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.

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.