Feb 24 2011
A Footy Blog
How do you distract yourself when you should be studying? Facebook? Stumbleupon? For me it’s the Soccerbible. An ironic name, for a blog/news site I visit religiously.
Today as I signed in, to catch up on the latest in boots, kits, fixtures and results, I came across a contest: an opportunity to ‘Write for the Soccerbible Blog!’ The requirements: a 250-word article, submitted by email, about a football topic of your choice.
Sounds easy right? Depends if you can beat out the hundreds of thousands of other writers in the 200 countries Soccerbible is now viewed in.
Regardless, I decided to test my luck writing a quick article tonight:
My Entry: Limping Gunners
Theo Walcott has been ruled out of Sunday’s Carling Cup final against Birmingham City, after he sprained his ankle in an awkward challenge with Stoke’s Dean Whitehead. He was spotted in his usual Superfly’s, sporting the ‘not-so-loud’ black/circuit orange colourway.
“Walcott has an ankle sprain and he’s out, for how long I can’t tell you, but for Sunday he is definitely out,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
In Walcott’s absence, Wenger can only hope Andrey Arshavin continues regaining confidence in his play – after his past month of cheeky back heels and ill-timed dribbles led to grumbles in the Emirates. But the silky Russian’s confidence levels need to be on par with his CSKA days in order to fully replace the pace of the quick English winger.
Luckily, for Wenger, Samir Nasri made a surprisingly quick recovery from his hamstring strain, and started in the Gunners historic Champions League win over La Liga leaders, Barcelona.
“I was the first to be surprised to be back so quickly after my thigh injury,” Nasri was quoted as saying in L’Equipe.
Of course, the Gunners’ injuries are temporary and Theo Walcott will hopefully soon rejoin an in-form Robin van Persie, in Arsenal’s, well… arsenal. But will it be in time to keep their Champions League hopes alive and do ‘the double’ over the Catalan Giants? Or in time to continue advancing in Manchester United’s rear view mirror?
Only time will tell, I suppose. But certainly, no one wants to see Nicklas Bendtner on the left wing…