I know y'all must have seen this image before, but I think we can all agree that a stunning image it is and one to never get tired of. I particularly like the effect, which I presume you don't get during the day, of the light shining out of Thierry's backside.

See? You don't get observations like that elsewhere, do you?

I feel I must apologise for the lateness of this blog, but something came up at work this week, which led to working through lunch and leaving early. I could have done with having a "proper" lunchbreak to be honest, my stomach has been doing flip flops since round about 7.30 yesterday evening, but perhaps now is not the time to get into that. And anyway, I'm never one to turn down an early finish.

So last night, I met up with a whole heap of regulars from the Arsenal-Mania forum. And we had a cracking time in the Twelve Pins, before heading down the road to the "Goonerdome", ©Gabs the Part Time Gooner. Substitute "a whole heap" with James and Jonathan Chong, the "Architect" of Arsenal-Mania and that's the sum of the great Mania Meet Up. We did have a cracking time, well, I know I did anyway. Until the Pear Magners started ripping through my guts. I don't think it's my drink, I have to say. But never mind about that for now.

James and I knew already that we were in the same block, it transpired that we were in the same row. But it wasn't until we took our seats just before kick off- with me wishing I'd taken the opportunity to visit the loo beforehand- that we realised I was the otherside of the gangway from him. And surrounded by kids that made this observer feel old. Very old indeed. And that wasn't taking into account the players on the pitch, the majority of whom were't even born as I raced around the living room celebrating the Michael Thomas moment in 1989.

One of the truly amazing things about the Carling Cup teams we put out is the seemingly endless generations we can put out who will turn up and make a team of experienced pros look like right chumps. That wasn't the case last night, but then this is essentially a new side being given their head. Of the 11 that took the pitch, only Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere and Coquelin featured in the Carling Cup last year. Senderos and Silvestre were given some game time and much as I want to see Kyle Bartley given his head, I think the manager had to play the two at the back that he did.

And Senderos did alright, you know. He might have opened the scoring with two near identical headers. At least they looked identical from my position in Block 5. Sanchez Watt, making his first "senior" start, hit a post and Jack Wilshere went closeish. But to pretend the kids had it all their own way, would be very one eyed and West Brom were looking pretty comfortable, forcing Chesney (that is how you spell it, isn't it?) into action on more than one occasion.

In fact I don't think it would be unfair to suggest that it was the sending off of former Arsenal trainee, Jerome Thomas that tipped the game decisively. Now I had the fortune to be not too far from the incident, but anyone who has played football withe me will tell you I'm a bit of a ball watcher, so I was following the ball as the crowd around me erupted with Master Jack on the turf. Not wanting to be left out, I leapt up and shouted my displeasure. As Thomas was duly dispatched in one of the rare decisions that net with universal approval, I turned to the woman behind me- we'd bonded over the shared irritation of having to get up everytime someone started a "Stand up if you hate Tottenham" chant, or more accurately, remaining seated (I was pretty much incapicitated and irritated throughout the first half) and putting up with not being to see anything about from what the youth of north London are wearing around their arses these days- and asked her what happened. Apparently, Mr Thomas had pushed the excellent Wilshere in the face and Wilshere was, was... well, I don't know what he was doing actually, I'd say he was making the most of it really, but we all know that "honest' English  players don't do that kind of thing, don't we?

Anyone that thought we were now going to be in for a cake walk was disappointed and as injury time began, my only thought was that an Arsenal goal was not worth the humiliation of staining my new 501s. And not very likely either. So I buggered off.

James and I met for a quick half time debrief and hot drinks- yes, hot drinks that's how rough we were both feeling and then it was back for the second half. And though there was some good football beginning to come out, we still didn't look like scoring anytime soon and my mind began to drift toward the possibility of extra time that I'd normally lap up, but last night it loomed like John Carpenter's Fog over my consciousness. No, not a good thing. As if Arsène didn't particularly fancy the idea either, Carlos Vela replaced Gilles Sunu, with Mark Randall taking over from Francis Coquelin.

