These bloody international breaks eh? They deprive us of the chance to see our heroes one week and then return them to us the next, only just a touch broken than they were when they went off to the far flung corners of the globe. It seems like never before has Arsène's broken down car analogy been more apt (see quote 32). With RvP and Abou Diaby already injured after the weekend- when is Abou Diaby not injured?- Aaron Ramsey and Keiran Gibbs will be heading for the treatment table on their return to Arsenal.

Arse.com have yet to confirm the nature of the injuries, but Keiran is suspected to have broken his metatarsal. As A Cultured Left Foot has pointed out, Keiran can now consider himself a proper footballer but that will be small consolation to him if the diagnosis is confirmed. So, the options now appear to be; to bring Eboue in at right back and switch Sagna to the left, to bring Eboue in on the left, to bring Silvestre in on the left, or to give Armand Traore his head. Clearly, Thomas Vermaelen could also do a job there but that positional switch seems utterly senseless to me. My personal favourite is to bring Traore in. He may lack defensive strength, but then so do Silvestre and Eboue and I believe that if you play and are trained in a position then surely you must be given a chance rather than seeing someone switched into that position ahead of you. Having spent much of last season- albeit further forward- in Portsmouth's first team, I think Traore must be given the chance to stake his claim. This situation is beginning to smell a little 2006ish to me, so Traore will probably end up injured, even if he does get that chance.

Stan Kroenke's right hand man (ooh, what a chance for a Red Right Hand blog title) Paul Andrews, says that his "Silent" nickname is "very unfair". Unfair it might be, but that isn't going to stop a media reliant on tale tattlers and blabber mouths. It had never really occurred to me before that the nickname could be construed as derogatory, but it seems obvious now that the media would much prefer someone like Alisher Usmanov who seems to enjoy rattling his sabre every now and then- or get one of his minions to do it on his behalf. I'm sure there are other considerations to the board's alignment with Kroenke, but I would think what really appeals to the board is the American's discretion.

We've got this far this afternoon without any personal references, but I need to share a dream or two with you. Two nights ago, I had a dream about Arsenal playing Tottenham. Despite absolutely battering them, it was 1-1 with 81 minutes played and then someone send a cross over, it looped high above Manuel Almunia's head and a Tottenham player rose to head home what turned out to be the winning goal. The player was Darren Anderton. Then last night I had a dream about Arsenal playing in a cup final at Wembley, in the last minute someone hit a shot from waaaaay out and Robin van Persie managed to deflect the ball past whoever was in goal for whichever team we playing to win the match.

What do these dreams mean? Am I, as Jo seems to think, beyond help? Or just playing too much Pro Evo?

Finally, for today, Arsène Wenger says that Samir Nasri has a handicap. In the air, I mean. He; in news that will please Gooners everywhere, has ruled out deploying Samir in the holding role that Alex Song will soon be vacating for January. Whilst praising Samir's tactical intelligence, he currectly surmises that the Frenchman is of far better use further forward and, not unsurprisingly, says that Denilson is the one likely to fill in. Within the club, we also know that Mark Randall, Francis Coquelin and the relevatory Craig Eastmond are capable of playing in that holding role, but lack experience on the big stage. Perhaps Arsène might want to think about promoting one of these guys to the bench and giving them some minutes with the... I want to say "possibility", but we all know it's a probability of Denilson being injured again.

Arctic Monkeys tonight- woohoo!

 UPDATE- Just seen that Eduardo has signed a new contract with the club. That's great news and we'll have a look at that one further tomorrow morning/afternoon/whenever I get around to blogging.

Today is a momentous day, yes, it is.

For I'm going to see Dizzee Rascal at Brixton Academy. It's gonna be Bonkers, oh yes.

