With Arsenal the target of the week for many papers, particularly the Mail, who have decided to lead a campaign for Adebayor to get banned (probably because he's an 'orrible forriner), it is no surprise to see them talk about the 'latest blow to a reeling club' that is Kolo Toure's groin injury over in Ghana.

Toure was taken off during the Ivorians comfortable victory over Benin, which all but confirmed he and Eboue would remain for the quarter finals, but initial suggestions are that his injury is a tweak or minor pull, which would affect his country more than his club. With the Ivory Coast top of their group after two wins, he is now unlikely to play in their final game, while the full extent of his injury is examined. But given that these injuries are often three week affairs, he may be fit just in time for his return to England. The risk is that he aggravates the injury being rushed back for the later stages of the cup.

Back to the immediate football, and Newcastle arrive in town for the FA Cup this weekend, and with the Kevin Keegan effect in place, we'll have to be exceptionally wary. Team selection will be interesting, as Wenger is probably still considering resting a couple of players ahead of the Premiership match against the same opponents in midweek.

Lehmann may play, while the defence of Gallas, Senderos, Clichy and Sagna picks itself. Cesc may be rested after playing 75 minutes on Tuesday, so Flamini may return alongside Diaby or Gilberto, with Rosicky and probably Hleb wide.

Up front, I would be very surprised to see Adebayor start after his behaviour on Tuesday, so I'd go with Eduardo and a fired up Bendtner.

Everytime Arsenal have been knocked back this season there has been an immediate response. I expect nothing less this time.

Having been out on Tuesday night, I completely missed the Carling Cup semi final embarrassment against Spurs, and as such had to Sky+ the entire match and watch it on Wednesday when I got back. Thanks to some luck, and instructing people that I wanted to avoid the score will all my might, I managed to get home without having an inkling about the outcome.

Sitting down to watch the game on Wednesday afternoon, I couldn't help but be struck by something. The programme was supposed to start at 7.30, and end at 10.15, but the recording was 192 minutes long, more than three hours and would've therefore ended at around 10.40. With kick off at 8pm this told me one very simple fact - the tie had gone to extra time.

At first, I was disappointed to have noticed this - I hate knowing what'll happen before it does, but as Spurs took the lead, I relaxed, knowing that a comeback was imminent. When Spurs scored a second, I allowed myself a little smile. You see, knowing that the tie would go to extra time put a whole different spin on that second goal - it meant that by the time we would come back and force the extra half hour, we'd be leading on away goals. Perversely, the second Spurs goal was good news.

Early in the second half, Spurs got a third, and I experienced a slight flicker of doubt - what if I'd worked it out wrongly? What if Sky had messed up the recording? Whe the fourth went in, I began to seriously worry - the recording time made me believe a comeback was on, but this was becoming more and more unlikely by the minute. Adebayor's goal made me relax a touch, and even wonder if this would be a famous comeback, but as the minutes ran on I came to the horrible realisation that my sense of security was indeed false. There was to be no miracle.

So Sky taped about half an hour of the subsequent programme, and I sat there cursing a hammering that I hadn't even been able to digest at the time, so convinced was I that a famous recovery was on the cards. Until the last five minutes, I remained convinced that the tie was not over.

Thanks for that, Sky. You swines.