The Mexican Superstar immediately made a difference with his ability to take players on and his willingness to shoot. It was his willingness to shoot that broke the deadlock, as he wriggled some space in the penalty area and got a shot in, which Dean Kiely parried. Unfortunately for Kiely, his parry went to Sanchez Watt who slid home his first goal for the club. And the mood changed.  I was too distracted by my troublesome stomach to take much note of what happened afterwards, though I know we looked much more dangerous than we had. Vela got the goal his cameo deserved when Mark Randall's golf shot of a chip beat the keeper but cannoned off the bar. The west Brom defender under it had what can only be termed as a brain freeze and Vela was able to pause on the goal line, before smashing home the final goal of the evening.

We could have scored more, we didn't. West Brom put together a lovely move which should have ended with a goal, but ended with the ball flying away into the Yellow quad. My evening ended with an emergency return to the Twelve Pins and it wasn't beer- or cider for that matter- on the agenda... 

Having been to the gym this afternoon and just got back; I've come and sat in front of Jo's computer. I was thinking to myself that yesterday's blog took a lot of energy to write, it must have taken a lot of energy to read and why would I want to put myself and indeed you, dear reader through that again?

But it seems some of you reading on Arsenal-Mania quite enjoyed it, so here I go again.

We paused at Eduardo and he is an interesting one. The interesting one. We saw him take his time adapting to the English game, stuck out on the left wing for a few games, before being moved centrally to devastating effect around the winter of 2007. He formed a very good partnership with Adebayor, having already done so with Nick Bendtner and the lethality of his finishing promised much as the run to the finish line began. Fast-forward 18 months and, in his FA Cup appearances this season gone, we saw that he's still got that lethality. His header against Cardiff was simplicity itself, whilst that spectacular beach volley against Burnley was made to look simple. We all know it was anything but.

A dedicated pro; as anyone recovering from what he has had to has to be, seemingly blessed with a humility and intelligence beyond many professional footballers, I believe Eduardo could play with any striker at Arsenal and flourish. I believe he could probably even play as a lone striker and do well. Of course, the last we saw of him this season was the first leg of the United semi final when Rio Ferdinand flattened him. In Eduardo's short time on the pitch, he made holding the ball up look a very simple skill when compared to 82 minutes of watching Ade struggle. Ideally though, you'd want him in partnership with someone, I wonder how he'd do with Arshavin playing alongside him. Too diddy a partnership? Maybe; but probably too quick, too mobile and too clever by half as well. He played with Carlos Vela in that home match against Burnley and I think we saw quickness; mobility and cleverness in both the goals the pair notched that day. Eduardo wasn't the only one who scored a blinder after all, was he?

Hablando de Carlos... If you have been reading this blog all the way from its humble beginnings in September till, well, its' current humble state, it surely won't have escaped you that I'm a big fan of the little Mexican. We've waited a long time to see him in an Arsenal shirt, and I was lucky enough to see his Premier League debut against Newcastle where, although he didn't score, he certainly looked like he had plenty of goals in his future. The first arrived in a blizzard of goals at home to Sheffield United on the Carling Cup, minutes before half time he raced onto a pass down the right wing, cut inside and Thierry Henry'ed the ball into the far corner. The second goal was even better, a ball down the line from Keiran Gibbs, nipped over the bewildered defender, into the area and then a chip with the outside of his foot, if you please, over the stranded keeper. He finished that night with a hat trick, before producing a variation on the chip at home to Wigan in the next round. The goal he scored against Burnley was a thing of beauty; slipping past his marker, nutmegging someone, Carlisle maybe, before running through, holding off stiff challenges on the way, and producing the kind of finish fast becoming a trademark. He's had to wait for his first Premier League goal, though it duly arrived at Portsmouth in April. By the standards of what has gone before, it was fairly ordinary.

Again, Carlos strikes me as someone with the intelligence and mobility, not to say ability to play with most of the guys who form our attacking options. I think, at present, he's possibly a little lightweight to be relied on up front across a whole season, but I have confidence he will develop fast.