And in Arsenal land, the manager, the man who has given Gooners everywhere so much happiness over the last 13 years, okay- less so in the last five- reaches his 60th birthday. Rather than celebrating with a 60 candle cake though, Arsène has been in front of the firing squad- aka, the 8th Arsenal Holdings AGM. As yet, the smoke signals from the meeting have yet to emerge, so unfortunately, we don't have a detailed account of what has been said. However, with the team having currently unbeaten in eight matches, sitting in a very respectable 4th place in the league, just 4 points off the pace with a game in hand, and top of their Champions League group with two home games to come, we can be reasonably sure that the event will have been a less fractious affair than the one that preceded it in the springtime. Especially as Mikael Silvestre has not been seen outside of the Carling Cup team.

Whilst the boss said that he was "convinced" that the trophy drought would be ended this season, one man who didn't say anything- thereby living up to his "silent" reputation- was Stan Kroenke. Which led, when faced with questions about Kroenke's involvement, to the slightly odd situation of PH-W saying,

"I believe he [Stan] is happy to be a long-term shareholder in our club.

"Really its not for me to say what his intentions are."

Glad you cleared that one up for us then, Pete.

Back to Arsène, and in the absence of any self congratulation from the man and, let's face it, that just wouldn't be his style now, would it, Football 365 have come up with a list of 60 classic Wenger quotes. My personal favourite; a) because I hadn't heard, or read, it before, b) because, to me, it speaks to Wenger's total dedication to the Arsenal training complex and our stadium and three, because it's really funny, is number 16- the one about swimming pools. Check them out if you haven't already.

They're not the only ones giving it up to le boss though; one to be enjoyed on the BBC I-Player at a later date, due to my presence at the Brixton Academy tonight, is 5 Live's Arsène at 60, 8pm tonight. Emmanuel Petit says that he must win something this season, expressing surprise that Wenger has stayed with the club after 4 years without a trophy- though mostly Petit just sounds confused to me. David Dein, predictably but correctly, flies the flag for his long time friend, expressing the belief that the boss should be "harnessed" to the club for life. I'm not sure about that, but I don't think the boss is planning on going anywhere just yet.

Happy birthday boss, thanks for the last thirteen years. I don't think any of us would have missed a second. Well, maybe that Cup Final in 2001 and the Spurs home game last season. The highs though, in my opinion at least, have been more than worth it. 

On the playing side of things, Samir Nasri and Lukasz Fabianski both made their reserve team comebacks this week. With the rate at which the first team squad members appear to be dropping like flies (was it only three weeks ago, the boss basically had a full complement to choose from, Nasri excepted?), Samir's return in particular, is timely indeed.

Fabianski will come back to an intruiging situation. In his absence, the third choice Mannone has come into the side and done so well that the manager has seen no reason to restore the Spanish waiter to the side. Can Mannone now be considered the man to displace? I'm not sure I would see it like that, but I have never been convinced by Almunia and I don't think that- should he play till his late 30's- I ever will be. Mannone and Fabianski should be given the chance to battle it out for the number one spot, I think both of them have attributes that Almunia lacks and whilst they will continue to make mistakes, as Almunia does himself, they have much greater to potential to improve than "El Camarero". 

Tomorrow's blog will be the last one till Monday, so we'll have a look at the West Ham game then.

Following his declaration of love for Tomas Rosicky on Arse.com yesterday, Cesc Fabregas has turned his admiring eye to the other Thomas, the man I believe will succeed him as club captain one day. Yes, the captain of Belgium and winner of the Arsenal Player of the Month award for September, is in line for a bit of back slapping today.

It's telling that Cesc spends most of his time lauding the Belgian's ability on the ball, describing him as "like one more midfielder". Obviously the Belgian can hit a ball, we've all seen that in the short time he's been with us, but it's his distribution from the back that gives those in midfield a bit of extra time on the ball that seems to be the main focus of appreciation. I guess it's a world away from those mindless long balls Kolo Toure used to hit and though Vermaelen shares Toure's predilection for bringing the ball forward, thus far it seems to be with much greater effect. The only downside to the Belgian's spectacular first two months with the club, and no new Arsenal signing has ever won the award in his first two months in the first team, is that it's difficult to see how things could possibly get any better for him.

Or is that a good thing?

