Did the title get your attention? I usually find insulting headlines draw more comments. Wonder why that is? Too many trolls I guess.

Right, I have decided, as the rest of you seem obsessed with other things, that this shall be my next crusade. These things just find you, you know? What is it you say? Well, it's simple, it's to get it through to 99.99999% of the world who think buying a striker is our most pressing concern that it isn't.

It isn't. In fact, I don't give a Bentley's arse if we sign a striker in January, I really don't. What I care, very passionately about, is a more more urgent, much more pressing, and much more team changing signing.

A  F U C K I N G  G O A L K E E P E R

Like the Arshavin through the middle thing, it couldn't be more obvious. Yes, I know all the arguments you are going to use as to why we need a striker, blah blah blah. I fucking know them, I'm not stupid. But I'm not blind either. We have failed to score in two games this season (three if you count the Carling Cup but only City and the Spuds do that so I won't). Two. Now, are you telling me that VP and Nik set-up and/or scored every one of our goals? Off course they didn't, that's just bloody stupid. But, and here's where my point comes in to it's own - our goalkeeper has conceded every single one of our goals.

Hehe, I know that's a relatively stupid point, but you should at least see some sense in it, even if only a little. And it doesn't make it any less true just because it's stupid.

Yes, the goalkeeper has a back four which is there to protect him, and they in turn, have a midfield to protect them, but when you look at the individual components of our defence (and include Song in there as the holding midfielder) can you tell me they aren't good enough? Vermaelen, Gallas, Song, Clichy/Gibbs & Sagna? We are stronger there than we've been in a while yet we are conceding more. How can that be? Simple, because our keeper swallowed Taibi pills.

I'm not even going to speak about the article on the official site where the Spanish Waiter states he's 'back to his best'. I wouldn't be able to see through the blood pouring from my eyes to type.

From the start of the season I have said that we would simply have to score more than we conceded as we were always going to concede, but as that's no longer a realistic option due to our plague, the defence needs sorted. And by defence I mean the goalkeeper as the rest of the defence does just fine for me.

Maybe I'm just being contrary, I do that. A lot.

I do, however, think that one single signing, a competent, commanding keeper, will do more for our title chances than the greatest striker in the world. It would even make more of an impact than a striker, midfielder and a centreback. As if that's ever going to happen anyway.

I think you might have got my point, let's move on to the actual football.

You don't, as they say, win anything with kids, except a whole lot of stick, so should our Carling Cup team fail to win in Olympiakos, or at least draw, there will be a whole lot of stick around. Not least from Standard players who still have a chance of qualifying should Olympiakos lose. As I said yesterday, I don't care. That's what happens when you let things get out of your hands. Would I be best pleased if it was Arsenal who could be affected? Off course not, but then, if we play our first team it could very well be Arsenal who are effected.

With Liverpool aleady out of the Champions League and in the same position as us last year in needing all the points they can get just to grab fourth spot, who do you think they'll be playing tomorrow night? They'll be keeping their big names for the weekend and we have every right to do the same. I wonder who'll get more abuse should we both lose...don't really have to wonder very hard about that really.

Those of you who read this blog regularly will know I'm a great fan of body language, and in particular, micro-expressions. For those doubters among you, watch Arsene's interview here and watch as the interviewer asks him about respecting the integrity of the competition how Wenger gives him the finger. This is a scientifically-proven, globally-accepted micro-expression, which is an unconcious reflection of the thought you are having at that exact time and shows clearly the boss is thinking 'fuck you.' Why wouldn't he be? Who is the interviewer to question Wenger on integrity or the team we are forced to play through injury? It made me smile. Watch out for it in your own life too and when you find yourself doing it ask yourself honestly what ran through your head at the time? You'll always find it was something that pissed your right off.

As I predicted (did I do it on here, cause I've been saying it to real people for a few days now) that we could only expect to see Song, Vela, and Theo (if fit) travel and I don't think we'll see Song start (though I could be wrong on that and I think I change my opinion by the time I get to naming the starting team). With no Senderos in the squad no further proof is needed that he is gone from Arsenal. I don't mean this as a slight on Kyle Bartley, who is a great young player, but to take him ahead of Big Phil to Greece is a massive statement by Wenger about the Swiss man's Arsenal career.

It's sad in a way. He had so much potential which he just didn't manage to fulfil. He was never crap enough to be hated by the supporters, in fact, he was just that special amount of crap where the fans grow to love you even though they really do wish you could be better. At least he always tried, and I think that's what gained him a place in the Arsenal fans heart. No doubt, he will move on to slower league where he will excel and I hope he does so.

I fancy the kids will give a good account of themselves tonight, but I feel the intense Greek atmosphere and experience of the Olympiakos team will be enough to out-do them. It's like the Moanchester Shitty game, we have the luxury of not caring if we lose, but gaining humungous gloating rights if the kids do a job and win. I know I shouldn't be predicting an Arsenal defeat, so I'll lie and say it'll be a draw, but I think the only result Arsenal fans want tomorrow is one which sees all our players, especially first team squad players, return in one piece. If that piece could be a working one as well I think we can consider that quite a result.

If Wenger really is devestated at the loss of Rosicky, mainly because he pondered about whether to risk him or not, I would like to think he has learnt his lesson and won't risk Song, but this is Wenger. He never does what we expect him to do.

My stab at a starting line-up would be this:

Fabianski
Gilbert Silvestre Song Cruise
Eastmond
Merida Randall
Wilshere Emmanuel-Thomas Sunu

I hope my stab hasn't just injured half the squad.

I was concerned when I didn't see Watt's name in the squad, but he played for the reserves last night so we must just be keeping him for the first team. At least he's not injured. I was also pretty sure I'd wrote a paragraph on his abscence from the squad but can't seem to see it. Feel free to point it out if you come across it.Was it yesterday? How would I know he wouldn't be in the squad yesterday. God this wobbley head thing is crap, my memory sucks at the best of times but feck it's reallllllly bad at the minute.

