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.

I wasn't going to do a blog today, absolutely exhausted and just fancied coming home, sitting down, and switching my brain off. I;m also sure I've used that title more than once. Unfortunately, my brain decides when and if it wants to work and it wasn't shutting up. The fact that it has nothing really constructive to say is infuriating, but I'll push on nonetheless and see where it leads.

What else can be said about last night that hasn't already been screamed 1,000 times? Drop Alumina, get rid of Silvestre (tip - if you can't get back, DON'T GO FUCKING FORWARD) and learn that a one goal lead is NEVER enough in this league.

We took the foot of the pedal, we played with the handbrake on, we're sick hearing the same excuses week in week out. Now I know that a draw at home to Burnley is not the end of our title aspirations, and most of us would have taken four points from the last two games but that's not the issue. The fact is, we 'gained' two points on Sunday and should have built on that. It seems that, mentally at least, this team is incapable of adjusting rapidly to changing circumstances. The loss of Cesc last night demonstrating that clearly.

Get a club head doctor or something, I don't care what it is, but you can have all the skill in the world, but in the end, if you can't get your head around the fact that you need to play and press for a full 90 minutes then we will forever be the team who played pretty football and won fuck all. We will be everyone's favourite 'second' team without shiny things to look at and say 'wow, that's ours, we won that with pretty football when people said it couldn't be done.'

Blah, I'm depressing myself. Burnley did a good job last night, but we should have had the game sewn up before they even got their penalty.

I'm not even going to start with that pathetic excuse for a goalkeeper because if I do there will be no blog as my laptop will be chukced out the window.

I'm going to leave it there, my head's not in it today, I'm exhausted as I said and just need to be a vegetable for a while, but fear not, apart from a late morning shift on Sunday, I'm off til Tuesday which means four whole days without having to get up at 5am. Bliss.

Til tomorrow then folks, wobble on...wobble on...

March of the Pygmies

So the Pygmaies march norf, doing a little injury hokey-kokey along the way just to keep themselves warm; You put an Eboue in, you take an Denilson out....

Sigh.

There was some fighting talk from Wenger in his pre-match conference, saying that we're ready for it. Except Almunia, the only thing he's ready for is bed. The sight of the huge bags under his eyes lends me to believe that the Spanish Waiter is having off-field problems. I wish he'd just pack them and go. There can be no other reason for his total collapse of ability. While never an outstanding goalkeeper, he was adequate last season. Just. But this season he is playing like a man with the world on his mind, and huge dark patches in his vision. These things don't happen for no reason. If he is having personal problems, surely it is up to the club to make him go and sort it, or, at the very least, not put Arsenal in jeopardy buy trying to play him through it.

Anyways, there's other things to be getting on with.

Last night there was an absolutly ridiculous decision by Mick McCarthy to make 10 changes to his team against Man United with an eye on his match against Burnley on Saturday. 10 fucking changes. If this was happening at the end of the season when relegation/league title was actually staring teams in the face there would be absolute uproar. They may as well have not bothered going and just forfeited the match.

Imagine, dream, if you will, that it is the end of the season. There are two matches left but we've already won the league and have our eyes firmly placed on the Champions League final. With that in mind, as we enter our final matches, say against Portsmouth and Hull who both need points to survive (for arguments sake) we field our kids and lose. Not one, or two, or even three kids, but 10 of them. How do you think that would go down across the world? And that's not even a good example because no doubt our kids are significantly better than Wolves reserves.

I understand that for Wolves the Burnley match is more important, but in this league EVERY game matters for somebody. It isn't like we all didn't expect a Man U win, I just hate seeing them handed it on a fucking silver platter, especially the form they are in and the torrid time Wolves gave Spurs at the weekend. The could have done some damage. It might not have been very likely, but they should at least be obliged to try.

So, Burnley, on a cold Wednesday evening and my fear approaching this match is that our team has a terrible tendency for teenage moodswings of dramatic proportions. Arrogance takes them over with a swiftness rarely witnessed before, as does self-doubt. Two sides of the same coin and all bundled with the joys of youth.

