Arsenal 4 Porto 0

Well that was all rather nice wasn't it? A great response from the boys with Van Persie and Adebayor among the goals again, but, it should have been much, much more.

It started off nervy, Porto had some great opportunities that again exposed our very weak defence, Clichy had to clear off the line after Gallas lost his man, again. However, Theo Walcott terrorised the back line of Porto all night constantly running at them, looking for the killer pass and just plain pissing off his full back! I have to mention a stunning save from Manuel Almunia, Gonzalez let off a thunderbolt and he dived full stretch to his left to deny the Porto forward. A magnificent piece of goalkeeping.

The first goal was a very nice poke home for Van Persie after Adebayor slid the ball across the goal, he managed to get the ball out of his feel to slide it in at the near post. 1-0 and the fans wanted more. Much more.

The second was from Adebayor as he headed a fantastic cross into the ground that bounced up and out of the reach of the disparing keeper, Ade and Van are back alright.

Van Persie's second and Arsenal's third was a result of some simply horriffing defending, VP skipped round 2 players, was allowed to stroll past Porto's most experienced defender and prod nicley home. We were crusing and with 43 minutes to go a cricket score was possible.

This was when we had a whole host of chances, Walcott somehow missed an open goal, same goes for Nasri and Adebayor should have made it seven. You have to wonder what this team can be if they are more clinical. Walcott had the defenders shitting their panties and Nasri was a threat from range. Fabregas also pulled a save out the keeper with a shot from the edge of the area. He was truly immense. He cant be 21 can he?

Enter Vela, his first touch was to skip around 3 players, lay it off to Nikki B who just couldnt work the space to shoot. The commontater was shouting 'Watch this boy go' and the nations eyes were fixed on him. what a talent. Bendtner has looked brilliant too.

Adebayor made it 4 after Bendtner was felled in the box, sent the keeper the wrong way, cue dancing and badge kissing and the like. I want to see that more often Ade.

There was even time for cult hero Eboooouueee to do some step overs Ronaldinho would have been proud of, sadly the second time he tried it he trod on the ball. I love Eboue, he has his haters but he never fails to either enrage or entertain!

Overall, a very positive performance from the boys, the same defensive worries are still there but it looks like Wenger is going with the policy; you score more than you concede, you win. I hope it works! Saturday is not forgotten but Arsenal are well and truly mixing the cement i mentioned earlier and thank fook for that.

Take care out there.

Night.

Arsenal V Porto

Well, another Champions League game brings with it the chance to somewhat partially erase the horrors of Saturday evening. We will have to wait and see what Wenger does about Gallas and how dramatic his changes are but right now i think that our midfield frailty is showing.

We have Diaby, Rosicky, Bischoff, and now Song out, leaving us with two natural central midfielders and Eboue who would play in goal if he was needed there. Denilson was probably the best performer from Saturday if ive read correct and i think him and Cesc will again play in the middle of the park. If i had my way Bendtner and Vela would play up front banishing Ade and VP to the bench to smoulder and think about what they did on Saturday, which wouldnt take too long as they did pretty much fuck all. Ive just found this little gem. It looks like Flamini is picking up a few too many splinters on that AC Milan bench. I hope its heated too, it can get a wee bit nippy in those winter months.

Now, back to the game, we have to perform. Thats simple. But todays game isnt the be all and end all, we have to perform and then back it up with performances in the future because we just cannot lose at home again this season, a win today would paper over the cracks created on Saturday, we have to cement them over with the strongest cement possible and thats going on a winning streak and sorting our leaky defence out.

Many people have called for Gallas to be dropped, i have also. But, the most realistic option is for Toure to be dropped, Gallas is captain and Wenger wont drop him in a million years. Djourou will also help solve our height problem that has become so evident over the past few games, Nasri will add more creativity and he is no mug in front of goal either. We have to see a massive improvement today but it will only be the start, we cant afford to rest on our laurels.

We will be the inexperienced side today so no excuses Wenger. A good performance is compulsury.

And no more 'scared' Toure either please.

Right, i bid you farewell.

Up the arse!

(Not Literally)

A change of mentality

Well, that was all rather shite wasn't it! I'm sorry i have not been here for a few days, i will try and get someone to blog when im not available!

First things first, I think we were piss poor, Ive only seen the highlights and it was enough to make me sick, the pints of beer didn't help either but you can see why Arsene Wenger feels sick, i think that players that do not give 100% should be dropped from the squad. And if they do it again just get them the hell out of the team. I don't care if its Gallas, Adebayor, Van Persie or even Cesc, it just cannot be tolerated. They get paid far to much to piss around on a pitch and give 50%, at the end of the day the fans pay their bloody wages so they best sort themselves out or fuck off to Man City. Its Monday evening and im still fuming.

Now, Gallas. He feels that complacency wasn't an issue? It was clear to see the team thought they could smash a few in in the first 20 minutes, run around, look interested and be back home in time for tea and paella. It doesn't work like that in the Premier League. Gallas, sort your damn attitude out and lead the team. But, sort out your bloody defending, its shocking! that's about the third time he has made a mistake that has lead to a goal this season, it cant carry on. We are behind as it is and if we play like that against a Chelsea or Man Utd, we will get torn a new arsehole. The captaincy needs reconsidering because Gallas' attitude is poor, his defending is poorer and his captaincy is just plain crap. If Benitez managed this club he would have been played up front now and who knows, he might be more clinical than Adebayor, its not hard.

But the focus now switches to our game at home tomorrow night and god help up if we screw this one up. The manager has said there will be changes but denies they will be punishments to players. I feel Vela and Bendtner deserve to start up front, Vela has been fantastic since his return from Spain and Bendtner has been scoring also, they have showed commitment, something lacking on Saturday evening. Van Persie is a great player technically but is inconsistent, he has to improve and if he doesn't I'm afraid he may be on his bike. I feel we will go in with a 4-4-2 but whoever makes up the team i don't know, Song is out, Nasri back in and i feel the team will probably be pretty much the same. Maybe Bendtner being started in place of Ade would give him a kick up the arse?

I would love to see Djourou start instead of Gallas but i don't think it will happen, that is the one place that Wenger really annoys me. The partnership of him and Kolo does not work and it will hardly fill the team with confidence!

For once Arsenal will go into the Porto game as probably the most experienced side, no inexperience excuses now please, its time for this team to win something and they had better do after Saturday, and the performance at Fulham.

I am at a loathe to say this but this year, and by year i mean 2008, we have now turned in three totally half cut performances, the defeat at Old Trafford in the FA cup, the Fulham game and now the Hull game, its a habit that is starting to become more and more common and Wenger has to stop it, at the end of the day the buck stops with the players but Arsene has a big influence on them and therefore he has to take some of the blame too as he concedes.

Tomorrow the boys need to step up to the plate, a defeat today could well prove terminal in our Champions League campaign and after we have already flushed half out title hopes down the shitter we just have to win, and win well too. I don't expect a cricket score but i sure as hell don't want a 1-0.

I made the mistake of expecting a cricket score against Hull and i well and truly damaged my credibility as a blogger that talks sense. That was a mistake that wont happen again.

Ive cut the quotes out today as i wanted to add more of my view, the weekend was a step backwards, tomorrow has to be a step forward and its got to be twice as big.

