8 Personnel changes, disjointed performance - surely a coincidence?

Arsene Wenger said last night that the 8 changes he made to the first team after the game at Chelski had no effect on the game against Wigan. Its a shame for all of his money and brains he's not got a decent optician.

Diaby and Denilson had a shocker. Everyone in the stand heaved a sigh of relief when Diaby went off and Wilshire came on. We immediately looked a better side as Wilshire and Rosicky were on the same page immediately.

It was a very disjointed performance last night. It lacked pace, power, tenacity - everything that was in abundance against Chelski. When we were 2:1 up and N'Zog got himself sent off Wenger should have immediately put on Walcott and Nasri. Instead he procrastinated and thought we'd just try and see the game out only to watch Wigan equalise. I said just before they scored that if we didn't make a change soon we'd lose momentum, they'd score and then stick 10 men behind the ball. Exactly what happened. Everyone could see it coming and its disappointing to lose two points like that.

I'm not generally a fan of cheering for a player who's not on the pitch, but we all felt the same. We needed the dynamism and pace of Nasri and Walcott, so the chants began.

In terms of performances, several things were apparent last night; 1) Squillaci doesn't talk to anyone. 2) Diaby and Denilson should be sold. - Denilson isn't a central midfielder, he needs space to work and you don't get that in central midfield. Diaby is a conundrum in himself, I don't know what to do with him. He's so far away from being match fit its ridiculous he started. He was so far off the pace of the game he was practically static. When fit, he's powerful going forwards, but last night he had a shocker. 3) Bendtner isn't a right midfielder, at all, ever.

Rosicky was one of our best players last night, Chamakh was tireless in his running and fighting for the ball, Koscielny did well at times, extremely well at others and then made simple mistakes, but generally the back line defended ok...Squillaci really disappointed me last night. He's capable of much better.

Its such a mixed bag of emotions, decisions should have gone our way that didn't, but we got decisions we shouldn't have too, so I cannot complain about it. It all evens out. I just hope we don't look back at this game and realise its cost us a lot more than two points.

For now gooners, i bid you adieu.

WG

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Procrastination loses two points

We were 2:1 up, the momentum was all over the place but not with us. Then n'Zogbia got himself sent off.

Time then to bring on Nasri and Walcott to punish the legs of tired Wigan.

Or, not.

Tonight not the best for analysis, but I will attend to it tomorrow. For now, thank you to Kurtis, Seth, Ruby, Jonathan, Habib, Marissa and all, thank you for a great night, shame about the football.

WG

Bring on the pies, another result needed

Tonight we head to the DW Stadium, where another good result will send us into the new year in a great position. On paper its a result we should walk but the Christmas period often sprouts some odd results.

I'm thinking the line-up will look something like the below, though changes might be made due to fitness or knocks after the Chelski game.

Fabianski
Sagna	Squillaci Koscielny			Clichy
	Song Wilshire
Walcott		Robin Van Persie		Nasri
		Chamakh

With Cesc being injured, I expect Wenger to swap about some players about. I expect Chamakh to return and perhaps with RvP in a withdrawn creative role behind. Its difficult to predict the line-ups but I hope it looks something like the above. You never want to change a winning side.

In terms of a result, we should get this. Wigan are a battling side who have improved massively since the start of the season. Ali Al-Habsi has been playing extremely well in goal and they have been defending better too. Their main issue is scoring goals, their strikers could hardly be called prolific.

Not to dismiss them, with weary legs this is a tough encounter, but there's noone i'd rather play off the back of the Chelsea result. Lets banish the memory of last season, hit them for about 6 and have a great party in the DW. Let them eat pie and we will run riot.

WG

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Staking a claim, right through scumbag Terry's face...

In big games like last night it needs a collective team performance to get a positive result. Last night we got that. Many are pointing to the waning star of Chelsea as a reason for the victory. I think that does Arsenal a disservice and we have much to be proud of,.

I'm loathed to pick out individual performances from such a fantastic team effort, but here are some that stood out for me.

