If yesterday's blog came to you via 4 hours sleep and a somewhat fragmented state of mind, then today's blog.. today's blog I'm starting to feel a little like Christian Bale's character in The Machinist. In bed at the not unreasonable time of 10.30, asleep by 11 and juddered awake by 2am. A night on the sofa finishing watching Star Wars- I'd started that one on Monday morning- before deciding I might as well eat something before getting into work early was all mine.

Before I decided to put the rest of Star Wars, perhaps not the best choice on an extremely black night of the soul, I was cruising Sky Sports News and came across Jermaine Jenas and his assertion that Tottenham's defeat at Arsenal was a one off. Er, really Jermaine?

What about this then?

Yes, I am that sad. But it tells its own tale, doesn't it? Twenty matches, 11 wins, 9 draws with 41 goals scored against 22 conceded suggests that perhaps it wasn't a one off at all. Anymore than Tottenham's third consecutive match against a member of the big four ending with them conceding three goals in defeat was. Harry Redknapp can claim there is no gap between the squads, but we all know that Arsenal are in the title race- whether they win it or not, Tottenham are in the race for a Champions League spot, if they're lucky. That is the reality gap.

To be honest, I think enough's been said, and I might not have mentioned this at all had Jenas' daft comments not interrupted my fun filled night, thoughts like fireworks exploding through my brain, on the sofa, "phenomenal squad"? the only thing phenomenal about Tottenham is the size of the ego in relation to the acheivement.

I could go on, I really could, but I don't want to lose you and I fear I might, so I will move on from Saturday's events, as the official website seems to have done.

The original version of yesterday's blog mused upon the plight of Liverpool, the bet I made with Luke's brother and Luke's insistence that 4 draws in a row Manchester City will finish the season crowned as champions. I forgot about that by the time I got home, but I also caught myself wondering about the Chelsea Manchester United clash at the weekend. With Arsenal playing Wolverhampton Wanderers and with Mick McCarthy's shocking record in the Premier League, it's difficult to see this as anything other than a chance to finish the weekend either in second place, or points closer to Chelsea. Honestly, the way United are playing, it's difficult to see how we won't be in second place come Monday morning, but let's not jump the gun and by doing so jump back in time to last season's assumption that games can be won by just stepping onto the pitch.

It's perhaps, with the visit of AZ Alkmaar a day ahead of us and Champions League qualification beckoning, a touch premature to be considering the Wolves game, but in a classic Arsenal touch, the players will take the field on Saturday evening with poppies embroidered into their shirts as a precursor to a shirt raffle in aid of the Royal British Legion and Help For Heroes.

Moving back to the Alkmaar game and the early team news is that Gael Clichy will be out for a month, due to a stress facture of the back. I might be wrong, but isn't this the same injury, or type of injury, that ended last season for him? Good news for Keiran Gibbs though, who showed last week just what he is made of. I look forward to seeing how he does in the month ahead with interest. Tomas Rosicky, on the other hand, returns to the squad after a short time out. So it'll be good to have him augmenting the options once more.

Stan Kroenke has made a further share purchase, the percentage of shares owned getting ever nearer to the 29.9% trigger. So that's something else to keep your eye on as I move deeper into my week from hell and Arsenal begin their traditional month of doom.

Fun and games.

A fat sleep last night and I am indeed feeling much better. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for our receptionist, who cracked her head a good one in the shower this morning. From time to time she reads this blog, actually, so hopefully by the time Sara reads this, she won't be suffering from a concussion.

But enough about the walking wounded in my life, what about the walking wounded of Arsenal? We've already covered Samir Nasri, who may be included in the Carling Cup squad for Liverpool in a week and a half's time. Eduardo's thigh problem will preclude him from avenging the near dismemberment of his ankle last February and Nick Bendtner's groin will see a limitation on our forward options further compounded by Carlos Vela's unavailability as he hitchhikes his way back from South America.