What is there to say about Andrey Arshavin that the man hasn't already said himself, in words and actions? 12 appearances formed out of 997 minutes, 7 assists and 6 goals is staggering. Especially for someone who thinks he's been played out of position. Especially for someone who needed at least 2 matches to get to anything approaching full fitness. Especially for someone, more lightheartedly, whose wife needed someone to bake a cake for her to feel settled in London. The man himself says that he didn't expect such an explosive start. I say that I think this guy can play anywhere across the attack, with anyone and that, along with Cesc, the team should be built around him. I was interested to read, in Asser Ghozlan's article The Final Solution, that Asser thinks we should have kept our money back for Gareth Barry this summer and not spent it on Arshavin. Of course, he doesn't say that, but the implication is clear. Well, two things are clear to me, the first is that Arshavin is a truly world-class player and Gareth Barry isn't, if he was he wouldn't have gone to Manchester City. The second is that we may very well have not managed 4th without the contribution of the Russian. Would any of us really have wanted that?

At this stage two things occur to me: The first is that Theo Walcott should be part of this really, as I believe he will one day be a centre forward for us and we will see better results than we have had so far, the second is that in concerning myself with the attack first, I would appear to approaching this from a Wengerian angle. Surely it's the defence we need to really worry about?

Anyway, I will leave it there for now, it's enough for a Saturday don't you think? We continue tomorrow, at some point, with Theo, Samir, Tomas (remember him?) and the rest of the midfield. Enjoy your Saturday night, Joanna and I are off to see Sam Raimi's Drag Me To Hell.

Burnley. Hull Or Sheffield United.

That is the barrier to Wembley Stadium for Arsenal now after a comprehensive demolition job, the like of which I haven't seen since the Carling Cup performance at home to Wigan. It was, of cousrse, inspired by the man who, 51 weeks ago was lying in a hospital bed wondering, perhaps, whether he would walk again and, almost certainly, if he would ever kick a ball in anger again. That Edaurdo owes the rest of his career, at least in part, to the quick actions of Gary Lewin and the subsequent work of the rest of the Arsenal medical staff and fitness coach, Tony Colbert was made apparent last night, as he celebrated his second goal, and Arsenal's third of a comfortable evening at the Grove, with the Arsenal bench.

Though, in a way it would be wrong to... no actually, it's not wrong. He was inspirational, his quickness of thought, his movement, his ability to make the opening goal, which came about after a give and go with the excellent Carlos Vela, look so easy. It was a joyous surprise to have him back in the ranks, that he managed to bag two goals was perhaps less so. The first I knew of his involvement last night was as the team was read out for the final time just after me and Pete took our seats.  The prospect of a tough evening seemed realistic for at least as long as it took Arsenal to go close something like four times in the opening ten minutes. Bendtner guided a header just wide, Toure went close and a lot of Cardiff's defending was of the last ditch nature. Eduardo went close with a cheeky chip and it seemed a matter of time before the goal came.

When it did, it perhaps became evident just how much the "little guy with the mental strength of a mountain" and his ability to tear up the containing strategies of the opposition has been missed. The result was never really in doubt from then on. Bendtner duly added a second from a Nasri corner, before a comical miss which had half of us in stitches just before half time. A Vela shot was spilled by Cardiff's excellent keeper, Bendtner was first to the rebound but, being charitable, was slightly off balance as his left foot shot cannoned back off the post with the keeper stranded, his second attempt was blocked by the keeper's left leg.

It didn't seem like Cardiff seemed particularly interested in reducing the deficit, but there again perhaps they just given a foothold into the game, Sagna was as excellent as he was shaky in the original fixture, Keiran Gibbs had a night to suggest that should Clichy ever fall from the lofty standards he continues to set, we have a more than capable deputy. we just weren't ever troubled and the only question in the seocnd half was how many more we would add.

As it turned out, we were to get two more. A decent, or what looked a decent penalty shout from where I was, was turned down, seconds later Eduardo was chopped to the floor. He picked himself up and cooly dispatched the penalty, before uncooly celebrating with the whole team, Fabianski sprinting from his goal area to celebrate with the rest of the team and bench. Eduardo departed soon after, apparently he has a slight hamstring problem, but nothing too serious. To a man everyone was on their feet. Even the Cardiff fans, who showed their class by booing him roundly. Hope it took them ages to get home. Twats.