- Wilshire, Young Jack excelled last night. Showing a maturity above his years he was no over-awed by the occasion and excelled in his role. Up against the likes of Fat Frank and Essien he played extremely well and its worth noting that the central midfield of Chelsea were very poor last night. Even swapping Mikel for Ramires did not inspire an insipid performance, no doubt they were hampered by the bustling of Wilshire, Fabregas and Song.

- Song, A great performance by the guy that Wenger said lacked the engine to be a central midfielder (no doubt kidology to make him work harder in training). He was snapping at heels from the first whistle to the last and covered every blade of grass. He's not perfect, but his goal was well taken and his performance deserves noting. His contribution in keeping Chelsea's midfield quiet was significant.

- Fabregas, Back to his mercurial best, if not trying a bit hard at times, it was a great game to have him for, his dynamism, drive and vision was a constant thorn to Chelsea and he deserved the applause he got when Wenger brought him off early to an ovation. Excellent performance from the skipper.

- Djourou & Koscielny, Both played extremely well last night to shackle the Drog. Both showed the best and worst of their games. Koscielny wandered once or twice into midfield and got caught when Chelsea broke, Djourou's timing of headers and runs with opponents was a bit hit and miss but between them an excellent performance.

- Theo, always a threat last night. Cashley was in trouble as soon as he got that stupid booking for kicking the ball away. Theo went past him time and time again and put in crosses (mostly poor) and had a shot on target which forced an excellent save from Cech. Theo's vision to put Cesc through clean on goal was excellent and he showed great composure to score his goal. Another performance showing the best and worst of a young professional who is clearly improving and showed that in abundance last night.

So, in summary and excellent performance all round. Not one player did poorly and will have much to be happy with today. Next game is paramount however, you're only as good as your last game and we need to go to the DW up 'ere in Wigan tomorrow night and get a result.

I'll see you there in the cold and rain Gooners, its a shame Cesc is suspended, he'd have ruined Hendry Thomas and Diame.

WG.

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We fought them across every green blade

Talk is cheap, hyperbole for the media. Before this match both sides were firing shots, some of ours were friendly fire, intended to inspire and stoke up our players. Should we have needed motivation for tonights match, it was in no short supply.

Tonight was a massively professional performance by a team wanting to banish some mental demons. Across the park there were some great performances. I don't want to analyse it today, this is best served with a clear head and deployed thought.

Needless to say I'm delighted, our midfield and attach terrorised Chelsea and Koscielny and Djourou shackled the Drog.

For now, its a great night and we're back in second place at the happy end of the Prem once again.

WG

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Fighting Chelsea on our Bridges

Festivities on hold. Serious heads on. This is a game that holds so much for us. A win would catapult us back up the table into second place and with a game in hand over Citeh.

Wenger's admisson that Chamakh is tired is merely confirmation of what we already knew, he's looked off the pace in the last two games so I'm hoping the enforced rest due to the Stoke game being postponed will have given him time to recharge his batteries.

Today I'd love it if we tried something different, 4-2-4 or 4-4-2 and let Theo have a run at Terry and Alex. No doubt Wenger won't change his formation but I would like to see the raw pace of Theo given a go. There are a lot of old legs in this Chelski team. Theo and Nasri can knacker them out in 60mins.

Due to the return to fitness of Fabianski I can see no reason for not restoring him to the starting line-up unless Sczcesny is really showing him up in training.

I expect us to line up like this today;

Fabianski

Sagna - Squillaci - Djourou - Clichy

Fabregas - Song

Nasri. RvP. Arshavin

Chamakh

Honestly, that's a team that can beat Chelski's old men. No fear. Fabregas said after the Mirrors 'Millies' awards that he'd met some inspiring men and that he'd invited them into the dressing room to give a team talk. I'd love to see that. Someone who literally put his life and body on the line for his friends.

If that can't inspire us then Wenger has no chance and wholesale personality changes are required (which I don't believe).

Come on You Gooners!!!!

