You know, as frustrating as it is to be without club football for a couple of weeks, it does mean that you get a chance to experience a weekend as a normal human being does. So this weekend, without coming over all Myles Palmer on you, I went drinking with Kev the Everton fan and Gabs the part time Gooner on Friday night. We had great fun carousing our way down Upper St, finishing our night at the McDonalds of curry houses, the Masala Zone- soft poppadums? Saturday was spent in quiet mode until Jo and I went to see Inglourious Basterds, which was- in my opinion- a top notch slice of cinema. Two and a half hours flew by, which is some acheivement when the majority of the film is in French and German. It strikes me that Inglourious Basterds might be a good moniker for the likes of Rooney, Gerrard, John "English players don't dive" Terry, et all.

Today I have a very sore shoulder, but that is a result of 4 hours playing cricket in the park yesterday. My spin bowling took four wickets, but I managed to get out 7 times in 7 overs. As I said to a work colleague joking about recreating the Ashes earlier, I was the Headingley Test version of England. But much, much worse.

I'm sure by now you will have seen the wonderful goals scored for their countries by Nick Bendtner, Aaron Ramsey and Robin van Persie. You will also have heard that Johan Djourou is expected to be out for 6 months- for 6 months, I guess you might as well say the season- so he definitely will not be featuring in the Carling Cup this season. With Alex Song now first choice in the midfield screening role, we are a little bit light at the back now. Of course, Ramsey and Diaby can slot into the midfield, with Denilson dropping back, but if Song goes to the ACN, then any injury to Gallas... well, we've talked about the alternatives at length. It might sound odd, but I don't think Senderos will be that much of a problem given a run in the side, it's the odd game here and there where he's not fully tuned in, or up, that is the issue.

Anyway, it seems safe to say in the face of shrinking options, that we will be- headline news alert!- drinking from the cup of youth once more when the competition begins in a couple of weeks time. 

Is anyone surprised that Cesc made a substitute appearance for la selección at the weekend? No, me neither. I wouldn't be surprised if he got him back and he was unable to walk for the rest of the season. One of his best mates, Tomas Rosicky must really be in dire straits- no, not the band- as he didn't appear for the Czech side at the weekend, despite his statements last week about how important it is to play for your country. I must confess I was a bit annoyed by that, I mean, I understand every player wants to represent his country, except the peazzo Manuel Almunia that is, but surely the priority should be on making sure you're available for the club that has paid your wages for the last 18 months and seen very little in return for that outlay. Or is that just me who, admittedly, couldn't give two flying ones about the national team?

A week later, having had the time to think about it, I wonder if Arsenal will ever be able to taken seriously when we go to Old Trafford playing a 4-3-3 with Emmanuel Eboue as part of the front three? Not to scapegoat him, I don't blame him for the defeat there- how could I?- but leaving Eduardo and Nick Bendtner on the bench, whilst deploying someone who is demonstrably not a forward seems to me like it was the first in a long line of decisions we took that resulted in us shooting our feet off.

Anyway...

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...

I was going to begin this blog by saying something about Ronaldo and Madrid- and thanks for the responses to yesterday's blog, people- but it's Ronaldo and Madrid and to be honest, do we give a monkeys? £80m quid though, there can be one word, and word only, for it and that word is "obscene". Meanwhile, our own Iberian superstar has reconfirmed his commitment to our great club. That must the be 428th time now, yes Cesc Fabregas is staying at Arsenal. So there.

And so begins the final Tales From Gillespie Road. The final blog before my summer break, anyway. Yes, The Online Check In is done, the tickets for Depeche Mode at the Stadio Olimpico are in the bag- actually, they're not, but they will be- don't worry, I won't be wearing my Arsenal shirt up there and we fly out to Rome early tomorrow morning.

