Ooh, my pen- or my fingers- runneth over with vitriol this week.

Another ex Arsenal player has been talking. Yes Emmanuel Adebayor has been talking this week and no, he has no idea, no idea whatsoever, why the Arsenal fans "went after" him. Clearly the lack of intelligence that has, at times, been visible on the football pitch also afflicts Ade off it.

Shall I help him out? Yes, I think I shall, so here goes.

Ade, football fans the world over, Arsenal fans especially, understand that if a player playing for their club is playing particularly well, an interest will be taken by other football clubs. It is not something you can honestly say we "never understood". We understand it perfectly. But maybe we understand less when a footballer gives a press conference saying that he's staying and then tells Sky Sports News half an hour later "everything will be decided" next week. A statement like that indicates something less than commitment. And you know that. That's why you promised to win the fans you had upset back by working hard and scoring goals.

And you did score some goals, you even scored some very good goals this season, but hard work? What happened to you this season gone Ade? I went to a game with my uncle 18 months ago- his first visit to the Grove- and he couldn't believe how hard you worked. I think if we'd gone this season, he'd have been staggered by how little you worked.

You talk about Cesc Fabregas and how Barcelona, his home town club, have been trying to sign him for three seasons, it would be easy for Cesc- after six years of service- to describe Barcelona as Penelope Cruz, if he so desired. But what does he do? He comes out and indicates he is flattered by the interest, but he is happy at Arsenal. That is why we haven't turned on him and why we never will, we appreciate his efforts on our behalf.

It's been said elsewhere, but also, given the disrespect which you have afforded this club and our manager- do you really have the front to (indirectly) call Arsène Wenger a liar and expect us to believe you?- you actually haven't suffered that much. I don't condone it, but Emmanuel Eboue suffered 10 times more than you ever have in that one game against Wigan. Nicklas Bendtner has been treated mercilessly at times this season, but they worked at their games, tried harder and have won the fans, not all of them admittedly, round. They didn't go on national television and blame everyone but themselves for the situation you found yourself in.

And that's the crux of it, really, isn't it? I don't doubt that Arsenal decided they had had enough of you this summer, but the blame for that is entirely yours. And remember what you said about playing well and clubs like Milan, Barcelona and Madrid being interested in you, well, where are you playing your football next season again? 

Whew, I'm talking to you again now, another ex Arsenal striker has been chatting this week. Perhaps he's been talking rubbish too, but if it is rubbish, it's well meant.  Thierry Henry says that it is vital for Arsenal to hold onto Cesc and that he hopes Arsenal win the league. He says:

"The only thing that matters to me is not who is in the top four, it's who is going to be top and I know that's how Arsène sees it too."

So, put that in your pipe and smoke it all you Arseneisjusthappytofinishinthtetopfour people, you know who you are... It's not rubbish at all actually, is it? Well reasoned, like everything the Arsenal legend does. Maybe as well as pay attention to how Thierry finished a bit better, Ade could also have taken note of how to conduct oneself on leaving a club. 

Let's talk now, about a player that is actually still at the club and Johan Djourou. When I got back from football last night, playing with a man less, we lost 8-2 if you're asking, I picked up an old Gooner- the cover was Patrick Vieira smashing in one of five scored at White Hart Lane in 2004 (memories eh?). In this Gooner was a Carling Cup match report and from the outfield players, there were only two of the side that beat Manchester City 2-1 that were still at the club, one was Robin van Persie and the other, Johan Djourou, what is that if not a stark reminder of the challenges in front of the latest Carling Cup tyros?

Anyway, Johan says that his lack of reputation doesn't bother him as he looks to break on through to the other side. Twenty nine appearances last season is a big jump from previous campaigns and it seems Djourou is well aware he needs to cement his place in the first team picture this season. He has been looked at alongside the new boy Vermaelen this summer and it doesn't take a great leap to think, with Kolo's Arsenal future the subject of debate and Gallas in the last year of his contract, that they could be the future pairing of the club- dependent on performances, of course. You'll notice I didn't mention Silvestre there- is that a car crash I hear outside?

And on that note...

