Relishing Rovers’ return after pain of international week

USUALLY an international break at a season-defining stage of the campaign is about as desirable as a hole in the head. But having endured the battering of the disintegration of the Gunners’ quest to end our barren run in recent weeks, I’ve rarely been more relieved by a brief period of respite from the relentless run of disappointments.

Obviously I couldn’t resist watching the cultured clash between Wilshere and Ramsay, in the middle of the park at the Millennium on Saturday, but it proved the painful opposite of “car crash” TV, as I sat there praying for the safety of the pair of them.

However with the tabloids seemingly so intent on labelling the Gunners’ prodigy as England’s latest great white hope, I can’t help but have some concerns about whether Wilshere’s performances will remain unaffected.