One is never quite sure what to make of the injury news that is carried on the pages of the official site although yesterday’s news that Alexander Hleb is unlikely feature against Newcastle is not that much of a surprise. His hamstring injury has recurred so the omens are not good. The seriousness of his injuries is subject to conjecture but it is reminiscent of the breakdown Henry suffered through returning too quickly last March. Arsene’s tone indicates it is not that bad although he is by all accounts an eternal optimist on the injury front. Added to that, the tackle from Carew was agricultural, excused by the feeble term of a forward’s challenge.

That simply does not wash. It was reckless, dangerous and fully deserving of a red card. That is the edict that the Professional Game Match Officials board put out in the close season yet there is ample evidence of it being ignored on a weekly basis. However, the biggest problem with such an edict is that it leaves too much subjectivity in the decision-making. Compare the tackle of Carew with that which earned Robbie Keane a red card. Both were equally as bad so why the different reaction. I can understand why Tottenham are appealing against the expulsion but it simply has to fail if the PGMO are to retain any credibility. That is before we even take into account the ‘Papal Infallibility’ proffered on match officials by FIFA.

Back to Hleb. The loss is a blow and as Arsene commented yesterday, you can only hope that the players who are falling like flies are mending equally as quickly. Whilst these losses are troublesome in the short term, it is only the long-term absentees who give cause for concern. Robin van Persie’s absence seems to be the ‘Never Ending Story’ of this season; still no word on a return date although it would be nice if he were to be fit for the Steaua game as this would give the opportunity for him to have a twenty minute run out before Chelsea. We shall see.

Don Howe in The Telegraph believes that Newcastle lack the physical edge to trouble Arsenal in the way that Bolton used to. That is as maybe but they have enough in their midfield to break the play up and make life awkward so three points should not be taken for granted. Newcastle seems to be the latest in a long line of clubs in crisis with a whole three members of their squad up in arms about going to a post-Christmas training camp. Add to that the widely reported story that Allardyce will be out on his ear if they lose and you have the recipe for them to play out of their skins.

In a time when football’s press coverage seems to revolve around the bad elements of the game, it is good to read of the players and other staff donating a day’s wages to The Treehouse School, the club’s Charity of the Season. Part of a campaign called ‘Be A Gooner, Be A Giver’, the day’s wages in question will be those earned on December 16th, the Chelsea fixture when a portion of some of the commercial revenues will also be donated, namely 50p from each programme sale.

‘til Tomorrow.