Can we talk about something else now? Is it over?

Not quite. The Guardian said yesterday that Adebayor had asked for time to think about his imminent move to Moneybags City. Apparently he's concerned about how his move will look in his home continent. A continent where Arsenal Football Club is hugely popular and Manchester City, apparently, isn't. Of course, that may yet change and it could even be that Adebayor is at the forefront of that change, but for now, it seems that one of the "biggest strikers in the world" is leery of swapping a Champions League club for a huge swag bag of cash. And who can blame him? Likewise, blogs on the BBC and Times websites are not blaming Arsenal fans for the almost celebratory air surrounding this imminent departure. It's the only sane reaction in an increasingly insane world.

Last night I was amused to read, in one of the free papers that have become a feature of London life, that Arsène Wenger's move for, potential Ade replacement, Marouane Chamakh had snagged due to Bordeaux's desire to take Mikael Silvestre the other way. I'm sorry, what? If that is true, then maybe you do have to conclude that Arsène's grey matter is beginning to fail him. We have Gallas, Toure, Vermaelen, Djourou, Senderos and Song already at the club. But the gaffer is apparently unwilling to let Silvestre, last seen still strolling back towards our goal in half hearted pursuit of Didier Drogba- actually, I say pursuit, that implies that he was trying to chase Drogba, he looked more like he having a gentle jog on the beach- leave. That makes even less sense than turning down offers for Emmanuel Eboue.

The same paper concluded that we would now train our sights on the Dutchman, Klaas Jan Huntelaar. Now I know this guy's got a biggish reputation, but that's about all I know. Well, apart from the fact that he was the first player to score at the Grove and that he only signed for Real Madrid in January. It seems that he is one of the first victims of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Galacticos as Stuttgart prepare to pay "extraordinary" money for him. From what I have read and heard about him, though, he does sound more like the kind of player we need than yet another second striker type. You know, an actual real life, honest to goodness centre forward. If, in fact we do need another forward.

Looking at Football365's transfer blog, former Arsenal youngun Jerome Thomas, latterly of Portsmouth is now training with Mr Orange's Hull City. Back where it all began for him, Arsenal have invited a 15 year old Serbian wonderkid (he'd have to be pretty wondrous at 15, wouldn't he?) by the name of Veljko Batrovic. A future of having his name heinously mispronounced by Glenn Hoddle at regular intervals beckons. Or not. Incidentally, can anyone explain to me why Hoddle used to struggle with Thierry Henry's name as much as he did? It's not as if Hoddle has the excuse of not being exposed to the French language before, is it? Not that you would need much of a grasp of it, I would have thought.

Oh, if you're wondering about today's title- think Fever Pitch... 

It comes to something when two days later, it feels like a transfer saga is dragging on. Is it just a sign of how badly I want to see Adebayor gone from North London, never to return unless with his his new club? Probably. Will I, despite myself, feel a little pang when I see him holding up the shirt of his new paymasters, when he scores his first goals for them and when he, inevitably, scores against us?

 You know, I don't think so.

The prospect of Patrick Vieira leaving the club (and surely he isn't contemplating signing for that team who were his bitches for so long, don't do it Patrick!) was one of significant distress to me personally. I hadn't felt so upset about a player leaving since arriving at Gabs' mum's house in the summer of 1992 to be greeted with the news that Rocky Rocastle was off to Leeds for £2m. I was gutted for about a week, when Vieira left. Less so, two years later, when Thierry went. It was clear, despite his stellar service, he had given all he could to the Arsenal cause and it was time for something new. Still, that service had seen all kinds of records smashed and I was sad to see him go. It was only the other day, in fact, that I saw Thierry has scored the most Premier League goals for one club. In this money greedy era, it wouldn't surprise me to see that record stand for a while.

The point I'm making here is this. Thierry and Patrick earnt the respect, love and gratitude of Gooners everywhere with their skill, strength and loyalty at a time when they could have written their own cheques at most football clubs on the planet. They will, as far as I'm concerned always be remembered as heroes for what they acheived at the club. What can Adebayor look back on and say he acheived whilst at Arsenal? A goal of the season in 2007/08 and very little else. It's a shame really, and I wonder now whether in years to come Ade might not look back on his career and the opportunity he had at Arsenal and regret a missed opportunity.