Come on Arsenal.

Please leave your views on the game, your comments are needed to keep this alive!
I will come back to them in the following blogs!


Til' Tomorrow.

Hull preview, Denilson and Wenger on leaving

Arsene wenger has said that he will decide his managerial future in 2011. It will be then when he will have served 15 years as Arsenal manager and even he concedes he didn't expect to last this long;

"To be honest I would have laughed if someone had said I'd be here for 12 years.

“I was lucky in my career. I stayed for seven years in Monaco which is a good record in France, so in 19 years I had two clubs. Just to be a manager for 19 years needs luck.

He has made this club what it is, without him we would be a mediocre mid-table team and with a name like 'Arsene' you can tell he was born to manage this club. The guy is one of my heroes and i will be eternally grateful of what he has done for this club.

He said yesterday that he has not thought about his contract and is just focusing on the job in hand;

“I've not thought about my contract,” he said. “I will give myself to the end of my contract in 2011 and then have a serious check-point. You don't want as well to go on too long.

“I don't want to walk away at the moment, but in two or three years things can change in any job.

You just have to admire him, is there any other manager apart from Sir Alex and Arsene that stick to their word and their contracts? I dont like SA but i think he has done a brilliant job at Man Utd and as the two of them grow older i think they are starting to admire what both have done for the clubs, the league and the world of football. Wenger also admits that he is not setting an age to retire, even though he promised his wife!;

"But I said to my wife ‘at 55 I stop, I promise you’. And at 55 I said ‘60’.

“Now I just don't speak about it any more!"

You devil you Arsene!

He also admits that he has only built two Arsenal sides, athough most argue he has built four, i think the 98 double showed that he has the skill to get something out of a team without buying in players, it shows his personal skills along with his teambuilding skills;

“I feel I have completely created maybe two teams, The first one [in 1998] I did not create, I had an exceptional ‘old-guard’ at the back.

“I think I added something to this team and we were successful. But Adams, Bould, Keown, Winterburn, Seaman, Dixon - they were already here. I added the offensive force but Bergkamp was already here when I arrived as well.”

The legend also confirmed that he has had chances to leave Arsenal but never even considered it;

“I was offered the chance to leave but I never considered leaving,

"The longer I stay the more difficult it becomes to envisage leaving. But I know one thing - you have to prepare yourself.

"You have to work inside the Club like you will spend your whole life there. But as well you have to accept the idea it can stop from one minute to the next.

"But that is basically life as well - you expect to live for 100 years but you can die from one minute to the next."

To be honest i don't even want to imagine the man leaving, he is Arsenal and Arsenal will be a totally different club without him!

Now onto Rosicky, the boss has said that it may be two days or two months before he is back, and concedes he is speechless over the niggling injury;

"I believe that all the checks we made are reassuring, but it's difficult to say, It's an inflammation that's going on in his leg that has to settle, to calm down."

“We are a little bit speechless on that at the moment because we feel it is all going well. It is a problem of re-coordinating his muscle with the exercises he does.

"There's nothing really that harms his future, but, as well nobody can tell me on the 10th of December he will play.

“He can be on the 31st of December, he can be on the 10th of November, nobody knows with him. In the next two months he should be back but what date, nobody knows.”

He is a vital part of Arsenal and he improves an already brilliant team, hopefully he will be alright and be back soon!

Young midfielder Denilson has targeted the double this season, pretty ambitious but there is nothing wrong in that. I hope the lad keeps improving because he has the potential to be a hell of a footballer, and hopefully he can fulfill his potential with Arsenal as Arsene watches another of his gems grow into a diamond.

Now, onto the Hull game.

Sadly it kicks off at gone 5 so i wont be able to watch the game, or match of the day later as im out. Meaning i will have to rely on internet highlights!

Anyway i predict we will win 3 or 4 - 0, the strongest team will be out there and i reckon Van Persie and Ade will grab a couple of goals and i wouldn't rule one out for Theo as well. To be honest if we don't get 3 points from this game we shouldn't be in the title race this season. We should batter them.

I will try and put a few streams up for you lot, hope you enjoyed reading.

Back tomorrow evening.

Wenger, tackles, Platini, Cesc and youth

To start with then, Cesc Fabregas has spoken of how the young gunners are keeping him awake at night. No, its not them playing with their little kiddie toys, its their class on the pitch that worries him, he reckons they will be after his first team slot soon and recognizes the fact that he has to raise his game;

“I cannot go to sleep as one day or other they will want to play more and more and the manager will want them to play more.

“I will have to be better and better. Wilshere, Ramsey, Merida — they all play in my position. This is great for me. I love competition.

“If the players are so young you can feel your place is too secure.

“So it’s fantastic to have competition — to wake you up and make you a better player.”

Well if he raises his game he will be a truly sensational player, and you know what, the guy is years away from hitting his peak and thats a very scary thought for the opposition.

He has also pledged his future to the Gunners, as long as we continue to play football the way we do he will not go;

“It was not a hard thing for me to stay. I was really relaxed during the summer because I knew I was going to stay at Arsenal.

“I am so happy here that I will never think about moving as long as things keep going the way they are.

“For me it’s not a problem. My mentality is the same since the day I signed for the club.

“What’s the point in having millions and millions in the bank if you don’t enjoy playing and you are not happy?

“I am happy, I love the way we are playing and the fact I’m still here after three season’s without winning anything means something.

“It’s because I love the game, I love the club and I love the way we play football.

“I really enjoy the way we play on the field and for me, that’s the most important thing.”

What a legend he is, a truly remarkable player. I hope we get the success he deserves.

He says when this side wins something it will be very, very special;

“I won the FA Cup and that was a great feeling but I won it with Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp – the team was already done.

“To win something with this team that is completely new would be something really special. I really want to do it.”

You know what? i really think we can win any competition, we are good enough and after all, we've got Cesc Fabregas!

Sticking on the subject of youth, Wenger has spoken about why he didn't sign a player on deadline day, the youth we have. The Genius said;

“I believe we have many good players here and we try to sort out any problems collectively as a team,

“We lost some top-class players in the summer but we always try to produce good young players and develop them. I always feel with the youth policy, the Club has a security and even if one or two players leave, we are strong enough to cope with it.

“I was convinced by our season last year that we are strong enough to challenge again.

“Of course it is a long, long race, but we want to show we have confidence and belief in our players plus we have the stamina to do it.

“Having been in that position before, our determination not to lose our advantage is certainly greater than ever.

“We experienced a big frustration last season and, in a highly-competitive league, we want to stay where we are.

“We were very close last year and it will be close again. We want to show we have learned.”

Well who could argue with him, we will see if he is right in the last couple of months in the season when the shite usually hits the fan and things get all sticky. I think this season really could be the making of these young players. They have potential that beggars belief.

He also stated his thoughts on what constitutes a tough tackle;

"A defender has to be tough and committed, for me if tough is committed I don’t have a problem with it. If tough is the desire to hurt your opponent it’s not acceptable because that’s not the game.

And thats fair enough, but as he also says, you have to stick to the rules,

"The beauty of sport is to win in respect of the rules. If us as managers start to say we don’t have to respect the rules then it can’t be accepted. That’s in boxing, in football, in every sport. You have to respect the rules.

