Well, this Saturday should be difficult... Pic via Guardian.
One bit of (huge) news today. Yesterday, Arsenal chose to appeal Thomas Vermaelen's red card to the Football Association.
The FA has just announced that Arsenal's appeal has been dismissed:
With William Gallas still injured and a Champions League tie with Barcelona four days following this Saturday's clash with Birmingham City at St. Andrew's, the center defense position looks exceedingly shaky for the Gunners. Sol Campbell probably cannot play both games given his age and fitness level. I'd expect to see Mikael Silvestre and Alex Song start on the back line Saturday. But, I could be dead wrong, we'll see.At a Regulatory Commission hearing today, a claim for wrongful dismissal from Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen was dismissed.
Vermaelen was shown a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity during Arsenal’s match against West Ham United on Saturday 20 March.
He will now serve a one match suspension with immediate effect.
In addition, this is a horrible call. West Ham's striker by no means even had possession when he was brought down. Can someone please tell me how a player can have "an obvious goalscoring opportunity" when the ball is floating around his shoulder and the defender's?
Yes, an absurd call. Well, at least the appeal wasn't deemed "frivolous" by the asshole FA.
ReplyDeleteThe moment I see Silvestre is starting, my blood pressure shoots up and I develop tremors. Please God, not Silvestre.
Did a little research to check the trends of who has played in Gallas's spot since he was injured against Liverpool:
ReplyDeleteWed, Feb 17 - at Porto: Campbell
Sat, Feb 20 - v. Sunderland: Silvestre
Sat, Feb 27 - at Stoke: Campbell
Sat, Mar 03 - v. Burnley: Silvestre
Tue, Mar 09 - v. Porto: Campbell
Sat, Mar 13 - at Hull: Campbell
Sat, Mar 20 - v. West Ham: Campbell
So, Campbell still started the Saturday (Hull) after a CL tie on a Tuesday, but was left out of the squad with a groin injury against Burnley the previous Saturday.
Without the Verminator Saturday, Wenger might just have to gamble with Campbell's fitness for Barcelona to keep the league title hopes intact this week.
If we have to see Silvestre at some point soon due to Campbell's fitness level, I'd rather it be the game home to Wolves.