About bloody fecking time:

Read it here

It seems strange that he would say 'pissed' especially to the Daily Star, but it makes me happy so I choose to believe it. If you have no idea why he would be pissed of at Barcelona then you are obviously not an Arsenal supporter.

Xmas day doesn't half pass quick eh? I trust you all got spoiled rotten, stuffed silly, and that at least one of you injured yourself in a ridiculously stupid way due to alcohol-impaired mentalness. Anything less and I'd be very disappointed in you all.

With more box sets than HMV to get through they'll have to wait as the Chavs are first up on ESPN followed by Liverpool. With us and Manure not playing until tomorrow we have the luxury of sitting back and gloating as the rest of the teams around us hopefully stuff themselves like the proverbial xmas turkey.

Cesc is rated 50:50 but Traore is back and that can only be a good thing.

That's it for today, it's boxing day so my brain is officially still on holiday.

I'll try and get it back in time for tomorrows preview.

Enjoy your leftovers 

Happy Christian Christmas Morning to you. I'm not a christian, so happy day-off-work-get-lots-of-free-stuff day.

Short and sweet today for the obvious reasons.

Watching Wenger's web chat part 2 (it's free on Arsenal TV) he was asked what was his favourite city, his answer couldn't have been more gooner. Off course, he said Paris as he knows it quite well, but he said he doesn't know London very well. He loves where he lies and he only knows North London. Are there other parts?

His football hero growing up? Pele. He wants kick ins instead of throw ins. Makes sense to me, it is football afterall.

Wenger also talked about Chesney, saying that Arsenal see him as a future 'great, great' goalkeeper (his two greats not mine) but also gave some clue as to when we might start seeing him as number 1. I had said yesterday that you could money on Chesney being number 1 at Arsenal in two years making him 21. I might have been a bit off given that Wenger sees a goalkeeper starting to make an impact at 24 (as opposed to strikers at 19). That's five years for Chesney, so plenty of time for that new keeper you're going to sign in January to make a name for himself eh Arsene?

I haven't had time to watch part three yet due to xmas & laziness-related stuff, but I'm looking forward to it

After listening to Alan Davies's podcast, It's up for grabs now, it sparked a discussion in work which lead to, in a very convoluted way, me realising that I knew very little about Wenger the man. (BTW if you haven't been listening to It's up for grabs now, you simply HAVE to go and listen to it. It's 30 minutes of pure hilariousness all centred around Arsenal and slagging off opponents.) Anyway, it led me to discovering a load of really interesting stuff about Le Boss which I will be sharing with you in future posts.

A few media reports have us linked (once again) with Huntelaar, this time however, on a six-month loan deal which actually sounds like a good move to me. Everybody says we need another striker, and we do, but we don't need a permanent one, What we do need is a guy who is playing crap at his current club and wants to prove himself to make sure of his world-cup place. How can we lose? If he carries on his crap form them we're no worse off, and if he scores a few then result. And he'd be free so he's right in Wenger's price bracket.

I guess we'll have to wait and see, and with January just around the corner, we can but wish that any business is completed as quickly, early, and hitch-free as the Verminator's transfer in the summer.

And that's your lot. I hope you all have a great day and drink, eat and merry yourselves to appropriate excessive levels.

Till boxing day when the only reason we actually look forward to christmas begins...I hope you all got your spacehoppers:

So, let's start with some good news to warm you on this fecking freezing day. It's injury-related (shocker) but Cesc seems confident of being back for the Christmas Cracker that is Arsenal v Villa.

Super stuff. Not that I believe it for a minute.

It's good to see the Daily Mail describing our injury crisis which has dwarfed, or should that be pygmied, Man U's for the entire season, as the 'loss of several key players.' It's not like the Mail to be understated, especially not when there's foreigners involved.

With regards to VP's injury Wenger says he hopes for a surprise as he learnt that his injury wasn't career threatening. Ah excuse me? Why hasn't this been mentioned before this? So his return date is now pushed back to May and at this rate he'll be very lucky to make the World Cup where no doubt he can have a magnificent tournament for the Netherlands before breaking both his legs in a meaningless third/fourth place play-off. Such is his (and our) luck with injuries.