Speaking of things getting better; Super Samir Nasri, conqueror of Manchester United just under a year ago, expects to be in contention for Arsenal's short trip across London to West Ham next weekend. Which definitely has to be a good thing. I think, as with Hleb before him, he divided opinions in his first season. For me, I saw a player with excellent ball retention skills and an eye for goal, albeit a player who was perhaps playing, to borrow a phrase from the manager "with the handbrake on". I think he had a good season and that was reflected when the AISA voted him third in their player of the season poll. But I think it's fair to expect more. Where he will fit in is food for thought, the manager was happy to play him as one of the defensive two behind Cesc as the season came to an end last year. Having started his Arsenal career as one of our wide options, it seems clear that, with the emphasis in midfield slightly altered, he provides an excellent alternative to either Rosicky or Cesc himself whilst also being able to play higher as part of the attacking three.

I'm looking forward to seeing him back.

Of course, one player who won't be coming back is my hero, Patrick Vieira. He ruled out a January move back to the Premier League and, I suppose, with our financial situation sure to have improved once more come summer, it's difficult to see why we'd go in for him in the summer. 

Once tonight is out of the way, we can look forward to a resumption of normal service and of course that begins with our first meeting with Birmingham City since Martin Taylor destroyed two years of Eduardo's career, Gael Clichy suffered seemingly the first in a long list of mental aberrations and Mike Dean- the referee that day- gave a soft penalty, the catalyst for collapse. I hope we kill them.

I just looked that up, by the way. Mike Dean, who'd have thought? So the man who turned down a stonewall penalty at Old Trafford for us just a couple of months back, before giving United a soft penalty the other way to deny us a just and righteous result has previous with us. We all remember the last minute penalty he gave against Clichy for his ball winning tackle, how many people remember the penalty he didn't give when Mr Adebayor's shirt was practically pulled off his back in that match? I don't like saying referee's are biased, but it seems to me that, er, Mike Dean may be biased indeed.

But I'm not bitter, oh no.

His mate Lee Probert, the 4th official on that farcicial afternoon in Manchester, will be the referee on Saturday. I'm sure I've said it before, but I don't think he's particularly competent either, so Saturday could be a bit of wild one.

So, as we know, Samir Nasri fractured his fibula yesterday, apparently in a "clash" with Abou Diaby. The media have decided it's another Arsenal armageddon situation, putting in serious doubt our ability to finish in the top four next May. I think it's an unfortunate injury to a first team squad member, but by no means would I describe it as "massive blow" to any hopes we had for the season. Worth more than the three lines I gave it yesterday afternoon? Definitely, but I didn't- and don't- see Samir as an automatic starter with everyone fit. On the flanks, of course there is going to be an increased reliance on Walcott, Rosicky and probably Eboue, Vela and Wilshere. If, as the Mirror suggest, Nasri was to be used as a defensive midfielder- surely not?- then it just means that Alex Song, Denilson and Diaby face one less competitor for that spot in the team.

I should state here that the only way I see Nasri as a holding midfielder is in a fluid midfield three, he's an attacking players and, I know myself, attacking players want to attack- he would never be content to sit in front of a defence, laying the ball off to Cesc every 2 minutes. So I doubt that we were going to see a repeat of the 4-2-3-1 formation that ended last season. At least with Nasri doing a job that Song or Denilson are eminently more suitable for.

Reading the Football365 mailbox today, one wag suggested that perhaps our pre season training consists of a 30 man Royal Rumble. Now, he was joking, I think it's safe to assume, but why is it we suffer so much from these ocurrences? It's been a very, very long time since the manager was able to select his first choice XI. In fact I would hazard a guess that it hasn't happened since we moved to the Grove in 2006. And this just highlights the need for a squad equipped for all eventualities, which in turn highlights the fact that Arsène is having (choosing?) to make do to some degree.

I could feel a soapbox moment coming on there, but I don't want to make ill informed guesses and take this post down a road it wasn't meant to go, as exciting as that would have been for me, if not you. So I step back from the brink and I've just read that Nasri's leg is expected to heal in six weeks, so that's not so bad really.

