|
Arsene Wenger says that Robin van Persie now
has an 80% chance of making the Manchester United game at Ashburton Grove tomorrow afternoon.
Robin picked up an ankle knock in training during the week and was thought a
more unlikely starter. He's being undergoing tests and will have another today. Even if fit,
there's a chance that Le Boss will go for Emmanuel Adebayor in a 4-4-2.
We have picked up another injury though, in Johan Djourou who has a hamstring problem.
With William Gallas still not ready to return, that puts Philippe Senderos into the
side alongside Kolo Toure at the back. Emmanuel Eboue may return to complete the defence
along with those 2 and Gael Clichy.
Mathieu Flamini will deputise for Gilberto who starts his 3 match ban for his Savage assault in last
weekend's magnificent 10 man win at
Ewood Park. The only other midfielder who's unavailable is Freddie Ljungberg, unless you
count Alexandre Song who's off playing U20 for Cameroon.
Arsenal inflicted on United their only home loss
of the season back in September when, without Thierry Henry, Adebayor scored the only goal of the game thanks to the
skill and vision of man-of-the-match Cesc Fabregas. United will be determined for
revenge, and would particularly enjoy being the first team to win away at our new ground.
It's hard not to have a bad feeling about that, since they've been the ones to poop our party so many times
over the last decade. Both teams are on form so it should be a hell of a game.
United are said to be at full strength. Wes Brown returns from a virus and Louis
Saha is back from injury so will
be (presumably) challenging Henrik Larsson for a place alongside Wayne Rooney (and
Ole Gunner Solskjaer is available too). But, as with Arsenal, their goal threat comes
from all over. In last week's 3-1 win over Aston Villa Michael Carrick got his first goal
for the club and Park Ji-Sung his first for the season (the latter probably won't feature tomorrow,
though), and there was a 13th of the season for Ronaldo too.
Paul Scholes seems to be back scoring special goals again too.
Wenger's been saying that the name
Larsson gives him nightmares, following the striker's match-winning substitute appearance for
Barcelona in the bloody Champs League final
back in May. | 
