As Arsenal move ever deeper into the month of November, such is the quality at Arsène Wenger's disposal that even with ten members of the first team squad- yes Liverpool fans, we are also minus ten at the minute- missing in action, we don't seem to have been unduly disrupted. I say "don't seem", of course what I actually mean is that we haven't been disrupted at all. 

One of my favourite moments of the Alkmaar game, apart from the delicious football, was the sight of Andrey Arshavin trotting off to be replaced by Tomas Rosicky, who joined Samir Nasri in midfield. The manager is looking for Nasri and Rosicky to energise what could become a jaded midfield this month. With Theo Walcott and Denilson expected to return after the international break, the options for the manager are extensive. It even looks to me like, whisper it, Cesc Fabregas- perhaps not in the form he's in now- would not be missed if he was unavailable for any time. Not that I would want that to happen, you understand. But even without him you could have a midfield of Song, Rosicky and Nasri."The Legend" Rachid has a dream of seeing a midfield containing Cesc, Rosicky, Arshavin and Nasri. We may not be far away from that scenario, although I don't think we'll be seeing it tomorrow.

Staying with the manager, he has hailed RvP as the best striker in the league, citing his link up play as the winning factor. I think that if the manager had Didier Drogba, then perhaps he'd be calling that cheat the best striker in the league. But he doesn't, even if he did it would be understandable. I don't know if I'd pick Robin above a striker like Drogba or Torres, but one thing is clear, the improvements he has made this season and his current form, do demand a touch more recognition than he has been shown. One football website highlighting the fact that whilst Rooney and Drogba were lauded for their performances in their sides victories at the weekend and Torres was lauded for being, well, Torres, Robin's matchwinning display in the NLD was ignored by the MotD team. Actually, you could make a case that Arsenal's performance in that match was basically ignored by MotD,  what with it being 4th on the bill. Which is fair enough, but one wonders where the Lineker fronted programme would have placed it had Tottenham managed to change the habit of a century.

Annnnyway.

I mentioned Cesc earlier and he was one man who was clearly not going to get carried away with one of the most breathtaking expositions of Arsènal style on Wednesday night. It was quite a funny interview post match as whoever interviewed him was obviously trying to draw him into the kind of statement that saw Robbie Keane's ugly face covered in eggs last week- I will stop mentioning that eventually, I promise- but Cesc was having none of it. To the point where I was sitting there willing him to crack a smile. I don't know how many of you saw it, but I do agree with the sentiment, "Nothing is done now, we will talk when we win something". That kind of attitude might guarantee the growing feeling that something special might just be around the corner in N5. It is also the attitude that the captain will be leading his team out in Wolverhampton tomorrow night with, which will hopefully guarantee that we avoid any Stoke style surprises and climb ever closer to the Premier League summit. 

Mick McCarthy reckons Wolves are going to have a go at us, citing the manner of our setruction of Alkmaar as evidence that it's pointless trying to stop us in such a negative fashion. Whilst I welcome that as a refreshing change in attitude from a manager at the wrong end of the table, I do wonder if that's influenced by the fact his team will be at home and whether he might rethink closer to kick off. Either way, I say bring it on.

With much of the team news available today already covered in my blog yesterday, today's looks like being an Arse.com extravaganza ahead of the visit of AZ Alkmaar tonight.

With Keiran Gibbs coming into the team in place of the injured Gael Clichy, the boss has been talking about the young Englishman and how well he played in the aftermath of his slip in the Champions League semi final. Apparently, Keiran was set to be more involved in first team action over the coming weeks with the boss looking to rotate him with Clichy anyway. With Armand Traore, according to the extensive Arse.com injury update, due back in training from tomorrow, the situation is simply that Traore will now provide the rotation for Gibbs that Gibbs was due to provide Clichy. I wonder, though, whether Traore will be exposed as much as Gibbs would have been? There again, Traore had a season of first team football with Portsmouth last year, so Clichy's injury is a good opportunity for him as well as Keiran.

I'm sure Arsenal's current injury woes- ten first squad members are currently unavailable (did you know that, Robbie?)- were on Arsène's mind when he talked about the nightmare before Christmas that is also known as the month of November and the volume of games that coincide with the football season's transition from the late autumn sunshine and green pitches to the wintery chill enveloping various mud filled, potholed football pitches up and down the country. Although, not ours of course. Is it a coincidence that this month is traditionally the one that has us all scared to check the results on a Saturday/Sunday evening? Does the boss subconciously transmit his fear and loathing of November to the players?