Owen Coyle still wants Wilshere but at least he's being sensible about it, saying he knows he will be in a fight for his signature. That's if our injuries allow him to leave at all. At least Owen Coyle is aware of our 'problem,' though journalism hasn't been improved by Sky's assertion that Jack has been unable to nail down a first team place. Duh! That was never the plan for this season you morons. Do you EVER get anything right?

Wonder-keeper in waiting Chesney has extended his loan at Brentford which is not surprising with 3 clean sheets out of 6 and some cracking saves. Number 1 in two years...put money on it.

In what I thought was a really nice gesture, Wenger took part in a web-chat with fans yesterday and it was weird watching the guy who is the voice of Arsenal TV to see that his head movements go with his speech patterns. If you know who I mean then you know what I mean. To see the genuine delight on Wenger's face when he talked about the squad visiting various children's hospital's as they do every season was heart-warming even for me, the biggest scrooge and bah humbug around.

To have a 45 minute interview with le boss was just pure heaven for Arsenal aficionados.  It almost felt like Christmas.

It will surprise no-one to learn that Eboue is the one who makes him laugh the most, but not in training. That's not surprising either. Theo, Vela and Traore are the fastest, Arshavin is the shortest, and VP really is made of fibre-glass. Theo now holds the club record for speed over some amount of distance (4.7 v Henry's 4.82).
The spine-shortening rumour has no basis in fact other than in Lady Arse’s head (how cool would that have been if I’d got a mention?)
Needless to say Arsene would rather there was no ACN than have to cover the loss of Song and Eboue, but we'll be doing that from within with whatever pygmies we have left standing.

When asked where he sees Arsenal in five years time he replied that he hopes the squad will still be together and dominating Europe. There was no mention of him being there but it does reveal his desire to fill that empty slot his resume with a big shiny Champions League trophy.

When asked about Ashburton Grove Medical Centre, Wenger had no clue as to why they caused so many injuries and made them last so long. An interesting theory was put forward a few weeks ago (I can't remember who said it, sorry, so claim ownership) but with Arsenal playing quick, sharp, precise football, it is not inconceivable that it is that which cause a lot of the injuries, getting caught more often that players in other teams.

A spending spree is still possible in January and a player's cup-tied status will not influence his decision. When you look at the impact Simples had when he joined the squad it's hard to see availability for the Champions League as an absolute necessity. He answered yes very, very quickly when asked about cup-tied players...a hint that he has someone in mind? It sounded like he was talking about someone rather than anyone, but maybe that was just wishful hearing on my part.

That was only the first 15 minutes and there were a ton of other questions too, but you could probably work out the answers to those ones yourself. I suggest you get yourself off to Arsenal TV for the rest because if I typed it all out you'd be here til Christmas.

In a surprising twist, word came yesterday with regards to Nasri and the tread-of-death which he exacted Garcia, the human renowned for having the lowest pain threshold in the natural world, at the weekend. 5pm came and went and there was no announcement so I could only assume that the press didn't generate enough column inches to make them think they had to do anything. Super stuff. At 6.15pm word was starting to filter through that Bennett would not have given Nasri a red had he seem it and no further action would follow. Result! Sometime Bennett being a tit has its upsides. You know you'd want an opposing player sent off for that, harmless as it was.

Meanwhile, you might think that I just sit around doing nothing when I'm not on Ole or watching a match, but you'd be wrong. I'm changing the Arsenal reporting world one email at a time. After the match against Hull, the report in the Daily Telegraph made reference to William Gallas being the only player on the pitch who did not get involved in the brawl, yet, as captain, he should be expected to do so. Captain you say? Not since, well, you know when, it's painful to remember. I believe they have now fixed the match report because I got a lovely little email telling me they had done so.

22 December 2009
 
Dear Ms LadyArse, (well, they didn't say LadyArse, they used my name, but if you don't already know my name I'm not telling you)
 
Thank you for your email to the Telegraph.
 
The match report for Arsenal against Hull has now been amended.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Andy King
Editorial Information Assistant

Personally, I'd have preferred that they just offered me the job of writing all future reports but I think they would probably be seeking a more balanced and partisan opinion.