At the back, Manuel Almunia was said yesterday to be "50-50" to return to the first team after his chest infection. A month later and he's 50-50? What kind of chest infection has he got? I mean you could understand it if he had the kind of chest infection suffered by John Hurt in Alien. You know, he gets attacked by a face huggy type thing, which then secretly impregnates him, resisting all attempts to pry it off by having acid for blood that would burn his face off, if it made contact. The thing then falls off, but when he get up to have dinner with your fellow crew, or team members, a little penis looking thing with teeth eats its way through his body before bursting out through the chest cavity. And then turning into a massive black xenomorph that kills everything in its path, except the cat. And a woman clad in only vest and pants- though who that would be in the Arsenal dressing room, God only knows. Not sure there's a cat running around the Grove either, though that Highbury squirrel may well be around somewhere.

Yeah, I could understand it if Almunia had that kind of chest infection. Although, clearly, that would result in sudden and painful death, but if he doesn't have that, then what's the hold up? You can only assume that Mr Wenger, like the majority of Gooners, is none too happy with the way the Spanish waiter has started the season.

Another one who has room for improvement this season is Gael Clichy but he won't be doing that tomorrow afternoon as he picked up an ankle knock whilst on international duty with le France. I don't know about internationals, you can get all wound up about why this player isn't in their national side (as I used to regarding Wrighty and England) and then they get in their side and it's just headaches. They get injured, they have to travel all over the world, they get tired, they get demotivated or lazy, they lose form and then they go elsewhere.

That's a bit simplified I know. To boil it down further; the bottom line if you like, is that Keiran Gibbs seems certain to start tomorrow afternoon's match. I can't imagine that he will be in the team for long afterwards, but if he can continue in the vein of his embryonic yet impressive Arsenal career, he has a chance to keep Clichy's backside in bench warming mode.

So, no Bendtner, Eduardo, Almunia (fingers crossed) or Clichy. But Cesc Fabregas will return and Lukasz Fabianski has overcome his injury and is set to be included in tomorrow's squad. I'll be watching to see if he replaces Don Vito tomorrow. Aside from the pecking order, I don't think there's any real reason to displace the Italian Stallion, who has performed very well, but that's rarely stopped the gaffer in the past. As Alex Manninger can testify. But then Manuel Almunia is no David Seaman, he's not even a Jens Lehmann.

In the background, the intrigue level is starting to verge on the red side of things. Or red and white side of things. Silent Stanley has purchased another 90 shares, at £8,500 per share, taking him to 28.9% of all issued shares and just one single, solitary percent away from having to make a compulsory offer for all shares. It's funny, I've come to believe in Stan as a force for good, but I'm not sure I want this now. PH-W says he's relaxed about it and that he would welcome a takeover, but as we get further down this road, what else can he say? What should he say? What can he do now? I guess the doubts are bound to set in as the inevitable draws ever nearer, but it seems to me- and yes, it's been triggered by my current choice of literature- that no good can come out of one man owning the club, especially when we don't know what his intentions are.

I'd still rather him than the other fella, though.

Headphones on, work colleague blanked out, it's time to resume this crazy little blog we call TFGR...

How was your weekend anyway? Apart from a curry with Jo and friends on Friday night, I did very little indeed. And it felt great. So little did I do that I didn't even find out about England's result until Sunday afternoon. I think I was watching the snooker by then.

So, what have I missed in my weekend disconnected from any football news? Well, it seems that Txiki Begiristan really has developed tourettes, or perhaps he's going senile and has forgotten that he has already stated his belief that Cesc will one day ply his trade in the stadium called Camp Nou. That he has chosen to stir this particular pot as Cesc is excused from international duty to be with his ill grandfather seems a touch unfortunate though. I mentioned last week that I'd begun reading the Barça book by Jimmy Burns and it seems to me that this "Mes Que un Club" bollocks, yes, we'll call it what it is, has given those who run the Catalan club the belief that in being more than a club, they are also above the rules.

Is that a bit simplistic? Perhaps, but my sense is that those who are employed by Barcelona, those who support the club, the famous cules, are so imbued with the significance of the club in representing the unrecognised nation of Cataluña, that they can't possibly understand why someone wouldn't want to play for them. Much less a local lad trained by FC Barcelona.