That's enough film references for one paragraph, I guess.

I saw the boss talking about "Silent" Stan and the increasing volume of shares in his possession yesterday. Well, I say talking, what he said was pretty simple really. As long as his technical vision for the club is not interfered with, the ownership of the club doesn't really concern him. I guess some bloggers might take that as Arséne aggressively defending his territory, but what else is he supposed to say? You might not be surprised to hear that I agree with him.

He also took time to thank Alex Ferguson for the Manchester United manager's personal intervention regarding the obscene chants directed at our main man and the letters to be sent to Manchester United supporters. He didn't question, though I wonder, if the letters are to be sent by horseback?

Of course, tonight's game sees the return of Ronald Koeman, a man with very happy memories of north London- whether as a manager, knocking Arsenal out of the Champions League with a late Alex goal in 2007; or as a player, scoring the winning goal for Barcelona as they won the first of their three *sob* European Cups back in the early 90's. He comes here, though, under no illusion about the size of the "difficult" task in front of him. Especially as his team will have to contend with the man Koeman believes to be Holland's best, I'm not talking about Nacer Barazite either. With le boss talking up Robin's increased maturity, the player himself has been talking about how he is enjoying his new role. It seems to me that these are the keys to his success so far this season, I guess it isn't rocket science, but becoming the main man seems to have been the making of him.

Despite Robin's excellent form over the last month, though, the honour of being voted the PFA Fans' Player of the Month has fallen to club captain Fabregas. He's probably earnt it on the basis of that inspirational performance against Blackburn, though his goal on Saturday won't have hurt him either.

Of course, it was Robin and Cesc who combined for the opening goal in Holland two weeks ago, so Alkmaar know all about the difficulties of containing those two. If they can manage that, then they will have to worry about an Andrey Arshavin who hasn't seemed entirely happy over the last few weeks and an Eduardo who hasn't quite clicked into his clinical gears just yet. At least, with Bendtner on the sidelines for a month, I assume it will be Eduardo starting tonight. The inclusion of a clinical finisher as opposed to a trier who runs up and down a lot but ultimately achieves very little seems the obvious thing to do against a coach who likes to contain.

Enjoy the game, wherever you are. 

How absolutely lovely to be able to bring you post number 300 of Gillespie Road still basking in the afterglow of the smackdown handed out to our local "rivals" on Saturday afternoon.

I belatedly watched MotD last night and was surprised, or was I, to see no mention of David Bentley's lucky escape either in commentary, or what passed for analysis afterwards. I thought Hansen's assertion that Arsenal are superior to Tottenham only 1-11 is not even close to the truth. And that showed on Saturday afternoon. Though to be fair, given Liverpool's ongoing travails, perhaps his mind is on other things at present. To sum up, don't give it the big one about the strength of your squad and then cite injuries when you get bitch slapped- that's what the squad is for.

Harry Redknapp has made an even bigger arse of himself than Robbie Keane did by complaining about one Arsenal fan and his language on Saturday afternoon.  Did you read that right? Yes, you did. One Arsenal fan upset him, but people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. When you consider the abuse that Arsène Wenger takes as a matter of routine at the Lane, then perhaps Harry, like Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United are doing, should attempt to address the problems they have whenever we go there before sounding off about our supporters and their conduct.

Okay a few of us Arsenal fans had to nudge Manchester United in the right direction, but at least they now seem to be promising some action against supporters who continue their vile abuse, rather than just saying they've tried to do something.

At this point, I guess I should say- just in case you're wondering, and you might not be, but I need to get it off my chest anyway- this post would have been with you at lunchtime, or just afterwards- were it not for a return to work today that included a noon meeting with my capo di tutti capo- no, not Randall the very quiet Spurs season ticket holder and a 2pm team meeting. I nearly managed to squeeze the blog in between them, in fact, I did. But as I went to hit "Publish", for some reason the mouse found "Search" instead and I lost half of the blog. Shall I blame 4 ours sleep or a dodgy mouse? Anyway, rather than try and salvage it at work, I decided to come home early and finish undisturbed. At least, until la Ryan gets in.

Where was I?

