In that time, we’ve had a torrid torrid month with injuries like no other team has ever had, other than the busby babes who died actually (RIP). We’ve lost to a good Sunderland team, with us not looking dangerous at all, lost to a Chelsea side which although we had lots of possession barely had a shot on goal, lost against City in the league cup, alas it was a weakened team, and we’ve lost one of our best players for the rest of the season, RVP.

Thank F*ck that City beat Chelsea the other day which means we are still in touchable distance. Again we have Liverpool coming up this sunday, and it seems all these games are just as important as each other. There is no game that isn’t important, and no game where our heads should go down, complanceny kick it, and no game where we shouldn’t be putting 110% effort in. We need three points from every game. Its no different this wknd either. Torres is back. Their firepower is back, morale will be higher

We’re the travelling side this time, and this is the fixture where Arshavin shined thoroughly through. And this wknd he’ll no doubt be playing in the very front role again. He was good there in his last game, and if he keeps like that, he will be a very able replacement till Bendtner gets back. Arshavin won’t get 4 goals this sunday, Liverpool need another loss like a hole in the head,  and they’ll be up for this especially knowing our first team problems with injuries.

At the same time Matthias Sammer has come out and said:

“It’s the Champions League, one of the most important competitions worldwide, and he plays with a bunch of Kindergarten players.

“The UEFA rules allow him to do so but I can’t respect it.

“You have to pay a bit more respect to the Champions League.”

What a complete Twit. We can field any team we want out there. Yes I understand that its an elite competition, but all the teams in that elite competition want to be there next year and the next year and the next year. We are elite teams., thats why we’re there.  We did the hard work earlier and have had the chance to field a younger team in order to rest key players for further games, absolutely essential in our current situation. I don’t think any other team would have done anything else if it were them. He says the UEFA rules allows Wenger to choose such a team. Is he suggesting the rules be changed to at least 80% of the starting lineup has to have players from the first team squad ? Something I think is rediculous. The team we fielded actually did ok. They lost one, nil. But from what I’ve read, we had some decent chances to take a couple goals. We were’nt played off the park, thats for sure. Our reserve team has showed that against many decent opposition, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham.

Lastly Bendtner is out again, till the end of the year. If Arshavin keeps it up, we’re fine for now. Ramsey might get more games we’ll see.

Anyways, the game was on at a ungodly hour at 1:30am for me. I did stay up and I thought during the first twenty minutes “shit” my dad was wrong. A bird can shit in the same place TWICE in two years. But the bird missed that spot this time, and actually he wasn’t even in the right country… and then bang bang bang we got three goals in the next 20 minutes. Eduardo taking over Bendtner’s role on the wing forward position put the pressure on Zubar who scored an own goal. At first everyone thought it was an Eduardo style poacher goal but it wasn’t. Not long after, Ramsey drove forward after having been released by Fab, and he layed it off for Eduardo again, who I think was going for the chip into the top corner as the keeps was off his line. Own goal again. It was clearly off target and the head of whoever it was directed it nicely into the goal.

The third goal needs its own paragraph because it was seriously some simple and great football. The kind of goal that I love. Sagna motored down the wing giving it to Fabregas who gave it back to him then a cross into RVP who cushioned the cross with his chocolate foot for the “bursting in the box” midfielder Fabregas to take it completely in his stride and stroke it past the keeper. It really was brilliant. Fabregas and the rest all knew it was too. He instantly looked at Sagna and RVP to acknowledge that they just scored a goal playing the game they want to play. Just a more serious look on his face saying that is how business is done. Work is Fun, when its like that.

Second half was a bit more drab, but Arshavin popped up to get his share of the spoils with a nicely hit volley from outside the area after a clearance. It was hit decently and just the placement of it beat everyone, and mainly the keeper. It wasn’t a hard shot by any means but like I said the placement and the skiddy ground probably made it harder to deal with. Nonetheless it was a good goal. Wolves got a consolation which would have had me rithing as we should have had a cleansheet. A setpiece again not to mention.