We've spent, or I've spent a lot of time over the last week trying to assess the squad, the best players, the best partnerships and so on. One of the players I guess I've looked at and come to the conclusion that, with everyone fit, isn't quite good enough to be starting regularly is Theo Walcott. And one of the players I haven't looked at because I don't consider him to be a genuine first team option is Jack Wilshere. A couple of months ago I was considering an article for The Gooner based on the premise that young Master Jack is going to find it extremely difficult to break into this Arsenal side. That article never got written, but with a bit of patience, I can see Jack being alright here. Rosicky won't have much more than a couple of seasons left here (you would have thought) Arshavin is bursting to play centrally, Walcott may yet make that move to a central position. In a couple of years Jack'll be fine, but will this undoubted talent have the patience to wait?

It seems he does, he's been talking about how Theo's been "helping" him with the difficulty of playing in a game and then not playing for 6 months. Only at Arsenal would a 20 year old end up in a mentoring capacity! Seriously though, Jack talks about wanting to do what Theo has done, I think the majority of Arsenal fans who have been watching Jack closely, will be hopeful of Jack superceding him. And isn't it great to be talking about two young englishmen?  

So, before I go off to buy my Euros and sun tan lotion, we come to the defence. The other area of the pitch causing palpitations this season gone.

Let's go with tradition and start at right back and Bacary Sagna, the unflappable one. A touch of second season syndrome afflicted his performances this season. Nothing major, I didn't think, but something seemed to missing this season. Not one for undue speculation, but perhaps this year has been so difficult for him following the death of his brother. Perhaps he has just been afflicted by the Silvester effect. I don't remember him making many mistakes apart from one panicked clearance at Anfield, when he was clearly not 100% fit, that led to a goal. He's still solid and still the man at right back for me.

It came to something, at home to Chelsea, when the quality of Sagna's crossing led me to hoping he would be replaced by Eboue- of course, it was a cross from Sagna that Bendtner eventually headed in- but that is the only way I think Eboue could be said to have anything on Sagna. Quicker, maybe. But in all other ways; defensively, mentally, Eboue is clearly inferior. Mr Wenger might have told Eboue that the right wing is now his position, but I don't think he's got a future there. The only future I see is as Bac up.

Kolo Toure, what do we make of young Kolo? Kolo the Invincible, Kolo who spat his dummy over the winter and asked for a transfer, Kolo who two weeks later led the side out in the absence of Fabregas. Kolo who, having struggled for form for what seemed like a year belatedly turned it round, but still managed to produce such magnificent moments of headless chickenry like the one at Old Trafford? Five months ago, I think the majority of Arsenal fans would happily have taken him over Gallas. I wonder now whether the years of goodwill Kolo has built up have been eroded to the point where we can now look at him objectively and unemotionally and say, you know what? He isn't good enough to be first choice centre back. What? Well, in my view, he isn't.

William Gallas has had a hell of a season. This we know. He began it as captain and finished it on the treatment table, deposed, humiliated but having produced possibly the best football of his Arsenal career. Now, I know a certain Arsenal blogger has been advocating a move away from north London for Big Willy, but look at this guy's character. Isn't it something good, something that too many player in our team seem to lack? Gallas took a look at our squad and didn't like what he saw, so he said so. Of course, he didn't go about that the right way, but what he said was something we all could agree with and something, apparently what the squad took on board. He then, having been playing like a pub player when stripped of the captaincy, produced some exceptional football. Strength in adversity. For me, it is emminently possible that the two semi finals may well have turned out differently with Gallas involved. Suffice to say, not only do I not want him to go, but I consider him centre back number one come August. 

Johan Djourou has had an interesting season. Probably a frustrating one, for him. He began the season in the team, as Kolo recovered from whatever fuckery he was involved in over the summer. Despite clean sheets being kept in that time, Kolo was restored as soon as he was available and Djourou had to wait until the centre back melt down began and he was brought into the team to add a physical, aerial strength at Stamford Bridge. Despite the own goal giving Chelsea the lead, he put in a towering performance and stayed in the team until undone by a Liverpool long ball- like he's the first Arsenal centre back to have suffered that fate. A key to strengthening the defence, he played a bit part in the latter months of the season, seeming to suffer injuries whenever called upon. Most notably, in the game after Gallas was ruled out for the season. Perhaps he is not quite good or, for that matter, robust enough to be considered centre back number two, but for me he is a better bet than Kolo and certainly a better bet than...