Missed opportunities and Nick Bendtner might go hand in hand in some people's opinions. This is the final point I'll be making on this, for now at least, but Arsène Wenger took a leap in 2007 in judging that the time was right to let Thierry go and Robin and Ade take centre stage. The leap was the thickness of a Rizla paper from paying off, is it really such a leap to imagine Bendtner taking over from Ade in such a way? I honestly don't see it that way. Of course, it might not be Bendtner who does take over as Marouane Chamakh seems to be the chosen one, but time will tell.

Sarah Winterburn has a good article about the Adebayor effect here.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Arsenal squad are getting ready to take a short trip north to Barnet for our annual pre season curtain raiser. It seems likely that Rosicky and Eduardo will feature at some point. Which should be good. Amazingly, it seems there are still tickets available for the game- historically it always seemed to sell out very quickly- so I was tempted to go. Until I remembered that I've arranged pre birthday drinks on Saturday and, with pay day still a week away, I must keep my powder, both physical and financial, dry for a vodka soaked clebration of my life to date.

Just in case anyone misunderstood my comment about Stuart Taylor yesterday afternoon, and I accept some people from Manchester might have trouble understanding plain English, let me make it clear. I can fully understand why Manchester City want to sign a goalkeeper once regarded by Bob Wilson as the natural successor to David Seaman in the Arsenal goal, but I don't understand why said goalkeeper would want to move from one team's bench to another's. Let's be charitable and say perhaps the city of Manchester appeals to Stuart and leave it there.

"BBC Sport understands...", "Sky Sports understands...", "The Guardian understands..." 

These are phrases frequently used and I think they probably get up people's noses a little, it's an unneccessary coda to the story. You know, it might be true, it might not we all understand that. But if you wanted to go and tell a girl that your mate fancied her (and how schoolboy would that be?), you wouldn't go up to her and say "I understand my mate thinks you are, er, you know, rather gorgeous"- would you? 

Today there's a lot of it about though, the BBC got in on it a little bit late but,

"Manchester City are in negotiations to sign Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, BBC Sport understands."

Over at the Guardian, things are progressing at lightning speed,

"Manchester City are on the verge of completing a deal to sign Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal, the Guardian understands. The two clubs have agreed a fee, believed to be closer to Arsenal's asking price of £25m than City's original offer of £20m, and the striker is in Manchester discussing terms on a five-year contract worth between £150,000-170,000 a week."

Wow. Hold the phone. We're still getting the money we wanted last summer, or as close to it as possible, Greedybayor's doubling his wages and Manchester City are getting a world class striker. Everyone's a winner.

Oh.

One suspects that City may come to rue the day they offered Emmanuel Adebayor £600,000 per month to stand around in offside positions between three and quarter to five every Saturday. But that is to play down his good points and one must accept, however appaling Ade's attitude at times, this season that he is a good player. You don't get to be paid the money he has been earning at the club he's been earning it with without some kind of talent. But I think the reason he was popular amongst Arsenal fans was his willingness to work for the team, not his non existent Thierry Henryness, and once that work ethic began to go, well.... Were there signs of his attitude in the spat with Bendtner at Tottenham a year and a half back, the subsequent refusal to pass the ball to him at Birmingham- a piece of selfishness for which the team paid dearly and even that ludicrous celebration at Liverpool after Theo Walcott ran the length of the Anfield pitch to put the ball on a silver platter for him?

Reading a Cultured Left Foot this morning, he feels that we will miss Ade's line leading capability and there is a fair argument for that. Nobody except Nicklas Bendtner, in my opinion, has the capability of leading the line, holding the ball up and bringing others into play. Maybe Robin and Eduardo can do it, but they lack the aerial ability of Bendtner and you wouldn't want to rely on them across a season. Bendtner, it is only fair to state, also resembled a pinball machine as much as an international footballer throughout a large part of the winter- can he make the same kind of leap Alex Song did last season? I don't think he's got as far to go actually.

