As for the game this evening we have probably set a record for the smallest front line in the history of the Champions League with Nasri, Arshavin and Vela. Luckily we don't tend to hoof it in to the box but we have, how shall I say this, over elaborated a tad too much (AGAIN!!!) on more than one occasion but we have dominated despite a screamer from their forward and a blatant penalty not given (though we should have had one if Eboue could actually look like he has been fouled and not dived). Fortune favoured us with the two goals but after the blood and gore of the Arshavin/Gallas incident I'll take that. Chances of a clean sheet - 0.01%.

Liverpool look on their way out as Fiorentina are winning 1-0 and Barca look good for the next stage too. Let's win the gam, top the group and rest everyone for the game in Greece. Then we can concentrate on the tough game on Sunday and we'll need the biggest players we've got fit for that one.

I was having problems (roaming signal not connecting etc) getting the result of our game from The Stadium of Light but I think that I could pretty much of predicted the scoreline after the Interlull. Too many players returning and not being focused on the club game immediately after it. Arsene's reaction in the post match interview said it all but it's the first time it has been so apparent in his tone of voice as well as the words he chose to use. 

In thinking about our poor performance and then looking at the Freiburg's fans reaction to their catastrophic loss it was saddening to see how pampered Arsenal fans have become. Do you think our fans would be doing this (see below) if we were losing 5-0 at home!! I'm pretty sure our crowd would be down to the 100s by then.

Anyway  today's football is all about the real stuff and with Arsenal off to Wearside for a tough game I will be 100s of miles away and concentrating on the simple delights of the Bundesliga today. The Freiburg v Werder Bremen game kicks off at 3.30 local time and so I'll be keeping one eye on the game but with a slight nervous twitch towards the phone to see what's happening at the Stadium of Light. 

I know I've mentioned it before but the whole experience at German games is so different from the modern Premier League experience. It differs in cost (so MUCH cheaper - €15 for a terrace ticket), you can STAND on a terrace, you need to get there early to find a spot and then you can drink beer all during the game (only available to the corporate box crowd now in England). I couldn't get a season ticket due to limited numbers and so make do with the odd game here and there- enjoying them as much as possible.

Here's to beer, Wurst and a great performance from Eduardo that I read about on my phone at 5.45 (my time) pm.

I was trying to work out why the act of so-called "cheating" has seemingly upsurged this season and I say that with quotation marks because the word has such a stigma to it as if it is the worst thing one human can do to another. I imagine that Hell rejects murderers and rapists as it's too busy trying to cope with all the professional sportsmen and women who have taken drugs/ dived / feigned injury / handballed / claimed a throw-in when it hit them last / pulled a shirt in the box etc AND, most importantly GOT AWAY WITH IT!!!

The real question is whether "cheating" only despicable if something truly tangible is gained? It can't be that (remember the Eduardo dive) or is it, expects OTT reaction, only when Johnny Foreigner does it against the underdog (or celtic community it seems this season). Then I remember that the Ngog dive was mentioned for a day or two and then disappeared. So what is the connection - it's obvious really as it's that despicable and actual living embodiment of all things that we call "cheating" - Arsenal! The media has pinned us with a label and that's it - we cheat, we are the worst of all and even our ex-players can't rid themselves of the disease. Oh FFS the pikey totteringham cnut cheats more in one game than most other players and spends the rest of the time telling the ref how he should do his job!

However, at least we have another day another football/sport/news conspiracy is spawned - at least it's another one for one of the Observer Sport Monthly Top 10 series... though the "cheating" in football could probably be a top million. It's just that 99 times out of a hundred the "cheating" either isn't seen in such a high profile game or have such a major impact. Calls for replays are just bollocks - though perhaps a Video Gamer could recreate all those games changed by the odd bad decision or professional play (aka "cheating") ....

Have the Irish Govt banned the sale of Gillette products yet?

I'm not talking about the actual (and most incredulous sounding name) Young Boys of Bern though they are top of the Swiss league but the Swiss U-17 team. They've only gone and won the world championships in Nigeria, beating the hosts in the final too. It's amazing that a country this size can do far more at youth level than the country with a larger population, wealthier clubs and a greater history and induction into the game of football. 

The story probably doesn't register in the UK but it should be front page news in terms of showing up the FA and the Premier League clubs (with one or two exceptions like Arsenal) who have no idea how to coach and develop young footballing talent. On a recent podcast (see episode 14) the wisest comment came from a comedian, Kevin Day, when he said that it's a sad indictment of our game that we (meaning the media) fawn about Arsenal's playing style because we are so unique. He rightly said that we should have dozens of clubs trying to play football this way - where technique and movement are taught throughout all levels of the club from the youngest academy player to the first team. Aside from United, where apparently the kids only play 5 a side, and maybe one or two others many clubs still focus on results even in the youngest of sides. As a result big lads thrive and the potentially gifted but weak are discarded. Of course, the exceptional get through but how many have left the game, scarred and bitter, due to the coaching levels across the UK?

From an Arsenal perspective all I'm hoping is that our players manage to survive without injury. Those most at risk are probably the French players as a "spirited and hard working" Irish side is the wonderful euphemism for getting stuck in to the French side but hopefully a European referee can manage that unlike English refs who see it as "part of the game" as do all the pundits. One day the media as a whole will stand up and realise why England (a huge country with millions laying the game) generally under perform in major competitions. We still, despite the odd player such as Rooney, have not grasped the idea that technique and ability are far more useful than hard work and spirit. Those last two can beat the first two but only if those with technique and ability can't be arsed to put a little work in (and that happens quite a lot). Ever since I started watching International sides in the 70s we have seen all sorts of countries (often with populations far smaller) embarrass England with their technique but still we have 11 year olds playing on full size pitches. It even happens at Premier League academies so it is no wonder that the skill levels are way below what you should expect from a country the size of England.

Yesterday's game was one of those that we probably would have struggled to win last year. We rode the initial storm (I think we could still have won comfortably if Wolves had scored first as Blackburn did recently) and had a little luck with two ogs (but for the second one we had a two on one attack anyway). One of the strange things about us is that we should be the worst side in the world any opponent would like to play against when 2-0 down. They have to try and score and we have more options, skill & creativity than any other side to enable us to score at will on the break. Yet we managed at West Ham to sit back, give the ball away etc and it was pleasing that yesterday we got the third and fourth goals to seal the game.

I'm not sure how bad Diaby's injury is (it might just be a miss the Interlull games type) but it may just give the opportunity to Ramsey to show what he has to offer. He's 19 and so he'll make mistakes but he seems to have all that is required to make it and prove a very able player alongside Cesc (even though he has generally come on as a substitute for the captain). 

During the Interlull I will have to try and come up with some philsophical and analytical debates on other issues from the season so far.....