Another of their ranks showed even more class in throwing a mobile phone at Fabianski as we defended a second half corner. I didn't see it happene, but I heard a couple of lads talking about it at the game and it was the talk of the office this morning. Honestly, to look at these guys who spent the last 20 minutes looking like they just wanted to fight, well, it's like evolution missed Cardiff somehow- apologies to any of you from Cardiff, but that's how it is. That phone was the only danger to the excellent Fabianski, who commanded his area well, caught the only shot he had to save cleanly and just generally looked the business. I heard two guys discussing him after the game and how they'd prefer him to Almunia and I, no surprises here, have to agree with them. To me the difference is Almunia, improved though he is, will only ever be a shot stopper. Fabianski is a goalkeeper.

The final goal of the night came about three minutes after I said to Pete, "I don't think another goal looks likely, but you never know with these guys". Glad I stayed, Bendtner played a lovely looking ball through to substitute van Persie who smashed in the cherry on top of a very tasty cake.

Kevin Whitcher makes the point that last night was possible because, born of neccessity, Arsène removed the famous and fabled "handbrake"  and played players like Carlos Vela who was a constant threat to Cardiff last night. I don't want to go on about it, but the only threat Eboue seems to carry is towards his own team. The difference between Arsenal last night and the Arsenal of the last few weeks is simply having the players capable of playing pass and move football and doing so intelligently. Eduardo and Vela were clearly at the forefront of that, ably supported by Nasri and Bendtner. It would be a crying shame not to see Vela start on Saturday, unfortunately, it wouldn't be surprising.

Not to end on a downer though, and it seems that with Theo expected back for one, if not both of the Roma matches, Cesc Fabregas will be returning to training within the fortnight. If that isn't good news, then I don't know what is. Doesn't the world seem a better place this afternoon?

Dennis Bergkamp was on Arsenal TV last night in a "Bob Wilson Meets..." special. At this point, I can't tell you much about what he said because I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Though, as you probably know already, he did say that he wouldn't rule out working at Arsenal at some stage and in some capacity. I can only echo the thoughts of other bloggers when I say that, to me, the idea of a man like Bergkamp passing on his knowledge, and obvious love for the club, to the guys of the future... well, it makes me wet, to be honest with you. What an education it would be to work under this guy.

Ivan Gazidis has written to the AST. It's not quite a mission statement, but what he has to say is encouraging, I think. He hasn't come here to preside over a middling club pretending to be a big one. And as Kevin Whitcher points out, it's good to be thought of as "supporters" rather than "customers". Recognition from the board that there would be no club without the supporters, at last. That stadium for example, yes it may have come about as a result of the hard work of the Arsenal board, but- like the club-  it belongs to us. At least, in my opinion and that  fact should be recognised too. 

The gaffer has had his say on the craziness engulfing Manchester City. Who knew in the summer that when they talked of signing Kaka, they were actually going to back it up? To me, this transfer deal- if the figures being quoted are accurate- can be summed up in one word. And that word is "obscene". How typical of the man with the economics degree to sum it all so succinctly. I'm all for showing ambition, but it's fairly obvious that with City languishing near the foot of the table, the only temptation for Kaka is a financial one. And as David Seaman said last night, in a piece of Arsenal TV I did catch, the good players get the the money anyway. He was, of course, talking about Cesc and the possibility of him being tempted by big money elsewhere.

Speaking of temptation, (a theme of this blog today it seems) Arsène is  "very hopeful" of signing Arshavin. Though he did add the famous and feared "if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen". No! Arsène, no! You must make it happen and by the time I get home, please. I'm kidding there... Seriously though, what's interesting is that halfway through the window, we're chasing this guy who, with everyone fit, might not be deemed essential and meanwhile there is a big Flamini, Gilberto and Diarra sized hole in our central midfield yet to be filled. Sort it out.

A big champion of Carlos Vela this season and how could I not be after personally witnessing his goals in the Carling Cup this season, but I've been joined by RvP- he's been talking a lot this week, hasn't he? Anyway, he says that when it comes to Carlos Vela,  "it's all good". And so it is.

 Laters.