Oh yes, Tottenham Hotspur and the utter tosh coming out of Harry Redknapp's mouth. It's a shame that the Online Gooner hasn't yet updated to the new print issue, all I'll say is, "This guy can lie".

Now that the talking has been done on the pitch, Robin van Persie has chosen to do some off the pitch. After Saturday's win, he came out with a line that may go down as one of the all time classic Arsenal quotes,

"It always feels good to beat Spurs. It even feels good when we don't play them and they get beaten, so it's especially good when we've played them."

Robin, until recently has been a source of frustration to this writer, but it's in lines like that you see how much this club means to him. In lines like that you can see the how DNA of the club (loathe as I am to bring such an issue up) has been passed down from the likes of Bergkamp and Henry to him. It doesn't take much to imagine these words coming out of either Dennis or Thierry's mouths in years gone past. In fact, it doesn't take much to imagine either of them saying it now, which is why they are still revered as Arsenal legends. Well, that, and the not insignificant contributions made to this club's recent past. According to the boss, that's not all RvP shares with the two either.

When he talks like that about a player, it shows you why he is a football manager and the rest are just writers. The obvious, logical thing to do was to play Bendtner through the centre and Robin right, right? Wrong. RvP's technique and intelligence has allowed him to flourish as the central striker in a way I never thought possible. And full credit to him for that, he's been inspirational of late and long may it continue.

One place it seems certain not to continue, despite the player's wishes expressed on Saturday night, is the Carling Cup quarter final at Middle Eastlands. I don't think you have to be a mind reader to work out what's on Robin's radar when he says he would "love to play" in that game. I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to surmise that, as the club's top scorer this season, he's unlikely to get his wish.

Another person wishing is Emmanuel Eboue- he's wishing on a star. No, not really, but he is apparently hoping to play for PSG one day. I'm not too sure what's prompted this none too subtle "come and get me" plea. Is it the fact that it is they and they alone who have room in their line up for a winger with no end product? Are they promising to make him first choice right back? Or is it just that he fancies the idea of Paris? I imagine that, for a French speaker, it would be ideal. I think, in all seriousness, he's never going to be more than Bac up to Sagna (sorry) and that he knows, with the talent in the first team, and coming through the ranks, his days as part of the attacking triumvirate are numbered. Would it be hypocritical of me to admit I'd be sorry to see him go? Sorry, that is, unless we got offered like ten million euros. Then, I'd get over it pretty quickly.

I mentioned Robin's similarities to Thierry Henry- without the searing pace, obviously- earlier and I'd like to close by making the observation that another player invoked memories of TH14 on Saturday. Cesc Fabregas' run through what passed for the Tottenham defence might not win the goal of the season award, but I bet when Thierry sees it, if he hasn't already, will be having flashbacks to that memorable day in 2003. It's so good to see that where we once had Robert and Thierry, we now have Robin and Cesc to torture the ones who shall be forever in our, long, shadow.

Regular readers here will have noticed, I hope that the banner at the top of the page now features yours truly supping absolutely beautiful red wine in an empty box in an empty Arsenal stadium at the end of the Emirates Cup. I was going to choose the image of the first set of Arsenal players "embracing" the stadium, but I couldn't make it big enough to do it justice. Anyway, in the course of trying to make that work, I briefly ended up with a default banner, featuring Mr Adebayor- Bunch.Of. Arse!

In the meantime, I was joking about Nick Bendtner and his car crash yesterday afternoon, Having seen a picture of the smash, I'm less inclined to joke.

Apparently, he has only suffered cuts and bruises in a crash that took place when he swerved off the road on his way to training. I can only wonder at the speed he must have been driving at to have caused so much damage to his car, if not- somewhat fortuituously- himself. I can only wonder at a 21 year old footballer who has, in real terms, acheived very little in his career driving around in an Aston Martin. I'm not going to say the photo above is a graphic illustration of all that is wrong with the game we love, because I don't really think it is, but it does make me wonder.

So, he won't be available tonight. But the man I wanted him to replace as our line leader this season will be. Furthermore, Robin van Persie will line up against Olimpiacos with songs of praise from the manager ringing in his ears,

"We play with plenty of offensive players, so it is important you have somebody up front who can make a short control or a short pass. There is no better player than Robin at that."

"It (the Fulham goal) is a fantastic goal. The ball in was brilliant, the first touch is brilliant, and the second touch is in the back of the net. It was all perfect."