Mikael Silvestre. Who has been a disaster. It can not be a coincidence that every time we've conceded 4 goals, he has been in the side. And that is all I want to say about him.

Alex Song acquitted himself well at centre back against Manchester United in May, but he isn't so good that he can play in two positions at once and, squad as it is, I see him partnering Cesc, so that brings us to left back and Gael Clichy.

I've said it before that I'm a big fan of his, at the same time, it wouldn't serve to say that he has been faultless this season. His slip at home to Tottenham was punished harshly and it has been this kind of thing, allied to slips in concentration that have led to his reputation being dented somewhat this season. Again, I think he's still the man, but he will have to do much better next season, especially with a new kid on the block.

Keiran Gibbs began the season playing in the Carling Cup, by the end of it, he had been our best player in an FA Cup semi final, even setting up our goal, one of the best on a bad night in a Champions League semi final first leg and then brought back to earth with a Clichy like slip proving fatal in the return match. It would be ridiculous to hold that against him as one thing holds true for this young man and that is the fact that he has not looked out of place at all in this Arsenal side. Nobody has made him look the raw 19 year old he should be, it's clear to me, at least, that the sky is the limit for this youngster.

 So, 90 minutes later, and before I head off to the post office, here is my idea of what our first XI should look like next season:

Substitutes; Fabianksi, Toure, Gibbs, Denilson, Walcott, van Persie, Bendtner.

As you can see there is no room for Eboue, Ramsey, Wilshere or Vela, but then this assumes everyone being fit and available and we all know that hasn't happened at Arsenal for about 3 years!

Talk amongst yourselves and I'll be back next Thursday.

How was your weekend? Jo and I finally, after a year and a half of trying.... we completed Metal Gear Solid 3. Yes, I know, very 2005 of us, but I'm a retro kinda guy. Andrey Arshavin wielded all sorts of havoc at Anfield (sound familiar?) and Old Trafford for my desperately inconsistent Arsenal side (sound even more familiar?) on Pro Evo 2008. We then watched The Mist, which had one of the saddest endings to a film I think I've ever seen. By the by, is ET the only friendly alien in the entire history of cinema? A sleepless night has followed such excitement to the point where I was watching last week's Apprentice at 5am this morning. And yes, I'm paying for it now.

Not much about today really, aside from Cesc again stating his belief that Xabi Alonso would be a "great" signing. Which he would, I think. But I reckon I've got as much chance of playing for Arsenal as Alonso has and given that I'm 31, I think I've missed that particualr boat. Of course, my footballing ability, or lack of it, has nothing to do with anything. No sir!

Last week, we celebrated St Michael's Day and The Times has recollections from the main players, from one of Lee Dixon's best balls ever, to Smudger's "perfect" touch and a finish described by the Merse as one of the best he's ever see- and I think the Merse would know a thing or two about that- it's all there. Including Ray Houghton's guilt at not taking out Thomas as he went to deliver the coup de grace.

It's in the past now, of course. And, thankfully perhaps, so is this season. A season described by the manager as the most draining of his time at Arsenal. But what could he have done to make it easier for himself?

I suspect at this point, more than a few of you are shouting, "Signed Arshavin in the summer!" or "He should have signed one or two central midfielders to make up for the three who left the club! (if he should have let Gilberto go in the first place)" My very first blog touched on this subject, and kind of lacksadaisically said that if the boss trusted Denilson, Song, Diaby and Ramsey to carry central midfield in the absence of Cesc, that was okay with me. Well, very quickly, we saw that it was, to quote Marcellus Wallace, "pretty fucking far from okay" and though we topped the league at the end of our home match with Newcastle, the lack of ready quality in that midfield area meant that we were always going to be chasing shadows.