One of the great things about writing a blog is that you can make yourself look really clever, by saying something and seeing something happen that immediately makes you like a genius. Or, on the other hand, you say something about someone and it comes back and bites you on the arse. This can happy very quickly too. I remember writing an article for the Gooner about 3 years ago, suggesting Freddie Ljungberg was well past his best. And most people I spoke to agreed with me, but it didn't stop Freddie putting in a man of the match performance the day the issue containing the article went on sale. In fairness though, that game and a couple afterwards really represented the last great roar of our super swede.

Anyway, I suggested yesterday that Nick Bendtner should perhaps be plying his trade elsewhere, and bugger me if he doesn't pop up with a late, late winner to sink a rather defensive Bolton. That being said however, it was only his second league goal of the season, his first was against.... that's right, Bolton! You wonder what goes through a manager's head sometimes though. I know it's almost accepted wisdom that any team wanting to take Arsenal on in an open football match at the Grove will get slaughtered, but didn't Hull City show us all that isn't neccesarily the case? So when Gary Megson sets up his team to play so defensively, to nick a point and they fall to a late winner, what rational reason can he have to be "disappointed" for his players? Perhaps in his lack of ambition?  

Likewise, our man. The gaffer, le boss, le professeur. Without Fabregas, without Rosicky, with Walcott, we have- with the exception of Nasri- one of the most pedestrian midfields an Arsenal fan will have seen over the last twelve years. But still the skill and pace of Carlos Vela is deemed enough only for the bench. Is it any wonder that Ben's words to me on Friday, which went something like "I don't think I'll be missing out on fifty quids worth of entertainment tomorrow" ring so true? In mitigation, it seems like the arrival of Vela might have helped to turn the tide yesterday afternoon. And with Liverpool drawing at Stoke, with Chelsea and United about to go head to head, we will have made ground on two, if not three, of the teams considered to be title challengers. Pesky, lucky, Aston Villa!

Meanwhile, with compelling evidence yesterday afternoon that perhaps a creative player is needed just as much as a midfield enforcer, according to Zenit St Petersburg, we've had an Arshavin bid rejected. The bid is said to be around £10m and it is rumoured that Manchester City, though where they would fit this guy in- what with SWP and Robinho- is anyone's guess, are now looking to gazump us. The bastards.

I mentioned the gaffer a couple of paragraphs back, and the veteran of numerous slanging matches with "Mr Ferguson"- wisely, in my opinion- has refrained from getting involved with Rafa Benitez and his hilarious attack on that knight of the realm. "I do not know what it was about". Nice one, Arsène.

I've just seen Tottenham will end the weekend in the bottom three, due to an injury time winner for Wigan.

“But we have not to complain. We have to get the fans on our side because the Club basically belongs to them. When you and I are gone the fans will still be there. They are the core and the strength of this Club.”

We all knew this anyway, didn't we? But it's nice to hear Arsène Wenger recognises this fact and also the fact that it is down to the team to get the fans onside. Not theo other way round. These comments come at the end of a piece with Arsenal.com entitled "Mistakes and money are not linked". Which, not entirely unexepectedly, sees him defending the rather large salaries the modern footballer earns by saying that players will make mistakes no matter how much money they earn. Which is fair enough, but ignores the fact that the reason Thierry Henry was paid eighty grand a week at his peak for us is because he was the best player in the world and could be relied on to win us matches we might not otherwise.

What I'm trying to say (this is the third rewrite of this paragraph) is Thierry Henry was on that money because he didn't make many mistakes whilst playing for us and so was more effective, whilst someone like Pascal Cygan (not that I was intending to deal in polar opposites) was an accident waiting to happen and so didn't earn astronomical sums of money. Mistakes and money are not linked? Maybe not now, but they should be.

Nowadays it seems to me there are players at the club earning big sums of money without having really done much in their Arsenal careers and that is what fans are reacting to. Especially when it's our money lining the pockets of these guys, I guess we'd all like a little more bang for our buck. I accept fully that earning more money doesn't make you immune to mistakes, but nor should you be earning big money just because you play for Arsenal.

Rant over.

Tonight's match will see Manuel Almunia skippering the side- I could say more about this, but I'm in a ranting Highbury Spy kind of mood and don't want to go on about it. Carlos Vela has been talked up again by Arsène. Whilst the manager compares him favourably to Eduardo, I don't think Ben Ingber's adage of "If you give the ball to Eduardo outside the box he'll lose it, inside the box he'll score" applies here. I think Vela is more than capable, and has proved so, of doing the work down the flanks and has some tricks that perhaps Eddie doesn't.