I also watched the Chelsea game, and it was more of a game of power and few shots. Second half proved more interesting to watch. Anelka was playing decently, and Drogba was poor poor poor. Mind you poor bastard got a good kick in his chest for being poor too. Evans came out to clear a header but instead of jumping in the traditional sense with your feet pointing to the ground, he but a sole of studs into Drogbas ribcage. It didn’t look like it was a soft impact either. Drogba then got a yellow. Ha. Outrageous. Evans shouldn’t have been on the pitch anymore but now Drogba was on a caution. It didn’t matter for Chelsea as they eventually won by a goal from Terry.

It also came from a setpiece which I am not sure if should have been given or not. Fletcher came in hard against Cole but did get the ball. Its though because it was an odd tackle. Their bodies sort of clanged together parallel like and the ball was picked up straight by Fletcher. Anyhow, freekick, header, goal. United lose, Chelsea consolidate 1st by 5 points from Arsenal who are second with a game in hand. It just makes the game at the end of the month against the Blues all that much more interesting.

Its a fuckin break now, when we’re in full flow again. Do these international teams really need to play friendlies and that sort. Can they not just be included in European Cups and World Cups based on how many players in that country they got playing for top teams…

Oh well.

I didn’t watch any of the games last night, due to them being on at an ungodly hour. I won’t be watching them either tonight so will have to just watch the highlights on footytube tomorrow. Anyhow last night showed Man Utd did it once again. 3-1 down, and ended 3-3 in the death of injury time. That makes it 23 games unbeaten in the ECL at home. It was 2005 since they lost a game at home, to Milan.

I don’t think they have what it takes this year to get to the third successive final, but you never know.  They for sure are lacking that spark, but even though they are not as pleasing to watch these days they are still effective. They are sitting second in the table, and cruising slowly in second gear.  Obertan got a run out last night and apparently  looked ok. That will no doubt put some pressure on the yet-to-impress Nani. I have not yet once been impressed with Nani since his arrival. And I am perfectly happy about that.

Drogba got two as did Aguero. How I would like him to join us at some stage. Unfortunately it really doesn’t seem it will be. With clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea their wage packets will always be much more than what we would offer. And with the majority of players these days, that makes a big difference to which club you go to. I wanted Torres to come to Arsenal too, but the Spanish armada over at the Mersey was too strong a magnet to fight against.

We’re playing tonight against AZ again tonight, and fully expect us this time to get a result and finish them off. It will complete our place in the next round, and give Wenger options to rest key players for the remainder of the games to concentrate a bit more on the premier league, which I’m sure we’d all rather regain.

Although we haven’t got the ECL yet, I would still rather claim the EPL. Its just so much more satisfying for me to be on top of Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and now especially City too. And to do it without having squillions of quillions to throw at players and teams to create the “dream team”.

Theres talk of Merida leaving us at the end of the season on a free to Atletico. Its something we wouldn’t be able to stop if it happened, and something we couldn’t complain too much about seeing as we got him on in a similar sort of way. Actually we ended up paying up for him to some sort of sum didn’t we ?

I hope he stays on a bit, cause he probably has the potential to really push Diaby at the moment. Merida has talent, and will need some first team football this year. Hopefully our run in the league cup goes to the end, and he plays every part of it. He hasn’t made it to the big stage yet, but hopefully he will.

Well its definitely a bit of a ramble today, but I am bored and waiting to finish this day in the office. These bastards here have now implemented a rule that instead of being allowed to come in by 9:15am they want you in at 9:00 am. Productivity is going to have a major impact on this Einstein human resources decision. I mean comon. 15 minutes in the morning is hardly going to make a difference. Next they’re going to say work finishes at 6pm instead of 5:45pm. Piss takers. And they’ve installed finger printing equipment so they can record your ins and outs. I may just chop my thumb off and give it to my colleague whos always here at 8:15am and leaves at 7:45pm. It should be worth it.

So I think for all those that watched the game, for the first 42 minutes it was a little nervy. There really was only one real chance that fell to Fabregas. He hit it decently but the keeper did pull a great save out. Our passing generally wasn’t all that, and Diaby was probably our worst player on the pitch at that moment.