I think that Arsène, in saying "short" actually means "quick", nonetheless you know what he means because you see it demonstrated in the penalty area quite often. My frustration with Robin in the past has been because of his tendency to drop into midfield, take the ball and then take five touches to get it under control and pass it. But perhaps that's because he doesn't feel as natural making passes in midfield as he does in the penalty area.

Arsène also backed up Robin in his desire to demonstrate when he is fouled on the pitch. And I guess, when you think about it, when defenders get away with such things as shirt pulling and various methods of obstruction on a regular basis, is showing the referee there has been a foul really such a bad thing? The problem with Robin is that he can look slightly ridiculous when he does this and so the referee, whoever he is and whatever the rights and wrongs, can be inclined to look the other way.

As Eduardo will apparently return to the squad tonight, one man who will definitely not be seen tonight and for the next couple of months is the unfortunate Denilson. He will miss at least two months with a small fracture in his back. Like the Arseblogger, I remember Gilberto missing a large part of the 2004/05 season with a similar injury, so I don't expect to see the young Brazilian, well... for the rest of the season, I guess. It'll be a nice surprise if he comes back early. Unless, of course Aaron Ramsey gets a run in the team and takes his chance like a lion takes a deer.

Sorry deer lovers.

On Thursday, the man who has guided us into the Champions League in every single, full, season he's been in charge will become the longest serving manager in the history of this great football club. An unthinkable prospect when he took charge amongst a barrage of "Arsène who?" headlines, with people like my friend Harry mumbling about Frenchmen taking over the club- not that Harry was alone in that, as a certain Anthony Adams admitted in a book called Addicted. He says now, as he details his career high point being the unbeaten season, that the Arsenal board were "crazy" to take a chance on someone with "no name".

Perhaps he, like me, considers them lucky too.

Let's hope the team give this great man the great performance his acheivements merit tonight.

It's a widely held belief that the first game of the season sets the tone for the rest of the campaign. Therefore, Gooners everywhere will be waking up, eating their bacon and eggs or, in my case, sugar level boosting strawberry jam on toast, with a sense of quiet optimism. Arsenal yesterday evening, shorn of Rosicky, Walcott and Nasri, were simply sensational.

Yes, Everton were missing Jagielka and Arteta, yes, they are suffering from a saga all too familiar to the Gooner nation as the Lescott saga rumbles on, but this was the first game of a new campaign and a fixture where Everton always, at the very least, give us a battle. But they couldn't get close enough to us to even do that.

We took our seats, or rather bar stools, at the George IV in Chiswick yesterday afternoon and waited for Kevin to arrive. Due to bus traumas and traffic, he didn't join us till about twenty minutes into a fairly non descript first half, Bendtner shanking one high and wide just before he arrived. The "How you doing?" chat quickly died away as Arsenal took the lead. I'm sure we'll score a few this season, but we'll have to go a long way to better the opening goal of our campaign, Bendtner jinking one way and then the other, before feeding Cesc, who teed up Denilson for a stunning drive into the corner.

Cue text message from Asa Joseph:

"Any more of those and I might have to take back some of the nasty things I said about Denilson this summer".

I'm sure I've said it before, I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but I don't really understand why. The myth of the crab like sideways passing is plainly that. Even if it was true, is there suddenly something wrong with keeping possession?

Number two, when it arrived, owed as much to some truly apathetic defending- the kind of defending I regularly indulge in on a Thursday, truth be told- as it did to unerring delivery from a Robin van Persie free kick on the right. Thomas Vermaelen enjoying the freedom of Goodison Park to head home a debut goal. Not to be outdone, William Gallas quickly followed up in opening his account, nodding home a Cesc free kick from the left. Two easy goals from set pieces, wasn't it supposed to be the other way round?

At half time, privately at least, my thoughts turned to the 7-0 defeat we inflicted on Everton 4 years ago- sat in a pub texting Kevin score updates, until four goals in, I began to fear for our friendship. As it happened, he was keeping our friend Harry updated. Harry, a massive Gooner, was at a wedding, so there was a weird kind of symmetry going on. What I actually talked about at half time, somewhat crassly perhaps, was the likelihood of mad dog Phil Neville getting sent off and Liverpool's come back in the Champions League final four years ago.