Whilst I'm on the subject,  people sometimes wonder about my predeliction for the big Dane. Granted he hasn't torn up any trees yet, but I stand firm in my belief that RvP, due to injuries and what not, has yet to really become the player he should be. Yes, he can be very exciting to watch, in a way that Bendtner never will be, but I think Bendtner (still only 21, don't forget) will turn out to be the more efficent player of the two- an Alan Smith to RvP's Paul Merson maybe...

Finally, as ESPN have now taken over Setanta duties- and they deserved to go into administration just for employing Craig Burley- their 5.15 kick offs have now become 5.30 ones. Which is handy for Gabs. My Everton supporting friend, Kev, was hoping to have a belated birthday bash centred around watching the game together, a risky plan given that if the experience is as previous Arsenal Everton games have been (I remember the 4-1 in 2004/05), we might end up not speaking to each other. Anyway, Gabs the part time Gooner, is at Griffin Park for Brentford's game against Brighton, hopefully the delay in the evening kick off will give him time to join us.

I accept that may be no consolation for anyone trying to get back from Merseyside after the game...

Straight to the point today, Sky Sports are reporting that Manchester City are in talks with Arsenal. The subject of these talks is not, as City's new owners maybe hoped in January, Cesc Fabregas but one Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor. I didn't see that one coming I have to say, principally because I would have thought that unless Manchester City are planning on playing Tevez, Adebayor, Robinho, SWP and Roque Santa Cruz all at the same time, they have more than enough forward options. Maybe they're planning on playing Wayne Bridge and John Terry in front of Shay Given (and does anyone know why Stuart Taylor has signed for Citeh- beyond the obvious?), Stephen Ireland in front of them and then 7 forwards. Now that's something I'd like to see.

Arsenal were said to be happy to sell Ade to an english club when Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea was said to be sniffing round the Togolese. Now it appears to be confirmed. Of course if Arsenal weren't looking to sell, the "talks" would have been over quickly, I wonder what kind of money City will be willing to pay us for the big man's services?

I was thinking about Manchester City over the weekend, what with their continuing pursuit of John Terry. It's funny to think that the self professed Mr Chelsea, already earning a week what most of Chelsea's support would be lucky to earn in a year or two, could have his head turned by the one club with the capability to do it. We already know Ade's mercenary. Funny to think too, that the general feeling was that Arsenal had missed out in not cashing in on Ade last summer, though I understood why they didn't, we could yet be in for a bigger windfall then previously imagined. Yes, dear reader, the pound signs are lighting up, perhaps somewhat naively, in my eyes.

The Guardian at the weekend seemed to think a deal for Blaise Matuidi was imminent. I know I've been accused of it before, however I feel I must echo the thoughts of the Arseblogger here. Is he really going to improve substantially on what we already have in Alex Song and Denilson? It seems unlikely, bearing in mind the big strides made, in particular, by Song last season. That said, if he promises that much, and remember we've been linked with him for a long time now, it seems as though it would be a shame to miss out. I don't know enough about him, I guess.

One person I do know a bit more about is Andrey Arshavin and it ocurred to me at the weekend that, in this player, we probably have the best player in the country. A point of view which coincides with Myles Palmer's, though that never seems like a good thing. For me, as well as Myles it seems, the closest to him is Torres. I don't think, even with the relentless hyping the english media indulge in, that the more functional Gerrard, Lampard, or the volatile Rooney are anywhere near this magician's class. And I don't see anyone else coming close to him. Even allowing for the natural pessimism of the average Arsenal fan, it's fairly clear that with a player like Arshavin, fully acclimatised, fully integrated and fully fit, anything is possible. He has the potential to turn a good side, and forget the bullshit we are definitely a good side, into a great one. 

Anyone who saw John Hartson play (I saw his debut) will know that he was never in any danger of turning a mostly poor Arsenal side into even a good one, but he seems like a decent chap. So, I imagine there's a lot of people out there today hoping that he can make a full recovery from a testicular cancer that has spread into his brain. Best wishes, John.    