Team news, I'm going to state the team I would like to see before the team we're likely to get:

Akinfeev
Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Clichy
Song
Cesc Ramsey (aged 20)
Messi Van Persie Arshavin

Ok, so you might have to substitue Fabianski or Doris the Tea Lady in goal as we don't have Akinfeev and Traore for Clichy. As time travel isn't yet available, I'll take Ramsey as he is now. Messi, hasn't arrived yet, not quite realising that it's Arsenal DNA which make up his cells, Arshavin will probably have to move into the middle as VP's chocolate leg melted, and we'll need to draft in Nasri to cover out wide.

Seriously tho, it's really anyones' guess. What is our best option? I'm crap at this game because I always forget about somebody, but I'll give it a go out of what we've got left:

Fabianski
Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Traore
Song
Cesc Nasri
Vela Arshavin Eduardo

Then again, we're away and Nasri isn't always at his best outside of N5. Decisions decisions.

What are we likely to get? Again, I'm not so great at this. I really, really, really want to say Fabianski, but I fear my wants will go untended. I predict we'll start:

Almunia
Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Traore
Song
Cesc Diaby
Walcott Arshavin Nasri

But then he could rest Arshavin and play Edurado, or rest Walcott and play Eduardo, or rest Nasri and play Eduardo. He could also <repeat last sentance and put in Vela for Eduardo>.

Nasri away from home covering a knocked-about Traore, the Twirling Dervish to compliment Cesc in midfield, and an unperforming Walcott, all trying to get to the ball to the Meerkat of the Pygmy world.

Feeling optimistic?

I'm not quite sure what came over me there. I was suddenly struck by a wave of negativity and had to take a break to rebalance my optimistic outlook.

Burnley is tough, no doubt. But it is not, and should not be beyond us. To pick up anything other than 3 points renders the weekend against Liverpool completely meaningless and if we have ambitions of champions this is the exact type of match we need to be winning. Preferably easily.

Consistency, Wenger says, is the key to the title. We have been more than able to put together long unbeaten runs in recent seasons. Making Burnley the third unbeaten match in another 21 (or longer) run would do just nicely thank you very much.

I can't really think of anything else to say so I'm going to go now.

Still feeling it? I know you are. You're not quite sure what the underlying feeling is, but you know you like what it is. It's called confidence. It may not last, such sweet things are often fleeting, but I'm enjoying feeling confident that if we could pull that around at Anfield, if the boss is able to raise his voice and declare all before him unfit to wear the Arsenal shirt, then maybe, just maybe, this team might just be starting to get it. Apart from Almunia that is. He never gets it. Will I continue to have a daily dig at the Spanish waiter until he's dropped? Perhaps, I don't know. Let's wait and see.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's future number one has being showing why he is the one and only out of our current 'top' keepers who I feel will really make a world-class goalkeeper as Chesney discusses loving life with Brentford, not for the easy life, hell no, he loves it for the physical side. He loves having to battle for 90 minutes, he's learning to concentrate for a full 90 when that had been a problem for him, he's being forced to come for more crosses, and is basically doing a cracking job. At 19, he is already a full International ith Poland. Ni-ni-ni-ni-ninteen. Sorry, couldn't resist.

If you have no idea what he's like, have a watch of this....it was five months ago, he's improved a hell of a lot:

You liked that, didn't you?

In other news, Gregory van Der Weil wants a move to the Emirates, and by saying so he has ensured that it will never happen. Arshavin aside, nobody who signs for Arsenal has ever been in the paper saying they want to go or been linked with us in any way. Pity, seems like a good player, and as a right-back if we did sign him you'd have to wonder about Eboue's time at the club. Besides, Ajax are unlikely to let us take two of their best defenders within the space of six months.

Stranger things have happened though.

If you fancy a little giggle, the story Lee Dixon told in yesterday's paper is sure to give you that. Speaking about how he only ever saw Wenger lose it in the dressing room once (spookily, while they were 1-0 down at Anfield) the usually calm Mr. Wenger hurled a cup at the wall. The players were stunned, however, their fear quickly wore off as he brushed up the cup because he had missed the bin. Such are the manners of the man.

Knowing that he gave the team a rolicking on Sunday takes on even more significance when you hear Theo talk about how Arsene gave them a one-man standing ovation when they got back to the dressing room.