Who'll play and where is anyone's guess and I'm bored guessing now so I'm going to move on to something much more entertaining. Even though it was in The Sun, I choose to believe it because it makes me happy. Dennis Bergkamp claims Arsene wants him to return to Arsenal. I say fuck the coaching role, get your boots on and get up front.

Did you see this goal?  

They were clapping it before it was even over the line.

Read the article for yourself, if you can bear to go on The Sun's website and be one of their statistcs.

All that's left to say is get yourself to www.leaguecup50.com where Arsenal are currently leading the way in the race to find the best from 50 greatest Carling/League Cup moments. You can win stuff too, but making sure Arsenal stay at the top should be reward enough. Told you Arsene and his kids revived this competition. Five years ago who would have given a toss about the greatest moments of this cup? It was a dead trophy, once worth winning, now again so for certain clubs. Say thank you Arsene and then move along. We don't want your sort around here (the sort that thinks the Carling Cup is worth sacrificing the league/Europe for). Just move along.

With our Champions League match not until tomorrow night, we are all left with another 24 hours to wonder if we will have enough players standing to field a team.

No doubt the team we do field will get some serious stick from the 'purists' in the game who think we should be putting out our strongest team no matter what so that it's 'fair' on the other teams. Fuck the other teams, we are Arsenal and that is where our loyalties start and end. When you look at the injury table on Physioroom.com and see that we sit proudly on top with 11 (it's actually 12, but we like to give others a chance and what's a little Eboue between friends) you would have to be insane to insist that we risk further first team players with the group already sealed. They could play Almunia if they wanted, I don't think you'd hear too many people concerned about that (well, performance aside).

Looking at the injury table closer, you can't help but laugh. The only team we have heard moaning about injuries this season has been Liverpool. Even today one of their 'fans' said to me they'll be grand when they get all their players fit. All two of them. In fact, Liverpool currently reside at joint 17th with only Blackburn and Wigan having fewer injuries.

When I think back to last season, I could not imagine a way in which this one could be anything other than better in terms of injuries. For it to be worse is simply mind-blowing. Man U currently have eight out at the minute, but then one of those is a virus, two are expected back tonight, three are expected back this weekend, and two next. They're even expecting Owen Hargreaves back ffs. So that really leaves them with only Gary Neville out for an undetermined amount of time, and let's face it, that's no loss. In fact, many would say 'Bonus!' - Man U fans included.

Fair enough, we are expecting a few back this week, but, I was going to say Everton aside but even all their players are due back before ours, most of our injuries are or have been serious - Djourou, Gibbs, Van Persie. Clichy is 'due' back, but it's not as if he was out with a stubbed toe, he broke his back (or had it shortened, depending on if you ascribe to the pygmy theory), as did Denilson. And as for Walcott, Rosicky and Diaby, well, what can you say, other than they are Walcott, Rociky and Diaby.

I'm choking as I say this, but if 'things go to plan' we'll have five back by the weekend, but I'm doubtful about that. Hence the choking. Before you get too excited about having five players back, bear in mind that three of those are Eduardo, Diaby and Theo. Clichy, thankfully, is due back next week, but I don't know if that's back training or back playing. Please, god, let it be the latter.

That's depressing. So much so that I think I'll leave it there for the day.

The return to work has went relatively smoothly, as in smoothly up and down and round and round, but I'm pushing on through. How else could I justify sitting planted in front of Arsenal.com tomorrow to get tickets for the Arsenal v Everton match in January. And if anyone in the office complains I'll file a complaint for harrassment of the disabled.  See, everything has an upside, you just have to know where to look. Which has just started another train of thought going in my wobbley head, so I'll just say this. It is a shit, shit time for Arsenal with injuries, there can be no doubt. But, as upsides go, playing Arshavin through the middle because we lost Eduardo isn't such a bad one. Could that be the same for Jack/Rosicky? And Ramsey/Diaby? Clichy will know he'll have to be at his best as Gibbs will be busting to get back and pick up where he left off. A small train, but a pleasant one nonetheless.

A much better note to end things on I think.

Morning folks. There isn't a whole lot going on. Although we have a mid-week match, it's as meaningless as the Spuds last two months of a season so it will be a week filled with nonsense and injury reports (or lack thereof). There'll probably be some transfer rumours in there too, having linked us with just about every striker in Europe, the press might actually catch on that we need a keeper with more urgency than a striker and start pulling a few of those out of their arses to write about.

People reading this blog over the last few weeks/months might have gotten the impression that I am anti-Almunia. I'm not, I'm just anti-shit goalkeepers. I'm sure, as a person, he's a lovely man. I thought that needed clarifying.

Aaron Ramsey's second premier league goal on Saturday is testatment to the development of the player since he snubbed United and Everton to join Arsenal. A player I'd like to say who, had he gone to another club and we tried to buy when he was 'older and established' we would not be able to afford (for those who critise Wenger's youth signings). United were certain they had got their man, so certain in fact that apaprently while Ferguson holidayed in France he left it to Gary Neville to show him around Old Trafford. Being forced to spend an afternoon with Neville is enough to put anyone off anything, but the fact that Wenger flew Ramsey and his family on a private jet for a face-to-face meeting in Switzerland is what really sealed the deal for us.
 
The boyo has come on leaps and bounds, with even Cesc being reported as saying "Aaron has really developed. Physically he is bigger and more powerful. If I go to sleep I will wake up and find him in my place." Which you could interpret as an indication that Aaron Ramsey likes to sneak in to teammates houses in the middle of the night, but you know what it really means. Such praise from our Captain is impressive, especially when you consider that Rambo is still not even 19.

That's really all there is going on. Given that we only have half a squad left, I reckon Wenger will send even more kids to Olympiakos than he might have done before Saturday's carnage. Senderos, on the bench against Stoke, will still more than likely be on his way in January, but in the meantime he has a job to do with the club who still pay his wages and he could get himself a great transfer if he puts in few shifts between now and the opening of the window.

