I think Gallas is leaving + Cesc, Sagna, Sol & Rosicky doubts for Hull 11 March, 2010

Happy Thursday to you whatever you’re doing. It’s certainly a happy Thursday for me, had two deadlines yesterday and today so am off to get very drunk tonight. But before I do, time to update the Arsenal news and there’s been a fair bit today with Wenger’s press conference.

The issue of William Gallas was brought up who is consistently injured at the moment with no time frame on him coming back. His contract is up in the summer and despite months of talks we look no nearer a deal. We’ve seen this thing time and time before when a player is destined to leave in the summer Arsene immediately removes him from his plans and he no longer plays. I’m not really sure that’s a good thing that Wenger does but that’s another argument. Basically, I think that’s what’s going on with Gallas at the moment anyway.

He might just genuinely be injured and I might be completely wrong but it looks all too familiar to me. Gallas has been unusually quiet since his captaincy has been taken away and I’ve always had a suspicion that he might move on once his contract is up. Roma have been strongly linked to take him this summer but apparently we want to keep him though, this is what Arsene said today:

“You [the media] can link him with who you want, because he is out of contract and can talk to whom he wants. I do not know if he has spoken to Roma but he is speaking to us and our desire is to keep him here. I think he wants to stay here, all the rest is difficult to know whether it is true or not.

I am not concerned. He is under contract until the 30th June. We have not found an agreement yet. I will meet his agents again next Thursday and we will try to find a solution. I would like to keep all that secret. It is very difficult for me to come out [and discuss the contract talks]. I feel I have to respect both parties and not to come out about the details of negotiations.”

The thing is I swear recently he said talks were happening this week, whether they were delayed, we still couldn’t come to a conclusion or Wenger is plain lying to us I don’t know.

I really hope we keep him though. Vermaelen and Gallas is a great defensive partnership and I’d hate for us to have to find a new centre back this summer. We haven’t really noticed his loss yet because Sol Campbell has been doing so well for us but he is no replacement for Billy. He can’t string two games at the moment, which is no complaint but he’s just not an option for a first choice centre back. Plus I don’t see him still with us next season. Campbell is a perfect back up but if Gallas is leaving he’ll need replacing. Wenger might see Djourou as that man but he hasn’t played all season and will need assessing when he can play again. He could be the answer but we need to see how he returns. I think I read somewhere that he’s back in a month but I’d be surprised to see him this season.

Unless Gallas is off.

I’m just speculating really, I don’t know, but I have a hunch that he’s off. I’ll be a bit gutted because he’s been brilliant since he gave the captaincy to Cesc but if he wants to go then I wont have any problems with him. We’re just going to have to wait and see, hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement before now and June, if not Wenger’s going to be busy with his cheque book this summer.

Cesc Fabregas is out of the Hull game. Well Wenger says, “chances of playing are 0.5 per cent – that means unless a miracle happens, he will not play. At the moment, he is out of Saturday’s game.” It’s a shame because Cesc hates Hull as much as we all do, he’ll be gutted that he will have to sit out but I’m glad we’re not rushing him. All we can hope for is that he comes back strong against West Ham the weekend after.

Song is suspended, Rosicky is a doubt, Sagna has an ankle problem and Campbell is a doubt. They’re all replaceable players but it’s still a shame, decisions will be made on them tomorrow. I expect Nasri to continue in the middle with Cesc out, he did a great job the other night so I don’t think anyone will have any problems with that. If Rosicky, Sagna and Campbell all miss out then we have Walcott, Eboue and Silvestre to come in but hopefully a least a couple of them will be fit. Hull will be tough, a lot of teams have dropped points there this season so we need as fully fit squad as possible.

I’ll preview the game in full tomorrow so I’ll speak to you then. I’m off to get drunk.

See ya.