Pure class.

It's Burnley up next and that's tough for a whole host of reasons. It's up norf, it's freezing and we know we have a collection of fragile little pygmy hamstrings. Burnley, at home, are far from a side to be taken lightly and people will point to the fact that they beat Man U. I don't really put much stock in  that, United are not a good team, and we outplayed them and lost. It does show us that we will have to be at our competitive best if we want to make extra sure, and I fancy we'll either get our first premier league goal in the first 15 minutes of match and go on to win comfortably....or play out an extremely frustrating 0-0.

It's Arsenal, you should know by now that these things never go to plan.

I'll finish on a high, in the Wenger BBC post-match interview, when asked 'are you back in the title race' his response is emphatic:

"Mathematically, yes. Menatally - Certainly"

Love it

I BELIEVE!!! 

(they better not screw me over like they did last season...or the season before...or the season before, ah who am I kidding, I'll always believe, and I have to get it right sometime right?) 

I BELIEVE!!!

Don't forget to swing by The Kop End Blog and make sure he's fulfilling his slave-obligations. 

I don't think I can quite believe it. We went in to a game Wenger described as 'must win' and we won, while being as far from our best as the Spuds will be from the top of the table come the end of the season. We did what Champions do. Laugh if you want, I've listened to laughter from others all season. That is what Champions do.

The first half against Liverpool was the most undoubetedly shit Arsenal I have seen in a long time. We were lucky it was only 1-0 when the whistle went, and how the hell they didn't get a penalty when Gerrard went down (without diving) I have no idea. They were gifted their first goal by the man who stands between our goalposts to make up the numbers, but as a threat we were non-existent. We were sloppy, Arshavin ineffective with Carragher wedged up his arse, and Theo, well, he would have been better from (or on) the bench.

I could moan about the hand in Theo's face, the shocking lunges by Torres which luckily didn't connect, but I'm not going to. I'm not making excuses. After talking them up all week our defence hadn't a clue. Almunia looked like he hadn't slept in a month (perhaps, as @kilburnmat said he has been having nightmares about strange, round objects coming towards him) and that's not going to inspire confidence in any one. That's how our defence played. Along with fucking about, playing football in the box, almost begging Liverpool to steal it off them. I lost count how many balls two of our players went for and then left to the other.

When the Liverpool goal did come it was not a surprise. What was unusual, though perhaps not for Almunia, was the fact that when he flapped at it and landed he didn'teven attempt to look for the ball and just sat on his knees staring at the goal til he saw it going in. Watch it. It's fucking ridiculous. I don't care what you think about Fabianski, but he would have been flinging himself about like a rag doll. Whether he would have got to it is up for debate, but he would have at least LOOKED like he was bothered.

Nobody, not even Wenger, could deny that Liverpool deserved to be in front. There was no question. Our heads weren't right, we were frightened and Liverpool climbed on top and fucked us all over the pitch. Excuse the crude way of describing it, but seriously, what else would you call it?

Then came the second half. We were better, but then it was impossible to be worse. It was only 1-0, we still had a chance. And boy did we take it. Thanks to an OG and a wonder-strike by Arshavin as he makes his bid to become the top ever goalscorer at Anfield we got enough to steal it. Who else just felt Arshavin was going to score as he pulled his foot back while falling?

Is steal too strong a word?

Have no doubt about this, we did to Liverpool what Man U, City, and Chelsea did to us, right down to the comical own goal which trickled over the line. After the first 20 minutes I realised we were being pummelled and playing awful, I wondered if we could do to them what had been done so many times to us over the season. Could I dare to believe or hope or even wonder? We ground them down and broke their spirit in the second half, something I'm sure not many of us thought we'd see us do to anyone else.

Watching them wilt in the second half showed me what Chelsea, Man U and Man City saw when they played us earlier in the season. It was a sad sight, and I don't mean that to be patronising. It's hard to see it sometimes when it's your own team, but Liverpool are a team with fragile belief in themselves, like us when we play the 'big' teams. Hopefully now that is one ghost exorcised.