RVP really is on form at the moment. He hit two goals for us, when usually he gets one per game. Hes upping the anti, and I like it. He made the first goal by stealing in front of King. It was something that no-one saw till it happened. Thats why hes made that position his. Its clear as day. His second was a bit of luck that the keeper sort of let it fumble through his hands and fall through the defender and onto a plate which RVP licked up ravenously.  Both goals were in very similar areas, and really poachers goals. The typical “fox in the box” goals that we always thought Jeffers would get us, or the better in fact what Wrighty got us.

Anyhow, the first half was a bit nervously played as Crouch was winning those first headers from the long balls up field. Although saying that our defence worked really well to not let that header fall into any white tops way. It did once land at Keane, but we fluffed that out without our hearts beating too fast.

But Fabregas. Please, don’t stop what you’re doing. I’m loving it. He scored a cracker goal this wk. Stealing off the once trialled player Palacios he waltzed through the midfield, and Tango’d through the defence and could have made a cup of tea before slotting past the keeper. And the magic of it was, it happened 11 seconds after RVP grabbed a goal from no where. Two goals from nowhere and thats how quality is measured.

The second half was much more enjoyable as we actually played good football. Eduardo had a couple chances, one which Wenger lost the plot with his jacket after seeing him side foot wide. With Eduardo in that position we’d all put 50 quid on him netting those 99 out of 100 times especially with his finishing, but not on Saturday. It did seem he wasn’t as composed as he usually is in front of goal, but hopefully I’m making things up.

We didn’t see Nasri, but there may be a good chance he may play against Wolves next week. Hopefully taking Diabys’ place for a little while. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Arshavin on the bench for the next one to give Nasri his go on the left side. He knows how to play there, and Arshavin has been quite quiet in his recent games. He floats in and out of games, but ofcourse is a tough decision to put him on the bench. He is quality. With the choices we have currently its hard to let everyone play.

Denilson, Walcott, Bendtner are all out, and will be itching to play too when they’re back. Looks like they’ll all be back about the same time too. Towards the end of the month and early next month.

I didn’t see the game last night between us and Liverpool, but I saw the goals. All of them crackers. Merida murdered a left foot in off the post from 25 yds and showed us all what kind of a left foot he has. A killer one. I hope he gets some more chances in the first team this year, cause I’ve liked what I’ve seen of him so far. He’s tidy and obviously got a shot. If Wilshere had played we may not have seen that goal. Wilshere has already won plenty of praises, he won’t be losing his spot anytime soon.

Bendtner also got a goal with a great finish, something that reminded me of Torres’ recent goal or even Giggsys’ 1999 semi-final extra time run that he blasted into the roof of the net. Similar finish, just Bendtner still has a long way to go if he wants the respect Giggs has earnt. Nonetheless it was a good finish, and he’ll be hoping that it gives him his first team appearance this wknd against Spurs.

In between all that Insua got a wonderful thunderbolt dipping of a goal. It really was quite unsaveable. Really.

Its the early game against Spurs this Sat. Great. Being in HK the early game means its a after dinner kick off and really the perfect time to watch it, as I can watch the games after it too without it getting too late.

Last season it ended 4-4 with two goals in injury time. I don’t think I need to remind anyone. This wknd we bring a new formation to the game, and an average of 3 goals a game too. Not to forget we also bring a leaky defence, that has conceded in nearly every game so far. Overall we usually outplay the Spuds, and I’m sure Palacios will no doubt have the game of his life, as anyone that had any affiliation with Arsenal does when they play against us.

RVP is the man on form for us 5 goals in as many games, so we’ll be looking at him to get another on the board. He’s been linking up well, and hopefully Arshavin will pick up his workrate and find his football boots this game. Bar one or two decent moments, he was quite poor last week. And I really dont like to see that as I love the guy. Hes capable of much much more.