The breakaway goal that RvP created for Cesc early in the second half put an end to such talk. And Kev's texted updates to Harry, at which point I took over.  Cesc's pointing to the sky, one Budvar and a couple of Kopparbergs in, had me wondering what he was doing. Of course, his celebrations for his second goal of the game, where he ran through unopposed to finish with ease, made that one a bit clearer as he ran to the touchline and produced a shirt with the name "Jarque" in memory of the the late Espanyol captain, Dani Jarque.

We'd been joined, by this stage, by Gabs the part time Gooner and Malc, who were happy to see some goals, having had to stand through 90 minutes of nil nil at Brentford. Eboue, Ramsey and Eduardo arrived to provide some rest for Bendtner, RvP and the skipper and one of the most popular goals, if perhaps the easiest he'll ever score for us, arrived in the dying embers of the match. Arshavin's shot popping back off the post for Eduardo to tap into the net and score his first Premier League goal in 18 months. As I said, it was a very popular goal, though I'd stop jumping around like a demented kanagaroo by then.

A text from swine flu Ben Ingber was telling:

"Bendtner's looking the part... fair play, you called it"

Bloody hell, if Ben's getting behind Bendtner, he must have had a good game, I thought to myself. This performance was the kind of performance where the boss' decisions over the summer, and prior to that, began to make sense. Not that I didn't see the sense in selling Toure and Adebayor, as you know. What I saw last night, or what I can remember of it, was Arsenal playing like a team, a point not lost on Arsène Wenger. Playing with flair, fluidity and desire. I've no doubt that there will tougher tests ahead, how will the team react to going a goal down at Old Trafford, for example? But you can't watch Arsenal overrun a team like Everton and not feel some kind of hope for the season to come. 

That should have been that, but Louis Saha, in a fashion not too dissimilar to Eduardo, grabbed an irrelevant consolation goal. Irrelevant to Kevin anyway, by then, he had taken a seat away from the football and so missed it. Not that it would have done much for his mood, I suspect. I also suspsect this will be the last  time Kev and I watch our two teams do battle with each other.

What was the final judgement then?

"That was alright, wasn't it?" from me. My only complaint was that, amongst 6 Arsenal goals, neither Bendtner or Arshavin, had much involvement. Not a major problem on the face of it, but they're in my Fantasy League team. 

From Asa:

"Just about settle for that, I reckon. Reasonably good."

And from le boss?

"A good team performance."

Arsenal will now travel to Celtic Park, with internet wisdom suggesting players will only come in once the Celtic affair has been successfully concluded, in good heart. But hopefully with their feet on the ground.

They will also do it with Pep Guardiola admitting defeat in Barcelona's pursuit of the club captain. For this year, anyway. I know it's early, early days, but if Arsenal were to carry on as they have begun, what possible reason could Cesc have to want to leave? he'd be mad to.

I'm getting carried away, aren't I? Best to stop here, I think.

One of the things, the side effects if you like, of Robin van Persie choosing to remain with Arsenal, rather than seeking to make his fortune elsewhere, is that Arsenal will have to pay out a shed load of money to him for the next five years. No, no, what I meant to say, of course, is that getting the Van Man to sign an extension which will see him give his best years to the club, is a statement of intent from the Arsenal hierarchy. It says, we are not content to to develop players into world beaters only to see them flogged off, albeit usually at a massive profit, we want to keep them so they can help us to become a bigger, better club.

This ties in with the words of Ivan Gazidis and, more importantly, with the actions of the club. Contract extensions already inked by the British quartet of Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcott and Gibbs might not represent the signatures that Arsenal fans wanted to see this summer, but as July progresses and pre season preparations begin in earnest,  the atmosphere around the club seems a lot less turbulent than it has in summers past. A lot. We seem in good shape and I can't help feeling that this has undoubtedly been down to the influence of the CEO.

I do wish, however, that his influence extended into the corridors of power at ESPN and Sky. Because, due to ESPN, we will have to wait just a little longer for the start of our season, which will now begin against Everton at 5.15pm on the 15th of August. Our first three televised games are all away from home, with the Everton game being followed a fortnight later with a visit to Old Trafford. The trio is completed by Fulham on the 26th September, whilst our first home game scheduled is Blackburn Rovers the following weekend. The television companies aren't looking for Arsenal to slip up much, are they?