The rights issue? Kevin Whitcher has found himself agreeing with David Conn's Guardian piece. I must admit that the idea of the board saying that they don't need an injection of funds when the fans are paying through the nose to service a £416m debt doesn't sit very well with me. As Kevin notes, an apocalypse may be coming should things go as they did last season. There's no doubt that the team recovered well from an abysmal start to the season, but why did that abysmal start happen and didn't we ultimately come up short when it mattered? If Arsène and the board (not to mention the playing staff) can show that the lessons from last season have been heeded- and that's show, not say- then the four horsemen of the apocalypse will be staved off. If not...  

Much to catch up on this Monday afternoon, then. The lack of posting over the weekend a result of a monumental reminder to music lovers that yes, we really have missed Blur and of the power of Roger Federer. I wanted Roddick to win, thought he could win and he should have won (and is probably having nightmares about the second set tie break). But full credit to Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player in Major history.

Whilst on my way to Hyde Park, via Wagamamas on Friday afternoon, I had my first sighting of the new away kit "wild". And, I have to say, I thought it looked quite good, to be fair. Still don't think blue is an Arsenal colour, at least not a "primary" one, but it's not as bad as I thought.

I see Keiran Gibbs is the latest youth to be tied up long term. Which is good news. It'll be interesting to see how Gael Clichy, who has been unchallenged in his status as left back numero uno since the move to the new stadium, responds to having this young, talented if raw, youngster breathing down his neck in the years to come. Importantly for us, if we could somehow hang on to both of them, it means that Clichy can be rested as and when with an imperceptible drop in quality.

The transfer front is fairly quiet. Opening the Observer yesterday, you can imagine how thrilled I was to read the headline "Adebayor ends Milan links..." That said, even a paper like the Observer can be prone to extrapolating excessively. They report his agent as saying "No. No. It is the same situation as last week" Parallel to Arsène's noncomittal attitude towards his number 25, "No. It is the same situation as last week", this comment hardly seems like the sort of thing any Arsenal fan who wants him to stay (and despite my thoughts on the matter, it seems there are a few of you who still do) would want to hear. 

Au contraire, the news that Arsenal target Felipe Melo would be allowed to leave Fiorentina, if we gave them some cash and Emmanuel Eboue, came as music to my ears. I'm not sure if this is the latest postion though, or whether Melo is intent on honouring his contract extension, on which the ink is probably still drying. Perhaps Eboue doesn't see Fiorentina as appropriate for a player of Eboue's talents, or perhaps Arsène is unwilling to let the Ivorian leave. And, to be honest, I can kind of understand why. After all, Bac Sagna is not superhuman and I can't advocate depth on the left, whilst dismissing the concept on the right. Kolo Toure has failed to convince when played there of late, which leaves us with Gavin Hoyte, who- with the best will in the world- would face quite a jump, if Sagna were to pick up a long term injury. And you just know that it would happen as soon as Eboue went.

It seems that the Cesc story is one that won't be left alone. Not by Anthony Kastrinakis anyway. The continued pressure on Arsenal has, allegedly, led to a bounty of £40m being placed on Cesc's head. Which is a little less than the price tag Cesc himself quoted last week, when asked about his future. I remember the summers spent cursing the newspapers, 2001 stands out in this regard when every day seemed to bring news of Patrick Vieira's departure. So, I won't let yet another piece of speculation from tomorrow's fish and chips wrapper get to me.

Yet.

It's been a quiet old week, hasn't it? Too quiet, maybe. We had, earlier in the week, the news that Robin van Persie was preparing to sign his life away to, sorry sign a new contract with, the Arsenal. He must be easily pleased if the signing of one centre back was all it took to persuade him his future was red and white. No, I'm sure it was a bit more complicated than that.

Anyway, all hell's broken loose with Cesc Fabregas. Football365's favourite jounalist, Anthony Kastrinakis of The Sun has indulged in the mother of all shit stirring, writing of a "heart rending" interview with captain Fabregas.