WG

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Best wishes

With t'internet being a multicultural society of like-minded perverts and info-philes I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Best wishes and a Happy New Year to all of you, my lovely readers. Without you I'd be bored.

WG.

Its a critical yet Merry Christmas

The Christmas period is one unique to the Premier League and the UK football leagues. Where other leagues and football associations see fit to allow players to enjoy this festive period the English FA are happy to watch our boys running about on Boxing day...and so am I to be honest.

Its a period where games are won and lost, shock results DO happen and below-par performances are a certainity.

Its a period where Arsenal have generally done well under Arsene and I'm hoping for more of the same. We're not top for Christmas, but the real prize is at the end of the season, our Santa Claus is to deliver consistency, big performances and a return to fitness and form for our squad.

I have no doubt we are able to win the league, noone is running away with it and there is no clear favourite. I think we have what it takes, using the argument of young Jack Wilshire, the Carling Cup could well be the catalyst that spurs us on to some big performances in the league.

Me, I'm just looking forward to drinking too much, eating too much and watching some good football. Everything after that is next year and I don't care too much for that right now.

If I run out of time with all this Crimbo shopping malarky, Have a fantastic Christmas gooners, one and all. Thank you for your great feedback and I look forward to spending even more time talking to you guys in the new year.

WiganGooner.

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Its a critical yet Merry Christmas

The Christmas period is one unique to the Premier League and the UK football leagues. Where other leagues and football associations see fit to allow players to enjoy this festive period the English FA are happy to watch our boys running about on Boxing day...and so am I to be honest.

Its a period where games are won and lost, shock results DO happen and below-par performances are a certainity.

Its a period where Arsenal have generally done well under Arsene and I'm hoping for more of the same. We're not top for Christmas, but the real prize is at the end of the season, our Santa Claus is to deliver consistency, big performances and a return to fitness and form for our squad.

I have no doubt we are able to win the league, noone is running away with it and there is no clear favourite. I think we have what it takes, using the argument of young Jack Wilshire, the Carling Cup could well be the catalyst that spurs us on to some big performances in the league.

Me, I'm just looking forward to drinking too much, eating too much and watching some good football. Everything after that is next year and I don't care too much for that right now.

If I run out of time with all this Crimbo shopping malarky, Have a fantastic Christmas gooners, one and all. Thank you for your great feedback and I look forward to spending even more time talking to you guys in the new year.

WiganGooner.

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Nordtveit on his way back to Germany - slow news week

You can always tell when there is a lack of real Arsenal news about. Everyone's getting all hot uner the collar about Havard Nordtveit.

Nordtveit, a Norwegian CB by trade is a decent player and was bought in for development and has spent a few years with us spending 3 loan spells away with Salamanca, Lillestrom and Nurenberg.

Technically adept, he's a footballing centre-back in the mould of Rio Ferdinand, but his slight frame has led to him being deployed as a right-back or defensive midfield as he lacks the physical attributes to be a top level CB.

However, he can bulk up in the Gym and I hope he gets the opportunity to show his qualities at Borussia Munchengladbach..where he is rumoured to be heading. He is out of contract in the summer and by all accounts Ivan Gazidis has been trying to tie him down to a 3yr deal for some time.

In the fresh light of day, if he doesn't want to commit to us, then lets get rid and get some money back for him. I think thats what Wenger is thinking. Havard might turn out to be world-class, but if he doesn't want to stay then what choice have we got? He'll go for a free in the summer if we don't sell him now.

Wengers caught colds before on players running down their contracts, he's not naive enough to let it happen to a player he doesn't really need. He needed to keep Flamini and hope that over time he would change his mind. Nordtveit can go, we don't need another rookie defender, especially when he's not exactly studded his arsehole with diamonds whilst out on loan.

Crude terminology, but football is a performance related game. If you don't perform, the requirement to keep you drops.

WG

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If we won the title, would you care how we did it?

This is an interesting question that I have posed to a few gooner friends to gauge their opinion, now I give it to you.

All but two of my gooner friends said they'd rather just win the league and they don't care how. They'd rather sacrifice the way we play for silverware.

