He's also made a point of commenting on Big Phil's excellent recent form. The Swiss centre back has played every minute of every game for 3 months, that's 21 matches which have seen Arsenal regain pole position for 4th place, and motor past Real Madrid and Juventus into the semi-final of the Champs League.

"Philippe is completely focused and completely dedicated to the game," says Le Boss, "You have to consider that he is only 22. But he is not scared to play and wants the ball. He has quite an efficient technique with both feet and is very keen to learn always. He's good in the air and has a strong physique. He is suited to English football. I first saw him with Switzerland Under17s winning the European Championship. Also he played for Servette very young and was a leader in the team. It was a big, big step coming here and it took some time to adapt."

He certainly is a leader on the field. Often it's Phil that's geeing everyone up at kick-off. And his form of late and growing understanding with Toure must have got Sol very concerned for his place.

Wenger also confirms that Freddie Ljungberg and Jose Antonio Reyes return, pointing out that Jose is suspended for the Villareal game next week (thanks to his ridiculous booking in the second match against Juve) and so will be used in both Premiership matches this week.

He also says that Ashley Cole should be back in full training on Monday, and is expected to be available for the last 4 or 5 games of the season. He won't be risked as early as the Villareal game next Wednesday.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has been commenting on the fact that there's no way to play against Thierry Henry when the Arsenal skipper is on form. "For me, Henry is the best player in the world - in a side in fantastic form. I think they have a real chance of winning the Champions League. If he plays like he's played here before they could murder us. Don't ask me what we'll do to stop him. How do you deal with a genius?"

He also talks about his childhood as a regular Highbury-goer with his Arsenal-supporting Dad, and reveals that Arsenal sent a wreath to his dad's funeral a couple of months ago, "I'll never forget that and could hardly believe that. I didn't tell anyone at Arsenal. Somebody must have picked up on it. Fantastic." Makes you proud to be a Gooner.

Redknapp's side will be missing Andy O'Brien with a calf injury, but centre-back and captain Dejan Stefanovic returns. Stefanovic has been quoted as saying that he forgives Robert Pires for the famously blatant dive which earned us a point against them back in September 2003 (possibly the closest we came to losing in the record-breaking 49 game unbeaten run), which is nice. A Pompey fansite says that Benjani is looking like a bit of a liability, "the lad's in real danger of turning out to be Pompey's most expensive misfit of all time". But they don't expect him to start, going instead for Todorov in place of the goal-shy striker, with a line-up of: Kiely, Primus, Priske, Stefanovic, Taylor, O'Neil, Davis, Mendes, D'Alessandro, Lualua, Todorov

But another site says O'Brien could return in place of Linvoy Primus.

Let's hope it stays dry this time. Current forecast for the evening is "partly cloudy" with late showers. That'll be a hurricane, then. And if Henry's on form, Redknapp's expecting a deluge.