Arsenal’s confidence is on the up, says Arsene Wenger, after a last-gasp victory in Marseille last night. Tony Pulis talks rotation, Alan Pardew praises Ryan Taylor, while Steve Bruce may be ready to unleash Connor Wickham on Bolton this weekend. Here’s today’s Scribbles, folks:
A late goal from Aaron Ramsey took Arsenal to the top of their Champions League group and confirmed his recovery from a minor hamstring problem. The Welshman was omitted from last weekend’s Gunners side against Sunderland but, with his recovery added to a favourable upcoming run of fixtures, has subsequently been added to our Watchlist again this morning. Carl Jenkinson picked up a knee problem during the game and will be assessed today. Arsene Wenger reckoned the victory was the perfect morale-boost:
Yes, this can be a big result for our season. We’ve taken a little step forward. We’re a team that has to continue to grow and have lost only once in six matches. We are slowly getting there. For the qualification it’s a very important goal, for the confidence as well. Tonight will help.
Signifcantly, though, while praising the match-winner, the Arsenal boss then proceeded to warn of the dangers of over-playing Ramsey this season, saying:
When you see Aaron in front of goal, you know you have a chance to score. He is becoming a real goalscorer. He has been injured for a year and I am conscious of how much [Jack] Wilshere played last year. I try to be a bit more cautious when I can. I do not want to over-play Aaron.
Harry Redknapp received some good news on the injury front ahead of this evening’s the Europa League clash with Ruben Kazan- Aaron Lennon, Sandro and Danny Rose are all expected to return to action. With Redknapp using the early stages to rest and rotate many of his first-team, Rose –having recovered from a recent ankle problem- is eager to impress, even admitting he is prepared to go out on loan to another Premier League side if needs be:
I hope I do well in the games I’m involved in to make a Premier League loan move in January if I’m not playing here. I’m at the age now where I need to be playing regularly. I don’t see it as make or break but I do need to be playing every week.
Patrice Evra is due to be interviewed by the FA before the weekend with regards to his accusation of racism by Luis Suarez. With the Liverpool player going to great lengths to refute the claims, however, it’s expected that unless Evra can produce witnesses or video evidence to back up his case, disciplinary action against Suarez is more than unlikely.
Yakubu has admitted the recent fan protests against under-fire Blackburn boss Steve Kean is starting to have a detrimental effect on certain individuals within the squad. Rovers sit bottom of the table and more protests are expected this weekend ahead of the game against Spurs, both before and after the match. The Nigerian has stressed their manager has his players’ backing, however:
The protests do affect some players but I just concentrate on doing my job. There is always pressure when the team is not doing well. All the players are behind Steve Kean. When he talks to us in training, we are impressed. It’s our job to go out there and win – and that’s all we focus on. We got a good draw against QPR last week and we will take that into our game against Tottenham. If fans stick together with us, we will be fine.
Fulham go into this evening’s Europa League match with Wisla Krakow without three key players. Danny Murphy has a knee problem, while both Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamora have been rested ahead of Sunday’s crucial home game with Everton.
Davide Santon’s sub appearance in the St James’ Park draw with Spurs on Sunday may have given Alan Pardew food for thought in the full-back area, but the Newcastle boss has been praising the contribution of Ryan Taylor at left-back. Santon’s introduction was at the expense of Danny Simpson and his manager’s words yesterday perhaps suggest it would be the latter who could drop out if Pardew rings the changes, with Taylor looking likely to hold onto the left-back position:
Actually having a right-footer there (at left-back) gives us something a little bit different. Maybe that helps us. I probably think it has done us good. So far Ryan has done very well for us.
Simpson certainly is under the impression he will be sold on by the club, perhaps even as early as January. The full-back has a year and a half of his contract remaining at St James’ Park but yesterday admitted he doesn’t expect Pardew to renew his deal:
There is a chance in the future that I will be moving, whether in the transfer window or in the summer. I have 18 months left on my contract and I don’t think it will go past that.
Ahead of this evening’s Europa League game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Tony Pulis has admitted rotation will continue to play a significant part in his selection thoughts this season. The likes of Kenwyne Jones, Thomas Sorenson and Robert Huth are expected to start and the big German was praised for his attitude this term, having missed out in a first-team place in recent weeks:
The big thing that we have tried to stress on the management side is that with us being in so many competitions and with so many games coming around, everybody is going to play a part and play games. Robert Huth got all our player of the year awards last year and hasn’t been regular this year. But Huthy has got his head down and worked hard, and he hasn’t been a problem. It’s the same with Rory Delap, who has also been in and out – he would have wanted to play every game.
Steve Bruce may give Connor Wickham a starting role alongside Nicklas Bendtner this weekend. The Sunderland boss hinted Stephane Sessegnon could move out wide as a result of an up front reshuffle ahead of the crucial showdown with Bolton:
Sessegnon created three massive chances against Arsenal, but I just wonder whether he can get us the goals we need at the moment. I know he’ll create from the flanks so it’s in my thoughts to put someone else up front alongside Bendtner. It could be time for Connor. We’ve got to go to try to take the game to Bolton. They played 4-4-2 against Wigan last Saturday and we’ll do the same and go and see if we can win the game.
Kevin Foley has undergone successful ankle surgery and is expected to be out for around two months. Wolves physio Steve Kemp spoke of the operation yesterday:
The surgery was carried out by a highly renowned surgeon who didn’t find any surprises so it all went well. Kevin will be off his feet for a couple of weeks and we’re probably looking at somewhere maybe six to eight weeks to be playing again.