What do you guys think?

Balancing the argument is me and my other friends who have said that we want to win silverware but not at the cost of the expansive way we play, we just need a tweak or two. We don't want the George Graham 'score one and don't concede' policy to return.

I love the way we play. Sczcesny's not the great white hope but he is a talent and could well be the missing part between the sticks. Who knows.

I'd love to hear what you guys think about it. Win at all costs or keep our style and keep trying?

I might put up a poll about it

WG

Why Wenger will never spend 20million on a defender, or a keeper

This post is really born from some comments on my posts so I thought I'd create a whole post from my responses to it.

Fans are getting frustrated because they don't see us competing in the transfer market with the likes of Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Man Citeh. They want a marquee signing and I can understand why. People look at the signings of Squillaci and Koscielny in the summer and pound their fists together and ask why didn't we spend real hard cash and replace Gallas, Senderos and Toure?

Wenger doesn't buy ready-made players, with a few rare exceptions he wants to make them.

I don't think Squillaci and Koscielny are bad defenders. Its their first season in the premier league and its only Koscielny's 2nd season in top flight football. Koscielny wasn't bought to start every game, he and Squillaci were bought to supplement Vermaelen and Djourou and both be brought into the Premier League slowly, circumstances however have seen them play a lot more than expected. I can tell you now, Wenger never meant for them to be the first choice pairing for this season.

Koscielny is one of the best 1v1 defenders in the premiership, yes their partnership is vulnerable but it is still young in terms of games.

Now I WISH Wenger would spend twenty million on a Goalkeeper, or a defender, or sod it both!! But he will never do that. He's a coach first and a manager second. He wants to make talent, not buy it.

Thats why Henry was a great player, thats why he helped an aging Arsenal defence play on for year after year.

I certainly feel your frustrations, but we're building a great side and I'd rather be positive than negative, that just leads to the dark side.

Hang on in there gooners, we're on the cusp of greatness.

WG

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Shoot the messenger, stop the press!

I find myself bemused at the constant rattling of people's cages about Wenger not being up for the job. These are the people who called him god 5 years ago.

He has kept us competitive, admittedly without silverware but noone has a god-given right to that. We're not an awful side and we are still in the title race. When did reason forsake many in our society? I'm a passionate fan and I hate losing to anyone, but it happens. Especially this season where its seems the top twelve in the league seem more than capable of beating each other, albeit sometimes in a fortunate manner.

I'm not going to sweep the loss under the rug, its still very much hanging over me, but I'm dealing with it and I see no reason to start shouting at the management. We needed to gamble but the players need to shoulder the burden, they are on the pitch, they need to take the initiative to gamble and get players in the box at any given time.

Direct your constructive criticism at Arshavin for example who was very wasteful, but remember he is hot and cold and we needed him there for a spot of genius, it just didnt happen for him.

WG

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Finding our achilles heel

Arsenal have been without Thomas Vermaelen for over three months now. Whilst I don't think we have mistreated his injury, it seems there has been an initial problem with the diagnosis and this has stalled his recovery.

I fix computer systems, your first diagnosis has to be correct, you cant keep buying parts and throwing bits at a computer until it starts working. Therefore your diagnosis team has to be pretty hot.

Whilst we have the best team of coaches and doctors about to rehabilitate our players from injuries it seems the initial diagnosis seems to be causing problems as it seems injuries seem to get worse before they get better every single time.

I know I'm making a crass generalisation and I'm probably way off the mark, but its my perception and opinion and I'm standing by it.

We're missing Vermaelen's desire and focus. He brings a bit of leadership at the back and a bit more power than we have at the moment (though its worth mentioning Koscielny is growing game to game and looks a great buy).

With Vermaelen back, with Fabregas back, with RvP back we look like a side with great strength in depth with options to vary our formations and change the way we play with more fluidity and quality.

There's hope, keep the faith, we're still in the hunt and the PL trophy just got painted with a big fat target. So focus boys, we're not interested in ManYoo now. Its the league that matters.

WG

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A Gamblers Fortune.

