There's a new podcast around that focuses on The Arsenal and despite the normal disregard for "celebrity" fans showing their hands at football grounds, this deserves a mention. Alan Davies, you may like or not, has provided a nice little 30 minute slot to download with his season ticket mates including a decent stand up, Ian Stone (see his occasional and unsuccessful appearances on Fighting Talk).

However, after five shows the best thing that has come out of their mouths is the idea that Arsenal should run out to the theme song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It is inspirational and apt in equal measure - but the race is on to ascribe an Arsenal player to each Dwarf (height not being an issue, it's a matter of personality trait).

The runners and riders so far are:

Sleepy - Diaby

Doc - Rosicky (purely on the basis that he must have done enough hours at medical school by now)

Happy - Eboue

Grumpy - Arshavin (he really never seems to smile does he?)

Bashful - Theo?

Dozey - Sylevestre

Sneezy -Alan Smith purely on nose size...

Any other ideas?

You can't help watch any game in Europe at the moment without being subjected to potential targets (allegedly) for Arsene in the January transfer window. Well Wolfsburg are out of the CL and judging from the little I saw of their strikers I'ld stay well clear. Despite massive dominance in terms of chances they couldn't hit a barn door and ended up losing to a small striker by the name of Owen - anyone heard of him? Since little Michael Owen played alone upfront for United perhaps we can keep the faith with Arshavin - smaller but a far better player - and let's face it we don't have a lot of options do we.

I was listening to the Guardian podcast today and it seems that the latest news from Barca (and the usually reasonably reliable Sid in Spain is that they don't want Robinho and have found 50M Euro for Cesc). As much as I would hate to think it's not true and that Cesc is staying it's just the incessant drip, drip, drip, drip from Spain that makes it so annoying.

Having traveled back to Switzerland yesterday and then discovering that my Dad's heart bypass may be a triple or even a quadruple bypass I was not expecting our midgets to finally give me some good news against Stoke. In fact, with my Sports TV showing United it meant 90 minutes of watching BBC and Guardian Football coverage online.

It seems that the game was good in respect of our ability to pass, keep the ball and create chances as we reached half time. 1-0 up having missed a penalty and a host of other opportunities against a side who you could expect to regroup and go for it in the second half. Then the injuries started (have they ever stopped) and the nerves get worse. Finally, watching Final Score on BBC1, I hear there has been a goal at the Emirates - who has it gone to? Thankfully it was a good finish from Aaron Ramsey and the relatively calm waters of 2-0 with 10 minutes to go. Just looking at the stats and the most amazing thing is the complete lack of yellow cards - I've heard that Stoke are playing more football and less Bolton-esque kick anything that moves, maybe not the best idea with us.

So even if the game probably brings me closer to a heart attack too it is a decent end to a rather horrible week, personally and from a football perspective. Now we can look forward to a pointless trip to Olympiakos for our U-12s and then get ready for a big game at Anfield. Let's just hope we have some half decent news on the injury front.

It's not unusual for the media to throw all of it's toys out of the pram and moan about that damn Arsene Wenger not doing things the way a proper British manager would, is it? It's just that they stink of outrage and being affronted over something so trivial. The fact that Wenger is one of very few managers who will always attend a press conference before and after a game (as well as one or two midweek) as well as answering questions, generally, in an honest and open manner seems to be glossed over. Meanwhile many Briitish managers don't turn up after games, never speak to journalists who have "upset" them or don't even bother speaking to organisations such as the BBC BUT they do always shake hands. Blimey thank god for this decent article (albeit by a self professed Gooner), http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/dec/03/mark-hughes-hypocrisy-english-outrage , (sorry about the lack of linking but I'm on a Mac without Firefox). Hughes was rude and offensive to Wenger last night just as he has been on most of his meetings with our manager. It can hardly come as a surprise that they didn't shake hands and why should any man do that just because it is the normal thing to do. It strikes me that the media love to have a go on any story where a damned foreigner slights "one of ours" and hence we had the whole over reaction to the Henry incident and the Irish aren't even fecking British. It stinks of an undertone of Xenophobia that the media can't resist.