Then again, Ben did make that comment on New Year's Day when Eduardo was just beginning to find his feet with us. There's more to come from him, I'm sure. One thing Vela does share with Eduardo is a range of finishing that should baffle most goalkeepers. Hopefully we'll see a couple of them tonight. One of my readers has selected a team that I have to admit looks a tad more realistic than my hopes of seeing Gibbs, Hoyte and Simpson in the team, it runs like this; Almunia - Eboue, Gallas, Djourou, Silvestre - Ramsey, Denilson, Song, Diaby - Bendtner, Vela.

Thanks for this Sam, it may make more sense, but I'd still prefer to see the boys I mentioned yesterday! Enjoy the game, whoever plays and whereever you're watching...

Yes, yes and furthermore yes!

The best of the bands from the 90's era known as britpop have set aside their differences and are reforming. Blur will be playing Hyde Park on July 3rd and I very much hope to be there.

That aside, the squad for Porto has been announced and the list of absentees is notable- Cesc, Samir Nasri, Bac Sagna, Gael Clichy, RvP and Ade will all be missing. So joining the returning Gallas and Abou Diaby (until his next injury)are Keiran Gibbs, Gavin Hoyte, Mark Randall, Fran Merida, Jack Wilshere and Jay Simpson. On first reading of the squad, it appears to give the lie to Arsène's comment that he'd feel guilty if we lost top spot. But, as a blogger, you can't keep hammering a manager for not picking the kids and then when he does, questioning whether he actually wants to win the game. I guess a bit more balance is what I'm asking for.

Anyway, even if we win the game it guarantees nothing, last year we finished second and drew Milan, whilst Sevilla ended up with Fenerbahce and everyone went "Uh-oh!" but look what happened. If you're looking for an "easier" game in the last 16 of this competition you're probably going to be disappointed. You also probably haven't been watching the Arsenal this season.

So, fresh from the Carling Cup exit last week, 11 of the players who played in that game will be in the squad and it looks to me like Gibbs and Hoyte will definitely start, as should Vela. I'd like to see him paired with Jay Simpson again. I think their pace and movement could cause Porto problems, provided they get the service of course. 

Amongst all the Eboue madness going on this week, I missed the news that Eduardo, finally, returns for the Arsenal reserves against Portsmouth a week today. More good news for Theo Walcott, I say "more" like it's been all good for him recently and it hasn't, anyway, Theo has won the BBC London young footballer of the year award- beating off competition from the likes of Crystal Palace and Brentford footballers. Hat tricks for England and slaloming runs through Champions League defences will do that for you, I think. Bad news for Tomas Rosicky though, he returns to Arsenal on the 17th, but won't be seen in action till March. I think for March, we can probably read next season, possibly even never again. I hope not.

Finally, I saw Ray Wilkins interviewed on MotD on Saturday night and a thought struck me: He looks just like Darth Vader in that scene when Luke Skywalker removes the helmet at the end of Return of the Jedi. Seriously, watch it again and tell me I'm wrong...

I don't think there's a football team on the planet that makes losing look as sexy as Arsenal do.

Honestly, last night, some of the football last night was the ultimate in seduction, the tricks and flicks and throughballs dazzling the Burnley players as a wannabe WAG might do in the local nightclub, all suntanned thigh and heaving cleavage. Only the finishing... well, it was like the lights going up and suddenly you realise the mini skirted sort you previously thought was gorgeous, actually looks like Nicklas bloody Bendtner!

Jesus Christ, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm a fan of his, but he does himself no favours with his lackadaisical attitude and, more importantly, some truly poor finishing. If he'd still been playing now, he probably wouldn't have scored. Even if he was on his own on the pitch... To be fair to him, I guess the difference in the game could bottom lined as the bounce of the ball after a keeper block, and anyway he will have better nights. He wasn't the only culprit either, a player I've come to think of as pretty reliable in front of goal, Señor Vela, could and should have had a couple of goals. Mark Randall (whose night would get worse), clean through, hit the keeper just before half time, when a pass to Vela would surely have seen a goal and Fran Merida danced through the Burnley defence before beating the keeper (the only time we managed it?) but seeing his shot curl just wide.