To hear the pundits say we were superb in the second half just doesn't sit right. We weren't. We were better against Liverpoool's first choice 11 but we weren't at our best by any stretch of the imagination. Just think what we could have done if we had been?

To hear Cesc, post-match, say that Wenger screamed at them like never before, that he said they were not fit to wear the Arsenal shirt was amazing. One for the fact that the boss would do that, but two for the fact that Cesc accepted enough to admit it to the world.

During the week, my normally agreeable Man U supporting mate made some dig about where we'd finish this season. Without thinking I instantly offered to bet him £10 that we would finish above United this season, no question. I actually shocked myself with the force of my conviction behind the bet. He laughed it off, but refused to take it.

Yesterday we witnessed could be the catalyst, the self-belief that this young fragile team needs to start realising that they do really have what it takes. So many times they know they have been the better team yet failed, but here they took on one of the top four in their back yard and turned it around when they could hardly find the ball let alone a pass. I would not be surprised to see Arsenal put at least four, if not more, past Burnley mid-week. Watch us strut.

I had a bet on Arshavin to score and Mascherano to get booked at 9/1. Money and a win from behind at Anfield. Do Sunday's get any better?

Just to close, I'd like to point you in the direction of The Kop End Blog, who know has the privilege of declaring he is a slave to the LadyArse blog in every single one of his posts for the next week.

I tried to warn him about Song and Vermaelen. I gave him a heads up about Almunia and they failed to exploit it. They already knew about Arshavin. I believe it would be very good manners if we could pop along there on a daily basis, just to make sure he knows his place.

Thank you Arsenal. You make it hard, but never dull. Often doubted, rarely bettered...COME ON YOU GUUUNNNERSSS

Sorry about the lateness of today's blog - blame Eddie Izzard. See, now I say that and you automatically think that I went to his gig last night, headed out afterwards and have only just managed to waken myself. Well, you'd be wrong. It is because he was shit.

The plan was to head to concert, come home, throw the blog together high on the laughter I'd been immersed in for the previous few hours, head to bed and then go to work this morning safe in the knowledge that my blog was sorted.

I am a huge Izzard fan, huge. SO huge in fact, that we had gotten our tickets in February just to be sure. I was so flat and dissapointed when I got home that I just couldn't face trying to do a blog and just went straight to bed in a huff.

So here we are, the day has finally arrived. Not that this match is bigger than Chelsea or anything like that, it isn't as if it has been a torturous wait, racked with nerves and uncertainty. It's just that feels like forever when we don't play on a Saturday.

Arsene and his three fit pygmies have travelled north for what is an important match but not for the reasons many would have thought. Asked at the start of the season, most would have said we would be were Liverpool are now, out of the Champions League and really struglling to maintain/gain a place in the top four. Like those people at Sky who thought it appropraite to replace us in the top four with Moanchester Shitty. No, we won't forget or let it go (unless we capitulate completely and finish outside the top four).

Despite evidence to the contrary, all media reports still seem hung up on the number on injuries Liverpool have had all season while they only seem to have awakened to the fact that for every one Liverpool player out in the past Arsenal have three out now. They seem oblivious to the fact that it has been this way all season. To hear some opposing fans deriding our lack of depth makes me wonder if any other team would be able to qualify top of their group in the Champions League, hold third in the league (I know we're fourth with Villa's win), and still be within touch of the leaders with the same number of injuries affecting the same positions in the same way. I think it is incredibly unlikely.

With the Spuds & Man U losing, and Cheslea and Shitty both being held, three points today are immense for both sides. Win and we are six points behind Chelsea with a game in hand, only three behind United with same game in hand. Goal diference aside, that puts everything back in our own hands - a far cry from where some pundits put us only a fortnight ago. For Liverpool, with two of their top four rivals dropping points, they know it's the perfect chance to move closer to where they want to be.

And yesterday we got to see, yet again, how Wayne Rooney never dives, in what has to be one of his worst ones yet. Just because the referee spotted it (excellently I must say because I first thought penalty) should Rooney escape the vilification of the media which as inflicted on Eduardo, and, to a lesser extent, David Ngog? No, he shouldn't, but he will because he's English.