I'll look at the squad/team closer to the game, but with Liverpool coming up next weekend, we will not see the likes of Cesc and Arshavin travel with the squad. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the team was exactly the same as the one we fielded against Man City in the kids cup, the only difference being Senderos in for Song who might be on the bench.

Injury news, and let's face it, this topic has been the most consistent Arsenal one for at least a year now, sees Rosicky possibly out for up to a month with a groin problem. Superb. That counts as a minor, short term injury at Arsenal you know. Other clubs are 'devestated' with the loss of a player for four weeks, we here at Arsenal are learning to be delighted when it's less than six months.

I must say, I have often mentioned on this blog that we must be the most unlucky team when it comes to injuries, but I forgot about Everton who must run us a pretty close second. After watching them come back from 2-0 against the Spuds to make it 2-2, and then watch their keeper save a Spud penalty in the 93rd minute, it just goes to show what you can do with a good keeper and a lot of heart. Just a thought...

Transfer-rumour wise it seems as though Chelsea are going to go in for Paddy. While I wish him all the first-team football in the world in an effort to make the world cup, we know he'd be coming in to cover for when we, as Arsenal fans, hope Chelsea will be significantly weaker. His personal choice seems to be Arsenal first, Liverpool second, but Chelsea if he has to. I still think he could do a job for us, replace Song in January, back-up, the chance to rest others, and if you have the Spuds, Chavs, and Scousers all chasing him (if you believe what you read) there must be something still left in those legs.

Anyways, that's your lot for today. Assuming I survive my return to work today see you tomorrow :)

Not normally one to blow my own trumpet (usually because I can't reach) I feel that I should do a gloatey dance to open this blog. How I would demonstrate that with words I'm not quite sure, but if you could imagine that I'm dancing like Chandler from Friends you might get the idea.

Why you may ask? Surely not simply because we beat Stoke? And what with the injuries we aquired surely that leads one towards more sombre behaviour that gloatey/happy dances?

Well, yes, in part it is to do with our win yesterday, a 2-0 which should really have been 4 or 5. And it is also to do with the fact that I said before the match (check the timestamp on the comment on yesterday's blog) that I quite fancied we'd get a penalty. A brave claim given our record. But in the main, it is because Arsenal played Arshavin through the middle. AND IT WORKED.

The minute I learnt of RVP's injury the first thing which came to mind was Arshavin through the middle. Not Eduardo, not Vela, great as they are, but Arshavin. Why? Isn't it obvious? They are both smart, sharp, quick players with immediate control and awesome finishing. The only difference is height. Sure Eduardo or Vela are more natural front men, but we play 4-3-3 and we have moulded this team to play with a VP-style player leading the way. Eduardo or Vela may be many things VP isn't but they are nowhere near what he is. If that makes sense.

With a better touch Arshavin could have easily had three today and Cesc seemed, once again, to revel in the roll of finder of the impossible pass to match the inconceivable run. Cesc's passing to Arshavin's movement. It seemed so logical I couldn't understand why Wenger didn't do it immediately.

So, we got one monkey off our back by scoring a few domestic goals, getting a win, and keeping a clean sheet. But it seems as though whichever Arsenal-related person smashed up a shop of mirrors still hasn't rectified it. Losing Eduardo before the match (this facilitating the move of Arshavin to the middle) was bad enough, but then to lose Traore, Eboue, and Rosicky. At the end of the match Gallas seemed to be holding something as well. Four, possibly five players in the space of one match. On top of who's already out.

Djourou (out for season), Clichy (two to three weeks), Gibbs (at least three months), van Persie (five months), Diaby (next week), Traore (hamstring, no time-frame, not too serious), Bendtner (two - three weeks), Walcott (possibly mid-week), Rosicky (a while, god help us, that could be anything), Eduardo (possibly next week), Gallas (hamstring, no timeframe, as above).

Arsene almost seemed like a broken man as he reeled off our injuries in the post-match conference. Who can blame him? He knows that at the end of the season the stats won't say we played half the season with half a squad. People can say that is what depth is for, but when you lose two-three players in a number of positions how the hell are you supposed to cover that? No club in the world has five world-class players for one position. You can't help but wonder if he thinks this injury curse is going to be what costs us at the end of the season. And if people remember really how bad it was when they start questioning him. I don't believe there is another team in the league which could maintain our position with the volume of injuries we have and have had all season. This isn't just regular 'every body gets them' injuries, this is above, beyond, and out of sight of that.

Hopefully they are just knocks and Wenger was just being cautious, and thankfully we have a dead rubber of a match mid-week in which it wouldn't matter if we player the under-18's.

Now. Almunia. Seriously? From what I hear young Chesney is doing wonder-stuff at Brentford. I'm not suggesting that we put him in as he's obviously far too young. But we simply cannot afford to persist with Almunia in goal any longer. It is bad enough that he is unable to help the team because he is shite, but when he is confusing the defence then it becomes even more urgent that he is removed. Immediately.

As I mentioned above, our penalty-embargo has seemingly run it's course and we were awarded the stoniest stonewaller you will ever see. Even Clattenberg couldn't get away without giving it as he was about one foot away. He did, however make up for it by giving absolutely nothing else. There were some terrible decisions, fouls not given, cards not issued. Why do I expect anything else? I don't know.

Shockingly, in a ground breaking, world-exclusive, Spanish daily Marc report on something no-one has ever heard before...Cesc is going to Barcelona in the summer. Seriously, was it a week ago he said he was here for the long-haul? When is enough enough?

Anyways, things seem a hell of a lot brighter than they did last weekend. Our loss to Chelsea apparently spelt the death of our title challenge, but as I said, we might not be able to beat Chelsea but other teams will. While I didn't really want to see City winning and get some momentum going, a Chelsea defeat cuts our deficit to something which seems a lot more manageable. Eight points with a game in hand In the Premier League, that's nothing. That's how quickly things change and when you consider we have hung in there while our side has been decimated by injuries gives me real, real hope.