I've seen today the idea that estranged from the comfort zone of N5, the boys were simply outfought and outplayed. Whilst Burnley played very well, and really took control after their second goal, I think that idea is borne more of people taking pleasure in our much vaunted kids coming a cropper to a lower league side, it's not really based on what happened on the pitch. We played well enough to have won by two or three, but if you defend as we did in key areas and, as Arsène admitted, you miss 6 one on one chances, then you have to take your medicine. You could call it today's lesson, I guess.

I have no problem with giving Burnely credit where it's due. McDonald took his goals, particularly the second one, well and Eagles and Paterson were very good. Whilst once the second goal had been scored the life sagged from our players, who had up until that point had suggested that if they could get one, more could follow. Burnley then defended very well indeed, whilst the keeper... well, if he was that good all the time, he'd surely be playing in the Premier League. What a performance.

The real shame of it, for us all, is that this is the last we'll see of this team's effervescent displays for the season, perhaps we won't see this team again. There is certainly reason to think the likes of Vela and Ramsey will be on a higher stage next season. I wouldn't be adverse to seeing the boys take the field in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, but I suppose some of them will now be earmarked for half season loan deals. It's a shame there will no semi final night for them, I think they probably deserved one, but at least there's no danger of a 3 hour emotional rollercoaster against the Shite Hart Lane crew...

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

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

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

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

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

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

We're there.

A strange game at the Grove last night. Arsenal's cause not helped by a side shorn of pace and width and some inexperience leading to the wrong pass being made in promising positions, much of last night was Matchday 4: The Groundhog Day version. However, the little bit of luck going went Arsenal's way. For once. Nevertheless, it still took a moment of absolute genius from the new captain to put Bendtner away. Bendtner's finish on the run matched Cesc's raking pass and the fixture that has a burgeoning history of crucial late goals had another one for the collection as we pass into the knock stages of the Champions League.

It was followed almost immediately by hilarious sending off for one of the throwbacks on display for Kyiv last night. Having rolled around on the ground earlier in the second half; when already on a yellow card, then bounced back up as soon as Kyiv got the ball back, incensed by the award of the goal- which had come from a drop ball situation, the idiot went and tried to push the referee out of the way as Kyiv went to take a free kick. A karmic payback was instant, at least he would have had first use of the showers.

Speaking of karmic payback, some people have been wondering this morning whether the same people who's only response to the introduction of Nick Bendtner was to wolf whistle at his rather fetching Nikes were the same people that vacated the stadium, as usual, 10 minutes early and so missed the same player's coup de grace. It's worth wondering about, I think. Perhaps for those people, it might even be worth thinking about.

Happily, no such disrespect was afforded the deposed skipper, who had a mixed bag last night. He went down early; after a seemingly innocuous collision with Carlos Vela (which prompted a rousing chorus from blocks 5&6- I assume- of "Billy Gallas is our mate"), nearly gifted Kyiv a goal when having dispossessed Bangoura, he promptly gave the ball back to him and Bangoura hit the post and then before the half was out, he knocked the ball home from a corner, but was flagged offside. The second half saw him block what the commentators claimed was a goalbound shot from van Persie, it looked to me like the ball was going wide and then made a magnificent tackle in our penalty area. His evening finished at the full time whistle, when he clapped the fans in the direction of the tunnel and quickly departed the scene.

Aside from that, I thought Carlos Vela showed why he was brought into the attack, he seemed very happy to work the channels, showed good intelligence and composure when on the ball and I think Arsène should have no fears about deploying him in future first team action.

The final words on Kyiv, though, must be for Cesc Fabregas, pictured during the first half trying to organise the team, I thought he played well. Not brilliantly but at the heart of most of the good work done last night. His quick thinking to see and react to the opportunity that developed in the 87th minute was bettered only by the way he delivered the ball. It is my hope that we see a bit more of that as the season progresses.

In other news, finally, Arsenal have appointed Ivan Gazidis as the new CEO. He joins us on January 1st. Just in time for the transfer window.