Yes folks, news is that slow that I'm regaling you with tales about my personal emails.

I suppose the biggest news of yesterday is that Arsenal are looking to renegotiate their deal with the Emirates as it seems the 'biggest sponsorship deal' in English Football history isn't quite big enough. I read somewhere that as the Emirates Airline is in financial diffs it puts us in a great position for renegotiating, but I'm not really sure how that works. They're broke so we squeeze them for more money? Or does it mean that we can buy ourselves out of a contract which has six years remaining for a knockdown price and whore ourselves to someone else?

Personally, money on this scale confuses me and I don't give a shit what is on the front of our shirts as long as they GIVE ME MY WHITE SLEEVES BACK.

What it would mean, however, is that Arsenal could get a huge injection of cash, but it doesn't really matter as Arsene will just get a bigger mattress in which to stuff it all. It's really too much to dream that Shay Given, a player who was rumoured to be very close to signing for us before making the switch to City will force through a transfer in January. But such dreams are what we supporters build upon and if the rumours are true then Wenger knows we need a new keeper, but to think that he will buy one is a whole different animal.

We'd also get a new name for our home and this is something I'm not liking. We only changed our ground/& name three years ago and I'll be buggered if I'm going to start calling it something else. I still call the Emirates Highbury and they aren't even the same place, how the hell can I be expected to remember to call the Emirates the 'Labatt's Arena' or whatever the hell it becomes I don't know. Ashburton Grove all the way I say.

In other money-related stuff, Stan has edged closer to the magical takeover number, now falling only 17 shares short and still refusing to give Jabba the Hut any clarification on his intentions. Whatever they are, the Hut is not part of them and that, for Arsenal fans, is the lesser of two evils. I like the fact that Kroenke is so quiet, let's hope that doesn't change when he owns the club outright, a Lerner rather than a Hicks or Gillett.

I must say I thought it would take longer for the ex-25's true colours to shine through, but it has come faster that I think even the most cynical gooner could have predicted. Perhaps it's because he's found his soul mate in Robihno, who knows. All I do know is that if Man City are already bending to his will the club will only head in one direction and that makes me smile.

One final thing before I go, I would just like you to remember this statement by Sam Wallace said on Sunday Supplement:

"Arsenal have no chance of competing over 38 games with Chelsea. While Wenger maintains his policy of not buying big name players they won't win the title."

Apparently we are renowned for falling away (like we did so spectacularly last season with our 21 unbeaten run last season) and don't have the strength to compete. Given that the press are oblivious to our injury-plight (and as the excuse they give as to why United WILL press on in the New Year, even though we sit only two points behind them with a game in hand) therefore they must be oblivious to the fact that our players can never suffer fatigue. This will be invaluable in the run-in. I would ask you kindly to add Sam Wallace to 'The List.' Should we win the league, I will be emailing him a clip of his quote with a great big LMFAO YOU WANKER attached.
Knobhead.

And that's your lot for today, if you find yourself bored, try and get your head around Arsenal's tactics board:

Sorry about the lack of blogging yesterday. Somehow, in my head, it made perfect sense for me to set my alarm for 11am knowing Garantia would be over at about 11.10am to take me Xmas shopping (I still can't be trusted in large public spaces on my on without looking like I had three bottles of buckfast for breakfast). But, rather than blaming me, I would rather you blamed xmas. And thank Garantia for not ranting at me for not being ready the way I rant at others when they do it to me. My defence was she said she would be here around that time, I hadn't asked for that time specifically. That's a valid argument right?

Anyways, it seems there wasn't really much going on yesterday anyway so all you missed was my rambling to fill some paragraphs, which is what you're going to get now.

Before West Ham kicked off against Chelsea on Sunday I had a look at the odds. I so very nearly placed money on a West Ham or draw result, but at 11/2 thought the odds were a bit crap and I was probably only betting on the basis of wishful thinking. How foolish I am.

