Arsenal Fever
Latest News,Podcasts and Radio related to Arsenal Football Club.Archive for February 20, 2007
Squad announced for PSV tie
Arsene Wenger has announced his squad that will travel to Holland to take on PSV Eindhoven. The players are as follows:
1 Jens LEHMANN (GK)
4 Cesc FABREGAS
5 Kolo TOURE
6 Philippe SENDEROS
7 Tomas ROSICKY
8 Fredrik LJUNGBERG
9 Julio BAPTISTA
10 William GALLAS
13 Alexander HLEB
14 Thierry HENRY
15 DENILSON
16 Mathieu FLAMINI
19 GILBERTO
20 Johan DJOUROU
22 Gael CLICHY
24 Manuel ALMUNIA (GK)
25 Emmanuel ADEBAYOR
30 Jeremie ALIADIERE
Who will be the right back?
Arsenal will be without their two regular right backs when they face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Emmanuel Eboue is still sidelined by a persistent ankle problem and Justin Hoyte has also been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Wenger earmarked two potential replacements before his 18-man squad left for Holland on Monday afternoon.
“We have Eboue out and Hoyte is out with a hamstring problem, but he should be back for [the Carling Cup Final on] Sunday,” explained Wenger.
“Gallas has responded well to the weekend game [against Blackburn] and he is in the squad. It will be Johan Djourou or Gallas at right back.
“Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby have been left behind with Sunday in mind.”
Alexander Hleb (cold) and Djourou (knee) return to the squad after minor ailments ruled them out of the FA Cup tie against Blackburn. Jens Lehmann, Gilberto and Julio Baptista are also back in contention after being rested at the weekend.
Cesc is my hero – Merida
Arsenal Under-18s midfielder Fran Merida says he aims to be just like Cesc Fabregas.
The 16-year-old arrived from Barcelona in the summer just as Fabregas did in September 2003 and Merida hopes he can emulate his compatriot’s rapid rise to fame.
“Cesc for me is like my mirror — he’s the player I want to be,” Merida told Arsenal.com.
“When I go to watch the first team I’m always watching him, the way he plays and the way he passes the ball. I am only 16-years-old and to watch him and learn from him is so important. I’m going to keep working hard and, of course, one day I would love to play alongside him.”
Merida will make his first appearance at Emirates Stadium tonight as the Under-18s take on Cardiff City for a place in the FA Youth Cup Semi-Finals.
“For us it’s amazing,” said Merida. “It’s the biggest stadium many of us have played in. I didn’t know the FA Youth Cup was so important when I came here but now here I am possibly about to play a game at Emirates Stadium.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet but it’s going to be a special day and hopefully there will be a lot of people there to cheer us on. I’d like the whole stadium to be full but I think we all just want to play in front as many people as possible.
“I think we’ve had very difficult games so far but we’ve done very well to overcome the challenges and that’s why we are here.
“I’m happy with how my season is going personally and I’m really enjoying living in England. Now I’d love to go and win this competition.”
