Not Arsenal related but the world of Newspaper ’scoops’ continues to amaze me, with The Sun revealing that Michael Owen had had two years of ‘hurt’ this morning. The correct adjective to describe my feelings at this ‘news’ escapes me but to learn he had been injured was pretty shocking.

Onto Arsenal. Emmanuel Adebayor paid tribute to Robin van Persie and their partnership,

The understanding between us is magnificent. That is what is giving us strength at the moment. He likes the ball to his feet more than I do. He lises to get off the front line and he has the technical skills to do that. I am tall, I can climb high and I can go deep. I am more of a pivot for the team

I am not sure that Adebayor has any preference for where the ball comes to him or at what height because his control can be phenomenal at times; putting a ball in the air does not necessarily mean that he will head it for the longest legs in English football seem not to worry about bringing the ball under control where others struggle to with their head. Whilst the team have generally benefitted from the loss of attacking focus in one player following Henry’s departure, Adebayor has been the one whose skills are perhaps more appreciated by a wider audience this season. Scoring goals helps to gain attention but this masks his overall contribution to the team. And yet there are still chunks (albeit diminishing in number) of supporters who complain about him. Short of scoring a hattrick in every remaining game this season, I am not sure what he has to do to convince people of his worth, especially as his real worth to the side was plain for all to see in Henry’s absences last season, revitalising many a dire performance. Perhaps one of his detractors could tell us exactly what it is he does wrong?

Having told everyone to be calm and get on with, someone must have slipped Kolo a Mickey because now he is telling all and sundry that,

It’s our destiny to win EVERY game

So no getting overexcited there then. Ah, hold on. He did not actually say that either, some poetic licence being ascribed to his words by The Sun. What he actually said is,

Right now we just focus on the next game and forget about the past. Yes, we feel we’re destined to win because when you’re winning games you get that kind of feeling — you think you’re going to win

So the braggadocio was not there in the first place, merely an observation on the benefits of confidence upon which he elaborated

Things have been right for us because every time we need to come back and win, we do it and keep going. We have the mental strength this season to go and get a win and not a draw. That’s the big difference because last season was much more difficult.

And then he explains with chilling simplicity about how the title will be won

The team who does that the best will probably be crowned the champion

Can’t argue with that then.

As mentioned at the weekend, Arsene is eyeing Robert Green rather lasciviously and will part with £6m to get him but the ’shocker’ is that it is believed he will part with £20m for Veloso, the latest Portuguese Wunderkid who naturally enough is being lined up for a move to Old Trafford as well. Rumour Control has it that he will sign for Arsenal in January having a pre-sale agreement in place which curiously enough must be closely related to the one that he has reputedly signed with United.

Martin Samuel is obviously bored this week as once again he is on about Arsenal, this time new football owners and Wenger’s pivotal role in any takeover. I suspect that he wishes the England game would come around soon otherwise he may be classed as an Arsenal supporter, which in Fleet Street parlance is nothing short of Treason.

As Arsenal have moved into a Global culture with a new Chinese language website, so will I.

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