That was one area where the boss hamstrung himself, another was in defence with Mikael Silvestre coming in to provide cover at centre back and left back. At left back, Clichy's deputy, Keiran Gibbs has shown a level of performance Silvestre may not have seen even at his long passed peak. At centre back, Silvestre has been the common denominator in each game we shipped four goals in. With Arsenal struggling, the boss brought Djourou in for the game at Chelsea, a Djourou who had started the season well only to be dropped when Kolo Toure returned. Despite Djourou's own goal giving Chelsea the lead, he picked himself up and gave an excellent performance as Arsenal stormed back to win the game 2-1. Having helped stabilise the defence, Djourou was then quietly moved aside again.

Up front and wide, I will say that perhaps the boss' options have been limited this season. Walcott- injured for months, Ade- injured for months and seemingly disinterested when available, Rosicky injured all season, Eduardo injured for basically the whole season. Which left him with; van Persie, who in terms of numbers has had his best season ever, but has disappeared in stretches, Bendtner who, by his own admission played like a Sunday League player through the autumn, before recovering in Spring and occasionally, just occasionally, we have seen glimpses of genius from the young Mexican, Carlos Vela. Of course, Samir Nasri got some key goals, notably at home to United, whilst the arrival of Arshavin was the equivalent of hitting the turbo boost button on our season, but he arrived too late for his contribution to be regarded as truly meaningful- at least in the sense Arsenal fans have come to think of meaningful contributions...

We'll talk tactics tomorrow.

Middlesbrough.

 A bit of a problem for the Arsenal since we moved to Ashburton Grove. In fact, I don't think we've beaten them since that move. The last time we beat them, however, was something special. A 7-0 victory on the back of Thierry Henry's pledge to stay with us. Coincidentally, this was the last time I got last minute tickets for a league match, so perhaps my last minute attendance of the game to come is an omen.

Or perhaps it's just a coincidence.

It amazes me that a team as average as Middlesbrough are and, to be fair, have pretty much always been have managed to avoid defeat against Arsenal since that heady January afternoon. Especially when you consider that their manager in this time has been Gareth Southgate. How can he keep getting results against our great manager? Well, last year, at the Grove he benefitted from a bit of luck at key times; Adebayor's disallowed goal early on, a non existent foul leading to a free kick smashed up field for an offside Aliadiere to equal in one match his Premier League total for Arsenal across seven years- he has now scored more league goals against us than he did for us. I remember how deflating, dispiriting that 1-1 draw was, coming in the middle of our own England cricket team style collapse from the top of the pile to third.

Not a feeling I wish to revisit any time soon. With that in mind, it's good news today as we can expect to welcome Almunia and Djourou back to the first team. It's likely too, that Emmanuel Adebayor will feature at some stage. I find it very difficult to imagine that, if fit, Djourou and Almunia will not return to the side and that they will not improve things. It ocurred to me earlier today that the common denominator in our two 4-4 draws is Mikael Silvestre. The most experienced defender we have at the club, I don't see (as I said to Baxi last night) that Senderos would have been any worse than him this season. Or Cygan...

One man who won't be playing is Robin van Persie, who will also miss, as he missed our home win against them, the Manchester United first leg. I'm not sure, particularly if Arsène is to persist with his 4-2-3-1 formation, that that is such bad news seeing as the position that would best suit him- on the right of the attacking 3- is currently being filled, with some electricity, by Theo Walcott. Not that Robin ever gets to play there for us, he always seems a fish out of water out on the left. It surprises me that a manager as astute as Arsène doesn't see it.

One of his former proteges has been talking. Nic Anelka reckons Chelsea are a mega club like Real Madrid. Well, aside from the fact that Madrid are currently 9-0 up on European Cups, I can see that the point he's making is more about the pressure applied by the owner, or el Señor Presidente of the respective clubs. To say, though, that we only play for third or fourth? Well, I guess some Arsenal fans might agree with him. But I don't think- I'm typing this and I have to say that, on reflection, he could well be right. Not about Chelsea being a mega club, but Arsenal's priority being Champions League qualification rather than being Champions.