West Ham did a great job against Chelsea and we are back to are we where this time last week in terms of Chelsea and closer to United so that's a good week. The penalty retakes ordered by Dean at Upton Park were a bit ridiculous. I'm pretty sure that the rules of encroachment and the keeper coming off the line only matter when the penalty is missed or saved and comes out for a rebound opportunity. Or at least they should do if they don't. Encroachment etc should only come into play if it's saved. It's the same with walls at free kicks, if you score directly from it, who the hell cares if the wall wasn't back the full 10? Advantage to the fouled against team and all that. Not, off course, that I didn't want to see Chelsea keep taking it til they missed, but seriously, Dean needs to wise-up. And no, it wasn't a penalty. But two points dropped for Chelsea capped a sweet weekend.

To make up for the money I failed to win on the West Ham Chelsea game I trebled my money on PaddyPower Poker so it wasn't all bad.

It seems as though Sami might be facing an FA rap for his 'stamp' on Saturday. I use the '' because he didn't stamp by any definition of the word. What the ex-25 did to Cesc's leg, VP's face, and a Hull player a few weeks ago (which was not brought up in front of the FA BTW) was a stamp. Nasri stepped on the players foot. There is a big difference. If it does come with a charge and a potential 3-match ban then I insist INSIST that the FA get out footage of the ex-25 v Hull and charge him.

Just because one resulted in a brawl and the other didn't should not dictate who gets charged. If you can find the ex-25's stamp v Hull, explain to me how it is not 100 times worse than what Nasri did. I'm not saying what Sami did should go unpunished, he was stupid to do it and there appeared to be no reason (though Clownshoe said there was a poke in his face just prior which would explain it) and it was an action which could have cost us. But if the FA charge Nasri they must also charge Song, Hunt and Barmby. No doubt, with Arsene having his fighting head on these days, we'll see a video highlighting the Hull indiscretions making its way to the FA shortly after. I hope they blur out Song in the 'don't show my face on TV way' or his ban at least comes in January when he'll be away anyway.

To think that Nasri's tread and the ex-25's assault can be treated with the same punishment is just laughable and just adds more weight to Wenger's call for a staggered ban system for red cards...slap 2 matches, punch 3, attempted decapitation 10...that sort of thing.

In other news, it seems that Diaby isn't Vieria, which is kind of like making the statement LadyArse isn't Kylie Minogue. We're both around the same height but that's the end of the similarities. I don't think we needed Wenger to point this one out to us.

There's some sort of hoo-ha over a small section of the crowd aiming personal abuse at the Phil Orange, with the boss condeming it. It's not really surprising given what Wenger has had to endure over 13 years that he would like to see an end to all personal abuse at football, and while some does very much cross the line, there is no way to eradicate it from the crowd. And besides, it was Phil Brown, He deserved it. It wasn't even that personal, especially when you consider what's aimed at Wenger. At least the Arsenal crowd worded their chants with facts. Make your mind up for yourself here.

For those who are all for free speech, here's an article which proves not everybody with a keyboard should be allowed to type on it  (comments 2 and 3 make my point without me having to).

I think I'll end my ramble there. I sense a few quiet days ahead before the xmas schedule explodes upon us. Let's hope we're still standing by the end of it.

Happy last minute shopping!

Another great Saturday. United and Liverpool spanked, Mark Hughes sacked, and then Arsenal manage to overcome Steve Bennett to beat Hull 3-0.

Liverpool have blamed injuries for their plight, now it seems United are doing the same. Do you ever hear Wenger offer it as an excuse when ours have been consistently worse for the ENTIRE season?  Or say something as confidence-sapping as 'the players are doing the best they can given the situation?' Not to mention how insulting it is to Fulham and their magnificent display. Have you ever seen the media give us that excuse in the way they have done here for United? Did the BBC count down our injuries the way they did United's? Don't be so stupid.

So United are missing seven defenders, we're missing four, and midfielders, and all our strikers, and 50% of the team playing are just returning from injury. I don't want to make excuses for our side, but I do want a 'level' playing field when it comes to criticism and the fecking credit we're due for maintaining while our squad crumbles.

Pah. 