Of course, as Arsenal Truth has noted, Arsenal haven't helped themselves in this situation. So willing have we been in the past to sell anyone, that the saying everyone has their price seems no truer than it is in London, N5. And to this end, I think we can reasonably expect Barcelona to unreasonably carry on and on and on (like Ariston) until Cesc dons the blaugrana shirt.

Another player subject to a rumour that you could say is becoming persistent is the French left back, Gael Clichy. He has moved to quell reports that he could be on his way to Real Madrid in the summer by saying he is focused on Arsenal "at the moment". Now, there was a time when I think we'd have all been sorry to see Clichy go, and perhaps that time is still upon us, but Clichy has been very in and out with his performances for some time. More than that, as our season petered out in the springtime, the emergence of Keiran Gibbs as a viable challenger for the left back slot gave us the very real (should that be Real?) prospect that not only could there be life after Clichy- it could even be better.

That being said, he is now the longest serving member of the first team squad, and is still of the boss' most trusted lieutenants. So, it's difficult to see him going anywhere just yet. Even with Armand Traore also on the scene.

Finally, for today, Ivan Gazidis has- somewhat bullishly, in my view- said that "second, third or fourth isn't good enough". That is, indeed, some statement of intent from the CEO. Whether it is posturing from the board remains to be seen, what will happen should we, for the fifth season in a row, come up short? Will the boss' head end up on the block? That seems unlikely, but it's good to hear the man at the top acknowledging, again, the importance of the fans to the club. Anyone who has visited the stadium recently can see that it's not an idea that Mr Gazidis is just paying lip service to either.

The culture of complacency at the club may be coming to an end.

Today sees the first move from Arsenal to head off any would be vultures circling the Grove for tender prey. Theo Walcott is "absolutely delighted" to have signed a new long term contract with Arsenal. In a way, coming off the back of the semi final disasters, it's kind of reminiscent of how Arsenal followed up defeat at the hands of Barcelona in Paris with the news that Thierry Henry had decided to commit his future to the club- for twelve months anyway. Worth remembering, I feel, that whilst Theo's form has dipped a little recently, to the point of rendering him invisible against Manchester United, he was our best attacker in the FA Cup semi final and has made very good progress even in an injury hit season. Good to have you aboard, Theo.

It is , of course, our FA Cup semi final conquerors up next at the Grove. And, thanks to Ben Ingber, I will be there. Oh yes. My first taste of an Arsenal Chelsea encounter and, with Arshavin surely looking to prove a point or two his club manager following his bizarre omission from that semi final, I'm hoping for good things.  Hoping, but not expecting, I should say. Spealing of Chelsea, it must be the week for it, but one of their former players has also been running his mouth this week. Tony Cascarino has blasted Arsène Wenger, saying that his defensive signings since Sol Campbell "lack character and intelligence". Perhaps it's just me, but that's certainly not a charge I'd lay at either William Gallas or Bacary Sagna's door. Maybe he was just talking about Eboue, I don't know..

He goes on to say...

“But now all Wenger signs is players with pace, power and potential... Arsène has received plenty of plaudits for what he’s done at Arsenal but people do seem to forget that he was lucky to inherit the best back four in the Premier League when he arrived as well as a certain Dennis Bergkamp."

Now. Aside from the fact that, on the occasions I buy the Times on a Monday and read Cascarino's "work" there always seems to be one slighting reference towards the Arsenal, Andrey Arshavin is not a "potential" player and that back four may well have been the best in the Premier League in 1997. But it hadn't won a league title since 1991. Clearly Arsène got something right elsewhere. I think their names were Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit. I know it's in the past, but it does my head in, because I've heard it so many times, "Oh he was lucky to have that defence". It's as if, because he had that defence who- let me say it again- hadn't won the league since 1991, it renders the brilliant work done elsewhere irrelevant. And whilst Bergkamp was amazing in that double season, he was also present for two years before it when we hadn't won anything, so what does it all mean?

Perhaps I shouldn't be taking anything "Chelsea legend" Cascarino says too seriously, eh?