God how I love Sunday's after an Arseal win. If only Man u had dropped points yesterday it would have been a perfect weekend. Ah well, give them time.

And just in case you forgot,

Til tomorrow...

Can I just ask how long a defeated manager is supposed to wait to shake the opposing manager's hand? Is he supposed to idle by the side of the pitch until Mark Hughes has finished celebrating and then deems it time to shake Wenger's hand, or should Hughes have done the handshake first and then celebrated as if he'd won the league?

It's an absolute joke that Hughes has a go at Wenger when he shows him nothing but disrespect and then expects Wenger to wait on him. Mark Hughes demands the respect it has taken the Wenger's and Ferguson's of this world over a decade of winning trophies to be gained. He may be able to buy his squad, by Sparky is quickly finding out that money can't buy you the one thing he craves the most - respect.

Who else here would have hung around? Wenger gave City more than enough credit for their victory in his press conference afterwards and never once lowered himself to take issue with Hughes' childish and intimidating behaviour throughout the whole match, a somewhat greater transgression than not waiting to shake a hand.

But then, 'Mark Hughes rants like a demented schoolchild' doesn't generate as many sales in the red-tops as one about Wenger being a bad loser.

Where are the headlines screaming about Hughes calling Wenger 'A fucking wanker' as Hughes stood in the ARSENAL technical area? If it had been the other way around no doubt the papers would be calling for a lifetime ban for Wenger.

Wengers pre-Stoke interview was 'interesting' "We play the FA Cup this year and we go for it" - does that imply that in previous years we haven't been going for it? Is that proof that his decision to leave Arshavin on the bench in the semi last year was because he put fourth place and a two-legged semi against Man U in the Champions League ahead of the chance to get to the final in the FA Cup? He was then asked if we're really going to go for it this year and he replied "We go for the FA Cup every year" but his huge shoulder shrug at the time of speaking betrayed his words. We haven't 'went for it' every year, not since the most god-awful final against Man U when we won on penalties anyway.

His press-conference was even better. He admitted, admirably, and very frankly that he is a bad loser, but also stated that he would not have shaken Mark Hughes hand even if we had won the game. What he says matters, and I happen to agree, is not the 'ceremonial' handshake at the end of a match but rather your conduct throughout it. How is he worse than a man who called him a 'fucking wanker' for not shaking that man's hand afterwards?

It's absolutely absurd and another indication how the actions of Arsenal are held up to a far higher standard of scrutiny than that of any other club in the league. A standard which is almost impossible to meet. Had Ferguson done the same, no doubt the papers would be full of stories about how he had every right to refuse a handshake when he had been taunted by the opposing manager for 90 minutes. Especially if that manager had been a foreign one. You look at Wenger's treatment at Old Trafford by both officials and fans, then look at the verbal assaults and intimidation Ferguson is allowed to get away with on a weekly basis. Only when he says something wrong in an interview do the FA think about doing anything about it. Benetiz was right in his 'rant' that you need to man-mark the Man United technical staff because they are constantly in the face of the fourth official and surround the linesmen and referee the first opportunity they get. Something, I might add, Moanchester City are doing more and more themselves.

Look at how Eduardo was treated compared to Ronaldo, Drogba, Gerrard or Rooney. How our fans got a lot of the blame for the ex-25's celebration when opposing fans have been chanting vile abuse at our players and manager for as long as anyone can remember. Look at what we do and don't get on the pitch compared to the other 'big' teams - more yellow cards for less fouls, more fouls against yet less free kicks, and not a sniff of a penalty despite several GBH's in the box, since August and the ITV-led crusade against Eduardo.

To his credit, even when questioned directly about the comment 'alleged' to have been made by Hughes Wenger refused to confirm or deny, simply saying that you will not hear him say anything about another manager. The fact that other managers have called his gesture 'childish' and 'ungracious' (another question put to Wenger asking if he agreed with that) and you have to wonder what really is the 'childish' act? Refusing to shake hands with someone who has taunted you for 90 minutes (after all, according to Mark Hughes, the ex-25 had every right to celebrate the way he did on our first match against them this season for that very reason, so would Wenger have been entitled to go screaming in Mark Hughes face?) or deliberately trying to goad a fellow manager, while strutting in front of him, well outside your own technical area and hurling obscenities. Wenger doesn't regret what he does, and the more I hear people going on about it I wish he could go back and not shake his hand even more. How you would do that, I don't really know. First of all there's the whole time travel issue, but putting that aside, how do you 'not' do something more than you already haven't done it? Any quantum physicists around? Surely that holds the key.

And he had a go at another journalist, this time for keeping asking the same question over and over, even though Wenger stressed he had already answered it. 'Do you really listen to what I say because if you do let's go to the next question' Love it, Wenger a few years back would never have been so direct, or am I just forgetting? Maybe I didn't pay as much attention to press conferences then as I do now. Who knows. Whatever it is, I love it. I love the Wenger of this year when he's being interviewed by the press. He has become the master and owns every conference he attends (apart from anomalies such as last week after Chelsea when he made very little sense.)

When asked if we would be buying Balotelli, instead of his last season answer which would have been 'I won't confirm or deny who we are interested in' he simply said 'No, we are not interested in Ballotelli, you can write that, and Chelsea can buy him as many times as they like. I read that we are in competition with Chelsea to sign the player, that is not true'. You can't really get much clearer than that can you? No doubt we'll be linked with buying him next week. And the week after, and every week between now and January 31st or until someone else does.

We won't be buying Dzeko either as he's apparently too expensive while it looks like we'll have to wait til the summer for Chamakh as his club won't be selling him in January, Zenzinho the 17 year old it is then...

I must say, recent results aside, Arsene seemed in far better spirits than he has done. He says the team are disheartened at the minute and that concerns me as we have a mental strength even more prone to break down than our players bodies, but his relaxed manner wen't some way to settling some of my concerns. He even had a giggle when asked about Arshavin's comments, saying how he loved him as a player and as a man, and left one journalist swinging in the wind after simply answering 'yes I do' to the question of whether Stoke was must win or not. 'Yes I do' and then a big grin as the journo scrambled to think of another question. Superb.

