Pre-Chelsea stuff: We’ll have to wait and see for Gallas 27 November, 2009

The top story ahead of Sunday’s big game is that William Gallas is a doubt. He’s still having problems with that swollen eye he picked up on Tuesday and it’s now a ‘wait and see’ kind of scenario, quite literally – William’s having trouble getting his contact lenses in and is having trouble seeing. Here’s what Wenger said yesterday afternoon:

“There is a big question mark about him at the moment. Today I cannot say that William Gallas will play, unfortunately. The ankle should be alright but the eye is still very, very, very swollen.

He wears contact lenses and at the moment he would not get them in. We hope on Sunday it will be better. He is not comfortable but I am optimistic because we still have three days. It is Thursday today and we play on Sunday afternoon so, we are confident he can make it. Arshavin is OK. He was shocked but he is OK.”

I’m praying Big Willy will be fit to face his former club; he always does well against them and I’m sure he’d be up for another goal. His partnership with new-boy Vermaelen has been outstanding and we need them both tomorrow.

November has been a bad month for us for injuries and if we were to lose Gallas as well I wouldn’t rate our chances so much without him. We’re already without Clichy, Gibbs, Bendtner and van Persie from our first team – Chelsea will be counting themselves lucky.

Lampard was set to miss out the game through injury but he could start now. Cuntly Cole was also a doubt but he’s back too. Their only absentee is Bosingwa. They have the upper hand but we are at home and we’ll want to keep our 100% record.

Theo Walcott says he’s fit and ready as he looks to get in the team for Chelsea. I posted a possible team yesterday on my twitter and I named Theo on the bench, I think it’s too early for him on Sunday and I’d prefer him as an impact sub option. He’ll have a tough job facing Ashley Cole who’s in his best form since leaving Arsenal, but if he’s given the chance I expect him to put more than 100% in, and that might just be what we need.

Cesc Fabregas has been talking about a number of things, being named captain, his responsibilities and he says the Premier League is the top prize in football. He says in Spain they look at the Champions League as the biggest honour but he knows that winning the League takes much more skill and endurance. Cesc would love to lift the Premiership as captain as Arsenal and he’ll do anything to get there.

The reserves lost 2-1 to Aston Villa the other night. It saw returns from injury for Fabianski and Wilshere but young Jack might be a doubt for Man City. He picked up a knock against Villa and will undergo scans. There’s nothing official on this but it’d be a bit of a shame if he missed out right after regaining fitness. Also, Fran Merida was red carded in the game; I’m not sure whether a ban would affect his chance for the Carling Cup quarter final too. Certainly missing Wilshere and Merida would be a big loss so fingers crossed on them both.

OK that’s it for today, will do a Chelsea preview tomorrow evening some time. Thanks for reading, Happy Friday!