Didn't really matter, as they lost. If only I'd but my tenner on at Villa win at 6/1 instead of being swayed by the stupidly high odds for a 3-2 Villa win. I never learn.

What really pisses me off about Liverpool, and it's a lot less than with other teams, is the way they turn it on against us yet fall apart to the likes of Sp*rs. Off course, Liverpool's ability to rise for the big matches makes it great when they are playing United or Chelsea, but it's fecking annoying when it's against us.

But that's for us to cope with I guess.

Let's see how we do. Anyone got any clues?

Regular readers of this blog will know that it can vary in it’s length from time-to-time. Today, as Two Blogs Go To War, you may set aside a sizeable quantity of your life, sit back, and enjoy.  Make sure you’re well fed. I’m in red, the other chap in black, and yes I do see the stupidness of using a Man U colour scheme for an Arsenal/Liverpool discussion. I bring you over 14,000 words, and you expect me to pick out colours as well? Tut tut.

With the Arsenal game fast approaching, I took the time to discuss matters with a rival. Both teams have tallied losses and suffered injuries in the past weeks. However, with our lads being knocked out of the Champions League so early in the competition, we have that extra impetus to make a point on Sunday, or 3 as the case is. I imagine Rafa's job is a lot like that of a single parent; you have a busy roster and even though you have people around you to help, you have a workload you pretty much manage by yourself. Sure, you make the odd mistake along the way, but everything you do is for the good of the child [or team as the case is]. Money is always an issue, you have to save and budget, but you always manage to make do and carry on going. If Rafa is the mother and the team is the child, then surely many of the fans are the hormonal teenager. The teenager questions everything and rarely agrees with the decisions made. - This analogy couldn't be truer. How would you summarise your manages tactics and the relationship to the fans? You may pass the ball well, but pretty doesn't win things apart from beauty pageants.

Well, that’s something that’s thrown at Arsenal a lot, but I’d have to disagree. It might not have won this current crop of youngsters anything (yet) but I defy anyone to tell me the Invincibles didn’t play ‘pretty’ football. You only have to look at Barcelona to know that it can be done, we just need more self-belief. And luck with injuries.  

When it comes to Wenger, I just can’t understand how any so-called fan can question him. Sure, he gets the odd decision wrong, and didn’t take my advice to play Arshavin through the middle when Van Persie was first injured, but what he has done with the resources he’s had available will probably never be repeated. He does have his blind spots and they can irritate the most die-hard fans at times but this season we’ve seen a refreshing change of approach with the media and he is being a lot more honest about things and the fans are appreciating that. Admitting he’s a bad loser for one, that’s just huge to come from Wenger. In the past it could be said that Arsenal and Arsene had a very distant relationship with the fans, but thankfully that’s changing now.

We have lost four league games this season, once in the Carling Cup, once in Europe, and had two draws. I can honestly say, hand-on-heart, we didn’t deserve to lose any of them, but then that’s the point isn’t it, winning when you should. For a second season there have not been two matches in a row where we have been able to field the same side due to injury, and while that might sound like an excuse, it is, as Rafa might say, a fact. People can point to squad depth, but how many left-backs or strikers are a club supposed to have? And most of the injuries we get aren’t little pulls, two broken backs, knee ligaments, torn tendons, and a broken first metatarsal, the rarest of all metatarsal breaks apparently. Yet we’re still hanging in there. Could any other club in the league cope as well as Arsenal have with 12 first team members out?

Many think this is must win for Liverpool, but is that coming from a points/fourth place perspective or from a morale one? What’s wrong with you this year? And why won’t Rafa play Babel more often? If you don’t want him, we’ll take him, no problem. 

To be fair, it was a great era in which you played great football, but all era's come to an end. It is true that you play similar football to that of Barcelona; however, they have a team which you do not have. They have experience, they have money and most of all, they have Ibra and Messi. I feel your biggest problem is that you try to pass the ball into the net. Prime example was against Chelsea. The ball was spilled on the edge of the area and rather than hit the ball first time into an empty net, Arshavin took two, three and then a fourth touch. Sometimes you have to be able to adapt and say "Ok, we pass the ball well, but I would rather us pass like slobs and score 3" - Which is pretty much what Chelsea did. I stand by my statement. Pretty doesn't win games.