The first half against Hull was quite even, with passions boiling over as it drew to a close. Samir naughtily stepped on a Hull players foot (and he did step it wasn't a stamp even though the player went down as if he'd had his foot amputated Taylor-style) but yet Barnby was allowed to lift BOTH his hands and push Nasri's head but was not even given a warning. Hunt and Fagan were booked and then allowed to foul and desent with impunity. Hunt, who had been going in late every opportunity he could soon backed the fuck off Nasri when Song came swinging at him and he couldn't get away from Alex quick enough. It was the highlight of the half and it carried on in to the tunnel but seemed to have dissipated by the start of the second. The only other incident which seemed to get Twitter all-a-flutter was the sight of all our subs tucked under a communal Arsenal blanket. And people say we're soft!

Then we started to play. We do take a while to get going don't we?

Diaby was man of the match without a doubt, closely followed by Song and Denilson. Even Silvestre had a good game. Eduardo looked as if he had some of his confidence back and managed to get a goal which should settle whatever nerves he might still have. Nasri got stuck in, Eboue performed well at right-back, and Gallas and Vermaelen were, well, Gallas and Vermaelen.

You would think that after the abuse I have been giving Almunia recently that I would have had no faith in him for the penalty which came from nowhere but there was something weird about it and I said to Garantia as she pulled a blanket over head unable to watch that it would be ok, the Spanish waiter would save it. I don't know why I thought he would, I just did. She was startled from her shelter with a giant roar of SAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEE. It was as good as a goal.

Not that it was a penalty in the first place. But when Bennett referees our matches he always gives penalties or sends someone off with the most ridiculous decisions. This time I'm with Wenger, and if anyone can show it to me I'd be obliged. You know you've been screwed when even Mark Lawrenson says it wasn't even close to being a penalty. For ESPN to then say Hull had been hard done by the entire match was ridiculous. I'll agree that the free kick for Denilson's wonder strike was soft (Diaby didn't even appeal), but it was 10 times more a foul than what they got a penalty for. The Hull player's knee clipped Diaby's leg. Bennett also pulled up injured and Phil Dowd was poised to replace him but Bennett struggled on. Something surely which should not be allowed. If a ref isn't fit or is injured he should be removed from the match.

After what I saw last week, and looking closer this, my concerns with Almunia now involve his health. He looks very, very ill. In his post-match interview he could hardly draw breath, he is very pale, losing weight, and under his eyes are black. Something is very very wrong and we are seeing that reflected on the pitch.

I don't think that is an excuse for him, he was never a superb keeper, but it could be an explanation for the rapid decline he has experienced this season. We know he had that chest infection, was it worse than that? His mother-in-law died, but surely he should be over that by now, or at least able to cope. And the club must be aware of it. I understand sticking by him, but that has to have his limits.

Some say he was great yesterday, but he made one save, collected one cross, and saved an ok penalty. He had very little to do and managed to do it without fucking up for a change. I won't reverse my demand for a new keeper after one match in which he really wasn't tested but I will give him credit for rising to the responsibility of the captain's armband and being more decisive. He still isn't the answer though.

ESPN were infuriating throughout the entire match. Slagging the attendance (even when the official numbers were released at 60,000 they said that included season ticket holders who weren't there as if Arsenal just guess how many are in the crowd) even though it was the last weekend before Xmas, travel was all but impossible for some due to snow and not one single ground would have been full to capacity. And did you hear anything about how Eastlands was empty at the final whistle the way they yap on about the Emirates? The BBC and Match of the Day gave Arsenal their obligatory 15 second discussion before moving on. Note to BBC - Portsmouth v Liverpool NOT more important than a team challenging for the title. Add yourselves to the list of 'people to look stupid come the end of the season', I believe there's a slot in between Sky and the redtops which is available.

As the second half drew to a close Brian Horton had made his way from the stands to wait in the tunnel, and you can't help but wonder what shite he'll come up with this time. Cesc was wearing the same 'disrespectful' coat as he had on during 'spitgate' and given that he's a multi-millionaire who can afford more than one coat you can't help but wonder if he did it out of badness. I hope he did.

It was three points hard-fought, hard-earned, and very well deserved. I was extra happy as I had a tiny bet on Diaby to score which he duly did. It was deserved and capped a superb display.

