A rumour without a leg to stand on will get around some other way

- John Tudor (the writer, not the former Newcastle player)

When is a transfer rumour not a transfer rumour? When one of the clubs involved blows the whole thing to smithereens by denying any truth and phoning the ‘selling’ club to distance themselves from the whole thing. Which is what Juventus have done with the Mathieu Flamini rumours doing the rounds,

There is nothing true. He’s a really good player, but we have never looked at him. Our chief officer has contacted the Gunners to reassure them. It’s a gesture that was needed considering the good relationship there must be between two big clubs like Juve and Arsenal, and that has been appreciated

Of course this only rules out one club and as Alex Hleb’s Agent
has found, old public pronouncements rehashed denying interest in Barcelona means only that Internazionale turn up as a destination instead. And there is the distinct possibility that this is all a clever ruse by the ‘Turin Giants’ with Mathieu joining them in June. Aah, ‘what tangled webs we do weave, when we practice to deceive’ as Sir Walter Scott once wrote.

Onto the weekend’s game with Villa. Arsene noted that the treatment room is going to be less crowded with Abou Diaby in the frame for a return whilst Kolo Toure is a possible for the second leg against Milan next week. That still leaves Alex Song, Tomas Rosicky, Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou racing to London Colney to be the first to put their towels on the treatment table, bagging the best spot before breakfast.

The return of Diaby alleviates some of the pressure on the forward line, giving Arsene the option of playing Hleb on the right and Diaby the other flank with Walcott up front. Walcott believes it might well be his chance to shine,

I feel upbeat, I feel confident. The goals helped and they gave me a boost so hopefully I can take that into Saturday. It was nice to get a poacher’s goal. My agents have told me I need more of those. Then the second was more about the kind of player I am. Left-foot too, which is something people have questioned me about. Now I just have to improve with every game and time will tell [if I can fill the striker’s role]. After all, the boss picks the team so when I do play I will just do my best

If Walcott can build on the two goals at St Andrews then more power to his elbow. Whether he will start up front remains to be seen with Bendtner presumably favourite to start alongside Adebayor. Robin van Persie is being touted as a possible Milan returnee although all Arsene confirms is that he will not be rushing the Dutchman back,

We will not rush Robin back but the news is quite good. It is very difficult to say [when he will be back in the team]. But he should come back into normal training very, very quickly now

Eduardo is not far from the players minds as Walcott noted,

It was a quiet coach ride home and felt just like a loss in truth. We had a couple of days off and then actually went bowling to keep our team-spirit up. A couple of lads went to see him yesterday and reported back to the rest of us. But we have tried to forget about it in a way and concentrate on Saturday. We don’t all want to rush there and then gradually stop. It will be more difficult for him in later months so we want to be there for him the whole time he is out

A team building exercise indeed. One hopes that Adebayor’s aim was rather more accurate than it had been at St Andrews although he probably borrowed the stand set aside for Walcott to put his ball on to aim down the lane.

The players seem to be refocused following Eduardo’s injury, at least ‘talking the talk’. Saturday will prove whether they can do the ‘walk’ associated with it.

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