Perhaps the reality is that, faced with the financial might of Chelsea and Manchester United and the weight of stadium repayments, the manager and board elected to try and keep the club competitive without buying the farm until the day we could seriously mount a challenge again. I don't know. It's difficult to believe that a club that has won more silverware than anyone other than Manchester United since Wenger's arrival would actively settle for finishing outside the top two. In fact, Ivan Gazidis contradicted that point of view recently. I think thge difference is our board realise that the manager has always put in quality work for them and that the grass is not always greener. Certainly, the Real Madrid model is not a model I would like this club to aspire to. Though 9 European Cups would be nice.

What do you guys think?

So, despite not playing football for three weeks and no gym work in that time, football went ok, well even. I managed to set a goal up with a raking, back to goal, off my left foot pass that drew the keeper for our striker, Vez, to round him and tuck away which prompted a rather excessive and in your face celebration. You see, Vez had earlier been denied what should have been a clear goal because the ball hadn't crossed the line. The ball hadn't crossed the line because the goalkeeper had neglected to clear a spare ball from the goalline. Is that bad seven a side etiquette or what?Anyway, we won 3-2.

KFC on the way back led to the bath and then a massage, but my groin still feels like it's strung with piano wire. Too much information? Sorry, I'll move on. This evening blog comes to you after a bedroom reorganisation, a building of a bed and a bath. Now, I'm ready to type.

An opening preamble about injuries, slight or otherwise, seems kind of fitting in the aftermath of the news that Gael Clichy will miss two weeks with a back injury. Whilst Manuel Almunia, as expected, will miss three weeks, William Gallas has been ruled out for the season.

*Gulp*

We had to prepared for this kind of news though. The good news, for me, is that it seems Arsène is happy to stick with Johan Djourou as the preferred back up for Gallas and Toure rather than bringing back the fit again Silvestre. Sensibly too, we will be seeing more of the impressive Keiran Gibbs. It is in such circumstances that careers can be forged. They can also be fucked too, but I'm backing Keiran to step up at what is an extremely challenging time for the club. As much as it is challenging, how exciting for Keiran to think that whilst his season started with appearances in the Carling Cup against Sheffield United and Wigan, over the next week plus one, he'll be playing against Villarreal and Chelsea. Oh and Wigan as well. And should results go our way, he may yet feature in a Champions League semi final. F365 reacted to news of the promotion of the Carling Cup crew by saying they'll be "thrown in", but I don't agree with that, Djourou played a big part in reestablishing the side's defensive stability over the winter months and is no stranger to the first team, whilst Fabianski has 20 appearances for the first team under his belt.

I did catch myself, whilst in conversation with Rachid yesterday, wondering whether Gallas' injury (how heartbreaking for him to miss the Wembley semi final) would represent the last sighting of the number 10 in an Arsenal shirt. The boss has quickly moved to allay such fears. And as far as I'm concerned, they are very definitely fears. Whatever else went on earlier this season has been put firmly in the past in my mind by some excellent performances from the Frenchman, so I'd hate to see him go.

Interestingly, in that "thrown in" piece, the boss talks about the effects of tiredness, saying "My experience from France is that they always talk about 'fatigue, fatigue.' When you talk about it you are tired." Makes you think about all those times he has talked about the players being tired, doesn't it? In this instance, he has dispelled the notion that the players might be tired after a long season and certainly, if you look at the players in line to play tomorrow, the only ones you'd really be worried about are Sagna and Denilson.