In this "heart rending" interview, Cesc has spoken of his irritation at a lack of titles over the last 4 years. A four years, coincidentally that has seen him replace Patrick Vieira as the fulcrum of our team (I'm not blaming, just saying...). And that's news, is it? Ambitious, talented young footballer wants to win things, well HOLD THE BACK PAGE! WE've got an exclusive coming in! Cesc is disappointed? Good, he bloody well should be.

The important things in this article, for me are that he talks about how the Arsenal team to need to regain belief, or faith, in "ourselves". More importantly, he has said that when (if) the time comes to leave, he will not not announce it in a public fashion, he will tell the boss to his face. So, this interview shouldn't be seen as an exit type one. It's interesting to read though that he thinks the €52m price Arsenal would put on him makes a Barcelona return complicated. Given the fact he was once at the club, I guess it makes sense. More interesting to see that his family would understand if he was to sign for Real Madrid if they felt that was best for him. I find an image of Cesc in the camiseta blanca very difficult to envision, but anyway..

The crux of it, I guess is this. You can be like Randall the Spurs fan and choose to believe that this marks the beginning of the end of Cesc's six years in North London, because that is what he hopes this is. Or can you look at this and see a young man who wants to win things, with Arsenal and quickly too. How is that not a good thing? Likewise the fact that he has said, possibly for the first time, that his future is not linked to Mr Wenger's- well, you could see that as a strong hint at an exit, or you could see it as a club captain saying, "Look even if the manger goes in two years, I will still be here".

Given that he has said, 428.. or is it 429 times?... that he is staying at Arsenal, I'm not in a rush to jump in front of the next 73 coming my way. As, reporting the story today, say that the quotes were taken from The Sun, but The Sun appear to have been reporting on a story that As reported yesterday. Half truths magnified twice over, the agents of bullshit feeding each other into a stereophonic symphony that becomes so deafening, you have to believe otherwise your head would explode. Um, we've been here before, havent we? Like every summer. Particularly so back in the day of Patrick Vieira, who, incidentally, is 19th in the all time list of appearances for the club.

If Cesc is irritated, then Theo Walcott's reported anger at being dropped for a tournament he (allegedly) fought with Arsène Wenger to be available for-

I'm going!

Non.

Yes, I am, I'm going and you can't stop me!

Non, Theo. It is not good for you.

Oh, fuck you, Arsehole!

*Theo runs out and hides in the corner*

Can anyone else see that? No, me neither. Funny if it had happened though. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, Theo angry at being dropped during the U-21 (see? I've done it now) Theo was reportedly angry with Stuart Pearce, and again, that's a conversation I'd love to have been a fly on the wall for. But Pearce has denied it, and I guess we have to believe him as Theo is still alive at the time of writing.

Just as I'm about to close, no time to talk lowlights today- and who wants to in this sunshine?- Adriano Galliani has said that Milan could still be interested in Adebayor, though Arsenal have yet to offer him to them. If they can't prise Edin Dzeko from Wolfsburg. Or Luis Fabiano from Sevilla.

Feel the love, Ade! Feel the love!

It's an action packed, news filled blog this afternoon, oh yeah.

The main Arsenal story is Ade's Mr 10% saying that he hasn't heard anything from anyone other than Arsène Wenger. Oh, and an "important" club interested in taking on Adebayor. But that important club is not Ancelotti's Chelsea, it is not Manchester United and not either of the Milan clubs. So who then and where does that leave us? I reckon the fact that the agent seems to be in regular contact with le gaffeur suggests something is indeed afoot. Am I just hoping?

It's interesting to see Arsenal fans talking about Adebayor's departure as though this single act might end the lone striker formation. I think it's unlikely that his departure would see that, as I've noted before both Eduardo and Bendtner can play as the proverbial lone wolf, whilst RVP has also  been deployed thusly. Suited for the role or not. Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh has been mooted as a potential replacement, though, according to Rachid, he's not very good and further, according to Bordeaux's President, he would cost more than 10 million somethings. 

Actually, I should clarify that Rachid comment. He tells me the guy's good, just not as good as he thinks he is. And lazy. Hmmm, reminds me of someone not a million miles away.

