If William Gallas thought he had woes at the moment, they were compounded with news of an injury forcing him to miss France’s World Cup qualifier against Romania this weekend. According to The Times, Gallas is suffering from a torn thigh muscle which must make him a doubt for their fixture next week and possibly the first two Arsenal matches on the resumption of club duties. In any case, it would seem sensible to rest him in order that he be fully recovered, especially since he admitted to being tired earlier this week.

Robert Pires has ground his axe in public over the continued reign of Raymond Domenech as French manager. Reading Pires’ comments, it is hard to deduce which drives him more; the desire to see Domenech ousted or Wenger appointed. It was one of the stranger decisions by the FFF to retain his services after the abysmal showing by the French at Euro2008 but presumably he gave them discount vouchers to use at their favourite Tarot Card reader and that swayed them. Or could it possibly be that there were no French managers whom they wanted available on the cheap and that they decided to make the best of a bad lot?

Whatever the case is, Arsene’s cause was pushed by the Villarreal player:

Arsene Wenger is a gentleman, and his qualities would have a positive effect on the French national side. He is a class act. Of course, as he is Arsenal’s manager he is not free right now – but you never know what could happen. If money is made available by the French FA, then anything is possible.

Except that history shows that even Peter Graves would struggle in the mission to seduce Arsene into the role of national team coach. Wenger has made no secret of his desire to stay at Arsenal and to have daily contact with the players. Perhaps in 2011 were he to achieved all of his aims at club level he might be tempted but right now he appears firmly committed to his ‘project’ of developing the current squad into champions.

Money is not the issue. Or ought not to be for if Wenger intimated to the Board that he wanted to leave, there is no doubt that if they were convinced he wanted away, his departure would happen. As that seems not to be the case, the FFF could offer Arsenal all of the art in the Louvre but not one jot of difference would it make. As Pires himself observed:

The key is knowing whether he has the desire to leave London.

Which seems to be non-existent although any huffing and puffing about how bad the traffic is might send shudders through the boardroom.

If Arsene did leave he would crush the dreams of one Tresor Mputu who enjoyed himself so much on trial at the club that he wants to make the move permanent. One slight fly in this ointment appears to be that Arsene has lost Mputu’s CV and application form since his ‘interview’ with the club was almost a year ago. I am not sure how it works in the football world, and perhaps talking to the press is the equivalent, but if I had applied for a job, I might well have followed up with a phone call to the agent before now.

Enjoy your Friday. ’til Tomorrow.