Talk soon. Im out, time is running thin and I got to go check out a venue for my wedding

Three more points, and we’re starting to climb that table again with Chelsea, Liverpool and City all dropping points we are looking at a possible second spot if we take full advantage of our game in hand. And to only think of where we could be if that game at Old Trafford went the way it should have. Like me nan has always said “if pigs could fly, we’d shoot our bacon”… no point dwelling on that.

A draw against AZ during midweek must have been gutting. I’m sure we all hoped we’d be on maximum points so far for the group stages, as it certainly will provide an able rest for some people if we can reach qualification quicker. I didn’t get to watch the game cause the c*nts that broadcast it here change networks faster than sparrows flap their wings. So unless I fork out another 30 odd pounds per month for 18 months even though after 8 more months it will be shown on a different network in which case I have to get that one too after 10 months. Its rediculous. Then the world cup will come, then the premiership will change networks, and FOR GOD SAKE, JUST ALL MERGE INTO ONE WILL YOU !

Walcott is out for a number of weeks now, and thats a real bummer. I was really looking forward to seeing him excel in this new formation. A position that I believe will really be his to own. His pace also give Arsenal the counter-attacking speed that we were once so used to. But not to be just yet. Arshavin though is an able replacement that I am more than enjoying. It is very nice to see Rosicky playing too. We do have an array of talent, and they all can’t play at the same time can they. Bendtner is still young though and hopefully he won’t get ants in his pants as I can’t see him starting ahead of RVP, Rosicky, Walcott, Arshavin. But his chances will come thats for sure. He scores goals for us too.

Diaby seems to be getting better quietly at the moment. A couple decent performances and I’m glad to see it. hes got the power we need in that central role, and with him and Song on either side of Fabregas, it offers good protection to him and the back four. Its something Denilson wasn’t offering us, although Denilson was a sideways pass master, something Diaby isn’t.

We have West Ham coming up and although they will be up for it, I’m expecting three points once again. We have to win these ones, to make anything realistic. The hammers are not in a nice place, and I’m sure they didn’t think they’d be where they are now at the beginning of the season. They have been playing some decent stuff at times, but the ball just isn’t going in the back of the net enough. Carlton Cole has a little bit of form on his side, Stanislas looks alright (for the first time I watched him), and they do have some other young players looking to make impact. Its a local derby, and we should have enough firepower to finish this tie off. I think it will provide a tougher game than against the Brummies though. Hammers haven’t played mid-week either. But we have Arshavin.

It also is an interesting wknd because Man utd and Liverpool clash. If Liverpool still have any belief they need to take points here, and thats plural, cause one just won’t be enough. If that happens, we could possibly be top of the premiership (having taking 3 points from our game in hand). A nice thought. But saying all that, Torres and Gerrard really need to be on the pitch or they might just get slaughtered.

I bought and watched the GOONER REVIEW the other day. It was a good watch, and nice to hear it from that side too. It would really have been a much nicer watch if the premiership permitted them to use footage from the premiership, but they didn’t. How disappointing. Anyhow, its definitely worth it if you’re a big fan. Check it out !

Have a good week, or day, or how ever long it takes for me to be back !

Alot has happened during those two months. The season starting is one, and us losing to City and United in the space of one week. Luckily or not luckily they are the only games we have lost so far, and are looking like we may be able to get something out of this season.

We have started reasonably well with this 4-3-3 formation, and RVP has found his shooting boots. Infact we have goals coming from all over the place and Fabregas is simply awesome at the moment. Having Denilson out for a while is, I think a blessing in disguise. I know Wenger loves the young’un but we have been able to see other players impact in that role and although Diaby hasn’t had the best of seasons so far (crikey that header against United) hasn’t been all that bad. My point rather is that we are probably seeing more of Ramsey now that Denilson is out at the moment, and he has produced some nice touches here and there. I don’t think hes ready for first team action just yet, but he too does like his long high passes, similar to Fabregas in that respect.

Ofcourse Vermaelen has been outstanding so far this season, as he sits on top of the Arsenal scoring charts with 4 goals in 7 games. Well, who would have know. He’s scored some blinders as well this season, and I can only wish now that I had put him in my fantasy team instead of suggesting it to my mate who now has many more points than I do.

