, and responded that if Arsene Wenger is serious about playing Aaron Ramsey ‘fifteen or twenty’ times this season, then this would be a good opportunity for one of those. That might also light a little fire under Abou Diaby, starting to look a key figure for us if and when Alex Song heads for the African Cup of Nations.
Eduardo is sadly missing, but Theo Walcott and Nicklas ‘where’s that brake pedal gone’ Bendtner return. One of them should start on the right of the front three. Gooners will be praying that Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin can pick up where they left off on Tuesday. ‘He’s five foot four’ scored his first goal for Arsenal in this fixture back in March.
Also on target in that game, not once but twice, was Emmanuel Eboue. Expect the Blackburn physio to bring on a corset for Robinson if the Ivorian gets on as a second-half substitute.
The ‘holic pound is on Thomas Vermaelen to continue his bid to be top goalscorer this term. I fancy we will have rather a lot of set pieces, and the Belgian looks to be great value at sixes with both Paddy Power and William Hill. Frankly, there isn’t much value around elsewhere. The bookies have this down as a foregone conclusion.
I hope they are right.
Altogether now. “IT’S BEHIND YOU, ROBBO”.
12 Responses to “Paul Robinson Facing Major Back Trouble Again”
A nice cheeky little French red to toast more Wngerball please holic.
Results today have done us no harm. Sunday will be a good time to lay down a marker for all of the others to take note. I am sure that Theo will get a run out somewhere. My guess he will start on the bench. 30 minutes at the end against those tiring legs may well swing it largely in our favour. It would also be great to see Rosicky play a full part. He has been out for so long that seeing him back has been a breath of fresh air. I had alnmost forgotten how good he was. If Rosicky and Arhavin can work well together then we really could be in for something very special.
4-0 to those rip roaring, free scoring , glorious Gunners.
Keep the faith.
Now where did I put that bottle????????
[…] Goonerholic: Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Drink, Arsenal goonerholic.com/?p=1886 – view page – cached Goonerholic: Comment and review from a lifelong fan — From the page […]
I’m going for 4-0 as well. We’re averaging 4 goals at home in the league (what do you know, we’ve played twice, and scored four each time, strike me down), so lets keep that good vibe going before an interminably long international break.
Holland are bringing all their first teamers to AUSTRALIA to play in a FRIENDLY. There is no God, sorry guys.
I’ll have a bottle of Carmenere please.
And if the Devil’s Cellar is anything to go by then I’m hoping we’ll get at least four helpings out of it too.
Cheers.
I’ll have the ten thousandth drink then 😉
I think you might have had a wee yin before tonight’s post, ‘Holic? You’re in pantomime mood and we’re still three months away from Christmas. We don’t need to be pretty tomorrow, but three points are essential. I share your optimism, but not for an Eboue goal. Emmanuel 2 has raised his game but is still victim to the vicious swipe off the outside of his boot when opportunity knocks.
I’d like to see Ramsey and Gibbs start. I think Theo will get on but whether for first 60 or last 30? Tomorrow will tell. Enjoy.
You know we’re doing really well when we’re all looking forward to face an Allardyce team! The week-end started on a positive note for us so I’ll go for a 3-0 and if I could, I’d bet on Manonne to gift us with another clean sheet.
I’d love it if Vela and Walcott were given a chance to play together.
GO GUNNERS!
im going too for a 3-0 arsenal or 4-1 although 3-0 would be better, with arshavin, van persie and bendtner on the scoresheet.
heres the team im going with;
…………………………….mannone………………………………
………sagna………gallas………vermaelen………clichy…….
……………………………….song…………………………………..
…………….cesc………………………………diaby……………….
………eboue………………………………………arshavin………
………………………………van persie…………………………….
subs: sczesney, senderos, gibbs, ramsey, rosicky, bendtner, walcott
either way the boss will choose the right 1
I think gallas, vermaelen and song needs rest.They have been playing all the matches since the start of the season(except cc of course) and we don’t wanna lose them for the games against the bigger clubs where their presence would be required more.We could rest them one by one with senderos and ramsey filling the role.
Personally I would like another game like Liege. Both team spirit and crowd union has really started to grow and another frustrating game in which we prove our superiority in the end with the crowd willing us to win would add to the ‘arsenalisation’ of our home. All 12 men are becoming united and long may it continue.
That said, I won’t complain if it’s just a 4-0 thrashing. Some talking head said the other day that the way we play with the opportunities we get it won’t be long till we match Utd’s 9-0 v. Ipswich and I couldn’t imagine it happening to a team where Paul Robinson plays. All joking aside, let’s also hope the starting eleven are taking this more seriously than we all are; we all know the dreaded curse of taking teams we are ‘expected’ to beat too lightly.
I agree that we should see some rotation. Clichy can stay as he is hitting form and Evra is above him in the France tier but giving Gallas a rest (and pretending its an injury to take him out of Domenech’s dangerous eye) and Senderos an opportunity could be beneficial for both parties. Ramsey for Song (with Diaby dropping back and having to play a more restrained game) would also rest our beloved Cameroonian knowing how many games he’ll be important in this season and give Rambo another ticker in his 15/20 games target. Eduardo has a knock and maybe it is too much to start Rosicky twice in a week, so expect Bendtner back. Also glad to see Walcott back.
Nice article ‘holic.
Ah, BtM, you noticed the lump in my cheek where my tongue was pressing! This game has the potential to be another of those difficult ones at the Grove, ’tis true. However, I’m not sure that Blackburn aren’t still a ‘work in progress’ for Fat Sam. They show little sign of getting to the level Bolton reached on occasion – yet…