It was a game that was massively winnable. For all of our busy performances and battling we missed the urgency that West Brom showed at ManYoo.

For me thats worrying.

I'm not a doom and gloom merchant, the league isnt finished and we're still in the race. I'll also not be fooled by Wenger's rant about the pitch, it was atrocious, but its the same for both teams and they looked a lot more dangerous than we did.

ManYoo did what a lot of teams did last season, defended their box and let us play outside. We should have got wise to how to deal with that, get a lot of bodies in there and pump balls in. Magic and fortune go hand in hand with the brave.

As I said last night, we weren't prepared to gamble on that and thats why we lost. We lost to a header in our box from a midfielder that gambled and got in there.

Thats the lesson, gamble, make a few runs ahead of the ball. It pays off sometimes, especially when other avenues are being blocked.

WG

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Daft goal, but we didnt deserve a bean.

We worked hard for 90 mins, we pressed and we probed but we didn't create much at all.

It was an excellent PL debut for Sczcesny, he was commanding and communicated well. He kept us in the game at times and did himself much credit.

Defensively, we were ok, not brilliant but mostly tidy. What annoys me is that noone twigged that the balls that Sagna and Clichy were putting in were just being batted out. It was too easy for Ferdinand and Vidic. If ManYoo wanted us to have posession outside of the box we should have put more players forward.

We never looked like gambling, Cesc was thrown on in desperation, but he is nowhere near match fit. I would rather have seen Bendtner coming on and bustling about up front. We should have thrown the sink at them. RvP was far too deep, he's not a midfielder, he's a striker.

But we didnt throw the sink, or even the fridge and I lost a few quid. Poo.

WG

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Chamakh could be the key that unlocks ManYoo

Marouane Chamakh has certainly justified his ridiculous transfer fee of £0 since his departure from Bordeaux into our esteemed ranks.

Chamakh is a spiky, hard-working striker not often found in todays game. He's skillful and he is extremely intelligent at working the opposition defence and creating space for himself and others. His partnership with RvP so far has not been on Song, but there is clearly an understanding and this will only grow stronger.

He's tough too, when fouled he just brushes himself off and gets on with it. He fights for the team at every opportunity and its rare he doesn't have an impact when he plays.

I really think he's create a lot of space in between Vidic and Ferdinand tonight and RvP and Nasri will tear through it and score. I really think we will win and I'd have my money on it.

WG

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Fabianski to face late fitness test - could be goals-a-plenty!

Seems like Fabianski has got his priorities all wrong and got himself injured just before this crunch game tonight. Selfish little bugger.

Needless to say I hope he's fit, I like Sczcesny but I'm not sure he's ready for a game like tonight, but then saying that, how will we ever know he's ready until he steps up and plays. Its a big game tonight and we need big performances to get a result. We can't rely on them slipping up. Our 'A' game has to be in force tonight.

I'm hoping to see the following players take the field tonight;

Fabianski
Sagna	Squillaci Djourou			Clichy
	Song Fabregas/Wilshire
Nasri		Robin Van Persie		Arshavin
		Chamakh

RvP will be crucial tonight. It will be his link-play and creativity that will release Chamakh against the ManYoo defence, that will send the on-fire Nasri through to burn a hole in the net and for cheeky little Arshavin to dart into the box and bang one in. RvP will be the artist, ensuring that Fabregas doesn't need to play if he isn't quite fit.

This is a game that will mean much in the title race, it removes that game that ManYoo have in hand and makes us top of the table by right and not default.

It takes us one full step closer, when the challengers are making baby steps. Am I excited, yes I definitely am. Can we win? Yes we can, but its about belief and performance.

WG

p.s. I'd put a punt on Nasri, he's still hotter than a playboy bunny on the pitch.

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How wierd is this season?

I was sitting watching the traditional Match of the Day last night and it struck me again how wierd this football season is.

I watched the fortunate Blackpool beat Stoke 1:0, Newcastle beat Liverpool 3:1, Everton drawing 0:0 with Wigan and Villa beating West Brom 2:1

Today there are more games which on the league's current unpredictable form will no doubt throw up some more surprises.