When you get clubs cheating points off you you have a right to be angry, when your players get kicked off the park its not football, its assault. What happens from this is evident in the injury to the Hull player the other week and our very own Eduardo.

The buffoon at the head of UEFA, Platini, has said that he was a bit harsh on Wenger the other day;

"I was too hard on Arsene.

"My dad [Aldo Platini] told me off. He was the one who gave him [Wenger] his break (at Nancy)."

But still went on to have a moan at Wengers policies;

"When I talk about business, what I am talking about is recruiting players when they are 13 or 14. I can't stand it."

What is wrong in making a childs dream come true Platini? what is wrong in making sure kids become the best players they can possibly be. Just look at Fabregas.

Thats about it for today, take care.

More tomorrow.

Vela warning, a new contract and Wenger on the defence

Young Guns has today reported that young keeper Wojciech Szczęsny has signed a new deal at the club, the 18 year old is thought of highly by Arsene Wenger but he has a fight on his hands to overhaul Fabianski and Mannone for the number 1 jersey. However, he is optimistic;

“My plan for the next seven years is to become Arsenal’s number one goalkeeper. Therefore, at this point in time, it doesn’t bother me if I am number 3 or number 4 choice. For me, this contract means that the Club believes in me, and that they do not want me to go anywhere.”

You never know he might prove to be a real gem, good luck to him!

Now onto Carlos Vela, a kid that lit up the Emirates this week with his stunning hat-rick. How he scored his second i will never know, it was out of this world.

Anyway, he has warned the other youngsters at Arsenal to take nothing for granted as there are no guarantees at Arsenal;

"All of the players looked as though they have a great future here, but none of us can be certain of that.

"Some will make it with Arsenal but we all know that others won't."

That is dead right. I'm afraid not all the players that featured the other night will make but but i think they will nevertheless all have very good footballing careers as they have the talent. They have just got to be sensible now and look after themselves and keep wanting to learn.

Vela also said his loan spells really helped him in Spain;

"It was good to go out on loan because I know I'm still young.

"It helped develop and improve my football. I believe I am ready and Arsene Wenger brought me back because he believes I am ready.

"But I just need to be calm and consistent and get into the first team."

On Tuesday night Wenger showed why he persisted with Vela, he is amazingly talented and the spell in Spain kept him out the spotlight too.

Now, did you know that Arsenal have not conceded a goal from open play this season? If you think back, the Fulham goal was a corner, as was the Bolton goal. The Kiev goal was from a penalty kick. Quite some run isn't it?

In total we have gone 810 minutes of football without conceding from open play. Wenger thinks this is a key part in the team spirit;

“We have defended very well, It has not been noticed yet but we’ve only conceded those two goals from two corners. In open play we are quite solid. That, for me, is a good response and a good explanation for the team attitude in the squad.”

And despite conceding goals was our downfall last season, Wenger will not budge from his attacking stance;

“What makes me happy at the moment is that we have a good combination of defensive balance and offensive efficiency, Sometimes when you work on defending better you lose a number of goals.

“But at the moment we are combining the two and it means when everyone puts the effort in we still can be very dangerous going forward.”

I am a believer that if you score more than the other team you will win, no matter what. I think attacking is the way to play football. Defending is not as important as attacking, but it is still a big bonus to have a defence that will shut teams out like ours has.

We are trying to land another young Spaniard from Barcelona according to this story, if he is another Fabregas I'm not complaining!

Otherwise there is not much else floating around today. Hopefully i will be back tomorrow. If not, back Saturday!

Take care Arse's

Wenger supported by LMA and will nurture Jack the ripper.

The LMA has come out to defend Arsene Wenger after Platini's disgusting comments. They wont let one of the worlds best managers get slandered like that in the press and rightly so. Wilkinson said;

"Platini has made serious and personal comments about one of football's greatest ever managers, who is also counted among our most respected members.

"If Platini wishes to address certain issues with Arsene Wenger this would better be done privately and not in the public domain.

"I believe Arsene has always acted in the best interests of the game."

And he is improving the future of the game bringing the talents shown yesterday through, how can they be bad for the game?!

Anyway, less on him.

Jack Wilshere scored on his first Arsenal start last night and at 16 years of age looks like he is just going to get better and better. Wenger wants to protect the lad from the pressure past players have experienced like Wayne Rooney and one Theo Walcott;

"He is a quiet boy, very determined and focused. For the rest, the talent is there. You have seen that again,"

"When you are a manager of a boy like that who has the talent, you are always cautious to put too much pressure on him and too high a level of expectation. "

He needs the space to improve, pressure will only stunt his growth as a player.

Think of lifting heavy weights at too young an age, it damages the body for life. Its the same with a footballer.

Wenger also highlighted the most key years are still to come for the kid;

"I believe it is all in there, but also that I have a responsibility to nurture him and get him in the right development over the next two or three years, that will be vital.

"From 16 to 19 is a very important age for the development of a football player - and Jack has skipped a few classes!"

He really is just too good for a 16 year old lad, to be honest, he doesn't even look 16!

Wenger responded to the Liam Brady comparisons;

"People tell me he is a bit like Liam Brady because he has good balance and change of direction.

"I believe later he will be a central midfielder or behind the strikers."

Well, i wouldn't say he is that good yet but he sure can be!

I think his style is rather like Joe Cole's. What a future the youngster has!

Niklas Bendtner has supported Arsene Wengers transfer policy as he received criticism form all corners of the national press for his failure to sign more players;

"I think every year there is talk about the strength of the squad and every year the boss says we have the players who are here.

"They have showed they have the quality to do what is required of them.

"I don't think there was any doubt that people here thought we were strong and capable enough. We are top of the table and are doing well.

"If you have to add to the squad, you have to add to the squad. I can only say that what we have here has shown to be really good so far."

He damn well should support it because that is why he is getting his chance!

In all honesty i think he will end up better than Adebayor, he is far more clinical and is also no mug around the box picking out runs. He lacks the skill of Ade but that could also be a positive thing as he wouldn't waste so much possession. A great prospect who has had two great games this week. Well done Nick.

He has also spoke about the other Arsenal strikers.

I have to say i think we have the strongest strikeforce in the world.

Van Persie is so talented, he just needs to stay fit.

Adebayor gets goals and is a big game player, if he was more clinical he would be devastating.

Bendtner is growing all the time, a brilliant prospect and is clinical.

Vela, Pure quality, youthful quality with the potential to get much better too. Deadly in the box.

Eduardo, rarely misses a chance and will be very important when he is back fighting fit.

Walcott. Been our Ronaldo recently. Again, enormous potential and has improved beyond recognition.

What other team can match that? None.

Anyways, I'm happy, Ive made a post without swearing!

The goals from last night are here

Take care guys.

Kids - who would 'ave 'em?

Arsene Wenger obviously!

Now, not even i, in my infinite wisdom could have predicted that most wonderful result. Lets just have ourselves a little reminder of the delights of the '09 CC Kids';

Merida and Vela created an opportunity for Niklas Bendtner, who rammed it home from outside the area.