For tomorrow, Eduardo and Robin may be back. Which would be just as well in my opinion, of course the little Russian genius will return to the first team too. I wonder now, does the boss feel we have enough attacking power and defensive stability to start Arshavin on one flank and Nasri/ Walcott on the other, or will the more defensively minded Eboue come in? Maybe we'll even see Arshavin central and Walcott and Nasri wide. That would be some sight to behold. Of course, I'm forgetting that Fabregas has been deployed in that central role since his return.... options, options! We've built some momentum of late, but I think this is going to be a very tough game, it would be a very good three points to take.

Who's hungry?

I think, after writing this blog for the last 6-7 months, one of the themes that have emerged is how things can change in the blink of an eye. We've seen it time and time again over the season and we saw it again last night.

Arsenal, unsettled by that wonderful goal by Marcos Senna after ten minutes, injuries to Almunia and Gallas, were all over the place in the first half and lucky to be still in the tie. They will feel this morning that perhaps they should have won the tie after a much improved second half. 

The team was picked, and set up as predicted, not to big myself up or anything but when you do eventually get one right, well, I do believe it's worth mentioning. Despite being happy with the team selection and formation, the boys were on the rack almsot instantly as Clichy's goal line block prevented an early goal for Capdevilla. Theo Walcott was making inroads on the right, as I thought he might, but too often, every time in fact, he got into a position to be decisive with the ball, his delivery, or "shot selection" went awry.

They scored, perhaps Senna could have been closed down quicker, I don't think it should detract from the quality of a strike that Almunia can only have seen as the ball bounced back out of the net and past him. His evening would come to a premature end after being clattered as he cleared his lines and so Lukasz Fabianski, who (if I haven't made it clear before) I think has got a big future at the club, entered the fray and was soon called upon to make a smart double save as Villarreal worked the ball round us. A foul by Song on some dude who managed to fall into the penalty area- Rossi?- somewhat theatrically and land on William Gallas saw an early departure for Gallas and he was replaced by Djourou, who grew into the game and really, in my opinion, improved things at the back.

Half time arrived at the right time for us, and the second half saw a different Arsenal. With our main line of attack in the first half being aimless crosses into the penalty area for non existent attackers, something had to change. And it did.

It was as if, having taken the best that Villarreal had to offer, we suddenly remembered how to play. Ok, so we didn't create much in the way of gilt edged, put your house on it, scoring opportunities, but when the equalising goal came, it can't be said that it wasn't deserved. Too often, it has been easy to criticise Arsenal for not making the most of being on top, well, thanks to the *cough* goalscoring genius of Emmanuel Adebayor, it wasn't the case. As he controlled Fabregas' flighted pass on his chest, there couldn't have been much on, but only for as long as it took Ade to fall to the ground, executing an overhead kick as he dropped, which completely wrongfooted the goalkeeper and rolled into the corner of the Villarreal goal. Lifeline.

From that moment even as Robert Pires entered the fray, to the moment Eboue replaced Walcott, it was all us. Confidence restored, we looked like we could score at any time. To me, anyway. That unneccessary substitution, the last one available, seemed to put us on the back foot and in the last ten minutes, we conceded a couple of opportunities that would have put a rather different complexion on the evening. I am reminded of the night in 2004 when we recovered from a Gudjonssen goal to equalise at Chelsea through- hey!- Pires and when Desailly was sent off, we chose not to attack, thinking we could win the game at Highbury. We all remember what happened then.

But to dwell on that is to look back at another team, if not another manager. Villarreal will have to make Ashburton Grove european history if they are to halt our progression to the semi final, it is with some amusement I note that Manchester United will have to acheive something similar in Portugal if they are to make that date too. No chickens counted here though, it's advantage Arsenal. But only just and a nervous night awaits.

"All transmitters to full! All receivers to boost! This is London Calling, this is London Calling..."

I'm back now. Sorry about that. Saturday was spent travelling back and forth across south London, including a lovely District line journey in a carriage full of Roman's rent boys and so there was no time to blog. Sunday was spent scratching my head as to how Arsenal could have played as they did at Cardiff, coming the width of the crossbar away from a shock FA Cup elimination in the city that became our second home at the dawn of the decade. And then yesterday, for some reason, I couldn't get on the website, so here we are today. My delays are nothing, however, when compared to the Arshavin saga.