We Liverpool fans do like Wenger. Not because we see him as an immortal and not because we want him to manage our club. Instead, the reason we all love him is for the following statement:

I have a huge sympathy for Liverpool," he told the Gunners' official website.

I can elaborate because first of all it is a hugely historical club.

"And I have a massive respect for their fans who, for me, have always been outstanding."

When a manager comes out and praises opposing fans, he is always going to win a few votes. What do you make of this? Reckon your fan's rival ours?

As for Babel, I feel that he is our version of Walcott. Quick, full of potential but seriously lacks a footballing brain. I'm a huge fan of Ryan, and I would love to see him play more. However, finding a place in the team for him is difficult, especially when we have a fully fit squad. Thus the reason he is used as more of a sub. I think the lad deserves better, but it’s a matter of opinion. If Babel ever did play for your lot, I fear he would become a world beater...

I was just discussing Liverpool’s fans and Anfield, and to be fair, even as a non-supporter, the sound of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ringing out on a European evening makes even my hair stand on end. Pity that’ll be in the Europa League for the rest of the season.

When it comes to fans, I don’t believe our away fans can be rivalled. Don’t believe the crap you read about the abuse they threw and trouble they caused at Man City, they were under constant bombardment from all manner of items being hurled at them the entire match and although they got angry at the ex-25 (we don’t utter his name for fear he might return...and due to the fact that he’s a c**t) they could have easily got on the pitch and ripped him to shreds so they showed enormous restraint. They follow and support like nobody else and are unmatched in my opinion. Some of the home fans, however, leave a lot to be desired. It breaks my heart every time I see the Emirates empty, something I don’t think I’ve ever seen at Anfield. When there’s still time on the clock, win or lose, you should stay till the end and SUPPORT your team. But that is only a proportion, and usually the same proportion who can be found at snatching up all the tickets for matches against the Spuds, Manure etc but would never be seen dead watching them play Burnley.  The Prawn Sandwich Brigade.

You say Ibra and Messi, I say Van Persie and Arshavin...and Cesc, Nasri, Walcott, Eduardo, Vela, I could go on, but it just reminds me of who’s injured. Pretty did alright at Everton, and, Chelsea aside, at home against practically everybody else and I reckon it’ll be the same again on Sunday. Pretty will do more than alright.

We’ve heard a lot about Liverpool’s injuries this season, but to outsiders, we only really see Gerrard and Torres as the main ones who’ve been out, thus making you a two-player team. Not saying that’s how I see it, but how do you feel when you hear others calling you that?

I'll ignore the Europa League dig...

You mention those Arsenal names but with the exception of Cesc, I don't really flinch. Nasri, Walcott and Arshavin are all too inconsistent in their displays. They are all or nothing kind of players. If they turn up, they will cause problems, but a more likely outcome will be that they will fail to perform. It will be a very physical game, Eduardo and Vela will struggle, so they aren't really a threat. Saying that, you better send me a towel in case I get egg on my face.

Hearing people say we are a two man team doesn't really make me feel anyway in all honesty. At the beginning of the game eleven men take to the field, and at the end of the game, eleven usually leave. It's funny you should talk about Gerrard and not Benayoun though. For me, Benny has been our player of the season so far. I feel he may well be the key to unlocking your defence.

Your back four is a recipe for disaster. Start with a dash of Torres, a little sprinkling of Gerrard, a splash of Benayoun and hint of Johnson and we should have all the ingredients needed to feed the fans. - Our back four isn't much better though, zonal marking and all that. Luckily you guys lack the size, so Cara and Agger should, I say should, win the aerial battles.

A little while ago Owen made a statement about Manure fans being great over the years, this really got our blood boiling. A couple of weeks ago Arshavin said that Arsenal fans should learn from Liverpool fans because we are the best in the world. How did that make you feel?

Well Eduardo is injured so he won’t be providing any egg, but anyone just watching Vela in the last few games might think he’s just another Bendtner. Make no mistake, this boy’s probably the best finisher at Arsenal and will go on to be a world-great. Nasri tends to be a home kind of player, and Arshavin hasn’t got going this season at all, in fact, he’s been awful in some matches, yet he’s still managed 7 goals and a ton of assists in only 15 starts. People still think we’re a ‘weak’ team, and while we mightn’t be as strong as some, we’re a hell of a lot stronger than a lot of teams realise this season.

