José Antonio Reyes. The man who cried when he left Sevilla. The man who didn’t sleep a wink when he scored an own goal on his full debut against Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup semifinal. The man who scored twice in five minutes when it mattered against Chelsea in the FA Cup sixth round on Sunday February 15.
What a guy. At 20, with just three Spanish caps, he didn’t come cheap. His price, already hitting $16-million, will rise as he reaches a list of gettable goals.
But the vital thing about last Sunday was: Arsenal did it without Thierry Henry.
I’ve said all season the Gunners are one Henry injury away from crisis every week. Now that Arsène Wenger has made his canny dip into the coffers at Highbury, that fear has receded a little.
And of course it’s Chelsea again at lunchtime on Saturday after this week’s friendly internationals.
This time the Premiership may be decided. Chelsea, so solid for the first half of last Sunday’s Cup effort, simply fell away in the second half.
What the hell happened to Frank ‘He’s improved so much this season†Lampard? And Claude Makalele and Scott Parker who worked so hard in the first half?
Gone. Consumed by Patrick Vieira, flanked by the very average pairing of Gilberto Silva and Ray Parlour.
This week? I dunno. I guess Chelsea deserve a break on Saturday. Adrian Mutu’s goal was a cracker, for once the vastly improved Koulo Toure was turned inside out.
And hey, who knows which of his $127-million worth of players Claudio Ranieri will put out this weekend?
The other big game of the weekend sees Manchester United visit troubled Leeds, who have hauled themselves off the bottom again but remain in bank managers’ bad books.
I can hear Gunners fans sniggering about a five-point lead in the Premiership, but this time last year Arsenal were six points clear and they contrived to lose the title.
If Arsenal win this weekend and United lose, okay, let’s start singing and thinking about the Champions League. Otherwise, the battle if very much still on.
Bolton will have Jay-Jay Okocha back for their clash with Kevin Keegan’s plummeting Manchester City. FA Cup miracle over, they are now battling for their lives. But I don’t think Sam Allardyce’s men will let them take more than a point from the Reebok.
Charlton need to get back on track against Blackburn, who are in desperate need of points just above the relegation trapdoor. I take Blackburn, with Graeme Souness’s verbal boot stuck firmly up their backsides, to grab at least a point at The Valley.
Liverpool were held by Portsmouth in the FA Cup despite plenty of pressure — I suspect they’ll win the League clash at Anfield this weekend with Michael Owen back in scoring form.
Newcastle’s local derby in Middlesbrough will end in stalemate, though Bobby Robson’s Toon army could do with all three points in their desperate push for Europe.
Southampton, with the rumours of Glenn Hoddle’s unpopular reappointment receding, may struggle against an increasingly desperate Everton while Wolves may find Fulham too hot to handle at Molineux as they head back to Division One.
Sunday sees a cracking Midlands derby with Aston Villa and Birmingham both showing signs of form.
I go for that potent Villa strike force to tip the balance, while goal-happy Spurs should get plenty more against Leicester in the other Sabbath showdown.