Stoke is a huge match for us. Yes we beat them 4-1 last season, but they are a very well organised, disciplined and effective team. Given the fact that we concede a goal almost every time a ball is shot on target we have to ensure that either Almunia isn't playing or that the entire team close down every inch of the pitch to limit shooting chances. Both would be ideal. Never mind dealing with Delap’s long throws, we need to be dealing with the second balls which is invariably where our main problems come from. A big hoof will do very nicely thank you very much - away from goal, not just into the air so it comes back down inside our box. AWAY.

Sagna is confirmed fit, Walcott confirmed injured, Diaby, Bendtner and Clichy are 'shorter' confirming my spine-shortening theory and progressing us ever closer to our Pygmy army. Our team pretty much picks itself.

VP's surgery has went very, very well apparently, although Wenger hasn't talked to him, just his surgeons. He does that doesn't he, when a player is injured he doesn't seem to have much to do with them, instead solely focusing on those who are fit I guess that's the way to do it and that's why we have medical staff. Still, where's the love Arsene?

Interestingly, perhaps even foolishly, I got rather excited when pressed on how many players we would be after in January, would it solely be a striker, Wenger refused to clarify how many players we'd be after. Like most, I know what we need, and I would sacrifice getting a striker for a keeper.

The match v Stoke is our 100th at the Emirates and Arsene's 500th game in charge. Anything less than a win to celebrate would jst be plain rude. 3 points please, thank you very much.

With December upon us the madness that is January's transfer window is beathing heavily upon us. All manner of folks are, as usual, being linked with us, none of whom we'll sign. This time, however, it's even worse as Wenger has stated he's going to buy. Does anyone else think that he has the deal already sorted otherwise he'd be playing the 'we're good enough/don't want to unsettle the youngsters' card?

The most constant, and seemingly constant 'rumour' is that we've already signed the Brazillian Zezinho. I don't know much about him, but he has two 'Z's in his name and that has to mean he's good. Watched some clips of him online and he looks pretty sharp, but he's 17.  'gunnerz4ever' on Arsenal Mania forum also had this to add; "£5 million for Zezinho apparently looks like another midget Wenger is building a pygmy army."

I think it was another five minutes before I could compose myself. Pygmy Army! He bloody well is! Clichy and Denilson haven't been out with broken backs, they've been getting their spines shortened so they don't loose their place. And don't you buy that crap about severed tendons where RVP has concerned, all the time he's been away, I imagine Wenger has been having him gradually miniaturised and when he comes back he'll have shed his tall person suit and be the perfect Wenger striker at 2'3".

Pygmies lol.

He's 5'11" just in case you were wondering.

It's goood to see that consensus is growing that we need a keeper (Akinfeev) and despite all the names being bandied about, I actually don't care (Akinfeev) who we buy. ANY keeper(Akinfeev) would be an improvement, Mannone proved that. We have faced 52 shots this season, and conceded 18 goals. Only Portsmouth, Wigan, Hull, and Burnley have a worse record than us. Yet only Chelsea and Fulham have faced fewer shots.

It isn't the defence. IT'S THE KEEPER (though our defence could try defending just a wee bit better).

In November, we allowed eight shots. That's pretty impressive, implying the defense are doing their job relatively well. How many goals did we concede? Five. Five fucking goals from eight shots.

To have figures like that is a disgrace. To compare, Chelsea have faced only 34 shots and conceded 8 goals, a ratio that works out at 34.6% to their 23.5% (did you see their blocked shots stats v us on Sunday? We had seven blocked shots by them, we managed to block one of theirs). So, not only are their defenders closing down attackers more than we are, they also have a keeper who knows what he's supposed to be doing.

Blah. It's enough to get you concerned about the visit of Stoke. I think I might throw something at my TV (or just fall on top of it) if Almunia starts on Saturday. And if, please, please, please, he doesn't, we can assume he has been rightly dropped and cling to the hope that Wenger might do something about it and shit ourselves accordingly as Fabianski implodes? There is, off course, always the very real possibility that Wenger might be happy to have Fab as number 1 and Almunia and number 2.

Something has definitely changed with the Spanish waiter this season, there can be no denying it. The whole 'chest infection/death in the family' business smacked so much of a cover-up I was supprised not to hear mention of a grassy knoll. Whether he's had a fight with the boss, a team-mate or his pink dog, I don't really care, what I care about is getting him the hell out of our team. The unpredictibility of youth? Bloody right when it's up against the unpredicitibility of a liability. Maybe he's mimicking the other England goalies in a bid to get to the World Cup? Who the hell knows, but it's something and it's irritating the crap clean out of me.

Urrgh, I've depressed myself now. Started this blog because I just simply had to repeat the whole pygmies thing and now look where I've ended up.

Bloody Almunia.

Pygmies hehe.

That's better.

So what else? Not much really. Theo is out with a 'slight' hamstring so that's him gone til the end of February. Probably just as well, would have only got injured against Stoke anyway. Wonder does he know if he doesn't have the ball people won't tackle him so that's why he leaves it behind so often? Sagna's ankle knock has recovered enough for him to start unless his foot falls off between now and tomorrow, and apart from that, we have no more injuries to report. The joy of playing the kids in the Carling Cup and no Diaby in training.

I'll take a look at the likely team tomorrow but for now I'm off to think of pygmies.. I've no idea why it's so funny, but it just is. The French Emperor and his army of Pygmies - tripping over all who come before them.

Well, it could work....

Arsenal entered their Carling Cup quarter final with odds of 3/1 for a win. Even given the fact that we were fielding a team consisting mostly of reserves and kids, 3/1 still gave us very little chance. You know you never meet a poor bookie.