Meanwhile, in other Arsenal news, a newly shorn Cesc Fabregas has returned to the Arsenal fold. Hopefully, he'll be reintegrated into the side in a more orderly fashion than last year's rush job to get him back playing as soon as possible, whilst according to the manager, Philippe Senderos is considering his options. It's a shame about Phil really, 4 years ago, he played so well that he effectively ended Sol Campbell's Arsenal career. And yes, I know Sol didn't leave till 2006, that's not the point. The point is that Senderos had talent and guts enough to do that, but he never really built on it. Perhaps he wasn't allowed to, but that a manager who once considered him an Arsenal captain can sound so relaxed about letting Phil go... well, it's a sad day. Another nearly, but not quite and wherever Senderos goes, I wish him well.

Apparently, Arsenal beat SC Colombia 7-1 last night. I didn't see it, nor do I need to. But it's nice to hear that the guys have got the first win of the summer under their belts and that RvP, Bendtner and Ramsey were amongst the goals.

I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully not discussing the latest injury blow to our pre season. Enjoy oyur afternoons.

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...

Hello again.

Were you, like me, distracted by Federer finally reaching the summit of Grand Slam Mountain on Sunday? The final of The Apprentice? Sri Lanka dismantling the Aussies? No, what about episode 3 of series 2 of The Wire?

Just me then. In the days since I last wrote, Thomas Vermaelen seems to have got ever closer to signing for the Gunners. Rachid  doesn't think this guy will prove to be what we need, but Robin van Persie has faith in him. Other than that, there isn't much about, Yaya Toure apparently could leave Barcelona. But if he does, he won't be joining his brother.

Which is a shame because it is that midfield area that has caused us so much consternation this season gone. I'll get to that in a sec, but first let's carry on looking at the first team squad and who fits in where.

Assuming that Arshavin is to continue on the flank and I can't see how, with the forwards available to Arsène,  he would moved front and centre that basically leaves one slot available on the wing. And with everyone fit and in top form, my pick for the other spot has to be Samir Nasri. For a start he scores more goals that either Rosicky or Walcott and important ones too. His ability to keep the ball is not bettered by his competitors, though I think Rosicky is probably better at "accelerating" our passing game. Clearly, Walcott is lightning, but I think is still working out how to best utilise that speed he has. 

I like Theo and think he's improved season by season, but I don't think you can seriously look at him and say he should be starting ahead of Nasri, certainly not Arshavin and perhaps, if Rosicky returns as the player who departed first team affairs last January, Theo Walcott will find himself an impact sub more often than not this season. Which isn't to say I don't expect him to start games, just maybe not as many as have gone before. 

Central midfield? Well, I could look at that in depth and consider all the options. But I think it's clearer than that. Cesc is the best midfielder at the club and should be playing in a position where he can best utilise his skills. It was an interesting idea to play him further forward at the end of the season, but I think it, Middlesbrough aside, didn't work for the following reasons.

We took our best central midfielder out of an area where he could dictate play and put him somewhere where he couldn't have the same influence. This had the knock on effect, obviously, of depriving the midfield of its' heartbeat. No heartbeat in midfield= no heartbeat in the team. One of Cesc's special talents is the ability to see the pass before he gets the ball, in moving him further forward both his passing options and the ability to make those killer passes were diminished.

I understand Arsène wanted to free him up creatively, but this wasn't the way to go about it. The way to go about was to provide him with a partner that could put in the donkey work to allow Cesc to flourish- yes, like Flamini did. I come back to the idea, not as unpalatable as maybe it was a year ago, that Alex Song is the man for that job.

He has the strength, the defensive awareness to be a "shield" and showed towards the end of the season that he's actually a pretty good footballer. he is much improved. I'm not saying that I wouldn't prefer a new signing, mind.

Denilson? I guess his stock has fallen a little this season. But he can take heart from the fact that he racked up the most appearances for the Gunners in the Premier League, contributing to our keep ball style. I have a lot of time for him and think there's more to come, but he's not the dynamic presence we need as a foil for Fabregas. Perhaps he will have learnt a lot from the season's travails and maybe he's not a bad option to have as a back up midfielder, but when Cesc was injured, the team undeniably suffered. Not that is a criticism of Denilson's work, but it is a case of can he do what is required?