Seven points out of nine from two away games, one home, six goals, one clean sheet, and all in the space of six days. Throw in the fact that we're playing with a squad of broken pygmies and far from our best and you have to pretty satisfied.

Everybody is looking at Liverpool and Arsenal as being the one's who's place in the top four is at risk, but nobody seems to see how we are two points behind United with a game in hand and Villa are right up their arse as well. Man U and the world just seem to think that once the new year comes they will kick on and stroll to the title but I have serious doubts about their ability to be able to do that this season. With no Ronaldo, a crippled defence, and an over-reliance on Rooney, I honestly believe that United's place in the top four in under a huge threat. It might sound strange to say that with them sitting in second, but that's just a feeling I get.

It's like Liverpool last season. How many times did Gerrard or Torres snatch it for them? How many times did I say that wouldn't last forever? It's the same with Man U and this 'January rocket.' They can rely on it all they want, but there's going to come a time when it's just not going to work.

Everyone seems to think it will be only one of the 'top four' to go. I have a feeling it could well be two.

In other news, it seems that Arsenal and the Dutch FA will not be sending Xmas cards anytime soon as they state they will fight us in any compensation claim. In the keeping with the holiday spirit, a lawyer for the Dutch FA said

"Before Arsenal were shouting their mouths off in public, they should have studied the FIFA rules"

It seems that we should already have insurance for players away on (pointless) International duty, though why that SHOULD be the case is as beyond me as it is Wenger. Why should I pay insurance for you to drive my car across the world just for the hell of it? To be fair, I don't have a car, but I don't think Arsenal would be seeking any sort of compensation if the Dutch FA had sent VP home with a proper diagnosis. Added on top of the French FA's refusal to send an injured Diaby back because they didn't want to call another player up into the squad (according to Wenger) heaped upon the other injuries we've received in matches where top English clubs have withdrawn 'injured' players only for them to appear for their club, Wenger reached his fill and the Dutch FA are facing his backlash.

Mick McCarthy has ridiculously suggested that he has more integrity in his little finger than Wenger has in his entire body and if he devalued the league then so does Wenger when he fields kids in the Carling Cup. Ahh duhhh the Carling Cup had no value until Wengers started playing his kids and the fact that they could probably play in the Premier Legaue and finish above Wolves first team just makes him look like an even bigger idiot than he already is.

What annoys me is that while Wenger might often criticises other managers decisions, he never insults the manager themselves. It's a small, but important difference. More often than not, it results in Wenger being the person attacked which I think the boss handles incredibly well and always refuses to lower himself to personal mud-slinging. It's like calling someone 'fat' just because you can't construct a coherent argument. It's not big and it's far from clever. The journalists ask the questions, Wenger gives an honest answer, and then other managers jump on the 'Wenger-bashing' bandwagon. Did Wenger insult McCarthy or simply question his decision? Would managers dare say the things they do about Wenger in relation to Ferguson?

To hear Ferguson back McCarthy's decision is not unexpected, but for him to say that as they only beat the second string team 3-0 and both Arsenal and Chelsea managed to put four past the first teams proves that the reserves did better is just stupid. The only thing that proves is that Man U aren't as good as Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Mirror reports that we have been snubbed by Van Der Vaart, though to describe him as a 'superstar' in once sentence and then state his price as '£6million' leads me to believe this is yet another non-story. You can see how he snubbed Arsenal by saying:

"My intention is to finish the season here and see out the contract that I have with Real Madrid. I am very happy and believe I am playing very well at the moment."

Ouch! How could he reject us like that! I suppose you could spell 'Arsenal' out of the letters contained within that statement. But you can also spell 'Twat' which is what the author of the 'story' is.

Big Phil is again linked with Everton in a story which could actually have legs. The fact that he can't even make the bench with four defenders injured demonstrates his time at Arsenal is over. While it is being touted as a loan deal, the more painless we can make it for him the better I think. Not once has he complained or tried to force Arsenal's hand through the media, we should respect that and let him go.

So, another great weekend. Third place held, ground made on United and away from Liverpool. And all that without a left back, or striker and many who played only returning from injury. We might not be purring the way we were before all the injuries, but I'll take it knowing what we have to come. We're hanging in there and we know we can do better. Can United and Chelsea say the same?

