A quick word on the week’s events and I think it’ll be very interesting watching Arsenal.com to see who gets ‘Player of the Month’.  Of course it should be Adebayor but given his recent behaviour might they fix it to give the award to someone else thus not to condone his recent violent conduct.  Who else is there though?  Maybe Hleb?

The boy’s scored seven goals this month, five in three consecutive games, that is outstanding form and he’s got a good shout for the Barclays ‘Player of the Month’ playing like that but again his behaviour will not be condoned by rewarding his talent.  I imagine they’ll take the easy option and give it to Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Another thing, where’s Paul Robinson when you need him eh?  He did so much for Arsenal during his time as No. 1.  I miss him.

Ok, so let’s face it, Arsenal now are far better since the departure of Henry, his absence has liberated the younger players and they are now free to express themselves and it has paid dividends for Arsenal.  But really the way it’s been talked about recently has been insulting to the guy.  We’re talking about one of (if not the) best players the club has ever seen.  Or the Premiership for that matter. 

Thierry was a modern miracle of a player.  Yes he could be a bit of a cocky prick at times but for every time you’ve seen that think about the players who aren’t so great who behave even worse!  If one of the best players in the world is wrong to behave like that then who the f*ck do these people think they are.  Lampard, Barton and Anelka to name but a few, half the player he was and if they can get away with the way they behave then Henry can behave how he likes. 

Thierry was a shadow of his former-self last season and I think Wenger knew this, he knew letting him go was the right thing but if he’d done it in 2006 it’d be one hell of a PR disaster.  This season for Barca he’s been better than for Arsenal last season but nothing close to what he was for the Gunners in his peak, time catches up with all of us. He genuinely loved(s) Arsenal Football Club and even better than that he genuinely hated Spurs.  A true Gooner.   

It was painful seeing him in the form he was last year.  It was made worse when I was listening to our defeat to Fulham in November last year and the commentator was watching a Bolton game talking about Anelka and how “on his day, when he can be bothered, he’s better than Henry”.   Seriously, show me your 5-minute clip of Anelka “when he can be bothered”..…  and in return, I’ll lend you a 2-hour DVD

Think back to spring of this year, not too long ago and lining up against Blackburn at Ewood Park was (taking account of injuries and suspensions) the best Arsenal XI available.  That included a 17 year-old FA cup debutant in Armand Traore and the fearsome strike-partnership that was Julio (The Beast) Baptista and Jeremie (Mr Glass) Aliadiere.  Not to mention the 2^nd choice central defence of Senderos and Djourou and a bench that included Hoyte…  no, the other one (the 16-year-old).  While Chelsea bemoaned their injury “crisis” of missing two players Arsenal without Henry, Van Persie, Adebayor, Toure, Gallas, and Clichy were having to really scrape the barrel.  Fast-Forward eight months and we have the exact opposite problem, I can’t help feeling sorry for Gilberto Silva, joint player of the season last time (with Cesc) and he’s not only snubbed for the captaincy but finding himself second-choice altogether.  Is it wrong to say I’d almost like to see Flamini just take a tiny tiny niggle just to give Gilbs a chance (yes it’s very wrong because it tempts fate).

He’s dealt with it with fantastic dignity though so you have to give credit to him and it puts Lehmann’s behaviour in perspective.  He’s embarrassed himself completely and that’s very disappointing having been the hero in the Champions League not so long ago, if you’re wondering if he’ll still be around after January take notice that he never “expects to play” before a CL game.  Don’t want to get cup-tied now do we Jens. 

I have to say I’m very worried about the Carling Cup trip to Blackburn, we’ve struggled there in the last few years and the last time they really turned the cuntyness up to 11 (Savage stamping on Fabregas’ head etc), do our younger players have the stamina to deal with a team like that (especially since Mark Hughes seems to have brought in some actual football players as well now).  Speaking of Hughes his comments about Van persie (I can’t remember where I read it but some reaction to VP’s criticism of Blackburn saying “Van Persie’s not the whitest player”) were just hilarious, it’s not what he’s saying as he’s not far off but it’s who’s saying them:-  a vicious cheating-twat of a player who’s become a vicious cheating-oaf of a manager managing a team of vicious, cheating cunts.   

Nothing to say about the Man-Utd game that hasn’t been said already other than I’m really starting to grow fond of William Gallas.  He’s definitely improved as a player since he’s had a good run in the side (a lot of people have been doubtful of his partnership with Toure), having a big mouth isn’t always bad (his pre-slavia press-conference where they ask him about Chelsea is a delight), plus he’s attempting a Mohawk which is fantastic.