I mentioned yesterday that the manager would be hoping, as I suspect we all would, for a good contribution from Tomas Rosicky this season. The man himself says that, in terms of fitness, he's in better shape then when he came to Arsenal. He also repeats claims he made a while ago that, in both his and, Arsenal fitness coach, Tony Colbert's opinion, he was ready to play by the end of last season. Far from being irritated by this, I sense that perhaps Rosicky is just happy not to have been thrown immediately back to the coalface. I think I could learn to appreciate being handled like that.  

So much to get through, so little time.

1) Robin van Persie, announce Arse.com, has signed a new contract with Arsenal. The deal is thought to be £80,000 per week for the Dutchman's best day of his career. Now, I'm what Agent Mulder might have termed a van Persie sceptic, but even I have to admit that his Arsenal statistics, 63 goals in 177 appearances, are pretty good for someone who has spent more time on the treatment table than the football pitch over the last half a decade. Whilst 20 goals from 44 appearances last season is a clear improvement. When he talks of his heart being with Arsenal, and how much he loves the club, it might sound to some like he's trying to keep the fans sweet but I am reminded of his comments two years ago, prior to the season that ended in so much heartbreak, where he talked about people not realising the potential of this club. We need players like that at this club.

2) As you know, I tend to stay away from the financial/ political side of the football club- and there is very much a political side to it, but the board have decided that they are on a sound enough financial footing, without needing to resort to an Usmanov suggested rights issue. It's not that surprising, is it? Gazidis has been talking, both to Arseblog and the official site, and I think he's sent a clear message that success can't be promised for ever, it must be delivered at some point. What better time to send that message, then as pre season training commences?

3) Speaking of pre season training, I'm sure there isn't an Arsenal fan out there that won't be heartened by the sight of... the rain hammering down on our players. I got drenched on the way back from work yesterday (twice), so it's nice to see that footballers can suffer a right good soaking too. Seriously though, I was talking about being heartened, and it is heartening to see Eduardo, Rosicky, Gallas and, to a lesser extent, Senderos being put through their paces. Could Senderos still have a future at Arsenal? The presence of these players only serves to highlight the amount of talent at the manager's disposal. Hopefully, both Eduardo and Rosicky will still be at the manager's disposal in a couple of months time.

4) It seems, sadly, that Felipe Melo is on his way to Juventus. The search for Gilberto's successor goes on...

Did you watch Glasto at the weekend? It was all about Blur really. For me, anyway. What with having tickets for Friday's Hyde Park gig, we weren't going to watch BBC2's coverage, but then we couldn't not watch it. At least until Jo found Nick Cave's set on the interactive coverage. I know two things about Friday now, one is that I'm going to have a great time, with Jo, Luke and Pia, and the second is that I will cry, lots, probably. Thereafter things are liable to become a bit of a blur...

Anyway, moving on to Arsenal matters, Gilberto's been bigging up the Arsenal whilst on international duty. Apparently, Felipe Melo has asked him about us and Gilberto said if he's interested he should come and join us "without thinking". Nice to hear a former player not talking bollocks in the media- Freddie Ljungberg anyone? It seems love is oozing from Gilberto's pores as he describes Arsenal as "fantastic" and "great", whilst saying Melo is exactly what Arsenal need, quality, powerful, potential to improve and a quality passer of the ball.

Why haven't we signed him already then?

In all seriousness, it sounds very promising. I'm sure Melo hasn't asked Gilberto out of idle curiosity, so maybe this is very much in the pipeline. We'll find out soon enough.

I haven't got much else to give you today, really. I caught, on my way to play cricket with the boys yesterday, RvP's "I want to be the best player in the world" inteview. Ambition, Robin, ambition! Yes, positive thinking and a desire to improve is what we want at this football club. Though I respectfully suggest that perhaps Robin will not scale those heady heights, why not aim to? It's that kind of thinking that sees Abou Diaby working with a personal trainer, rather than sitting on a beach, so he will be stronger for the new season. You will know by now I'm not a huge fan of Diaby's, but I applaud the fact he realises he must work harder to acheive the potential he undoubtedly has.

I also saw, and it's my fault for picking up the News of the World (I washed my hands afterwards), that Arsenal are going to make a bid for Karim Benzema. Would that be with the money that the media keep telling us we don't have then? Honestly, it's no wonder Arsenal fans get so pissy during the summer with the amount of bollocks in the press.