I don't think so.

The title's ours if we want it enough, and I think this year the players might just know that. Laugh if you like, but make sure you add yourself to the list after the BBC.

Despite the fact that we have match today there's very little Arenal news about. I suppose given that most of our news usually revolves around yet another player being injured I suppose we should be glad that things are a bit quiet.

In crazy land Man City seem to actually think they can persuade Wenger to become their manager. Now, this all seems to centre on the fact that Man City have appointed ex-gooner Brian Marwood to some pointless position and he has a good relationship with Wenger. Apparently, according to the 'wisdom' which is the Daily Star Wenger is frustrated with the lack of funds at Arsenal.

Have you stopped laughing yet? Does anybody outside of Arsenal understand what Wenger has spent 13 years trying to do at Arsenal? Why can they not grasp that Wenger is swayed as much by money as I am by good looking men (if you don't follow this blog then you won't have a clue what I'm talking about so if you need clarification 'men DON'T sway me in 'any way).

If Wenger wanted to be a cash dispenser he would have went to Madrid, a team with far more credibility, tradition, and ability to win things than Man City. I know it's all a pile of shite and I shouldn't be dedicating any time to it, but news really is that light on the ground.  No doubt the Star will be doing a follow up story about how Wenger will only join City if he can have Ferguson as his number two.

So, Hull. In Wenger's press conference nobody asked about Almunia or the goalkeeping situation so we have no clue what's going on in Wenger's head. That's probably a good thing as with no spotlight on the issue he might be tempted to actually drop the liability.

What will our team be today? Haven't a clue, but Eduardo will hopefully get a start. I think we'll line up like this (and yes, the goalkeeper is selected more in hope):

Fabianski
Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Silvestre
Song
Denilson Diaby
Nasri Arshavin Eduardo.

Off course, Ramsey could start and either Diaby or Denilson could be on the bench. Walcott might get a third start in a row, or we could even go with Vela. I don't know, but what I do know is that if we can sort out the keeping situation it will take some pressure of the back four, Vermaelen can worry only about himself and Silvestre instead of having to worry about that and the keeper, but is it likely to happen? Again, I just don't know.

Everyone on the planet can see the Spanish waiter for what he has become, we all just have to wait and hope Wenger can see it too.

That's really all there is today. Maybe there's more if I went looking for it but I'm just awake and need coffee.

Here's to three points....please???

Here's hoping he can do it again against Hull

Get it as a Tshirt transfer or A4 print

(UK - order before 3pm tomorrow (Sat 19th) and get it in time for Christmas)

So, it's to be Porto for us then and we can't ask for better than that.

The draw in full, I'll give my thoughts on it more in tomorrow's blog (if I remember):

Stuttgart v Barcelona (how disgusted did Stuttgart look?)
Olympiakos v Bordeaux
Inter v Chelsea (come on Mourinhio)
Bayern Munich v Fiorentina
CSKA v Sevilla
Lyon v Real Madrid (fixed for the Spanish? ffs)
Porto v Arsenal
AC Milan v Man U (hehe)

Today is Friday. If you are reading this just after I've posted it then it's AM and not even 48 hours since we played our away game at Burnley. In less than 48 hours we play Hull. This, you will say, is the normal schedule of things for this time of year, however, our situation is far from normal. While Hull can point to the fact that the have a whopping two players out and have not played in a game in a week, we, on the other hand, head in to our third in less than seven days with most of the squad missing, and what's standing is battered, bruised, and probably exhausted.

Mick McCarthy pointed to the fact that he rested 10 players as he didn't want to push his players beyond breaking point. We don't have that luxury.

We know we have no Cesc, we hope we'll have no Almunia, while we fear losing Arshavin, Vermaelen, Sagna, Gallas, Song or Nasri. We wonder if Eduardo really is losing form or if he is, as he seemed at Burnley, a broken man, the penalty incident the final nail in what little self-confidence he had remaining. We ponder why Theo never rememebers to take the ball with him, or if Diaby can do more than twirl.