1-0

Ramsey then showed his class with a brilliant run and even better flick to the big Dane who again, stuck it in the back of the net

2-0

Bendtner then provided Vela with a flick over the Sheffield Utd defence for Vela to finish in splendid fashion. The best was yet to come

3-0

Vela left Paddy Kenny on his fat arse with a quite ridiculous bit of skill. It was almost too good for a 19 year old who has only had a few minutes of 1st team football this season. It was almost too good for a 19 year old.

4-0

Fran Merida's corner picked Jack Wilshere and he showed great composure to drill a low shot past Kenny from 22 yards. This was just getting better and better!

5-0

And Vela put the icing on the cake, the little Mexican Magician completing a most fantastic hat-rick with a clinically taken effort. The future is bright Arsenal brothers.

6-0

It was a truly magical night and showed how good our young players are, the average age of the side being 19 and probably dropping once subs were made in the second half.

Well done to all the players today, they have done the club and its fans proud and on this showing they are going to go very far in this competition.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it Platini. Please leave your views on the game, your opinion is just as important as mine.

Good day Goons, take care out there!

Platini is a total and utter nonsensical piece of baby making.

Ive well and truly had it with this cunting waste of motherfucking space. He has riled me before but this time he has slated off someone i admire and I'm just not having it. Cunt.

The guy is a hypocrite, he slates off Manchester Utd and Chelsea for not being run properly because of their arse licking sugar daddies, then he has a go at us and Arsene Wenger, calling him 'selfish' and a 'business man'. The cunt.

"I like to talk about football, him (Wenger) about business. We must stop with Wenger and all that."

That is what sky sports wrote. This is what he really said, thanks to Young Guns for this;

"We must shut up about Wenger and everything, he is an extremely selfish person"

"He only cares about business"

The despicable cunt. You were a great footballer but you can fuck off with your millions now, stop destroying the game and annoying its greatest people.

He also had the cheek to say this;

"I would not mind if the technology is introduced, Just as long as Arsene Wenger isnt around to see it" *smiles*

Now, i know Tottenham fans that have said that this is just total and utter shite, this idiot is governing UEFA and having bumsex with Sepp Blatter, FIFA president. He is downright abusing his powers and its only because he gets the tiny and insignificant footballing countries votes he is in office. He said that he will introduce more Eastern European teams into the Champions League. Reading between the lines, he just wants to destroy it.

Insult the bastard here.

He also said one of the most stupid comments ive ever read in my entire life. Like, the equivilent of saying 'walk past Macdonald's, with the massive Macdonald's sign on it'

He said;

"That is what makes football so great, It is what people like Wenger do not want, little clubs beating the big clubs."

Well why the fuck would a big club want to be beaten by a smaller club?

What a moronic cuntpiece.

You have the right to free speech and your opinion and so do i. that's why i say, go and jump of a fucking bridge you cunt.

Paul Merson can also fuck off, i hate him and have not even bothered to read this.

Now, onto tonights game.

The line up will be a very very young one, but the team has class and would probably beat premiership sides let alone an average Championship side at home. An attack of Bendtner and Vela is one that would cause lots of teams big problems, aided with a midfield of Ramsey and a defence with Alex Song in it, has a good spine. I think Fabianski may well captain them.

I think we will scrape a win, i see us conceding a sloppy goal but maybe Bendtner and Vela will put goals past them so im going for a 2-1 win.

I would like to see Fran Merida play as well, see if he is up to the 'new Fabregas' tag. Im also interested in how Wilshere will deal with getting lumps kicked out of him by fat cunty defenders.

As you can tell, Platini has really got on my tits today so apologies for the rather bad language!

Take care and up the arse!

New deal for Djourou and the youngest side ever tomorrow.

Today It has been confirmed by Arsenal that young defender Johan Djourou has signed a new long term deal at the club. I think this is brilliant news because the kid has amazing potential and at one stage was a player the club kept very quiet about as they were worried other teams might snatch him off us, such is his potential. He has been getting better and better and is probably the long term replacement for William Gallas. Lets hope he lives up to expectations!

Wenger has suggested that he may put out his youngest side ever tomorrow, Wilshere is expected to start whilst players like G.Hoyte, Merida and even Frimpong set to appear;

“There is a possibility [it will be the youngest side ever],” said Wenger. “In the first team there are many players around 20. In the Carling Cup we will keep a few in there but the side will be more between 16 and 19. At Arsenal you can say 20 and 21-year-olds are the experienced players.

“You are likely to see Gavin Hoyte, Abu Ogogu, Aaron Ramsey, Mark Randall, Jack Wilshere, Fran Merida and Carlos Vela. Maybe Bendtner will play. Song, Djourou and Lukasz Fabianski will be the experienced players. But you will have players like Emmanuel Frimpong and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas so it will be a very young side.”

You have to wonder whether it will be a bit too young a side to overcome what will be a robust Sheffield Utd but it will be a fantastic test for them and I'm pretty sure at 15 quid a ticket the Emirates will be full!

Wenger has also said that he is happy to be building a side in a different way from other top teams such as the Mancs and Chelsea;

“When you are not on the transfer market you are a little bit ignored at the start of the season because the attention is focused on the big signings,” said Wenger. “Most of the time, big signings mean you are favourites.

“We have gone a different way. We are trying to build a young side with a cohesive way to play the game with a culture of football we like.

“We were close last year so there is no reason why we should not be in there again this season.

“Today we had Denilson 20, Fabregas 21, Bendtner 20, Walcott 19, Song 20. When those players fight for the title one year you can hope they will be better the next year.

“We are more robust than people think we are.”

I think these players will do him proud and get us silverware at some point because he sure as fuck deserves it, the man is a genius and a total and utter legend. I for one, admire him. The youngsters will get better and Denilson looks like he could bag a few handy goals this season, he has two already, and a fair few assists too.

King Kolo has also highlighted the importance of away wins this season, and he is dead right;

“We know every time we come away from home we need to do well,” he said. “We lost a lot of points last season and we knew we had to work on it.

"We just have to play as well as we do at Emirates Stadium. There we are on top but sometimes when we go away we just don’t start well. We have been working on it and we hope to keep going.”

Snatching draws and wins away from home will put us right up there and if we get a good 7-8 game run going now of wins we will be in a fantastic position and i really fancy us to beat all our rivals this season, we are more than capable of it.

There is also a fantastic free video on the clubs website with Dennis Bergkamp's 10 best goals, they are all absolute stunners!

What a player he was. Now I'm getting all nostalgic!

Sorry for no real post yesterday, i was rushed off my feet.

Keep reading and looking forward to tomorrows game!

Apologies.

I apologize for not posting today, i will make sure to update you all tomorrow!!

I just want to leave a message though, to all the people that were killed in that terrorist attack in Pakistan yesterday. You will never be forgotten.

O what lovely places we are visiting!

Bolton is one of the worlds most picturesque places. Not.

The squad have already seen the delights of Blackburn, Kiev and are now about to visit the beautiful Bolton. But before i preview the game I'm going to chat a bit about Alex Song, Theo and Denilson.

Alex Song has been earmarked by Wenger to fill in that problem central midfield position, and i think he can do that. He works hard for the team and yes, he does make a few mistakes but he is still very young and doesn't really have much experience so far. When he came off against Kiev we saw how much more vulnerable we were with massive gaps appearing and with Song on the pitch they were not appearing at all. He is powerful and a good runner with the ball, as demonstrated when he played against Blackburn in the Carling Cup last year, he rampaged forward on many occasions leading the commentators on 5Live to describe his runs as 'Beckenbauer like'. Song is also strong in the tackle and i think we will be very important for us this season, i think he will start against Bolton.

