The media are still rumbling on about the Thierry Henry “falling out with sections of the Arsenal supporters” story. To be honest it is a little bit tedious but I guess that they consider it to be newsworthy because they made it up in the first place (well, blew it out of all proportions may be a better description) and Henry himself has taken the bait. There are valid arguments on both sides of this story. As has been pointed out in the comments section of this blog earlier this week, The Emirates is emptying quicker than Highbury ever did. Whether that is true or not is open to debate. Perhaps the design of the stadium makes it more noticeable, Higbury’s lower tiers on the East and West could disguise empty seats at the back because of the cantilever nature of the design. Ironically enough, they disguised this particular problem but also highlighted another one back in the 1990’s; it was impossible to say you had seen the whole game from halfway back in the East and West Lower as the ball disappeared from view in almost every move as it was hoisted from defence to attack. Perhaps the club should have given a discount on those seats for the diminished playing time witnessed in each match?
The Online Gooner has a piece from someone defending their right to boo Henry, here. The writer makes a good case for the defence, identifying his own favourite Lee Chapman whilst I can remember such luminaries like Graham Rix, David Hillier and Glenn Helder getting a similar reaction. The problem with getting on someone’s back is that I cannot recall a player coming through the other side of it. Once one or a few start then that public airing of dissatisfaction takes on a larger scale. I am not for one minute predicting this for Henry as he is (a) too revered and (b) has got the team out of so many holes that most recognise he is able to have an off-day.
Where I would take issue with Henry is over the effect that this has on the team. I cannot believe that seeing empty seats at the end of the match has much if any impact? If it did, it should bring about a dawning realisation that their desired performance level has not been met and that they need to try harder rather than the opposite of making them slack off. If it is impacting upon them, then they must be telling fibs about not noticing a crowds noise and any chants during the course of a match.
Elsewhere, some transfer rumours are surfacing but from unreliable sources, even by the Press’s standards. The Daily Mirror is reporting that Arsenal are interested in signing Charles N’Zogbia from Newcastle in January, something I find difficult to believe when the main link for the past five months has been Franck Riberry. Whilst N’zogbia is a decent wide player, he is not of the same class as Riberry. The only benefit I can see is that he is accustomed to English football and that is never a reason to buy someone on its own. Curtis Davies is a link that will not go away either and one that I believe now has less credibility than that of N’Zogbia. To be honest, why would Arsene sign another centre-half. In Toure and Gallas, he already has two of the best in the Premiership. Add Senderos and Djourou, two of the best young defenders and you have to ask, “Why?”. Jeremie Aliadiere thinks he may have to leave to fulfill his career and there is a certain logic to that, much as it would be a shame to see him go. He is currently fourth choice behind Henry, van Persie and Adebayour this season and if you add Lupoli, Bendtner and Stokes who are all playing well at their loan clubs, it would seem to me that Jeremie is somewhat surplus to requirements. And that is a shame. He has still got tremendous potential but having lost a year through injury and wasted a year on loan, there appears to be a bit of a crisis point arriving when he will either need to be seen to be playing regularly for the first team or leave. Considering the age of his competitors, he will need to prove he is a class above them as it is unlikely any will upstage Henry. He has the ability to claim a first team place on a regular basis but I guess needs to prove that to Arsene. The Independent is reporting that Birmingham want Muamba on a permanent basis. Aff at Joys and Sorrows confirmed the other day that he is indeed a classy act. That being the case, it seems unlikely Arsene would willingly let him go, preferring instead that he would compete for a first team place with Gilberto, Fabregas, Diaby and Song.
Shameless Self-Publicity
The observant amongst you will have noticed that this space is normally occupied by the Gig of the Day. Well, it is not and won’t be anymore. But fear not intrepid listener for these have moved to their new premises,Yogi’s Music Blog. Pop over and bookmark their new home. The bootlegs here at this sight will remain until their links expire and may re-appear at their new home if you ask me nicely and I’m in a good mood, two mutually exclusive concepts.