Mannone has been temporarily impressive in goal recently, and I do think Almunia needs some competition for his spot. His standards have dropped compared to last season. I hear United may be going in for Akinfeev. Well Mr. Wenger I don’t know much about the dude, but I hear hes pretty good and young. Shall we have a look too ?

Mannone has done well though for us, although we probably won’t ever see much more of the guy. If anything hes done himself plenty of favours by showing suitors that he can cope with the pressure and make good diving saves. He wasn’t scared coming out and generally made some good saves, although 75% of them you would expect any premier league keeper to save, he did the job and did it well. I expect Almunia will be back for the Birmingham game, although I think it wouldn’t be too harmful to the team if Mannone was given this game aswell to show our belief and support for the bloke.

Apparently we have 75mill for players this Jan. Hachoughdjuehdof… sorry must have had a bee fly down my throat, cause that money is going no where. How I’d like to see a hardened defensive mid come in and boss the midfield around with Song. Great. But I fear not. We also have the rumour that Vieira will be back in Jan. It makes sense, and how great would that be, him running out on the field to the crowd cheering him on, but still hard to believe at the moment.

I would even welcome another strong centre-back. Vermaelen and Gallas is great, but Silvestre and Senderos are the backups. Although I haven’t got too many problems with the latter, the former scares me out of my boots, similar to how shaggy jumps out of his when he sees a ghost in the scooby doo cartoons.

The internationals have just passed and its been a boring wknd cause of it. Birmingham on Saturday, another 3 points it should be. Its our string of should win games, and we should take maximum points from them, including the Tottenham game soon.

More to come soon, I hope.

I will waste little more time talking about some cunt, that frustrates the Bejeeezus out of me.

So it seems Senderos is on his way out, and probably in a deal that brings Chamakh to the Emirates. Le Grove had  a write up earlier where he says that Senderos looked pretty good infact. Ok it was a pre-season, but still…

Its hard to take, we have Gallas, Toure, Senderos all linked somewhat or unhappy somewhat which means theres possibility that our 6 centre backs turn to 3 in the coming weeks. If this is so, Djourou, Song and Silvestre is not going to be enough by any means. Haangeland would definitely need to be thought about, and his price would no doubt shoot up. As well it seems theres story suggesting that Haangeland could be on his way as Fulham have bought a replacement in Turner… I would be happy with that, although it doesn’t fill our void.

Again Le Grove talked about Eboue with the minor possibility that he would be transformed into the DM we want. As Le Grove said, and I agree, if Eboue plays like he did in the last few games of last season, he may just win me over. I hate to say it, but its true. I will give players a second chance if they want it. I gave it to Adebayor, and he funked it.

Huntelaar is supposedly in talks with Tottenham, and the Daily Mail suggests us too.  Chamakh or Huntelaar. I would prefer the latter only cause I know more of him. hes strong in the air which we need, although we do have Bendtner. He is more established too. Pricier yes.

I am starting to think that Wenger will not dip in for the holding MF we want, and am hoping again this time its not a mistake. Ok so it means we will see more of Ramsey, which I hope, and more of Denilson which I am not verly fussed about right now. He was average I thought last season, but we do find ourselves expecting alot from our players at times.

Eduardo apparently out, or not. Funny story that how he says hes raring to go, while Wenger has said that hes out for two more months… We’ll have to wait for more on that one I guess.

Well good luck to Nasri, and hopefully he gets back in time before Eboue wrecks our chances after the first few games, or before Diaby breaks 12 more ankles and gets a season suspension.

So Vermaelen is in, hopefully that will bring some sort of monstrosity to our back 6 that we have now (CB). Vermaelen was supposed to be the Ajax captain, but I can’t say that I ever saw that much of the guy, or if I did, it didn’t have me drooling. Then Vieira, Henry, and Pires had the same effect before they came. Please oh please let it be like that !