The only problem with our back four is not in the back four itself, but in the keeper. He has been an absolute joke this season. Vermaelen and Gallas could possibly be the best centre back pairing in the league, Sagna has regained the form he lost with second-season syndrome last year. At left back we’ve been unbelievably unlucky. To lose possibly all three left-backs is unprecedented, but with either Gibbs or Clichy in there, that is a very solid back four. It’s all the keepers fault. I hope he starts Fabianski, otherwise you can just shoot from wherever you feel like and he won’t have noticed till we’ve kicked-off again.

On Sunday Carragher is going to spend most of the match on his arse or in the stands if we play Arshavin through the middle, we won’t need the size as the pace and passing will allow us to play around your back four. For all Johnson’s prowess going forward, doing what he’s paid for isn’t his best asset.  Seriously though, what’s with the zonal marking? Surely you’ve worked out by now that it’s not the way to go (though I wouldn’t be asking Arsenal for advice on defending).

Torres is what’s worrying me, but is he fit enough? Even an unfit Torres is enough for most, but when he and Gerrard click, it’s very impressive. When they don’t though, that’s when you have problems. I agree, Benayoun has been immense for you, what’s with subbing him all the time?

I didn’t hear that Arshavin comment (not in the Wenger way), but it doesn’t surprise me. He seems to court controversy and is always saying something stupid. I learnt to stop taking him seriously when he said women should be banned from driving. And besides, he’s paid to play football, not have opinions on things. You seem hung up on the whole ‘fan’ thing, is that in an effort to deflect from the football?

I am not trying to distract from the football. We are both 'fans' discussing the players. I am merely proving that in a footballing world, as a Liverpool fan, I and my brothers out-sing your lot... And the world knows it.

You can talk about Johnson being great going forward, but suspect in defence, but I would point that finger at Vermaelen also. Seriously, he has scored more goals than some of your attackers. We play two holding midfielders, this means that our full backs are able to push up but not leave huge causes for concern at the back, but when you lack a great defensive midfielder, as you guys do, you can’t really afford your central defenders doing this. - Agger likes to push up too.

I wouldn't say you are a weak team, but you aren't full strength. We on the other hand have a lot of players coming back from injury. Torres never needs to play great, all he needs is one chance or one glimpse to score one goal. It will be an interesting game, no doubt.

You seem very sure of the win... How about we put a little wager on it. If we win, you will have to say "I'm A Slave to The Kop End Blog [ with link ] " in every one of your post’s next week. If your lot win, besides me crying for a few hours, I will say "I'm A Slave to LadyArse Blog [ with link ]" in every post of mine next week...

Let's talk line-ups and predictions now...

Vermaelen makes a few mistakes, but he’s young, and this is his first season in the Premier League. I’m struggling to think of someone I’d take ahead of him. He’s only going to get better, unlike Terry, and Vidic is looking like his invincibility shield has worn off. And as for defensive midfielder, Alex Song, in what has become one of the most amazing turnarounds has made himself the second name on the team sheet, just behind Cesc. You won’t have noticed the difference in him till you’ve tried to play against him (this is where I pray he doesn’t let me down on Sunday by having one of ‘those’ days). I’d say he’s my favourite Arsenal player, and that isn’t because of his looks. His secret weapon is he looks stoned so people think he is and underestimate him. Plus he loves to put his foot in. Free money if you bet on him to get booked as well, which is another thing I love him for. Free money, how could you not? 

Line-ups, urrrm, who’ve we got still standing? I’d prefer to see Fabianski start in goal, who seems to have replaced his anxiety medication with something that actually works but I fear we’ll see the Spanish Waiter in goals. Gallas, who has a knock, should be fit so it’ll be him and the Verminator, with Sagna and Traore if he’s fit, possibly Silvestre (god help us) if he’s not. There’s the option of moving the centre backs about and playing Silvestre or Song in the middle of defence, but I’d far rather see Vermaelen take Torres than that Butternut-headed ex-Man U freak.