I'm conflicted, as you can probably tell. I'm also, for now, out of time. Diaby, Ramsey and the case for the defence will follow over the next couple of days.   

Not surprisingly, there's even less about today than there was yesterday. We could talk about Chelsea's attempt to hijack Madrid's deal for a Kaka who doesn't actually want to leave Milan. A deal, just to leave nobody in any doubt that the world Chelsea live in is a very different one to eighteen of the other clubs inhabiting the Premier League, that is said to be in the region of £56-65 million pounds. But we won't.

We could also talk about a player wanted by Liverpool last summer and, allegedly Arsenal too, choosing to go to Manchester City, despite his stated desire to play in the Champions League, but we won't. 

We could even talk about Wim Jansen laughing off Tony Adams claims on the Celtic job. And the rest of the football world laughing at Adams' claims that Arsène Wenger doesn't enjoy the full support of the Arsenal board. But I don't really want to talk about that either.

Zenit St Petersburg are said to be launching a bid to offer Andrey Arshavin a massive financial incentive to return to the club he left only four months ago. Sounds a little desperate to me and even with Arshavin's publicised grumbles at the size of his take home packet, I can't see him swapping the bright lights and beautiful grass of the Grove to return home just yet. But I do think Arsenal might want to seriously consider renegotiating his contract pronto.

Tactics.

I was going to do a big, in depth, tactical analysis of the season, but I think I'll boil it down a little. For me, there is never an excuse for Arsenal not playing 4-4-2. Especially with the strikers at the club. Though I do concede there are times when, as happened last year when Manchester United came to town, Adebayor and Eduardo were injured and van Persie suspended, playing a lone striker- in this instance Nick Bendtner is basically the only option.

Generally though, now Bendtner is an established 15 goal a season striker, Ade and van Persie can generally be relied on for 40 between them as a minimum and Eduardo is a finisher par excellence, it can be said that we have the quality in attack to play two strikers and not worry about them too much.

I think a decent variation on this is, of course, the 4-4-1-1. Though it is not a role I believe any of the players already mentioned, other than Bendtner (who I see more as a number 10 than 9), would particularly thrive in. If van Persie was able to stop himself taking 5 minutes to get the ball onto his left foot, I might reconsider that because he, clearly, is a footballer with some intelligence. The outstanding candidate for the "Bergkamp" role has to be Andrey Arshavin. Though I would expect Samir Nasri to be able to play in that role and make a success of it. He, along with Andrey, looks to have the vision, dribbling ability, willingness to take people on and shoot that mark him out as someone to be a success there.

 And there I will have to leave it, for now. To be continued...

On the way home last night, I picked up a London Lite. Unusually for me, I read the paper front to back, finishing with the sports section, and then I came across something that gave me quite a bit of pleasure. For years and years we endured referee sanctioned assault at the hands of Bolton- the most memorable, or notorious, occasion being in the spring of 2003 when three ridiculous tackles resulted in three Arsenal substitutions being required in something like 20 minutes. Arsenal duly surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 and with it, effectively, their hard won Premiership crown. We football fans have long memories and so, with Arsenal beating Bolton, again- we haven't lost to them for something like 3 years now (so much for bogeymen)- it was so gratifying to hear Kevin Davies complaining about Arsenal's attitude to the game on Saturday. The phrase, one that Fat Sam used to like using a lot back in the day, springs to mind. What was it? Oh yeah, "sour grapes".

Robin van Persie's response? A brilliant dismissal of Bolton's approach as not being "proper football". Robin seems to be, and I say "seems" because I haven't seen enough of him to say for definite, playing some great stuff at the moment, he's getting the goals when we need to them. He's making chances, he maybe is becoming the player people thought he was going to be 4 years ago. No doubt this is due to the fact that he hasn't (I'm touching wood as I type) had an injury for ages, he's also become one of the focal points of the team. A few months ago I was very down on him, but I'm enjoying my humble pie with lashings of cream, mmmm, tasty! The return of Eduardo no longer seems as urgent as it once did, unless it is to displace Adebayor. Robin also acknowledged the frustration we're feeling right now, saying he wants to win something this season, but backed the manager and the club's long term vision. Talking the talk and walking the walk, I like it Robin!