I don't mean to have a go at the players. I don't. I'm frustrated and I'm venting, I know that. A supporter supports, and I will always be there, but that doesn't stop me being disappointed or felling let down. Would I care about Theo if I didn't know he had so much more in his locker than what he's been able to produce in his limited playing time this season?

I would like to clarify, however, when I say that I don't mean to have a go at the players, that excludes Almunia who I very much mean to have a go at.

Yesterday's blog left Almunia alone for fear of flying laptops. Today he is not so lucky. In the past, I have readily admitted that I have given Eboue, Bendtner, and Song a hard time. I don't include Silvestre, because he isn't really an Arsenal player and I don't care about him. I have also conceded that I was wrong to do so. All three put their head down and worked their Arsenal arses off to get to where they knew they should be. They also had youth on their side and in their defence and I would say Song is my firm favourite at Arsenal. Almunia does and is not.

While entering the age when a keeper is supposed to begin truly excelling, Almunia is regressing with every game. I have never been his greatest fan, I'll admit that, so I suppose that makes it easier to swing to the extreme of detesting the sight of him in goal. But the reason I didn't overally like him was because I didn't think he was good enough for Arsenal. As I have stated on many occassions he is an adequate number two, but never more than that. Yes, last season, he was better than the year before, but could you say he was outstanding? Have you ever seen a keeper bent over looking like he was trying not to throw up in a penalty shoot-out? Every time he steps on to that line to face a penalty, shoot out or game, he already looks defeated.

There comes a point with everything in life when a line is crossed and it matters not one jot what you do after you step over it. The ex-25 crossed it. I believe Almunia has done so also.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Almunia in the way I do the ex-25, but laziness, disinterest, and lack of confidence are contagious and spread through a team with a proven fragility in the mental department.

But enough with this negativity (told you it was contagious).

It seems, shockingly, that Barcelona will be trying to buy Cesc in the summer. Apaprently, apart from being deluded that £40m could buy you anything other than Cesc's left boot, La Porta is convinced that because of the good relationship Barcelona have with Arsenal they should be able to 'talk us round.' Seriously? Are these guys for real? They continue to try and turn Cesc's head in the way Real managed to turn Ronaldo's. They have shown Arsenal nothing but contempt in the way they announce interest in our players, and have some sort of notion that we should do their bidding.

Fuck that.

Before the start of this season I said that I felt Cesc would leave at the end of it if we failed to win something. I don't feel that any more. It doesn't feel as if it is blind faith in a player's words, it feels like a faith well placed in a player who has been true to that word since the minute Barca decided they wanted 'their' player back. Had this season panned out differently, had we been with a full squad and failed to perform, perhaps I would feel differently, but I honestly feel Cesc recognises what is trying to happen at Arsenal and how close both he and Wenger are to making that vision a reality. The injuries are standing in the way of that, there can be no doubt about that and I think that is a factor which will sway Cesc more than any DNA crap flowing from Barcelona.

Cesc is only 22. He knows time is on his side and he genuinely wants to win things as Arsenal captain. 23 is not an age to give up on that and he knows it.

So, the match. I'll do a Pygmy Preview tomorrow ahead of the liars return to the Emirates. I'm sure Cesc more than anyone would have wanted to be playing in this one, if for no other reason than to show Brian Horton that he does his talking with his feet, not his spit as they claimed. Why, by the way, is there no recourse for Cesc in regards to those comments which were shown to be nothing more than the fantasies of a derranged orange and his cohorts - Brown wishes he could get that close to Cesc's spit. So does his midfield come to think of it.

But alas, it is not to be, and with Hull hopefully being relegated, he will have to wait a long time, or a cup draw to get his revenge.

If we are to continue entertaining thoughts of the title it's a no-brainer that we must win. With Chelsea leaking more goals than us and Man U in defensive dissaray we must, simply must, find the consistency Wenger knows is key to this year's title. How we do that when we are constantly have to change players and get others back to match fitness is for Wenger to work out, but work it out he must.

In the years to come no-one outside Arsenal will remember our injuries, they'll only remember our league position. Let's make sure it's one they won't ever forget.

Bring Hull the fuck on...there's a spanking due.