Pre match, the ex-25 was strutting about the park as if he actually was worth £25million. Jamie Redknapp's pre-match ponderings about where his form had gone since the start of the season was just laughable. Ask any Arsenal fan where his form has gone and they'll tell you he only has form when he wants more money. There isn't an Arsenal fan on the planet who didn't fortell the story of the ex-25 and the ever-increasing laziness he would become afflicted with as the season wore on. To be fair to him, he started with purpose, giving away the first free kick by fouling Rosicky after trying to take out Wilshere and missing. We would end the night on 6 yellows to their two. And the ex-25 would not be one of theirs booked.

In a first half which saw Man City carve out most of the chances, we also saw, yet again, Traore booked for his first foul while just before Tevez had two hacks at Rosicky, one of them connecting, without punishment. There was a ball that Silvestre (who played impressively well in the first half) and the ex 25 went for, while Silvestre was always going to get it, the ex-25 thought two footed was the way to go. He didn't connect, but add that to the one at the weekend v Hull, the stamp on Cesc and Vp, and it won't be long before he ends someones career.

To be honest, I think the reason the ex-25 wasn't working or fouling as much as we expected was because he was insulted by the team we sent to play him. He knows had he still been at the Emirates he would not be playing. I wonder if it was because he was up against his 'old friend' Song and had time to ponder how much his actions and assaults on Song might have effected the young chap. More likely there was no-one he wanted to kick badly enough to mean he had to run.

The second half started and our defensive instructions had obviously been to stand off Man City and allow them as much time and space as they need to shoot and find the top corner. Five minutes it took us to follow those instructions. A brief scurry up the other end and then it was basketball, you have a go, we have a go and we see who holds longest.

And we know how that goes. And went.

Scoreline aside the kids did well against £200million worth of talent at home. People might criticse Arsene for not using more experience when this could be the chance of a trophy, but if it wasn't for Arsene and his youth policy nobody would even remember this trophy existed. The kids tired and only making one substitution as we had no other offensive options on the bench it was inevitible the young legs would tire. It took that before Man City could beat us properly.

Merida was disappointing, Vela caused trouble, while Jack didn't get the ball enough. Eastmond wasn't as effective as he has been, but Song owned the ex-25 at centre-half, hell, even Silvestre for the most part played really well. Predictibly, Man City targeted Traore with Wright-Phillips but the defender stood strong (as he could after getting a yellow early on). Ramsey tired badly in the second half, while Rosicky struggled to keep things moving on his own. Eboue was Eboue.

An added plus was that Fabianksi did what he had to do, and apart from one which he came for and just missed (at least he was in the general vicinity of the ball unlike the Spanish Waiter who'd only be going for the cross now). He had no chance and was at no fault for any of the three goals and looked confident and assured. Well, by Arsenal keeper standards at least.

And as for Mark Hughes gurning that Wenger didn't wait for him to shake his hand, why the hell should he? If Hughes is off celebrating why the hell should Wenger hang about for him? Is that a new law? Moanchester City and their newly purchased sense of entitlement. Wenger gave them credit for their goals, their quality and their experience in his post-match interview, but I bet all you hear about is how he is an ungracious loser who wouldn't shake Hughes' hand. His response, when told that Mark Hughes had said he didn't know how to lose, was perfect 'I am free to shake hands with whoever I want.'  Mark Hughes wants the respect that has taken the Wengers and Ferguson's of this world 10 plus years of winning things to earn. That's something you can't buy Mark, and no amount of crying will change that.

I'm writing this just after the match and have seen some comments on Twitter which have wound me up. Not Man City fans, but supposed Arsenal ones crying about the end of our season and how we'll never win a trophy.  There's a bit of a rant on it's way.

Nobody outside the top 4 gives a fuck if they win the Carling Cup or not. If they do, it's a bonus, if they don't they don't care. I'm sick of all this shit about this now being a trophy we can't win. It's a trophy I don't care if we win. What are we going to do, win it and then brag about it like the Spuds did? Give me a fucking break. What would Man City rather be in, Champions League or Carling Cup?

Some fans go on about this four fucking years without a trophy as if it's four decades. Catch a bloody grip of yourselves. Half of you haven't got a clue what it was like pre-Wenger and as I've said before, if it wasn't for Wenger you wouldn't even be expecting to win trophies like you do, let alone thinking we have some divine right to them.

I don't know, maybe I'm mad or something, but the result against City didn't bother me in the slightest. It cost us nothing in the legaue (except Song who will miss Stoke through suspension for accumulating 5 yellows), no injuries at a time when we're stretched to the limit, and some great time and saves from a goalkeeper who needs match-time and confidence if we are to have any chance of getting rid of Almunia.

Sure, it isn't nice to lose, and it isn't nice to lose 3-0, but let's have some perspective. You don't go and play tennis against Roger Federer and cry when you lose 6-0 6-0 6-0. We knew what side we were putting out, it isn't like this is a new policy or anything, we know what Wenger thinks of the Carling Cup, if you chose to believe this is a competition we have a good chance of winning that's your issue for being a muppet. You might say that it is time he changes his policy on the Carling Cup but he won't and no amount of moaning about that will change that. If we do ever happen to win it will be an amazing achievement, but the Carling Cup, under Wenger, will never be a trophy we will try and win with a first team. Accept it.

Should we? I don't know. I really don't care about the Carling Cup and really look forward to seeing how far the kids can go each season. It's an entertaining and distracting side-show to the trauma of watching the first-team at times. Imagine the first team playing tonight and losing? How gutted would you feel then? Ah but we wouldn't have lost if we'd played the first team you say. I say you don't know shit. Any team can lose any match at any time. Especially in a cup. A first team no more guarantees winning this trophy than it does winning any other. You might think it gives us more of a chance but I say it gives us more of a chance of losing players we'll need for the league, Champions League and FA Cup.

So before you all start attacking me for my opinion on this latest defeat, let me just claify some things. Yes I care we lost. No I won't subscribe to the view that our season is falling apart. Yes I would like to win a trophy. No, I don't care if it's the Carling Cup (though the quarter final against Man U's kids would have been quite the contest). Yes I think Wenger is right to continue playing the kids. No, I don't think he should change that.