Wenger has pretty much said the same of Denilson too, i like Denilson, i think he could be a class player but i do doubt whether his involvement in the team stifles Cesc's influence, he is still very young and if we had more midfield cover i think he may well have gone out on loan in the summer.

Wenger is definitely trying to boost their confidence.

Gallas has also got Wenger's praise;

"He was a striker when he was young and you can see he has the nose to be where you have to be at the right moment. If it is a corner or a deflected goal, William Gallas is there. He has kept something of a striker in him and that comes out in these desperate situations.

"The biggest quality of a striker who scores goals is exceptional skill or through anticipation and understanding where the ball will be. William anticipates and attacks the space.

"His goals can make the difference. I am convinced that in a game like Kiev it was an important goal, because coming back from Kiev with a defeat or with a point, it is a completely different perspective for the Champions League and the game at Bolton."

I do think his goals are very important to us, every team needs a defender that can pop up with goals and without Gallas we don't really have that as Toure will only get one a season and two if he is really lucky. Saying that, without his goal we wouldn't have got the the champions League Final.

Theo Walcott also needs more protection from those ref cunts according to Arsene, i cant help but agree, Ronaldo gets that protection so why shouldnt Walcott? Kicking players isn't football, its violence. Wenger doesn't want special protection for him but wants him to stop being targeted, defenders go for him, not the ball.

Right now, Preview time.

Today we can open up a gap over Chelsea and Man United as they play each other and we just have to take advantage. Bolton is a tricky place for us, we lost there 3 years on the spin recently and last years game showed just how much character we had and this year its another test. They will kick, there is no doubt about that, luckily Diaby isn't playing but i feel we do need Eboue to keep a lid on things and we need our players to give it right back at the cunts and with Song and Eboue i feel we will. I'm not sure about Bendtner starting up front with Adebayor, Van Persie has had some torrid games against Bolton, i think we all remember this comical moment;



That was very funny indeed but he got a kind of revenge with the penalty last season.

Arsene Wenger wants fatigue to be forgotten about because we just have to win;

“It will not be an issue because we don't put that in our brain, You want just to keep the focus as we had it at Blackburn and Kiev then let's get the maximum out of the game.

“When you are a competitor you want competition so you cannot complain when you have that competition and you are tired. This is a fantastic opportunity because when you are a football player you want to play football matches.”

We also had a similar period like this last season and it probably cost us the title;

“Yes at that stage we played four away games on the trot, We lost in Sevilla but after that we won at Aston Villa.

“At Middlesbrough it's true we were a bit jaded physically. But I don't expect that [again]. We had a bad start up there and, of course, when you are a little bit jaded it is harder to get back into your game. So it's important we have a successful start to this game.”

We have Nasri, Sylvester (again, told you so) and Diaby missing along with of course Dudu and Rosicky.

The game is at 5 or something like that, hopefully we will be alright and not do what we did against Fulham. However i am not overly optimistic.

Prediction: Bolton 1 Arsenal 1

I think Elmander has a point to prove for Bolton and i feel we may be on the receiving end, I also fell Adebayor will get another goal.

The reason i will go for the draw is the we have a dodgy defence and Davies will exploit that and also we were not clinical enough against Blackburn (we did score 4 but had many more chances) and Kiev, that was costly.

Depending on time i may do a match analysis later i may not,

Leave me your predictions here, and keep your ideal Eduardo comeback scenario's coming in! look back to yesterdays blog for ideas.

Contact details are on the right hand side of you need them.

Up the arse Gunners.

Should we benefit from the clubs profits?

There are lots of things im going to talk about today,

• Ticket prices
• Profits
• Rosicky
• Eduardo
• Stan Kroenke
  

First things first, I pointed out a while ago that we were set to announce record profits, and they were duly announced today by the club.

One thing i would like to see however is a deduction in the ticket price which has become absolutely astronomical, there are empty seats appearing as the credit crunch bites and people just cant afford to go to games anymore. I think this really needs to be addressed because not only the ticket is expensive, the travel to and from games, food and just anything associated with a day out at the footy is just too expensive. It used to be a working class sport but now the true fans are being forced away to make way for rich bastards in flash cars.

Arsene Wenger has spoken about Rosicky's setback, he said;

"He is not close to playing again and he has not had any real setback, but the evolution (of his injury) is very slow.

"The recovery process is slower than we expected at the start. It doesn't look worrying but the delay is longer than expected.

"He had a re-attached tendon that was loose in his hamstring, and that demands a lot of time to re-coordinate the movements of the hamstring. That makes it very difficult to predict exactly one week more or less how much time it will take.

"But I am optimistic that before Christmas you will see him in a good shape."

Rosicky also spoke about the injury himself;

"Everything went well, according to the schedule. When I was running long distances, it [the hamstring] gave me no problems at all.

"But when I started on the ball and tried to change directions of running and changed pace, the knee reacted badly. So far it does not allow me to go on in the recovery so it has stopped my training for some time. I am not resting completely, though.

"I can lift weights and do other exercises. The knee simply must get down. It does not mean at all though that I have to end my career.

"I don't understand how it could have been published as no-one has spoken with me on this issue. This news have come out probably because I was expected to return in September, which failed.

Hopefully we will see the man back soon, he is an exceptional player and a vital cog in the Arsenal machine, hopefully this may fix his problems for good.

A long awaited update on Eduardo's situation was also given, and it appears he is ahead of schedule and will be back before Christmas, fingers crossed. It would be a remarkable recovery when he returns, i do see him scoring on his return imagine this...

" And its Adebayor,

Adebayor... beats the defender pulls it back for

Eduardooooooo!!

Hes back alright! "

Anyway, Wengers actual words were;

"He is still very much on course and he could be a very good surprise because he is a little ahead of schedule,"

Well today Arsenal have given us a double whammy the jammy sods! not only do they have record profits but they also have a new man on the board, Stanley Kroenke, the American billionaire with a really, really dodgy tash.

The statement read;

E. Stanley Kroenke has accepted the Board’s invitation to become a director of Arsenal Holdings PLC ("Arsenal") as a Non-Executive Director.

Mr Kroenke is the shareholder in Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE), the leading live sports and entertainment group based in Denver, Colorado. In April this year KSE acquired from ITV plc a 50% share in Arsenal Broadband Limited and at the same time entered into a strategic partnership with the Club through Colorado Rapids, the KSE franchise. Mr Kroenke holds approximately 12.4% of Arsenal’s issued share capital.

Mr Kroenke fully supports the approach the Board has taken in setting the direction of the Club. The Board believes Mr Kroenke’s experience in sports team commercial management, sports marketing, media and new media rights as well as real estate development will be of great value to the Board.

Mr Kroenke has confirmed that he will not increase his shareholding beyond 29.9% of Arsenal's issued share capital within the twelve months following the date of this announcement, save as specified in this announcement.*

Arsenal Chairman, Peter Hill-Wood, commented:"We are delighted to welcome Stan to the Board of Arsenal. He brings with him a wealth of experience through his direct involvement in sports clubs in the US and we expect to benefit from his commercial insights and knowledge."

