So a fairly routine win over Plymouth sees us into the 4th round of the FA Cup.

A goalless first half wasn't much to look at - it was brightened up a bit watching a stream with commentary from a lunatic Spaniard who sounded like a serial killer crossed with a kiddie fiddler crossed with Gollum. Still, we had some chances, the best of which fell to Eboue after a great run by Aaron Ramsey.

There were other saves too, some shots wide but it was 0-0 at half-time. The second half began with a flurry of goals. Firstly Robin van Persie, captain for the day, headed home a Nasri corner, then nice play in and around the box saw van Persie's cross put into his own net by David Gray who deserved it for that fucking Babylon song. Amazingly Nicklas Bendtner wheeled away trying to claim the goal, heh, cheeky.

But Arsenal are nothing if not generous at the back this season and when some Plymouth bloke pulled back a nice cross the defence was static, Fabianski was nowhere and the onrushing Duguid got ahead of van Persie to poke it home.

To be fair they didn't really threaten any further. We brought on Carlos Vela on the left and this allowed Nasri a bit more freedom. The Frenchman had a fine last 30 minutes and was at the heart of all our good play. It was his lobbed ball over the top that brought about the third. Robin's first attempt was saved by the keeper but he made no mistake with the follow up, smashing it home off the bar with his chocolate leg.

So overall a decent win. The performance wasn't much to write home about but credit to Plymouth who made life very difficult for us. Afterwards Arsene Wenger said:

We have done the job in a serious way. If we weren’t completely focussed and up for it we would not have gone through today. I give credit to my team for doing the job seriously with good focus and I give credit to Plymouth who had a great game as well.

As usual the cup brought about some unexpected and somewhat hilarious results. Big spending Man City are out having been beaten 3-0 at home by Nottingham Forest while Chelsea were held 1-1 by Southend. It really is a measure of how very poor our form and performance was against City in the league though - they took us apart that day and they're poo. Anyway, I'm sure Kolo will be looking at results like that and thinking life is probably better at Arsenal, despite what might be on offer in terms of money.

Elsewhere there's all kinds of misery and doom going on. The Daily Mail is reporting that there's a rift between the board and the manager over the signing of Andrei Arshavin. The spectre of Wenger going to Real Madrid looms over the whole situation apparently, despite the fact that Wenger himself categorically denied it during the week.

Meanwhile the News of the World reports that Theo Walcott is growing restless, having not yet been offered a new deal by the club. He could leave on a free next summer so it's strange that nothing is stirring. They quote the ubiquitous 'source close to ....' as saying:

There is no doubt Theo is frustrated at the lack of action over a new deal. The club said talks would start in October because they wanted to see how Theo started the season. The fact is, he feels as if he’s being taken for granted at the moment, as if people simply expect him to sign a contract.

Given the current structure of the club you would expect Arsene Wenger to be closely involved in the whole contract situation. Surely he's the one who decides who he wants to keep, who should be offered what, etc. Perhaps the arrival of Gazidis on the scene will mean all these things are sorted out but Theo is someone I'd like to see sign a new deal with the club. We've invested too much in him to see him walk away out of contract.

Anyway, they throw up the whole Real Madrid thing as well which, as we know, is bollocks. They also say Robin van Persie is awaiting news on a new deal for him but I don't think it's unfair, after his injury record, to wait for him to complete an untroubled season before offering a new contract.

Also in the News of the World is the story that our top transfer target is Man City's Steven Ireland. That's because Arshavin is no longer our top target. Or Inler. Or Arteta. Or ... you get the picture. He's a very good player, fits the bill in terms of what we need, but he's also as mad as box of banshees. Still, no doubt he'd add something to our team if this story wasn't complete and utter fiction.

The Sunday Mirror reports that we could do a deal with West Ham which would see Matthew Upson return to Arsenal and Nicklas Bendnter go the other way. It'd be an interesting swap, you have to say. Upson would certainly bring something to the defence while Bendtner's form this season has been very, very poor. He's been unable to build on a decent showing last season and just doesn't seem to be improving at all. It would leave us a striker short, of course, but with Eduardo coming back, Vela itching to play, and a possible wide player coming in to allow Theo play up front on his return maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

Speculation in Italy links us with Torino's Alessandro Rosina. I don't know much about him to be honest. He's a versatile player apparently which probably gives a little more credibility to the rumour. He can play wide midfield or behind the strikers so no doubt AW sees him as the man to shore up our defence.

And there you go. Plenty to mull over this freezing cold Sunday. I've still got my stupid cold that the stupid Blogette brought home and gave to everyone in the house. Even the Arseblog basset hound has it. He's downstairs drinking hot whiskey as we speak.