We now have the 6 centre backs that consist of Toure, Gallas, Vermicelli, Silvestre, Senderos and Djourou. Senderos is back now, and might be leaving, we are still yet to know on that one. Although I’d like to keep him for a couple more years to see if he becomes the player that we all hoped he’d be. Defenders peak later in life, and he is still very young. Gallas, Toure, and Silvestre all have chances of leaving, which I think probably will not be the case now. Theres been alot of hot air about those three, but nothing thats going cause a sauna or anything of the like, just warm air at best. And Djouruo, a man for us to grow into the Arsenal of things. I like him, and hope he continues his development.

We are still needing that holding midfielder though aren’t we. Only if Diarra wasn’t such an A-hole. We’d be sorted in that dpt. Moho only stayed a few months. No point crying over spilt milk. We’ve missed out on Melo, which I was dissapointed about, but not too dissapointed. Barry is gone, Alonso looks like hes on his way to Madrich, and Matuidi whos been linked is a whobody rather than a yespleasebody. Now we got Rosicky back, thats great news, lets just hope that he can stay fit, or get through the season with few niggly injuries. Fat chance, but we can always hope. His energy in midfield was great for us before he took his break.

Up front is where we are all most happy I think. RVP has signed on, we still got Vela, Eduardo and Bendtner. Ade looks like hes on his bike to Citeh. Not all bad for us as long as we can use that 20+ mill for a holding mid and more perhaps. Theres talk linking us to Huntelar, but that might be just more rubbish, as it seems Spurs are trying to tie that deal up. Chamakh is the one that Wenger wants, I think thats obvious. His 7 mill clause will let him go on his own accord. Will it happen or not. I have no idea what hes like as a player, just that he scored 13 or 14 goals for Bordeaux as they beat Lyon to the title.

I’m going to be pretty happy that Ade leaves if it happens. Ofcourse he did bring goals with him to the Emirates, but he also brought a whole lot of ‘ I dont give a shit’ too. He had a moan, and a groan and he has now moaned himself out of the Emirates. 46 goals in two seasons will be missed, but its not something that RVP, Eduardo, Bendtner, Vela, and Arshavin can’t deal with. I’m sure of it.

And theres Walcott too. He’s a player I have expected more from in the past season. I sincerely hope he becomes more consistent with his good form. He stood no chance against Evra in two legs in the Semis, and I have to say I would have rather had Eboue there for those two games. But thats the beauty of retrospect management. He is still quite predictable, but when it comes off its great, work on that final ball Theo ! its vital this year. If you play well this year, the team will too. And who knows what that will bring. I read it somewhere that Walcott should be tried on the left. And I completely agree. Anyways especially against United. Playing against Rafael will please him more than against Evra, and it will help his confidence. Other RB’s in the prem can’t keep up with him. LB’s too infcat, only Evra and Clichy.

Ok Peeps, lets stay in touch. Will be back.

Saying all that, it seems that its quite likely too that we may have up to two first team departures from the backline. Toure and Gallas. The latter being much more possible than the first in my opinion. Don’t worry all, we signed Edge early this season, and he may be able to make the first team if we train him right in pre-season. Not. We still need some sort of reinforcement.

Inter are lining up a bid of 25 mill quid for RVP. That is mighty tempting isn’t it. However I would very much like to keep that injury proned Flying Dutchman. I very much like his style, his quality, and his goals. He generally had a pretty injury free season last year to his standards. I don’t think that money is on offer for him, but if it was Wenger would probably need to do some serious thinking. 

Eduardo, Vela and Bendtner would be taking the frontline if Ade and RVP left. Although it does sound ok, we do need more quality up there if that were the case. Vela is coming, but will he be the article we need next season ? Or would Walcott be played in the position that Wenger thinks is his best position ? Then theres the mighty Arshavin, who would sit behind the strikers and do what he does best. Terrorise !

Anyway, I’m sure a CM is being considered. Just which one, and does he bring the quality we need in that position. Fabregas doesn’t want another season with average players next to him. If we want to keep our best players at the end of the next season, we have to do something about it now. They may stay till then, but if nothing changes… oh my. Will we be in for some repercussions… and not the drumkit kind. Or maybe…