Stan Kroenke said: "It is a real honour to be invited to join the Board of Arsenal given its pre-eminent reputation and position in football world-wide. I hope that my background in sports management will be an asset to Arsenal in its commercial dealings going forward."

*Mr Kroenke, and any person who has acted in concert with him or any person who is subsequently acting in concert with him, reserves the right to increase his shareholding beyond 29.9% of Arsenal's issued share capital within twelve months, and to take any other action which would otherwise be precluded under Rule 2.8 of The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, with the agreement of the Board of Arsenal or following the announcement of an offer or possible offer for Arsenal or if there is a material change of circumstances. Mr. Kroenke is not a party to the lockdown agreement which was signed by the other directors of Arsenal in October 2007.

That last bit looks interesting, we will just have to see how it all pans out wont we.

Ok, now we need a bit of 'consumer feedback', well i think its called that.

What are your opinions on the new look? Please give feedback!

And also; What would be your perfect Eduardo comeback scenario? Let me know and il write them up!

Ok, well hope you enjoyed the read; have a good evening; back tomorrow

t'ra

Quick kiev round up

Sorry this is going to be fairly vague.

The first half was not too bad, all apart from the finishing which i think was nothing short of shocking, multiple chances that just didn't find their way into the back of the net, then it all got worse when they bungled themselves a penalty. A penalty that was clearly not, on second viewing. I did think it was a penalty at 1st i have to admit!

Luckily Gallas stepped up and got the all important equalizer. I don't see many teams getting wins there if they play like that every game, especially teams like Porto who will be freezing in the Kiev weather conditions later on in the winter.

Thats his third in three champions league games, he does get important goals and i hope he carries on like that.

There is some great news about Rosicky who it seems is not going to retire with this injury. Fantastic news.

Yaya Toure has said he snubbed us; Fuck off then.

This is Charlie Nicholas's view on the game

Sorry theres not much today, i have a lot on.

Take care.

If you wish to contact me; goonblogger@googlemail.com is the mail.

Til later.

Kiev Preview and Guthrie reaction.

I'm not going to give the Guthrie 'tackle' the honour of being featured first on today's blog so straight onto the game tonight!

I feel this game is winnable and the Dynamo Kiev team of old is nothing like this team, although they have had a good run up to this game. Importantly for us i think the game will be a fairly open game and that gives us a massive chance with the pace of Walcott, Eboue, Adebayor and Van Persie. I think Van Persie will slot into midfield when we are defending because it means that we can dominate that area of the park and restrict Dynamo's time on the ball, and when we win the ball back we can break with devastating consequences. Man Utd won 4-2 last year and their team has probably improved since then with the new coach and they are probably a better 'team' as well, i mean that as in the players will be more of a group.

Yury Semin, Kiev's coach has said that it will be tough for Dynamo;

"Arsene Wenger's side play an easy natural game, and enjoy their football, They have many young and talented footballers, all very technically gifted."

And also about how Adebayor is key to us and aims to keep him quiet;

"We knew very well prior to this the capabilities of the Arsenal forward, But we will not be putting a man-marker on him. Adebayor plays all over the pitch, and in every zone there will be one of our players to meet him."

I think Ade will be very important going forward for us, as i said VP may well drop into midfield so he will have to hold up play and drag players out to make the spaces for Walcott and VP to work into.

This game will not be easy for us but i expect us to win, if we want to go far in this competition there are far better teams we will have to beat away from home.

The line up i predict is;

========Almunia========

Sagna==Toure==Gallas==Clichy

Eboue=Fabregas=Denilson=Walcott

===Adebayor==Van Persie===


With the midfield dropping into this when defending;

Eboue=Fabregas=Denilson=Van Persie=Walcott

Prediction: Dynamo Kiev 1 Arsenal 3

I think Adebayor will get a goal, along with Van Persie and maybe Clichy will get his first?

Now onto the bit that's absolutely disgusted me, made the FA a laughing stock and showed blatant bias towards English players.

Danny Guthrie, you can read my thoughts on him in a previous blog but he has not had his 3 match ban added too, HE BLOKE A PLAYERS LEG OUT OF PURE FUCKING MALACE!
How is this fair? If it was a foreigner that made that tackle they would have been hit with an extra ban, remember the Carling cup final, Adebayor got sent off for an imaginary punch on the ref's part, he then pleaded his rightful innocence and got smacked with a ban on top of a 3 game ban and missed about 5 games if i remember rightly. Guthrie broke a players leg FOR FUCKS SAKE!!!

And he gets off with a 3 game ban.

Fucking idiocy.

If he ever wears an England shirt i will never ever watch the national team again.

Sorry to end on that sour note.

Id also like to point out Wighty7's and Hail Gunners blog, there a good read and worth a few minutes of your time.

Enjoy the game, til tomorrow bitches.

Let me know your thought on Guthrie's lack of punishment and Predictions/thoughts on tonights game.

Up the arse.

Nasri out and what did i say? Vela travels.

I seem to remember when Arsene said that Fishface will be ready by Wednesday i kind of mocked it. And i was right. He along with Nasri is out of the Kiev (mmmm) tie. However on the positive side Eboue and Clichy are fit to play and Carlos Vela has also traveled in the place of Gibbs. I will talk more about the Kiev game tomorrow in a proper preview.

Adebayor has said that he thinks the group is going to be a tough one, despite others thinking it will be fairly easy;

I think a lot of people think it’s going to be an easy one but I don’t think so. I don’t think it is going to be easy to pass through. We know that playing in Ukraine is going to be very difficult especially because their players are playing in front of their fans and will be doing everything to win the game. But we are Arsenal. We just have to believe in ourselves and, if we can, play our football. If we can stay patient, score the goals then, in the end, we’ll win the game. That’s what we’re going there for.

Adebayor also thinks that this is a very tough week for Arsenal Football Club, the first third is done but the toughest two thirds are to come;

It’s big, it’s the first time we’re going to play three times away in one week. We’ve won at Blackburn so we have to play away again. We know it’s important to win especially when you play the first leg of the Champions League away and then we travel to Bolton so yeah anyway we are just taking game after game. We go to Kiev. Let’s win that game then we can talk easily about the game at Bolton.

I think in terms of Adebayor's view's on other teams, he never underestimates them, that shows maturity and level headedness, something i think he lacked during the summer. Maybe he has learnt his summer lesson and it will spur him on to be a better player, but also keep his feet on the ground

Legend Kanu has also spoken at how Wenger changed his life, Kanu had a heart op and Wenger put faith in him and he delivered;

“I owe him a lot because he believed in me, He gave me self confidence and faith. And I think I paid him back because I did very well with Arsenal.

“We were all together, like a family during this period, and I scored special goals, especially against Chelsea, three in 15 minutes.

“He gave me the chance to have fun playing football and permitted me to dream on.”

I think he is a true legend, outside football he is a great man that has helped many people with his various charities. He is an Arsenal great and a fantastic person.

Young guns has an exclusive on the 'next Freddy Adu', Charles Renken. Only 14.