Arsène has spoken, briefly, about Samir Nasri and his change in position on Saturday afternoon. The switch to the centre probably suited Samir down to the ground. And so it suited us. I like Arsène's self deprecating "accidental idea" line. As if sending Vela on to play on the wing, and pushing Samir inside to replace Diaby was something crazy radical and that it worked was just a happy accident. We know Samir made his "bones" playing behind a striker, so his proficiency in the centre is not surprising. I would like him to play a more central role. But I don't see how it could happen without dropping Robin or Ade. And to drop RVP at the moment would surely be crazy radical. Dropping Ade might not be so, but it seems unlikely.

Whilst Andrei Arshavin bats his lashes at us, Yaya the Younger's agent has said that he won't be going anywhere this January and being one to take somebody's words at face value (I'm so trusting), it seems to me that if Yaya does leave Barcelona in the summer- which he would be mad to do, in my opinion- he'll be going somewhere where he can earn mega money. So Manchester City rather than Arsenal.

Final thought for the day, given the level of discontent being aired on forums and websites, it's amazing to think that we are only four points behind Chelsea. They are only four points behind Liverpool. Anything is possible. Not likely, I know, but still...

We're up and running again. If not on the pitch, then on this blog. Apologies for the lack of a preview over the weekend, but following work's Christmas party on Friday night and then three hours in Bromley spending money on a ridiculous array of items, there didn't seem to be anything worth saying on Saturday evening. Sunday came and all too soon it was half an hour till the game kicked off.

A game that, as it turned out, did absolutely "nothing" for Arsenal's flickering title ambition. I'm not sure what to think about yesterday to be honest. Robin van Persie scored an absolute belter- okay, we knew he could do that. Robbie Keane profitted from some very charitable defending from messrs Djourou and Gallas- who were otherwise excellent in my view and when Emmanuel Adebayor was somewhat harshly removed fom proceedings with half an hour to play, it seemed certain that Liverpool would take advantage of the numerical advantage granted them. A better, more adventurous side, dare I say, one with pretensions of winning the title surely would have. It's difficult to imagine that Chelsea or Manchester United wouldn't have taken all three points from us yesterday, or at least would have made a better fist of trying. As it was, I guess Liverpool paid us quite the compliment by not going for the jugular, even as our bare, naked throat was exposed to them.

I don't have much to say about the sending off, it was a touch harsh, but as Joanna pointed out to me, I'd have been asking for a card, or something if it had been the other way round. That being said, it's difficult to understand how Adebayor gets sent off when he hasn't made contact on the second instance and Lucas Leiva was given license to foul with impunity up until the latter stages of the game. Which was also picked up, unsurprisingly, by the boss in his pre match interview. He also spotlit the rather dangerous tackle by Robbie Keane which crunched Gael Clichy early on. What seems to be causing frustration, and I completely understand why, is the lack of consistency shown by referees. If we go back to the very first away game of the season at Fulham, John Pantsil did exactly what Adebayor did (in fact he went further, actually making contact) to Emmanuel Eboue and yet Eboue not only had a free kick given against him, he got booked. I don't believe we get a fair deal from referees and will someone please, please, please explain to me how Steven Gerrard is able to dive in and around the penalty area so often and is never picked up for it, either by referees or the media? Oh, silly me, it's because he's english, isn't it?

Anyway, Ade off, Cesc replaced at half time after what looked a rather unpleasant knee injury sustained in a challenge with Xabi Alonso and it was all up for Arsenal, Liverpool were at 72% possession around the time of the sending off. Such was the galvanising effect of what crowd and team saw as an unjust decision that twenty minutes later, Arsenal had not quite turned the stat on its' head, but had stormed our way back into the match. That we did so whilst carrying Abou Diaby (perhaps he thought we were in red shorts, not shirts?) made the display even more impressive. If only we had started as we finished.