The journey we have been on regarding this player could perhaps fill the number of pages needed by Tolstoy to complete War and Peace, or perhaps Stephen King's The Stand. But it wouldn't nearly as interesting. No, I haven't read War and Peace, but if it could keep my mum's mind off giving birth to my sister, as it did- well then it must be pretty damn interesting! The never ending story appeared close to, um... ending last night with Zenit's statement on their website that a fee had been agreed with Arsenal and all that remained was for the player to finalise personal terms with us. "Well, hold on a minute" said Gooners everywhere- weren't personal terms agreed, by Zenit's own admission, a few days back? The complication now may be that money might have to be diverted from Arshavin's bank account to Zenit', I would have thought that given the player's desperation to play for us, this wouldn't matter. So perhaps, given the ever moving financial goalposts Zenit seem to have planted, it would be unwise to read too much into their website statement. Anyway, by way of protest/ hurrying the deal along, and with ample evidence on Sunday of the need for more creativity, I'm not going to get my hair cut until this deal happens. That'll work, won't it?

To matters more immediate and tomorrow night's clash with Everton. I always anticipate these clashes with equal measure of dread and excitement as two of my best friends are toffee noses and I had to take a lot of flak from them after the Goodison game last season, despite the 4-1 win, due to the nature of Eduardo's two goals. That said, I got more from them the year Andy Johnson scored in the last minute of a really dull game a couple of years back, so I'd happily take the 4-1 kind of stick again.

According to the internet bible that is Arse.com, William Gallas is set to return to the first eleven. Which obviously means either Kolo or Johan making way. I'd rather it was Kolo, I'm sure if you've been reading the blog as long I've been writing it, you know the reasons why. Unfortunately, nothing would surprise me less than seeing Kolo and William lining up tomorrow evening. Despite all the available evidence to suggest  they shouldn't be. Interesting to note too, that with Gael Clichy to return after suspension, despite the abject cowardice of Emmanuel Eboue being on display for all the world to see (and no, I'm not talking about the "dives" as I don't think he dived on either occasion) yet again on Sunday, it is Jack Wilshere who is expected to be dropped from the squad. God moves in mysterious ways, doesn't he?

Arsène Wenger has an explanation for the shower of shit passed off as an Arsenal performance last night. It's, to my underdeveloped school boy's mind, quite a hilarious one, are you ready for it? Are you sure? Okay, here goes...

 "We lost balls"

Alright, alright, so that's not all he said and I am guilty of taking the comment slightly out of context, but I thought it was both amusing and instructive to do so. Amusing, because I'm that kind of person and instructive because the travelling support last night might well having been asking "where are our balls?" As I have said before, it does seem a case of them not having dropped yet. The travelling support, by the way, must have been gratified to see at least 4 Arsenal players acknowledging the support (for once) at the end of a torrid evening for the Arsenal; Gibbs, Almunia and two others whose names escape me at present, whilst Eboue gave his shirt away, I can only think they've had a bit of a kicking from Arsène.

Sam got the team spot on, but seeing the way Silvestre played at left back, I am not convinced that Keiran Gibbs wouldn't have been a better option. Nicklas Bendtner? Well, I don't understand how he's ahead of Jay Simpson in the pecking order at the moment, never mind Carlos Vela. Last night was the worst of a series of ever worsening performances lately. Perhaps he is only good enough to be a supersub. The worst thing about last night is not so much the way the ball bounced off him whenever it went his way, the breathtakingly poor passes into space, but his lack of effort and any sense of urgency. Frankly speaking, to borrow a line from a classic 80's movie, Bendtner's "ego is writing cheques his body can't cash". It was him losing the ball, after about five minutes shilly shallying, that led to the second goal. Normally, I'd call it a "killer" but we were killed from the moment Abou Diaby failed to do his job from a Porto corner. Can you imagine Patrick Vieira ducking out of the way like that? No, you can't. Willy Gallas didn't exactly cover himself in glory either.