Speaking of the manager, I read last night that Peter Hill-Wood said that the subject of a contract renewal has not yet come up, but the board would certainly be happy to offer the boss one. I think this is maybe the first time in Arsène's tenure where fans are thinking "Well, hold on a second there". For me, he is still the man. But I also wonder if 15 years at a football club is too much for any one man (yes, I am ignoring Ferguson). There's a danger of getting so close to things you can't see the forest for the trees and I think that's where Arsène has found himself at times recently. Anyway, he has a contract for another two years, I look forward to many rabbits exiting hats in that time. We certainly need to see progress in the dressing room and on the football pitch next season.

We started today with a young man who's had a decent season, let's finish with someone who, by his own high standards, has not had the greatest. Gael Clichy will miss the burst balloon that the end of our season has become, due to a back problem sustained against Villarreal. Which means Keiran Gibbs has three more games to show Arsenal fans the world over that he is a legend in the making.

Yesterday's blog ended with cottage pie in the sky talk about Mr Wenger vacating the managerial seat and decamping to Manchester. The man himself has responded thus:

"I have never allowed anyone to question my commitment to this club, in the good and in the bad times, that has not changed in my mind... On my side, I am contracted until 2011 and until 2011 I do not envisage to go anywhere else.”

Reassuring, if expected talk from the manager. Well, it's reassuring if you want him to stay, which I do. I think his comments above shown the strength of mind, or to use another word, stubborness that has so delighted and recently enraged large sections of the Arsenal support. Anyway, hopefully, that is the end of the matter for now, whilst Arsène also moved to champion his captain as a player who should be one of the "bases" of the club in remaining beyond the manager's final call. This was, of course, in response to Cesc's earlier comments that he would consider his future in the event of his mentor's departure. Hopefully Cesc will take heed.

Someone not even contemplating departing north London is Gael Clichy. Clichy has had a mixed time of it this season, but on his game, you will know by now I consider him to be a left back without equal. He would consider it a pleasure to remain a "Gooner for many years". I wonder how he will feel when he has Keiran Gibbs breathing down his neck in the next couple of years. I guess he's already seen off one academy product, so he's probably not too worried about the player behind him.

So far, so future and with this in mind let me turn to the FA Youth Cup Quarter Final that took place at the ground we know as "The shithole". How did it go?

The Gods really are smiling on us this week. I got back to my mate Steve's after 70 minutes football, where I was the width of a post away from my first goal of 2009 (just call me van Persie) and stuck Setanta on, just in time to see replays of the ball bouncing off a Tottenham "yoot" and into their net via Kyle Bartley's back. From then on our kids looked fairly dominant, with Wilshere prompting and probing. Around the 70 minutes mark, their seemed to be a loss of collective legs and the game that had hitherto looked just like a typical north London derby quickly became a group of kids out on their feet. So Tottenham took over- a point not lost on Steve Bould in his post match interview- and looked most likely. As ever with these games, there was a sting in the tail. In the 89th minute, Emmanuel Frimpong found Jay Emmanuel- Thomas on the edge of the box who wriggled him some space before lashing in what we like to call a "Lampard". It didn't end there. As Spurs tried to find a way back into the game, Francis Coquelin lifted a ball over the top for the returning Rhys Murphy. He controlled the ball on his chest before smashing the ball into the corner to put the cap on the "biggest game of their careers".  

Bouldie commented quite wryly afterwards, "He probably should have run it into the corner..." I'd like to think this was the first in a long tradition of spud mashing for most of these boys, we all know it won't be. Regardless, it was funny to hear Tim Sherwood complain afterwards that Spurs hadn't deserved to get beaten 3-1, bet you weren't complaining when you got that ridiclously undeserved 4-4 earlier in the season, eh Tim? 

Yep, payback, even at under 18 level, truly is a bitch.