I don't recall a league being so unpredictable even with a World Cup hangover, it just doesnt make sense..Form means nothing this season. Everyone fancies getting a result wherever they travel.

Which is why I'd suggest you guys putting your money on Arsenal on monday. I expect Chamakh to show the ManYoo defence what a real striker is all about. Ferdinand once said Adebayor was the best striker he'd played against, a lesson is to be had I think. Chamakh is twice the player Adebayor is.

I'm really confident guys, I hope you are too

Full lineup and pre-match analysis tomorrow

WG

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A succession of Cup Finals

We're in december now, we're top of the table and at the moment we have a great chance of entering the new year on top of the table and in pole position for the run in.

Every game now is a cup final, every game is a must win. Monday night is the next cup final.

If we want to win the Premier League, we need to win on monday. Then we need to keep winning and make sure we beat Chelski.

We're ready for take off, so strap yourselves in, I think it will be a bumpy ride.

WG

The trash-talk begins

As we approach the crunch game against ManYoo, Evra has fired the first trash-talking shot across Arsenal's bow.

Suggesting that we are good to watch but no end product isn't news, sadly its been fact for a few years now. To say we're in crisis however is foolish. We're top of the league, we've qualified in Europe, we're already more successful in the League Cup than ManYoo and we haven't sold out on our style and pretty football to achieve that.

Evra has always been outspoken, he's always been forthright and vocal when he has something to say but this time I hope we make him eat those words with a smattering of salt.

We're due a result against ManYoo, we're in good form and I think we're favourites.

WG

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Laurent Koscielny - the good, the bad and the ugly

I like Koscielny, I think he has everything in the bag to be a good defender.

He's got good recovery pace, I'd say he's the best jockey'er of opposition players we have. Forcing players out wide and nicking the ball off them. 1v1 he is excellent.

His desire to win the ball is commendable and after an initial flurry of cards his timing of challenges has improved and he is in good form at the moment (head injuries aside).

The one thing I hate seeing him do - and he did it at least three times last night was break out of the back four to chase down a ball in the midfield. This generally ended up with him being miles out of position and left us a little exposed.

Its not his fault, its desire to win the ball and desire to win. He does need to be a bit more disciplined in these moments and let Song and Denilson do the chasing.

I do tip him for great success in the Arsenal squad, I think he's a good player, he just needs to keep improving and these creases will be ironed out.

WG

Super Nasri carries Arsenal forward

Nasri was superb last night. He was at the core of everything good that went on the game last night. I felt for Chamakh, it just wasn't his night, everything was a yard too far in front of him or hit to him a bit hard or just caught him unawares. Games like that happen to a striker and hopefully he'll save a few goals for ManYoo next week.

Arshavin looked exhausted again, I wonder if we need to create a fitness regime for him or keep him back a bit in training to stop him from becoming so tired. It can't be good that he struggles to play 90 mins after 4 days rest. He was another player who didn't have a good day at the office, but again I'm hopeful he's saving himself for monday.

Denilson is a quandrary that I'm struggling to see light at the end of the tunnel for. He's a solid player, but he needs games to get match fit. That was never more obvious than last night but when he puts in performances like last night who's going to give him 90mins? I wonder with the dearth of central midfielders that we have now whether he will go in Jan or the Summer. If it was me, I'd try and get him a short term loan somewhere from Jan to the end of the season and see how he does. He's capable of being a good player but he's struggling for form.

Walcott showed the best bits of his game last night, he took players on down the line and attacked the space behind the defenders with pace and verve. He showed his quality with a great placed finish. The question is of course, can he do it regularly. He took advantage of tiring legs from Partizan and tore them apart. I don't deny his quality, but his consistency will be criticised, perhaps unfairly due to injuries and he's still so very young.

In truth I'm pleased we qualified, I'm not bothered that we're going to face a good side, you have to face them sometime to win. If we're good enough we'll do just that.