Id also like to mention that cunt Guthrie, yes he has issued an apology but its for a tackle that was designed to hurt, and it resulted in a broken leg. a 6 month ban from football would sort him out. What do you think??

Right , about it for today. Back tomorrow with news and a preview.

Wenger on the title.

Today Arsene Wenger has spoken about how he thinks the league title will pan out. He believes that just 4 games in the league will be a close call and expects it to be interesting along the way, I happen to agree, Liverpool have improved a bit but not enough to overtake us, and i dont think we have improved enough to overtake the Mancs and the Chavs. But, we will just have to wait and see. Wenger said;

“This season you will need a high number of points and you will have to be consistent, I don’t know how many we’ll need, ask me again in January then we will have a better idea.

“But you might have a surprising team coming in to challenge like Man City, Tottenham and maybe Portsmouth. It will certainly be very tight and very interesting.

“Last season, I feel we did not get enough credit for what we did. We were very close. We made 83 points in the League and I have won the title with 78 before. But the competition was very high last season and looks like it will be the same this season.”

I think we can win the league, but it depends on how Man Utd deal with the added games such as the World Club Championship and how Chelsea deal with the loss of Essien and how they cope through the tough winter months.

Discuss here your thoughts on Arsenal's title chances.

I dont see anybody getting near the top 4 this season, Citeh have been taken over but as shown by Real Madrid, you cannot buy the worlds best players and always get success. What did they win in the 4 years that Zidane, Raul, Beckham, Ronaldo and Figo were together? Fuck all!

That final day of the transfer window was a pure cuntorama for football.

Wenger has spoken out praising his 'unselfish' strikers after RVP gave the ball to Adebayor to score his 2nd goal, Van Persie is usually the penalty taker but it shows how well those two players get on and how good the Arsenal team spirit is;

“I like the fact that Van Persie gave him the penalty,”

“That is good for the team spirit as he had not scored before today in the League this season. In the end he got a hat-trick and that will give him the needed confidence.

“The No 1 penalty-taker is Van Persie, the No 2 is Adebayor. But they have the right to reverse it. So this decision is down to Van Persie. He gave the ball to Adebayor, who had asked him if he could take it.

“Last week, Van Persie scored two, this weekend Adebayor scored aswell. I believe this shows that the team has a collective spirit and everybody can score.”

The confidence point is a good one, Adebayor is a bit of a confidence player and that hat-trick will have him brimming with confidence. Hopefully we will see a few more strikes like the one i like to call the 'spudalator' at WHL last season.

Thats pretty much it im afraid, keep reading and take care.

Also, feel free to take a look at the Arsenal charity this year, the link is on the RHS.

Arsenal to announce record profits and LOTS more!

According to The Times Arsenal are set to announce record profits, making us the 3rd richest club in the world.

This time last year the turnover was reported to be £200.8m, this year it has rocketed to about £225m. Before tax its reported that the profits are nearing £40 million, and the operating profit over £50 million.

The advantage of the Emirates is now starting to show, and i don't expect the profits to stop growing, its a realistic prospect that on turnover and profit, this club could become the worlds richest.

This shows the benefit of the Emirates, Arsenal hosted 31 home matches last season to increase match-day revenue to more than £96m, while the club received an extra £17m in broadcasting revenue compared with the previous year. The wage bill is also in the lower 50% in the league on turnover, quite remarkable for a club of Arsenals size!

Now, to where the shit hits the fan. Everybody is suffering from the so called 'credit crunch'. Arsenal are no different. The club reported that 91% of the Highbury development flats had been sold, but, it is understood that buyers are ready to ditch their deposits. This means that the profit calculations need to be altered, maybe the club will wait until the market is on the up in a couple of years time.

The club is £245m in debt and servicing annual repayments of £24m, the Highbury Square development is vital to the debt repayment.

All in all though, the clubs future is looking fairly sweet!

So, onto other news and defensive midfielders. The shutting of the transfer window hasnt stopped the rumour mongers spouting off and another player to be linked with us for the January transfer window is Veloso. To be honest i dont see Wenger parting with 16 million.

Now, i told you about Carlos Luciano Silva or 'Mineiro‘ the other day. Young Guns has since reported that he took part in a behind the doors friendly with Fulham the other day, looks like he may well be joining. He would probably be happy to sit on the bench as well, i thought a few days ago that Wenger would no way go for him but then again, he does suprise everyone!

Adebayor has said that he is a team player after his treble yesterday, i hope he keeps his shooting boots on because if we keep up this rate of scoring it doesnt matter how many we concede because we will always be able to score more!

he said;

"People kept asking me when I was going to score my first goal in the league this season.

"But I told them it is more important that the team wins. We showed good character at Blackburn and that will help our confidence."

It does seem like the fans are starting to warm to him again as he puts the goals in. The Adebayooooooooor chants have started up again, yes, both of them.

I have found a nice little article about how Denilson is used. Im not sure who has written it but it has lots of good points about his strengths and weaknesses. I dont think he is a DM but do we need one? I think we need one that doesnt give away the stupid free kicks Denny does.

Niklas Bendtner has claimed that he is only going to get better, i think he could be much better than Adebayor, he does seem a lot more clinical. Nik said;

"You are going to see even more of me, I'm going to progress even more. The manager knows as well that I have plenty more to my game than has been shown. But as I said I'm sure it will come. When you see me play with my national team it's like when I was at Birmingham. Once I get a few games going then I don't see any problem."

He does think highly of himself, as shown by this response;

I ask if there are any weaknesses to his game. "No," is the succinct response. So what kind of striker are you? "I'm all round. I'm lucky I have the size. You have more power and you're more likely to hold the ball up when you're a tall guy. I'm fairly quick. For me, you have to believe in everything you do. There's a difference between arrogance and self-belief. Doubt is the enemy."

I think that is a good thing, without self-belief you cant be as good as you could be, he knows he is a good player and now he just has to show his improvement. I have a feeling he will be used to rest Adebayor in the Champions League games, the earlier ones anyway.

Clichy and Eboue are also doubts for the Kiev trip, Arsene said;

“They [Clichy & Eboue] will be assessed when we get back. It’s not looking too good for either of them”

Looks like Gibbs or Gallas may have to take the left back role.

I said there was lots today, whenever i mention Dynamo Kiev i think of chicken Kiev's, im hungry now.

Back Tomorrow Afternoon.

Blackburn put to the slaughter by rampant Gunners.

Blackburn 0 Arsenal 4
(Van Persie, Adebayor X3)
Goals here

Brief Summary
A fantastic Arsenal performance put them 2nd in the table after Van Persie and Adebayor put them to the sword. Theo Walcott showed why everyone is raving about him with a fantastic assist for VP to slot home in clinical fashion, Adebayor doubled the lead after a pinpoint Denilson cross was converted home. Later on in the 2nd half Eboue was felled in the box and later stretchered off, Adebayor stepped up and stuck it in the corner past Paul Blobinson. Late on Wilshere and Ramsey entered the fray and it was the latter that slotted a brilliant through ball to Adebayor who rounded fatty and completed the treble to send a message to their title rivals and send the fans into raptures.

Man of the Match: Denilson

The signs are good for Arsenal, the freeflowing football is back, Adebayor and Van Persie are firing, Theo Walcott is more dangerous than ever and confidence is flowing.