What a weekend that was eh? As the Setanta commentator remarked during the game against Hull, at half past four, results were looking very good for Arsenal. The final whistles blown countrywide around 5pm on Saturday painted a very different picture. Manchester United getting their usual 90th minute goal to turn a draw into a win, Chelsea somehow turning home defeat into a win and Aston Villa.... well, I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but it seems to me that perhaps amongst the CIA, Lee Harvey Oswalds, Bin Ladens and Al-Quaedas of this world lies Martin O'Neil and Randy Learner. They seem to have had a season's worth of luck over the last 6 or 7 matches. Surely it will run out soon. Hopefully, the Arsenal side, beginning to emerge like a phoenix from the ashes of last season's failed title challenge, will be around to take advantage of it.

If they are, it will surely be down to the flowering Robin van Persie. Pilloried here after the defeat against Stoke, though that was more about maturity than ability, it is he, along with Samir Nasri, who has taken on the challenge of dragging us back into the top four and beyond. Such has been his influence of late, it would come as no surprise to me if he were to complete a hat trick of Arse.com Player of the Month awards come the month's end. Okay, so he didn't score. That he didn't was due to an excellent save from Myhill. Robin hasn't scored from a free kick for a while, I feel there must be one coming. He could have had two on Saturday. As it was, it was his delivery from a corner, immediately following that Myhill save, that made Adebayor's 9th league goal of the season a mere formality. It was his guile and ability to pick a pass that put Nasri in to score the winning goal and it was his pass that led to a third goal in as many matches for Nick Bendtner.

We did well to win really, especially with a few of the team not quite at the races. Amongst all the frustratiion of seeing United, Chelsea and Villa all taking a late three points, it's easy to forget that our three most recent wins have been secured only in the last 10 minutes of matches. That we secured this one was, at least in part, due to the substitution of the continued ineffectiveness Emmanuel Eboue, who seemingly lost the ball every single time it came to him. Can't pass, can't dribble, can't shoot. In the words of Adam Ant's 1982 number one, Goody Two Shoes, "What do you do?" Is this me being negative? I don't think so, it's me stating a fact. The man offers us nothing. Well, nothing of any relevance. It now seems ludicrous to me to consider that either Wilshere or Ramsey would not be a better option in midfield. At least both of them know how to pass a ball. And, in the latest issue of the Arsenal magazine, Kenny Sansom, Charlie George and Lee Dixon all agree with that assessment- so there!

It would be very unfair though, to suggest that Eboue was the only one on Saturday. Nasri aside the midfield didn't play that well and as for Clichy and Djourou. Clichy is probably being hung, drawn, quartered and his metaphorical guts fed to the rats that pervade the London Underground on the Arsenal Truth blog for his involvement (or lack of) in the Hull goal. I feel for him though, every mistake he makes costs us at the moment, he is in danger of becoming this season's Senderos. Suspended for the FA Cup match next weekend, this will give the guy a seemingly much needed break and give the boss a chance to look at Keiran Gibbs. Who has impressed on most of his, admittedly, few appearances this season. Djourou? Could haver conceded a penalty, was slow to react to the deflected cross that Clichy should never have allowed into the box and made a couple of very dodgy passes at the back. He will have better games though.

Not to end on a neagtive- me? Perish the thought! This was exactly the kind of game we would have lost at the beginning of the season, to win it was very pleasing. Our 8 game unbeaten run, having taken in the likes of Chelsea and Villa away and Liverpool at home... is it evidence of a newborn spirit in the camp? I hope so. That spirit is going to be tested in Cardiff on Sunday and then, not to get too far ahead of ourselves, another must win game at Goodison Park. Scene, last season, of an amazing individual performance from Eduardo.

Robin van Persie is a player I've given a fair bit of stick to in the past, perhaps not so much on the journey of discovery this blog is, but on forums, to friends and so on. And, I think, it's been justified quite often. The player who was Mr Last Minute Wonder Goal through much of 2005-06 had been replaced by an injury blighted 20something struggling to capture something seemingly lost. Yesterday, whatever it was that was lost came flooding back to him.

Let me tell you how much I care that Chelsea had 59% possession to our 41. Let me tell you how much I care that Robin was offside when played in by Denilson, let me tell you how much I care that Kalou was incorrectly flagged offside early on.