World class young talent comes to Arsenal because they know they will get to play and won't rot in the reserves. We can't spend £30, 40, 50 million on a player, but we can get a player who has £50 million potential and mould him in the Arsenal way. If the Carling Cup helps maintain that ability, the attraction to youngsters such as Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy, Kieran Gibbs, Carlos Vela, Jack Wilshere, Fran Merida, Sanchez Watt, Craig Eastmond, Kyle Bartley and the rest then I for one say it is a sacrifice worth making and I'm all for using it the way we do.

And, let's face it, with our squad stretched and fragile, do you really think the first team has a chance of sustaining an attack on four fronts? Or would the other three suffer for the addition of the fourth? You know in your head what the answer to that is.

Now let the attacks commence....

Regardless of your view of 'Henry'gate,' for Arsenal fans, the news that FIFA are to investigate his handball with views towards possibly banning him from the start of the World Cup group matches must surely resonate after how Eduardo was treated.

While the line between Eduardo and Henry is vast (one is dubious, the other clear cheating) the fact is both were charged after the event using video evidence FIFA/UEFA refuse to allow during the original 90 minutes and plan to punish the player with a punishement far in excess of what would have happened had the referee spotted the incident.

It's simply absurd. Eduardo's three-match ban (for a yellow card offence, a six-fold increase in punishment for an error by an official (if you think he dived)) was rightly overturned, but such was the outcry about Henry that I fear he will not be so lucky. I didn't think the media could get more hysterical than they did with Eduardo, but the surpassed themselves with Henry.

FIFA are well within their rights to look at the incident, afterall, their own rules state that they are free to do so if the ref missed something and it wasn't included in the match report. But how can they issue anything other than the punishment he would have got had it been spotted at the time - a yellow card?

FIFA and UEFA are rapidly descending into an even bigger joke than we already knew they were. Logic dictates that Henry should, at most, get a retrospective yellow. The masses however, might dictate something far more substantial altogether.

If a six-fold punishment is issued (ie a 3 game ban), FIFA must follow suit with EVERY single yellow-card offence not seen by the officials. That's an awful lot of bans for an awful lot of players. Will they open that can or do their best to slam it shut?

Read more for yourself here and make up your own mind.

Well, well, busy day today. Not only do we have a match, but I finally have a diagnosis as to why I've been walking like a drunk person for the past month. While it's good to finally know what it is, the fact that it means a lifetime of meds and the very real possibility of going deaf in my right ear doesn't make for the best start of the day. At least I won't have to listen to Spud fans (I'm not laughing at them getting beaten by Man U's kids cause I know what happens when I mock - should we negotitate the rather tricky business of an ex-25 inspired thugfest at Eastlands, then I shall gloat myself silly.)

So, Man City it is. I must say, I don't really expect us to get anything out of this match, You can say what you like about Man City drawing games left right and centre, but as the ex-25 says (I shall paraphrase) the height of his season so far came against Arsenal and it's been all down hill for him from there (he yaps on about an injury but I remember no such injury). Another match against Arsenal gives him the perfect opportunity to get his lazy ass in gear, if only for 90 minutes so he can then coast through until at least February on the back of another good performance against us.

Normally, I rate our chances against anyone, but knowing how many kids we'll be playing added to the fact that it is away at a club who have the chance of getting to a semi-final for the first time in 356 years, they have all the incentive. That being said, anyone who has watched the kids this year cannot help but be impressed by the commitment they show when they get their chance and I expect a hard-fought contest, possibly only decided by the odd-goal.

In defence we know we'll see Fabianski (as our Carling Cup keeper Chesney is out on loan and Fab needs some fitness - fast- to displace our 'number one' god I wish I could make those '' bigger). Senderos and Silvestre are expected to come in, but as Senderos can't even get on the bench for the first team will we see Kyle Bartley step in as Senderos counts the days he has left as an Arsenal player? (I wrote that before I remembered the squad was being announced today and I see Big Phil isn't even included - byebye it is then).

In midfield, it's anyone's guess...with Song being subbed at the weekend I wondered if we'd see him against Man City and he is indeed named in the squad. Is that simply to wind up the ex-25 as we know on their last international meeting the ex-25 had to be subbed as all he was interested in was crocking Song. Let's hope who ever is reffing this match has some balls, as the ex-25 already got away with another blatant stamp at the weekend against Hull and I think it's safe to say we will see more of the same tonight.

The squd for the match is as follows:
Tomas Rosicky
Carlos Vela
Aaron Ramsey
Alex Song
Mikael Silvestre
Jack Wilshere
Lukasz Fabianski (GK)
Vito Mannone (GK)
Emmanuel Eboue
Armand Traore
Fran Merida
Kyle Bartley
Francis Coquelin
Craig Eastmond
Emmanuel Frimpong
Kerrea Gilbert
Mark Randall
Sanchez Watt

So I think the team I'd like to see start could be something like this:

Fabianksi

Eboue Silvestre Bartley Gilbert
Song
Ramsey Merida
Wilshere Vela Rocisky

That isn't a half bad team, but I don't trust Silvestre to handle the ex-25 so let's hope Bartley can step up and kick him lots.

That all being said, Eastmond so impressed in his last game we could see him start ahead of Song with Alex being brought in if we're in trouble. Who knows. The team could be anything. Watt deserves a start as well, but Vela needs the matches. Basically, it's anyones guess.

Gonna leave it there, the trip to the hospital and all the tests they did involved spinning my head loads which needless to say has taken it's toll.

Here's to another demolition job by the kids, though this game could finish anything from 1-0 to 5-4...(order of scores does not indicate home wins, I just can't call this match at all - afterall, for all we know, the Man City players could be on a £1m bonus to win it)
 
Class over cash - Come on you Gunnnnerrrrrrrrrrssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!

Morning all.

