Sportingo What Now?
Just like grey is the new black and Monday is the new Wednesday, Sportingo is the new Tribal Football. They reckon that we are keen to sign AC Milan striker Alberto Gilardino, however the Milan Chairman is quoted as saying: "I am not prepared to sell Alberto – even if someone was to offer £16m..." Sportingo go on to say that 'Arsenal have a more than capable set of strikers both on the pitch and on the bench, so the idea of spending big in this department is mere fantasy...'

As Messi was dropped this weekend, and Henry is off to a slow'ish start, they also report that Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry are on their way to The Emirates... they finish off that particular article with "well that is pure speculation..."

More 'mere fantasy' and 'pure speculation' tomorrow.

AW: Happy with Theo...
Ahead of tonight's second leg, AW is happy with the progress being made by Theo Walcott: "People asked me 'do you expect more from him?' I said of course because I cannot expect less from an 18-year-old player and I believe that he is like every player and wants to play in every game, I am amazed that people are surprised that he is a little bit frustrated when he doesn't play. It is part of his job and part of his improvement. Overall I am very happy with him, I have said many times that he will be a player through the middle, a striker, because the timing of his runs, the quality of his runs is fantastic and he is clinical finisher. The time he spends on the right will help him became a fantastic striker..."

Reserves Brum-Done...
The Reserves lost 2-1 away to Birmingham City last night, with goals from Mikael Forssell and De Ridder cancelling out James Dunne's 25 yard wonderstrike. Rui Fonte was taken off after a horror clash saw him get a suspected broken nose, and Gavin Hoyte was sent off in the game which was screened live on ArsenalTV...

Ivory Toast...
The Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 1-0 yesterday in the African Cup of Nations. Chelsea's Pinky Salmon Kalou scored the only goal of the game, with our very own Kolo Toure going close as well for the Ivorian Coastians...

JJ Wants Revenge...
Jermain Jenas wants revenge for the Carling cup defeat inflicted on his Tottenham side a year ago, he said: "It was horrible, a horrible feeling. Especially being 2-0 up here. We knew we had slipped up and, as I have said before, the thing we were missing was that winning mentality - that aggressiveness to shut up games and that killer instinct. That's what we have got to have. Hopefully a lot of the lads have learned. Hopefully they will remember what it felt like last year and hopefully they won't want to feel it again..."

It's thought that Gilberto will play at centre-back alongside captain William Gallas and Sir Wenger may draft in some of the first team as injuries take thier toll ahead of the clash. Meanwhile Spurs will play a full strength side as they have no chance of winning any other trophy this season 'cos they're shit. William Gallas was pretty quick to remind them of this: "For Spurs the Emirates game will feel like a defeat. They played well and it was a big chance for them. They could have made it 2-0 but they didn't and we got the draw, I'm sure we will be stronger for the return game, they will know that too. They know it will be difficult to beat us, even if they are at home..."

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