I thought, aside from the sumptuous assist, Samir Nasri showed an industriousness and a willingness to accept possession under pressure that really bodes well for his Arsenal future. Up front RvP, apart from the Bergkamp style goal (ironic that Hoddle made the comparison given that he was Begkamp's idol and Bergkamp van Persie's) battled his little cotton socks off and showed the kind of fight I think we all like to see. Alex Song, and Denilson battled hard, and battled well. It was the kind of display that's been lacking this season and if we can play as we did yesterday on Boxing Day then, even shorn of Ade and Fabregas, Aston Villa might be in for a shock.

The paucity of options available to the manager was shown in the fact that Robin battled through a full shift, the last half an hour on his own, the midfield finished up as Eboue, Song, Denilson and Diaby and on a pure quality basis, that's beyond worrying. Abou Diaby may be one of the most frustrating players we've seen in an Arsenal shirt, Eboue- whatever reception he got yesterday- is not good enough and Song and Denilson, I respectfully suggest, are nobody's idea of a midfield that will challenge for a title. I say nobody's... Actually, I think Denilson would be infinitely better suited to playing the more advanced midfield role than either the "holding" role or wide right. But the gaffer, having backed himself into a corner simply has to either show some confidence in the likes of Vela, Wilshere and Ramsey or get his chequebook out in January. But please, no more square pegs in round holes whilst telling us how great the kids currently keeping the bench warm are.

Which isn't to say I'd have brought any of them on yesterday, by the way.

If there is a silver lining to be found in any of this, it's that the injury to Cesc (dedos cruzados) has ocurred with the transfer window imminent, and so it's a perfect opportunity to sign a central midfielder. You can never have too many of them, I think. Arsène said "no, no, no" to rumours about Tevez and Arshavin, but a wide player must also be on the radar... surely?  

A personal hero of mine died on this day in 2002. With the quote (taken from a live version of The Magnificent Seven) that forms the, apt, title to this blog, I salute him and his music.

Joe Strummer, the original Clash City Rocker.

How strange to arrive in from a half day of work and a half day of getting shit faced with work colleagues and ex work colleagues- hello Ateeq!- to get home and find Coronation Street on- not that I watch it-and find someone I think is Ken Barlow's son trying to seduce a girl I know is Janice Battersby's daughter. And all soundtracked by my favourite band's only number one hit- "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" Of course, it's the Clash. 

Anyway, as you'll know by now, Eduardo made his return to football last night, I didn't get to see much of it, though I have V+ed it. To what end, I don't know, I sill haven't got around to watching the Arsenal- United epic from last month... Anyway, impressions were that it was very foggy, the loudmouth from Highbury obviously goes to reserve games (she got an Ayyyy Arrrrr Esssss EEEEEE... chant going so full credit), Mark Randall is pretty decent, Eduardo doesn't seem to have lost any of his ingenuity and the reserves, like our first team, make scoring a goal look like the most difficult thing in the world. Oh, and Jack Wilshere knows how to pick a pass.

It was all about the number ten wearing Eduardo though, who was unlucky not to score when some typically quick feet drew a save from the edge of the box when mere mortals might have wanted to lay the ball off. Wilshere played Simpson in for a well saved shot and, I have to confess, I saw little else. Apparently, withdrawn at half time, Eduardo suffered a slight hamstring strain, but expects to be okay within a couple of weeks. Good news all round as the guys went onto win 2-0. No, I have no idea who got the goals. Sorry.

Arsène has been talking about Samir Nasri, having read the story this morning and therefore pre beer(s) I can't remember exactly what he said, but it ran along the lines of comparing Nasri's dribbling to Hleb, his finishing to Pires and his injuries to Ljungberg. I might have made one of those comparisons up, see if you can spot which one. It must be frustrating to have a player as clearly talented as Samir but so lightweight. Wenger's comments indicate he didn't expect to play Samir so much and so we can deduce Rosicky was expected back a bit sooner than March next year. How naive.

As the Daily Show beckons, I must take my leave.

Till tomorrow, y'all.