Till tomorrow, Arsers.

Mordig all,

ad you may hab gaddered I'b god a bery bad head cold. Stubid cold.

It's Plymouth Argyle today in the FA Cup and the team news is that Fabianski will play in goal and will do so throughout the competition. The manager is promising a strong team for today, well as strong as possible under the circumstances, and claims this is 'major priority' this season.

It's certainly different from last season when one of the most awful displays of Wenger's Arsenal reign saw us get spanked at Old Trafford. We sacrificed the cup last season in pursuit of larger glory, that's not something we can afford to do this time around. Realistically it's our best chance of silverware this season and we have to give it a good shot.

With Denilson out and Alex Song suspended it means our central midfield is likely to be Abou Diaby and Aaron Ramsey, which should be interesting. Diaby gets another go in his preferred position and we get another chance to see what the Welshling can do. We don't have another league game for a week so there's no need to rest the strike force although it would be nice to see Carlos Vela get a run out.

Plymouth lie 15th in the Championship and will bring close to 10,000 supporters to the Grove today. It's a big day out for them, they'll certainly come and have a go, but this is a game we should win. We've had them watched in every game they've played since the draw was made, according to the boss, so we'll have a good idea of what they're about.

I do love the FA Cup, I have to say. It might not be as prestigious as it once was but some of my fondest Arsenal memories have come in this competition. We've had some shocks down the years as well though. Fingers crossed nothing like that happens today.

The boss had plenty to say yesterday in his press conference yesterday. He denied making any bid for Mikel Arteta or for Shay Given and said there was 'no progress' in relation to Andrei Arshavin. I wouldn't read anything into that though. He was asked if there was any progress, he said 'no progress'. I don't think he was implying that negotiations were ongoing.

He also said he was glad to see the back of 2008, sentiments which I'm sure many Arsenal fans will agree with, and denied that he was off to Real Madrid in the summer. The reporter asked the question a couple of times asking, 'So are you saying you've never had contact with Madrid?', which he denied, then she got all crafty and said 'And Madrid have at no time been in contact with any of your representatives?', which got a pause and another denial with him smiling 'No, because I represent myself'.

He admitted there's money to spend but not as much as some of the figures bandied about in newspapers. Which is fair enough, it wouldn't be unlike a newspaper to exaggerate or anything, but he did admit he's looking to spend, saying:

But we will try to use it wisely and well if we can. We live in a naturally healthy situation - we do not depend on one person, we do not depend on the banks because we make our profit. We respect our balanced budget, so I believe that we will not be in trouble.

I mentioned West Ham yesterday and the dire financial situation they find themselves in. There are other clubs in the Premier League whose finances are coming under intense scrutiny, including one very, very high profile club who are struggling in a big way to keep the weight of their debt from collapsing the whole place. The manager's insistence at throwing money around like water and some foolish owners mean things could get really bad up there.

As much as I want Arsenal to spend and improve the squad I'd rather not be in that kind of position financially. But then I don't think any of us have ever advocated the manager going out and blowing £7m on a left back who turns out to be the worst defender in history and the other hit and hope kind of deals that have gone on. We know Arsene can spend money well, look at the signings of Sagna and Eduardo for example, and while he's had some duffers along the way all we've ever wanted is for him to spend the money he has. There's never been anyone who wanted him to go to Fat Tony and get a loan to buy players. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

The Kolo Toure situation is sorted out apparently. According to the boss:

We spoke about it with him and I think he has changed his mind. I am happy with players who are committed and Kolo is a big example for that. There was a minor incident that you could multiply by 20. It happens every day in every club and is sorted out now. Kolo is happy here.

Which is all very vague. The fact is that Kolo demanded a transfer using his relationship with William Gallas as an excuse. Much as I love Kolo that was disappointing. Anyway, despite what the manager says all this situation has served to do is alert other clubs that Toure is willing to leave Arsenal. The manager says he's staying but then he's said that before about many players and we've seen them sold. Man City appear to be still interested.

I know Kolo is only 27 but the manager, stats freak that he is, won't have missed the decline. If he feels Kolo can return to the level he was at before then he'll probably keep him, if he doesn't he might well be inclined to sell him while his stock is still high.

It was interesting to hear Arsene talk about his partnership with Gallas, saying:

It’s not a question of Kolo Toure or William Gallas. It is that the two together are a bit short in the air. We needed to add some size centrally.

It took him long enough, eh? Djourou looks set to play today and continue his emergence into the first team. He could establish himself properly between now and May and come next August who knows if either Gallas or Toure will be giving Wenger any kind of selection headache?

Right, that's about it. Here's to a good game this afternoon and the first step on the road to some silverware this season.

Till tomorrow.