Scrounged News on Internation week day 4

Another boring day sees me scrounging for Arsenal news after a huge pancake brunch with my special lady.  We had ricotta pancakes with blueberries and corn pancakes with eggs, black beans, salsa and sour cream.  They were awesome, if you're in Atlanta I'd recommend going to the Highland Bakery for some breakfast if you get the chance.

Anyway, there is a little bit of Arsenal news, some of it very good.  Firstly Vermaelen has been given the captaincy in the Belgium national team, well done to him.  He's a natural leader and a gun ho defender, a classic captain and should they qualify for the next World Cup, I'm looking forward to his performances there.  In the mean time let's hope he keeps up the good form for the Arsenal for the next 4 years. 

In even more positive news, Nasri and Fabianski are back in training.  Although they'll have difficult times getting back into the team, having them back is nothing short of excellent.  Nasri will offer us another option in the midfield.  With everyone fit you have to imagine that Rosicky would fit in as the 3rd midfielder with a combination of 3 of Walcott, RVP, Arshavin, Eduardo or Bendtner up front, but Nasri really offers a new dimension as he can come on in midfield and push Rosicky forward.  He has craft and defensive responsibility and has a very good quality about him.  He can finish with either foot and could be used as an outside forward if need be too.  He and Diaby will scrap it out and with added competition we'll only get better.  I think we all have a soft spot for Nasri and probably like him ahead of Diaby, but we'll have to see how it pans out. 

Fabianski being back is good as it'll give Mannone a bit of competition, which'll hopefully put a flame behind him and let him produce more of the same as he has.  Almunia has surely recovered from his who knows what it is and the competition for goalkeeper will be good and maybe Almunia can come through and be a real keeper.  Who knows though, this could see the end of the Spaniard should Wenger keep him benched and Fabianski show some of his promise.  Should Mannone carry one, we'll have a good keeper situation, even with Almunia out. 

And finally, we're being linked with Puyol again.  I'm not really sure about this one.  I doubt it's at all true and I'm guessing he'll be somewhere in Italy next year if not at Barcelona.  Of course I'd bite your hand off if you offered Puyol on a free and it saw Silvestre out, but that just seems a little too good to be true.  He'd be looking for 1st team football and with Vermaelen and Gallas forming such a good partnership, I can't really see him getting it, although Gallas may leave himself should he not be offered a new contract.  With his current performances I hope he is, but that's a story for another day. 

Until next time,

Highbury86