Oh, I got out for a first ball duck, if you're wondering. I watched it, watched it and I watched it. I watched it so carefully in fact, that I forgot to play a shot and the ball crashed into my off stump. Whoops.

So what did I miss?

Whilst I was traipsing round the Colloseum, feeling oppressed in the Catacombs, contemplating the meaning of life in St Peter's Square and listening to Depeche Mode nearly take the roof off at Stadio Olimpico, what was happening?

Well, in the French press, Bacary Sagna became the seven millionth player to be linked with a move to Real Madrid. Via the propaganda machine aka Arse.com, he issued a quick and firm denial of the quotes attributed to him. The Bac Man had a slightly less impressive season than he did first time round, but as I have already addressed, he is one of the last players I would like to see leaving the club. Especially as it would see Emmanuel Eboue becoming first choice right back again. Now, we all know Eboue is much loved in the dressing room, he likes to dress in tiger suits and jump about a lot. It seems to me that his agent is of a similar nature. How else could you explain quotes from him stating that Roma and Fiorentina are not at Eboue's level? He goes further by saying that whilst Eboue has a great relationship with Wenger, with the fans and has a very good offer to extend his Arsenal contract, if any of the Milan clubs, or Juventus came in for him, things could change. 

Nevermind dreamland; this guy, it appears, is in moonland.

Cesc; for the 429th time, and yes I am keeping count now, has reiterated his commitment to Arsenal Football Club. Though he also expressed his regret at not winning anything for the last four years. I have a feeling that, one way or another, this season is going to prove something of a watershed for Arsenal Football Club.

Oh, by the way, Robin van Persie to Manchester United? Really? Really? That's hilarious. Just what Manchester United need to speed their game up, isn't he? I know some of you reading might feel I've been a little dismissive of Robin, especially in the face of his first consistently productive season for us. Let me say that he is definitely good enough to play for the first team (that's nice of me, isn't it?), I just don't think he should be regarded as an automatic pick. Am I saying I don't think he's good enough for Manchester United? I'll skirt answering the question I've just asked myself and say that I don't think he's the right player for them. I'd also be very surprised to see someone who was pictured wearing an Arsenal shirt as a 14/15 year old end up at the Theatre of Shit 10 years later.

Enough about players not leaving the club, how about someone coming in? Despite the lack of official confirmation from the club, Thomas Vermaelen's move from Ajax appears to be nearing completion, with player saying that he expects to be in London for a medical tomorrow. It can't be true, can it? Arsenal signing a defender and with so much time before pre season training begins too?  RocktheCasbah smells a rat.

Speaking of rats, I have been trying to keep up with news whilst away, thanks to Gabs for the fixtures update and I was encouraged to read that our tough fixtures this season have been front loaded- with all big four business concluded by February 9th, when Liverpool arrive in North London. Though this will conclude a very tough ten days beginning with the visit of Manchester United on January 30th, followed by a trip south west to Chelsea a week later! It's not all complaints though, I was amused to note that already we have to rearrange our home game with Bolton, due to CL qualifying commitments and that our game at Old Trafford comes just after the 2nd qualifying leg. Hopefully, Halloween night will be all tricks and no treats for our North London neighbours when they come visiting on October 31st. We must have revenge to make Michael Myers proud after the horror show last year.

On a closing note (or three), with reference to Stripped, the penultimate blog post before my Roman sojourn, a few of you noticed that Adebayor was nowhere to be seen in a my preferred line up, substitutes or anywhere else. Well, that's because it was MY Preferred line up and I'd like to see Eduardo and Arshavin at least tried, it might well be too lightweight, but equally... it might not. As for Rosicky, he might not be the player he once was, but as far as I can tell, the only thing Theo had over him is his genuine pace. And there will be times when that pace to beat a defender round the outside is what's needed. In the meantime, until we know for sure Rosicky is finished, I'd rather not rush the judgement. As far as Ade goes, it's all quiet on that front, but I suspect something will happpen before the transfer window closes. Or is it just a fervent prayer?

Also, on Postscript, my point about Fabianski is that, at 24,  there is time for him to improve and mature as a goalkeeper. Not that he is going to be the next David Seaman.  Though perhaps you might like to consider where David Seaman was plying his trade age 24. Yeah, that's right, a club in West London called Queens Park Rangers and yes, I had a great holiday, thanks very much ;-)

And there I will have to leave it, till Saturday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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