I care about as much as Chelsea did when their winning goal against us last year came with three players standing offside. I care about as much as Chelsea did when they equalised in that same game having watched us knock the ball out of play, so Joe Cole could get treatment, 30 yards inside their half and John Terry smashed the ball down the line and out for a throw in on the edge of our penalty area, which they then, rather unsportingly pressured us from. I care as much as they did when a great goal by Robin back in the Highbury days was ruled out, incorrectly, with the score at 0-0. In a game we subsequently lost 2-0. How much do you think Chelsea care about all that? Exactly.

Apparently what goes around does come around, it just takes about 3 years in some cases.

Anyway, whilst Scolari appears to want an apology from the referee, he should actually be thanking him for not sending John Terry off for one of those tackles that belies his status as "Honest John, the leader of men". Whilst we're on the subject of giving thanks, perhaps John Terry should be thanking the excellent Bac Sagna for not making a meal of what was an unpleasant, frustrated and glossed over by the Sky pundits, tackle. And whilst we're on the subject of red cards not given out... I thought that the clothesline Ivanovic performed on the flying Gael Clichy was worthy of a red card in itself. If that tackle had been made in a rugby match, it would be deemed unacceptable, so what's the score here? Never mind the further two challenges that really should have resulted in an early bath for Ivanovic.

Anyway, I don't want to moan too much. No, really. What was most pleasing about this match, well, it wasn't just the guts to seize on that piece of luck and make a comeback nobody could have predicted. It wasn't just the performance of the back four, Johan Djourou shaking off the horrors of his own goal to turn in the kind of performance that I think most Arsenal fans (although not this one) thought was beyond him. For me it was the fact that we did to Chelsea what teams have been doing to us, what Chelsea were expected to do to us. Andy Gray said early on in commentary that he had a funny feeling that if there was no tackling involved in the game, Arsenal would win "But there is tackling". Yes, there was and we tackled the life out of Chelsea and restricted them to one shot on target.

One shot. They had no response to our goals and that, Luis Felipe Scolari, is what killed your team. His post match interview was an amusing study in bewilderment and incomprehension. It must have hurt that the Chelsea goal came from two errors in judgement from Almunia, the first hanging Samir Nasri out to dry with a ridiculous throw and the second, his refusal to come for a cross drilled into the six yard box, leading to Djourou's attempt to clear finding the bottom corner. For all Chelsea's control, it was Arsenal who looked more likely to score the fourth goal of the game and had not Nick Bendtner not pushed his pass to Denilson a little too wide at the end, we may well have done.

I don't want to single anyone out over what might not have been Arsenal's prettiest performance whilst on the ball, but was a lung busting effort more reminiscent of a George Graham team, but I must say again that the back four were excellent. Bacary Sagna, for me, put in his best performance of the season, Clichy was exceptional particularly in the second half and the twin towers at the back were towers of strength, not salt. Djourou did exactly what the boss would have wanted him to, whilst freed from a captain's responsibility, William Gallas can be immensely proud of his performance yesterday afternoon. Boos and all. Only an Arsenal fan with the hardest of hearts would surely not have begrudged him his celebratory walk at the final whistle, his smile lighting up SW6.

It would be wrong, however, to finish this blog without returning to where it began, with the mercurial Robin van Persie. I have accused him on various occasions of being frustrating, of not having a right foot and looking slow. I guess what we saw yesterday was the importance of partnerships. Ade didn't have a great game, but played a vital role in both goals, winning aerial ballas we'd never have won without him. Robin's first goal, with his right foot, showed why he should use it more often rather than spending 5 minutes trying to tee himself up on his left. How lucky for us, he was too quick to wait for the offside flag. His second goal, brimming with confidence, was the kind of finish I always associate with Paul Merson, away from goal, great technique, the speed of thought to know the shot was on and where to put it... breathtaking I think. Perhaps I'm going overboard, but Robin has that extreme effect on me. His celebrations of the goals and at the final whistle were heartwarming and, I guess, showed how much Arsenal Football Club means to him. It was good to hear his post match interview, as composed and as thoughtful as Scolari's wasn't.