Some of todays moves oozed class enough to make you dampen your pantio's slightly and 4-0 was not a flattering score line. If i had to look on the negative side it would be defensive uncertainty, Santa Cruz was getting far too much space and Toure and Gallas were not spectators , they were busy.

Todays performance was certaily a message to our rivals and pundits, we are certainly underdogs this year but thats when this team is dangerous, we were underdogs against Milan and look what we did to them, this team is class and will continue to improve as the players get older.

We were without Nasri today and it shows how good Eboue was that we didnt miss him, i thought he had a great game and caused lots of problems, he certainly has improved and can no longer be used as a scapegoat by disgruntled fans.

Arsene Wenger said after the game;

"I think we did well and it was a good defensive performance. Just because we scored four goals, you may think it was all Arsenal, but Blackburn played well.

"They were dangerous as well going forward and we had to defend very well, especially on crosses in the first half.

"The second goal before half-time certainly was a big blow for them and, after that, three and four came logically."

"I believe that fluency is one of our strengths and to be clinical was very important today," he continued.

"We have found slowly our rhythm and our pace. We scored four against Twente, three against Newcastle and four today and we slowly get confident and physically ready to play."

He makes a good point about Blackburn, they did play well in the 2nd half and that goal just before half time was a sucker punch, it really put them down and after that it was all Arsenal really.

He also said that he considered resting Theo after his England heroics during the week;

"Yes, I rotate the players and I did rest completely Nicklas Bendtner, who didn't play at all.

"He had a little ankle problem and played two games for Denmark. We gave some time to Jack Wilshere, 16, and Aaron Ramsey, 17. It's good we have a young squad, but very talented."

It was good to see Ramsey who looked fantastic in his little cameo and Jack who didn't really see the ball in his 6-7 minutes.

Overall its been a good day for Arsenal Football Club, and a little mention to the match changing substitution of Nacer Barazite who helped Derby end their losing run. Ive heard he was fantastic.

Anyway back tomorrow, spread the word guys.

Til' Then!

Bad news about Rosicky

Thomas Rosicky has been out for a long long time now and reports earlier this summer have said that his operation was a success and he will be back before October, however, various stories similar to this are being run. And its not good news. The operation he has was on his hamstring, where it enters the knee area. I think it had become detached from other bits in the knee that it should have been, this type of injury also accounted for his brothers retirement from football. When he had that operation it was make or break really, he has suffered so many injuries like this throughout his Arsenal, and Dortmund career and i think that unless something changes soon he may well be forced to end his career early. These injuries wont just be physical blows for Thomas but they will affect him mentally as well, the excitement that he had about returning, all the gruelling rehabilitation, all to suffer another setback. I really really feel for him. He has been one of my favourite players for a long time, even before he came to the Gunners and i just hope I'm worrying too much and he will be back.

This is from an article written last year in which Rosicky's Czech Republic international team doctor talked about his injury problems;

Tomas has an imbalance of his muscle structure,"

"In my opinion, this plays a big role in his injuries. Some of his muscles work more and are more developed whereas others are not.

"The problem is in the coordination of muscles which Tomas uses. Muscles on the rear side of his thigh are enormously strained, it is a matter from his childhood."

That would make sense as all his injuries have been muscular, i do think there is something wrong in the medical room at Arsenal because the amount of injures we have is just abnormal for a top premier league club, we don't just have the odd year of injuries, we have them season after season after season, not just 1 or 2 injuries either, its the same old faces getting injured. It really doesn't help our charges for silverware. What do you think about Rosicky's injury woes? Have your say here.

Arsene Wenger has also spoken about the much publicised role of a Director of Football, a role that has caused upset at a few clubs recently, namely KK at the Barcodes.

Now, onto this weekends game, FINALLY!

Blackburn Vs Arsenal

With Vela and Nasri probably missing out we may well see Alex Song come into midfield and Denilson move out to the left, i expect Theo to start on the bench but there is a chance he could still start on the right if Nasri is out. We need to be at our very best i feel, Blackburn are not a bad side and they always make it difficult for us to win there. I think we will probably go to a 4-5-1 with Van Persie dropping into midfield when we are defending. Toure and Gallas will have to be on the top of their game against Santa Cruz if he is fit to play, another reason why Song might be in the side as he is a good player in the air. If we perform like we did against Newcastle i think we will win well, if we perform like we did after the last international break we will lose.

Prediction: Blackburn 1 (Roberts) Arsenal 2 (Fabregas, Adebayor)

Leave your predictions here!

Id also like to thank all you readers, this blog is heading towards 2000 views in just over 2 weeks so for all you guys returning every day, thanks for making this worthwhile!

If you wish to contact me: goonblogger@googlemail.com Spam me you die!

Til' Tomorrow, Take care.

No to Appiah, fishface crocked again.

Thats it Theo, shoot that Cashley cunt! Gd lad.
Goal 1, Goal 2, Goal 3.

Well after that hellishly good performance by one Theo Walcott i have some injury news to bring. Samir Nasri is a big doubt for the game at Blackburn because of a knee problem, this caused him to sit out France's game yesterday. Vela is also looking like being out of the question because he has to travel back from the other side of the world, i hope this isnt going to be something that happens regually because we cannot afford to have him miss every game after an International break.

Nicky Bendtner netted against Portugal last night, hopefully that will give his confidence a good boost, also, Fabregas was on the bench for the majority of Spain's game yesterday so thats good news.

So onto Appiah; Today Wenger has totally ruled out bringing him to the Emirates, he said;

"No, we are not on the case,"

Cant get more to the point than that. Sadly, Wenger wasnt that blunt when it came to talking about his summer signings!

Fishface's injury isnt a bad one, just a niggle that will keep him out til the midweek game against Dynamo Kiev,

“We had a minor setback with him, but if he is not available for Saturday he will be OK for Wednesday certainly.”

Thats until Tuesday when he will probably have picked up another niggle that will keep him out til next weekend, and so on and so on.

Yes, i am a cynic!

Wenger has also said that Theo can be as good as he wants to be, he has everything he needs to be a truly great player;

"I always believed that he will be a fantastic player and I was never concerned - I know he can score goals and I know on the breaks he can be clinical. But for me, most of all is that he continues to develop as a team player.

"What happened yesterday we have to consider to be an exception. Even for players of 25, 26 to score three goals in an international game is a one-off. What is very good is that he has the confidence of [Fabio] Capello in that he plays at that level at 19 years of age.

"How good can he be? Don't set any limitations on any human being because once you have talent the rest is down to how much you want it and to how intelligent you are. I believe he is hungry in a quiet way - quiet determination - and he is intelligent."

He can be a truly awesome player, at 19 and after 4 caps he has his first England Hat-trick, and the Croats are no mugs you know. Most England trebles have came against thoroughly shite opposition, the exception being Owen's against Ze Germans.

I have to agree with Wenger that Theo's levelheadedness and intelligence showed through in his interview, in particular his praise of David Beckham.

Eduardo has also praised TW14.

We have today been linked to some skanky Brazillian who is like 33. I don't see this one happening to be honest! If we get him why didn't we keep Gilberto?

I think thats about it for today, il update tomorrow afternoon with a preview of our weekend game at Ewood Park.

Til then, break a leg.