So, it's Tuesday. As I'm still housebound I have managed to restrict my in take of post-mortem and slagging to a minimum but I'm sure some of you out there endured a rough day yesterday at the hands of, well, probably everybody who isn't an Arsenal fan. Just keep reminding yourself that nothing's handed out in May and if you can punch where appropriate it will help a great deal.

News-wise, there isn't really that much of substance about. The Arsenal official site spat out page after page of filler yesteday in a desperate bid to remove the fact that they had the 'highlights' of the game v Cheslea listed on the home page in the hope that we might somehow forget what had happened the day before.

We didn't.

Anyone who watched Wenger's press conference or read it's transcirpt on the offical site could not help but be struck by how rambley the boss seemed. A lot of what he was saying made no sense, and in a season where we have seen him be more frank and forthcoming with the press than he has ever been, it was an interesting turn. Is the stress getting to great man? Was it dissapointment that he had went out on such a huge limb and said that this team was ready, that they would deliver and they failed? To be fair, we should judge his statements against where we stand in May, still, it is something else to add to our growing list of concerns?

What did strike me about coverage after the match, was how quickly the pundits have seem to realised we are ravaged with injuries. At a time in the season when we probably have more fit players than we have had at any other time since the season began, it's nice of them to try and make excuses for us (in some quarters, in others they took great joy in laughing at our 'boys') but do we need them? Yes RVP is a huge loss, especially when exacerbated by the injury to Bendtner, but let's not forget, Bendter was not exactly setting the world alight, where as before his latest operation, it seemed Eduardo hit the back of the net everytime he could get on the pitch to touch the ball. Now he can't even trap it. We may have lost Gibbs as well as Traore, but none of Chelseas goals came from anywhere near our left so that can't be a factor either. To quote Diaby as a 'loss' from the squad when there was no mention of Denilson when he was out is just lunacy.

I still rest the blame for our defensive frailties squarely at the feet of our goalkeeper. Last year we were able to blame the warring centrebacks and not-as-expected performances from our full-backs, but did that simply mask Almunia as well?

What difference would it have made had we had a keeper who came to where Drogba flicked the ball in for the first and took him out with it? What price a keeper who wasn't coming to collect a ball which was heading straight for both our centre backs? Or a keeper who can react and therefore doesn't have to guess which was a free-kick is going to go? One who comes and collect balls without having to have 60,000 fans scream for him to do so?

No doubt up front is playing a part too. Wenger invested a lot into making VP a CF, a move not many of us saw any potential in. The team has played with him as their focal point, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he is made of glass and acted as if they never expected to have to supply any one else in that position. Why can't we play Arshavin there? He has stated he wanted to play more centrally, and, as was pointed out on Sunday Supplement, when we played Henry we pretty much played without a centre forward as he was always deep or left or right and we relied on runners or wide men. Or Henry. How are we not able to adjust our play to accomodate the loss of one man?

To get things in some sort of perspective, we have to look at the fact that we failed to score against two very well organised defences. Sunderland is never an easy place to go, let alone after an international break and without our main man for the first time all season. Chelsea have the best defence in the league, and while we should, as title contenders (if we wish to be considered as such) be able to break them down, but yet are not be guaranteed to do so. There was a few times when we could have gotten in, a better touch from Eduardo, a less slicker surface, we could have done it. We didn't. It isn't the end of the world and it doesn't mean we aren't going to score again this season.

And it hasn't got as much to do with injuries as the press would have you believe.

It's about self-belief. It's about fear. It's got nothing to do with the height or weight of our players. Once again it's a mental problem, and I find that more worrying than any physical aspect.

Wenger admitted it himself, the defeat at Sunderland had affected their confidence more deeply than he had realised. So did they enter the game against Chelsea with the 'we can't beat Sunderland how the hell are we going to beat Chelsea' mindset?

I'm rambling again, I know it. I think a big part of that is the inner conflict which is raging inside me over the whole Great November Disintegration. Which isn't even that great to be honest. Or a disintegration. Yet. I don't know what to make of the whole thing. The Arsenal I have watched all season is not the one I have seen this last few weeks. Two goals in three games since losing VP from a team who can boast 13 different scorers already. How can that be? I get confused when I don't understand, and I ramble and contradict myself as I try and make sense of it all.

I so wanted to believe in Arsenal this year, and a huge part of me did, still does, and always will. It's that part as a supporter that tells you we can still win the league until it is mathematically impossible even when the bookies have you at 150/1. But then there's the other part, the hurt part, the part that was damaged against Man U in the Champions League after taking a kicking all through the start of last season, all on the back of capitulating the league to Man U the year before after the loss of Edurdo's leg and Gallas's senses. It still hurts and it doesn't want to be fooled any more.

Hence the conflict and the rambling.

So, do yourself a favour, watch the fighting equivalent of Arsenal v Cheslea and have a chuckle at how accurate the reflection is (thanks to lonelygunner for the link) and then console yourself with the knowledge that the guy who got flattened is apparently an amazing fighter who just got a bit flashy for his own good and got cold-cocked. If you don't see the humour in it, you're gonna have one hell of a long season. Laugh, it will do you good.

Now we can move on.

November is dead, now it's time for the Arsenal to shine once again and show the doubters just who we are, and what we are really capable of. Another 20 unbeaten anyone? Oh, and a new keeper would be appreciated as well, thanks Arsene.

.......

The winner of the competition, who could have won for sheer volume of great entries alone, came up with a cracker (Which I've slightly ammended). The rest of you should hang your head in shame as this guy's a Liverpool fan! I did wonder what use a Liverpool fan could have for an Arsenal TShirt fearturing our captain, until I figured it was the only way they could get themselves a fit world-class midfielder (you know I'm only mesin)...so...step forward NEVERWALKINGALONE for you are indeed the winner of the first ever LadyArse competition for your (slightly tweaked)

A Brazilian or an Arshavin?

So if you could kindly email me your address I'll get your Cescy Tshirt in the post and you can be the envy of Merseyside.

There were some cracking entries and I'm sorry I only have one TShirt to spare.
Thanks to everyone who took part, I'll get another one going as soon as I can.