That's football for you, one man struggles whilst another relaxes.

With three days to go to a Sunday afternoon clash in South West London, Cesc Fabregas has been sounding the battle cry. Whilst Cesc is expecting to go forward and attack the blue hordes, I have to think that the gaffer will take a more pragmatic approach. That said, there is a case to be made that our defence is not to be relied on so the best form of defence is attack. Flip flopping again, however, I'm not totally convinced that an attack shorn of Walcott and perhaps Adebayor and Nasri is to be relied on either.

Love him or hate him, I'm on the fence either way at the moment, to me Adebayor is a huge miss. His physicality, speed on the ground and directness has been missed of late- this is why I believe Carlos Vela was chosen to start with Robin on Tuesday night. He might not have lasted the full game, but in front of the midfield full of central players, Carlos showed a willingness to put himself about and at least give the defenders something to think about rather than having a much easier night against the not so mobile Bendtner. I'd like to see Carlos start on Sunday, in the absence of Ade, he'd certainly give the Chelsea defence something to think about.

Ahead of a reunion with the man we've come to call "Cashley", the man who replaced him, Gael Clichy has been talking about how William Gallas' comments "broke" something within the squad. Having spoken publicly about the man that Gallas is just a few days ago, the timing of these comments being made public is somewhat odd. Regardless of what he said and when he said it, I don't think Gael deserves the ire coming his way from certain Arsenal blogs. Some of it is so hateful towards one of the most committed players we have on the books as to be bizarre. The bottom line is that big as the mistakes Clichy has made (and let's forget about how he gets up and down that line all day every day) this year have been, they are just that- mistakes. Whereas the vitriol is merely mean spirited and deluded. 

Almost as deluded as the email to Football 365, from an Arsenal season ticket holder, suggesting that the "uninspiring" Fabregas should be sold and a central midfield of Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby established at the heart of our team. Perhaps Cinzio left the game early on Tuesday night and therefore missed the goal inspired by Fabregas' quick thinking and pin point delivery. Maybe Cesc would be more inspirational if he was provided the appropriate foil for his talents, just like last season. Ever thought about that?

Diaby and Nasri in the middle... they'd only play about 5 games a season together!

Anyway, Ivan should be in the process of clearing his desk, January 1 is not far away now. I think, apart from it being great to have a CEO again, it's good that he has a football background and even better that he brings the average age of the "custodians" of the club down by 100 years. Time for Ken Friar to put his feet up, I think we all agree.

Is stripping William Gallas of the captaincy the beginning of a new era under Arsène Wenger, or is it merely the beginning of the end? That's the question I'm asking myself this morning. Not to be melodramatic about it, but yesterday's dismal result in Manchester was no surprise to me. And when you're not surprised that you've been thrashed by some team you normally beat in your sleep, then you know you've got problems. Hopefully yesterday was just the nadir, the bottom of the barrel being scraped. I suspect not. I questioned after the Stoke City game whether we would make it to the end of this bleakest of Novembers without a not so magnificent 7 sitting in our loss column, and was told to stop being so self pitying,well a defeat at Chelsea next week will see our losses at six.

Six games by the end of November. Twice as many as the whole of last season. In fact, I believe I'm right in saying we only lost 7 games in the whole of last season. Arsène, what have you done with our Arsenal, and can we have it back please? Of course, this Arsenal side, being the side they are, they could roll up at the Bridge, having- hopefully- qualified for the next stage of the Champions League in midweek and hand out a footballing masterclass. But it doesn't seem very likely now, does it? And the way Chelsea have set about their football this season also may mean a double humiliation for us as they beat us at "our" own game. But as this stage, it's all negativity and conjecture. Who knows what will happen in a week's time?