Midfield should be Song in front of the back four, with Cesc, Nasri, and Denilson, though Ramsey might get a look in after his performance in Greece.

Up front, we have very few options, but I expect to see Arshavin through the middle, Vela on the left, and on the right is anyone’s guess. Diaby could play there if he’s fit, or he’ll play deeper and Nasri will move up. Walcott might start, but after 90 midweek he’ll probably come on as super-sub to set up Arshavin’s winner. I think that’s all the player we have fit at the minute. I bet I’ve forgot somebody really important!

Predictions...I’m feeling strangely confident, and not in the ‘I always think we’re going to win cause I’m a fan’ kind of way. If we click, and if we can hold at the back, we should win comfortably. But those are really big if’s and depend a lot on if you decide, as Rafa has said, that your season starts now. With the last four between us in the league being draws, we are due a winner (not we and in us, but as in you and us, if you know what I mean). The odd goal will probably do it, but I have a sneaky feeling about 3-1. All that means is that we’ll probably have 85% possession and lose 2-0.

I accept your wager – bring it on! 

The same could be said about Agger and Skrtel, who are both pretty young. Skrtel hasn't looked the same as he did last season but Cara looks like he has found his form again, and not a second too soon. Choosing a Liverpool team should be difficult due to the fact I haven't had a fully fit squad to pick from.

The players you will have trouble with are Lucas and Mascherano. Our South American duo have become quite a partnership. Lucas seems to have been made for this type of fixture. Mark my words, they will bully your attackers - I would put money on one of them getting booked.

 

Reina

Johnson Cara Agger Insua

Lucas Masch

Kuyt Gerrard Benayoun

Torres

While our defence has more holes in it than a drive-by victim, I don't believe for one second that our problems lay there. Instead we should be looking at our attack. Young Dive-id Ngog has filled in well for Torres, but lacked that cutting edge that the Spaniard has. He also never seemed to click with Gerrard the way El Nino does. So then, with the partnership back for the first time, will we see a rusty performance, or will they pick up where they left off?

The positions that worry me are left back and right midfield. While Kuyt's work ethic will be key for Johnson attacking, he lacks that flair that the likes of Riera or Benayoun have. So going forward is a slight concern. In LB is Insua, who has made the position his own. The only thing is, he is prone to a skinning, so hopefully Nasri or Walcott have poor, poor games.

Ok, so time for my prediction then. All my reader's will know that I am shocking when it comes to calling the final score. I said a 2 - 1 win on Wednesday and we lost 2 - 1. But The Kop End forecast is telling me that it is going to be sunny with a hint of Rain. We will edge it by one goal. 2 - 1.

Till Sunday...

So guys, what do you think? Come on, you’re on an Arsenal blog, we know what you think, we just want to hear you say it.....

Come on you Gooonnnerrrrrrrrrrssssssssssss

 

Evening all, this is going to be another very, very quick one, as I'm working on a rather special blog for the weekend and the massive match which is always Liverpool v Arsenal. To tease you just a little...


Meanwhile, in a LadyArse exclusive, Wenger has confirmed that we are performing spine-shortening on our players in a bid to create an army of pygmies by saying about Bendtner's injury set-back:

"He was sharp and short"

Watch his interview on Arsenal TV Online, hear it for yourself.Don't you let this 'set-back- story fool you...he was reduced to 5'6 when the club specifically asked for 5'5". It will take until the New Year to rectify that.

In an injury shocker, Theo is not, injured that is. Eduardo isn't back, Diaby might be, but then we all know he'll be out again by the final whistle if he makes as far as the first. Wenger wants Rosicky to sign a new deal which would make him the only person in the world on the highest level of disability living allowance. He also says he'll be back in 10 days, but we all know different don't we? We won't be buying a Spud which is always good news, and Wenger still doesn't like International football.

There's a load of other stuff in the press conference too, go watch for yourself and don't be so lazy.

Told you it was quick, short too...in true Arsenal fashion.

DO NOT miss tomorrows blog...

Bendtner will not be back in a week or two, and from this report we won't see him til next year...Arshavin through the middle it is then, until he gets injured...