Moving on, Samir Nasri is number 4 in the Arse.com player of the year poll, leading Arse.com to ask, rather redundantly in my opinion, what Samir's moment of the season was. Now, maybe it's just me, but I would say that scoring both goals in a pulsating 2-1 win against the defending champions pretty much supercedes anything else he might have done during the course of the season.

That 2-1 win, incidentally, provides a nice segue for me to talk about my highlights of the season. Now, predictably, I think that win has to take top billing. Whilst the 6-0 drubbing of Sheffield United in the Carling Cup was one of the most enjoyable games I've ever been to, it was Sheffield United in the Carling Cup. The 2-1 win at Chelsea was enjoyable, more so because it was getting on for five years since our last win there, but the last half an hour of that game, once we'd taken the lead basically, was a nerve shredding, buttock clenching experience that could never be called enjoyable. Knackering, maybe. But not enjoyable. Maybe the One Man Army impersonation at Anfield? Fantasy football from Andrey, but- nice as it was to see Liverpool on their knees come the final whistle- having led that match 3 times, we really should have won it.

The Manchester United game, by contrast, was everything I think we've come to expect under Mr Wenger. A fast paced, open, rollercoaster of a match and one that we came out of happy. The noise in the stadium that day was unforgettable, the sheer joy of being two goals up with 40 minutes of football left to play and then the "Oh fuck, not again!" factor of United's goal arriving on the 90. It had everything. And we won. For that reason, that game represents my and, I would imagine Samir Nasri's, highlight of the season.

Tomorrow, the worst moment of the season, will it be Lennon, the decision to omit Arshavin, Keiran Gibbs' slip, being undone by an inability to defend throw ins or Eboue in central midfield? So much choice...

I started talking about tactics the other day, before I ran out of time. I was amused to note that someone reading on Arsenal-Mania seems to think I reckon Robin and Ade are capable of scoring 40 goals each. A figure that even the great Thierry Henry couldn't manage in his pomp, why would I suggest two players with half his talent are capable of doing what Thierry couldn't?

Anyway, in discussing the forward options, it ocurs that what is as important as availability is who complements who in attack. Adebarndoor started last season as the number one striker, so we'll start with him. We know that him and Bendtner are about as far as a match made in heaven as it is possible to get, whilst his partnership with Robin van Persie seems more about both of them being good enough to do something on their own rather than being a genuine link up. There were signs, if you cast your back 18 months and Arsenal were steaming all before them, that perhaps his physicality allied to Eduardo's predatory instincts might have been the start of something beautiful, but a thug called Martin Taylor put paid to that quite comprehensively.

Is it time to let that one go, you think?

We haven't see Ade and Vela, nor do I have reason to suppose we will and I can't imagine Arshavin would enjoy playing with someone whose main goal in life appears to be getting flagged offside, so we'll move on to the main man of the forward line this season.

In talking the merits of 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1 and 4-2-3-1, where does Robin fit in and with whom? Well, I watched him play as the lone striker against Chelsea as he did at Old Trafford and there's something about Robin that just doesn't seem suited to that role? Is it the fact that he lacks genuine pace? Posssibly. Is is the fact that, and I'm not calling him a diver here, he seems to fall over easier than our other forwards and so the ball never sticks? Maybe. I think, as said before he is evidently a creative and intelligent player, but I'm not sure "the hole" is the best position for him. |I think he needs to play with a centre forward as a centre forward. Stretching it, you might say he could play on the right of the attacking three (4-2-3-1), but I'm not sure how Bac Sagna would feel about having RvP in front of him.

I have a strong aversion to the idea of van Persie partnering Bendtner, though between them they managed to do some damage up at St James Park a couple of months ago- but didn't everybody? Could he partner Eduardo? It's funny, but I'm not sure I've seen the two of them together as by the time Eduardo had worked his way into the first team in 2007, Robin was injured. And then by the time Robin came back... Again, this is a partnership I'm not desperate to see tried, but something about the make up of both players leads me to believe that actually, it could be a good partnership, given time. It's something to look at, anyway.