Back to yesterday, I didn't listen on the radio (I have that radio jinx thing going on) and I didn't watch the "highlights", but it sounds like we got paggered. It ocurred to me late Friday night that the only option at right back was Gavin Hoyte. I feel a tad sorry for the captain of our reserves. He has played well in the Carling Cup this year, has sat on a few benches for the first team and when he finally gets the call, he's only occupying, presumably, the same side of the pitch as Robinho! Welcome to the first team Gav. Oh well, at least it should get easier from here, Florent Malouda beckons next Sunday. Seriously though, doesn't this selection highlight the flaw in Wenger's stated confidence in his kids? Why is Gavin Hoyte's first exposure to the first team in an away game against the country's most expensive import? I know he's 4th choice right back, but surely he could have had some minutes before hand- there have been opportunities. But no, the boss would rather give Alex Song and Eboue game time, so Gavin becomes a last resort selection. And, whilst we're at it, why is the so impressive Aaron Ramsey sitting behind Alex Song in the central midfield pecking order?

Not that this is why we lost, I'm not saying that. It comes to something when Arsenal get beat 3-0 and in no way do you let it affect your evening, we ate (self cooked) biryani, drank snowballs,  played Grand Theft Auto, then some cards and then we went to bed. And at no stage, well not after Joanna Ryan said to me at 9pm, "What do you mean you've got a blog to write? It's Saturday night!" did I let the defeat bother me. I didn't, because I fully expected it.

One last thing before you go though... Manuel Almunia couldn't catch a cold, so he shouldn't be our first choice keeper and frankly, given the more established presence of guys like Clichy, Toure, Cesc and, um... that headcase, Robin van Persie, if Almunia was to be given the captaincy, it would really show that Wenger has no regard for what being the captain of Arsenal means. Not that this wasn't being said when Gallas got the armband. But isn't it amazing that there are only four members of our first team who have got more first team experience than the distinctly average spaniard? I say that and Kolo was beginning to warm the bench and I think I would prefer fully fit Eduardo to Robin, so that leaves Gael Clichy and Cesc. We don't know whether Cesc is planning on being around much longer, so the choice almost by default- but my previously stated preference in any case- has to be Gael Clichy.

Today's league fixture at Stoke might tell us something about this Arsenal side. It might not. Even if we play well and win, it'll just be another game where we've played poorly one day and then recovered in the next in a never ending cycle. That being said, drawing a final line (I hope) under the events of Wednesday night, for much of Wednesday's game Arsenal were magnificent, they just fell asleep at the death. It still took two pieces of luck for Tottenham to get back in.

Gale Clichy's slip was unfortunate, but in no way should he feel that he let Arsenal down on Wednesday night. People slip and shit happens. Consistently one of our best, most committed players, he gives the lie to the belief that only in England will you find the commitment needed to dig a result out in the Premier League. He has nothing to cry about, because he is brilliant. Our commitment will be tested to the full today and, forgetting about the title race for now, we need to get 3 points on the board as we go into what is certain to be a testing week, never mind the rest of November. Much is being made of the aerial threat posed by Rory Delap's missiles from the touchline and the physicality of Bolton reject Faye, let's show the world that this Arsenal team will not be bullied.

The toys have been coming out of the pram since Wednesday night, no doubt many fingers were pointed and now we have to get on with it. We need a good performance and we need to get our belief back. We need to stop making silly mistakes, at the moment it seems that, as used to be the case in Europe, we're being punished for every one. I would also appreciate it if Arsène stopped going on about our "great potential'. I should think the whole world knows about our great potential by now, but it seems that he has less faith in the youth then he makes out. Why has Johan Djourou, who started the season well, been forgotten about? Where is Aaron Ramsey's game time? Carlos Vela? It's all very well talking these players up, but unless you play them, they will not improve. And it's not like they've got world class payers ahead of them either, is it?

Oh dear, I'm still slinging toys. I promise I'll stop soon, this was never meant to be a negative blog...

Let's really give the guy Jo and I came across on Wednesday night on the Victoria Line platform at Green Park something to sing about. A bear of a guy, he'd clearly had a skinful as he sang "Hello, hello we are the Arsenal boys" and "Eduardo da Silva is Arsenal's number nine". So loud we could hear him even as we stood on the platform and the tube he got on pulled out, it was perhaps the last time I smiled that evening. I don't want to feel as miserable as I have been again.

Come on Arsenal!