As I spend each afternoon still here in the UK and visiting my recovering dad in hospital (thankfully he looks a lot better though more tests seem to be needed) I was wondering whether Arsene has to visit all his injured players in a ward. Of course, they are all probably pampered in either a plush private hospital or are quietly recovering in the Arsenal physiotherapist's large and modern home. Either way he's usually got a lot of chocolates, grapes and flowers to buy at the moment and for the last few years unfortunately. I hope the Dutch have sent an exceptionally large get well card to Robin as he recuperates. Meanwhile we have an important (in the sense of it coming after two straight defeats and the opportunity to give some players a run out) game in the Carling Cup that will see our second string/kids and the boy wonder Jack take on the multi multi millionaires from Dubai. Let's hope Ade and co think this is all beneath their prodigious talents (sorry, I mean bank balances) and they can't be arsed whilst our boys are fired up to show Arsene what they can do. This game could go one of two ways, we get stuffed or we sneak it with a sublime piece of Wilshere magic. Here's hoping.

It's been a couple of days of discussion, ranting, hysteria, blog overload and many other things in the wake of the defeat to Chelsea and, more particularly, the manner of the defeat. For all the talk of "we could have got more" from the manager, everyone else (Arsenal fans included) recognised the significant gulf between the two sides. It wasn't a simple matter of brawn over beauty as some have implied as Chelsea had a combination of size (average 2" taller apparently and 10kg heavier), maturity (average age 4 years older), organisation (look at their ability to hound our players and defend as a unit) and football ability (efficient rather than pretty but they can play). At the moment there is no need for a throwing the baby out with the bath water by completely ignoring the progress we have made in some areas but it will be interesting to see or hear what discussions are taking place within the Arsenal camp. Players, Fans and Board members are not stupid and they surely must realise the gulf in the two sides in the areas highlighted above but recognise that we don't need massive change rather a more surgical approach in 2 or 3 areas. The issue is whether anyone (Gazidis??) will point out that this is no different to many discussions we have had over the last two to three seasons. Arsene too must surely reflect on the deficiencies within the squad but he's going need some prompting (or even forceful persuasion) that the 80% good work he has done with this squad is in danger of being swamped by the 20% that isn't working - those numbers are no accurate of course but it's a start. Watching football around Europe I see little snippets of strong, athletic and technically decent players that could be moulded into our squad and we need to find the gems sooner rather than latter. It's not a matter of splashing millions like City - Arsene can stick to his financial principles but needs to look a little harder and be prepared to compromise occasionally on his players and style of football.

After a result like yesterday's it's very easy to be angry or depressed or both. Me, well it just added to the whole depressing saga of a rotten weekend. Losing a football match is bad (yesterday was awful) but when your dad is in hospital after a heart attack and another uncle has just discovered he needs to carry an oxygen tank around with him - let's just say it ain't the end of the world. Added to the absolutely foul weather in the UK and an unheard of level of illness, flooding and other disasters at my friend's house I can only hope that this week improves on the weekend.

I'm in the UK to see the big game tomorrow but, unfortunately, things have take a turn for the worse and I've just discovered that my father is in hospital. It was originally really bad as I heard that it had been a suspected heart attack but it seems it may just be a chest infection. I hope it will all be okay and it puts all the garbage that surrounds a mere sporting event into perspective. I think that I'll still be going tomorrow but not entirely sure. Aside from that it's been a good day especially with the draws for Villa, Spuds & Man City. Hope you and your families are all well.

It's hard being a football fan sometimes and the hardest part often depends on your outlook on life - is your glass half empty or half full? This weekend's game perfectly sums that up as you try and decide (either with head or heart or even both) how you think we will fare against Chelsea. Arsene is in optimistic mood which I think I says a lot about his attitude (just don't look at the injury list please) and his "unbelievable belief" as The Merse once said.

Me, well I would have to say that I'm 40-60 in my head and that's just on us getting a draw! I want to be all "we're gonna f***ing walk this against those bastards!" but I just can't quite work out where or how we are going to win it on Sunday. Drogba against Senderos, Anelka versus Sylvester, Essien against Denilson and Terry taking on Eduardo - oh hang on that last one has given me a glimmer of hope.  We've got to take any half chance and defend like buggery and maybe, just maybe we'll get a decent result...

You never know.

The worst part of the weekend is the 6.30 train tomorrow morning after a huge Thanksgiving (delayed) dinner at some American friends here in Switzerland.

Thanks to the good folks at oleole I've solved the problem of blogging on the Mac by downloading Firefox and that's rather important as my HP laptop decided to "die" this morning. It is just showing me a black and blank screen with a couple of beeps! Apparently (after a little web searching) it is a common problem with HP laptops, some of which they actually repair for free. Mine, however, is one that they won't despite it being built in the same way - hum ho, another Mac it will be then...

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.