Vela and van Persie? Again, no real way of knowing how that one's gonna play out. Though you would expect RvP to be the puppetmaster looking to pick out the intelligent runs of Carlos. We saw signs at Old Trafford that Arshavin could certainly create chances for van Persie. Perhaps in tandem, they could create chances for each other. It's quite funny that one criticism levelled at van Persie is his perceived selfishness and he finishes with more assists than anybody else for the season.

Nicklas Bendtner. The man who started the season strongly, turned into a pub player and pinball wizard around the turn of the year, before coming strong again. The man who, I think, could turn out to be one of the most important players in the squad this time around. I don't see him as a line leader really, but when he has had to do it this season, I think he has shown he can make a decent fist of it. Certainly, what he lacks in physical comparison to Ade, he more than makes up for mentally. So, he can be deployed as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1, as one of a 2, or behind the striker- with his lack of pace, his best position in my view. Of course, the boss has also played him wide at times, which seems nuts, but has managed results. If only occasionally.  

Who can he play with though? Well, not Ade, obviously. He has shown that he can play with Robin, though I wouldn't like to see them together throughout the season. He did show signs, albeit in the Carling Cup last season, but they were there, that he and Eduardo could form a very good partnership. One game at Sheffield United stands out like a beacon. Yes, Sheffield United, I know. Funnily enough, it was against them in the same competition that he can Carlos Vela showed that they could also be extremely effective in tandem, helping themselves to 5 of the 6 goals scored that night. Funnily enough, one thing Myles Palmer keeps saying that I agree with is that Bendtner is probably better equipped to play with Arshavin than any of the forwards at the club. He seems to have a much better awareness of what's on around him and what a given situation requires of him than the hapless Togolese.

And there, because I've agreed with Myles Palmer, I must take my leave and head to the shower room on our third floor, where I will purge myself of such a sin. I will continue with Eduardo, Carlos Vela, Arshavin and, hopefully, the midfield tomorrow. Then the defence and then a player by player review of the season before we talk about the lowlights and then, before we commit mass hari-kari, the highlights of the season past.

Milan are supposedly about to make a £15m bid for Adecan'tscore to appease fans upset over the seemingly imminent departure of Kaka to Madrid. How is that going to work? 

"We've lost a player who we loved, he loved us and mamma mia he was a genius! I think I'm going to kill myself!"

"Don't be so silly, my friend"

"Why not?"

"Well, Emmanuel Adebayor's on the next flight to Milan.."

"Where did you say the nearest bridge was?"

Can't see it myself. Can you? Anyway, in the midst of all this, one man, a hero for our times has stood up to say "Never fear Gooners, for I am here and I will deliver you all from Adebayevil!" Yes, Nicklas Bendtner is looking to this season coming as his "breakthrough" season. Given that he already has around 30 goals in two seasons for us, the prospect of more to come from the young Dane, well it may have you looking to follow the imaginary Milan fan over the bridge, for me, I find the prospect quite exciting.

It surely won't have escaped your notice that Arsenal are said to be close to signing, or have signed, 23 year old Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax. He's a Belgian centre back. Where such a signing leaves the futures of William Gallas and Kolo Toure is anyone's guess. Because I don't think Vermaelen would be coming to sit on the bench anymore than I think Toure or Gallas would be happy to sit there. What I do think is critical is that the only centre back to leave the club is Micky Silvester and that we add one- assuming Senderos doesn't return. Even if Senderos was to return, surely Arsène Wenger now realises there is a reason why George Graham collected centre backs in his time as club manager?

Eboue is said to be considering his future. I say "is said", but he clearly is considering it and so he should be. I do confess my icy heart has melted towards the Ivorian over the last few months, as perhaps yours has. It is amazing to think, just months after he was barracked to breaking point on a dark day for everyone connected with Arsenal,  that he is now not even close to being public enemy number one. However, for someone who has said that the right side of midfield is his position now, with the abundance of players who can play there and offer genuine threat already at the club, he must realise he's on borrowed time. Perhaps his best slot at the club is as back up to Sagna, but then he must consider how many games Sagna is likely to be dropped for- not many, I think is the answer.

He seems to be on borrowed time, and so, this lunchtime, am I.