Wenger's substitutions, as ever, were an invitation to head scratch. Wilshere and Gibbs arrive to fight the (lost) cause, so Diaby, who started well and disappeared thereafter, goes off along with the only Arsenal player on the night who seemed to want to accept responsiblity for the ball. Yes, Aaron Ramsey. Now, if I thought the boss was going to start Ramsey on Saturday afternoon, I could understand it, but that's as likely to happen as Denilson suddenly learning to play on the wing, as we all know.

A desperately disapointing night then, but if the three points are secured on Saturday afternoon, I'm sure we'll all be saying that the boss did the right thing in the circumstances. Of course, as Alan Smith pointed out in commentary last night, whoever was on display last night, the players have to rouse themselves from another defeat- which, going to the Riverside, is less than ideal. At least we did this with qualification assured. That is about the only positive we can take from last night, aside from another good performance from Djourou- don't get me wrong, he had some dodgy moments last night, but generally I think he made some great blocks, passed well and did well enough to keep his place. I do not want to see him dropped on Saturday. 

I don't hold with the idea that playing at home in the second leg is a big advantage, it wasn't for Milan last season (neither was finishing top of the group as I recall), or for us the year before that, so I'm not unduly worried about finishing second. The only thing that does worry me about the thought of us drawing Barcelona is the thought that Thierry would get a bigger cheer than any of our own players. I haven't thought too much about how it would go against Barςa, and I don't particularly want to, thank you very much. I guess, though, you could even write the performance off to an extent, we did the same at Sevilla last season, the same against (hey!) Porto two years back. So this isn't new. What is new, however, is the level of frustration felt, and reassurance needed, by Arsenal fans at the moment.

Last night provided ample reason to feel even more frustrated and precious little reason to feel reassured. Not good enough, Arsènal.

Mega quick blog today (he says), I've spent my lunch our trying to get tickets to... no, not an Arsenal match, but to head up to the grim north and the wonderful West Yorkshire city of Leeds. If I was an away seaon ticket holder I'd now be cursing my stupidity as I've booked the tickets for the weekend that Arsenal go and splatter Tottenham all across the hole that is White Hart Lane... well, they will! They have to.

More immediately, Cesc Fabregas issued a lightning quick clarification of his reported Milan dream:"My future is here", he says. Good lad. This won't stop the speculation, but our captain knows how important it is to us to hear him say it. Or read him say it. It was pointed out to me that as none of us has heard him say it, it's possible Arsenal.com could be telling porkies. But I don't believe that, why would they quote directly something nobody has said? They're the club website not some shitbag dirtrag.

The good news just keeps on coming, as apparently Eduardo is now back in full training and just needing games to return to the first team squad. It seems redundant to say it, but there can not be an Arsenal fan out there, or indeed a football fan out there (well maybe the Birmingham and Tottenham lot), who won't be delighted to see the guy back on the pitch and, hopefully, scoring lots of goals. I'm getting emotional just thinking about it. No, it doesn't take much.

With an injury to William Gallas and Kolo Toure returning to the fold after injury, the question for the game against Wigan is, who will partner Johan Djourou? It's quite a turn around for the swiss who found himself, somewhat bizarrely, behind everyone- including Alex Song- after two excellent performances as the season began. He has a good chance now to throw the gauntlet down to the rest of the centre backs in the squad as well as anyone who might be incoming during the transfer window. And listening to Alex Fynn on today's Arsecast, it sounds like there may well be some movement on that front. Personally, I'd prefer Arsène to prioritise the central midfield area, but I'm just one (of thousands).

Every other blogger has said this, but I'm going to repeat it: What happened last Sunday, momentous as it was for us all, won't matter at all unless we beat Wigan tomorrow. A Cultured Left Foot notes that it won't be as easy as the Carling Cup match and I agree with that, but we have enough quality to win and win well.

 Let's go to work.