WG

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3:1 not enough. Not nearly enough

In truth its nothing to do with the scoreline, I wanted a better performance than that. We are so much better than they are. Yes they made it difficult, but we should have been more incisive.

We were all over them like an angry moss and I feel we lacked penetration at times. Denilson didn't really have a great game and I wish Rosicky was there or Wilshire instead. That way their midfield five would have been chasing back rather than closing us down.

Negativity aside however, we've qualified and thats all that matters for now. Performances will need to come later against the later teams.

I'm excited and mildly fearful of our next opposition on this form.

WG

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Arsenal target Connor Wickham

I've been told that Arsenal are spending a lot of scouting time looking at Ipswich's young Connor Wickham. It seems Steve Rowley has been assigned to watch his progress, with a view to a purchase and loan back agreement in January, with the player to join us full time in the summer.

This source is usually reliable as he's friends with several of the Arsenal staff (he also goes to the gym with the webmasters at Arsenal.com) so I trust him.

WG

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Tear into Partizan as if our lives depended on it.

Thats the attitude our players need tonight. We need to set down a marker tonight. Another performance of lackadaisical football will not be enough.

Arsenal set records this season for the most goals scored in the first three games of the group stage. We need that form back. Noone will fear us if we nick a 1:0 result at home.

If we annihalate them 7:0 however, that might make people stand up and think.

Thats what I want to see tonight, I want Nasri, Wilshire, Song and RvP to rip them apart. I want Chamakh to hit a hattrick and the rest to weigh in too. As fans we deserve a performance after the last two Champions League games.

This should be our line up tonight, I'll leave it to Mr Arsene to make his own modifications as is his wont..

Fabianski
Sagna	Squillaci Koscielny			Clichy
	Song Wilshire
Nasri		Robin Van Persie		Walcott
		Chamakh

That teamsheet should, on paper, destroy Partizan and thats what we need.

WG

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The importance of being Samir - Part 2

See part 1 here

Samir Nasri's career has been meteoric. He began playing with Marseille when he was just 9 years old. He rose through the youth ranks and he started playing in Ligue 1 in the 2004/2005 season at the age of 17, where he started 13 games and came on as a substitute in 11 games, scoring one goal.

In the 2005-2006 season he saw European action in the form of the UEFA cup where he played 10 games and then the UEFA Intertoto Cup where he played one game and scored on his debut and only game in the competition.

I have nicked the below career stats from Wikipedia to highlight his career so far.

As of 4 December 2010 ^[19]

Club	Season	League			Cup [20] [21]			Europe			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Marseille	2004-05	24	1	0	1	0	-	0	0	0	25	1	-
	2005-06	30	1	0	5	0	-	11	0	0	46	1	-
	2006-07	38	3	6	7	0	-	4	0	0	49	3	6
	2007-08	30	6	11	4	0	-	8	0	3	42	6	14
Total		122	11	17	17	0	-	23	0	3	162	11	20
Arsenal	2008-09	29	6	2	5	0	3	10	1	0	44	7	5
	2009-10	26	2	5	2	0	1	6	3	0	34	5	6
	2010-11	13	8	1	2	2	0	4	1	2	19	11	3
Total		68	16	8	9	2	4	20	5	2	97	23	14
Career Total		190	27	25	26	2	4	43	5	5	259	34	34

At 23 years old, he's played a considerable amount of football. For the purposes of this article I am not going to look at his international career as the games are infrequent and selection doesn't necessarily reflect form.

I'm sure its relevant that we are seeing the best of Samir now that Gallas is no longer at Arsenal. Bundle that with a settled home life and we are reaping the benefits. Deemed as something of a playboy in his final days at Marseille, it is refreshing to know he is still in a steady relationship with Tatiana Golovin - a french Tennis player who lives with him in Hampstead.

I remember watching him vs Porto where he danced through the defence and scored. I went practically mental at that and spent the next ten mins trying to convince the mrs to watch the replay. I said at the time I wished he would do that more often and its refreshing to see another of my wishes come true.

Samir has taken his best ability, the ability to control the ball at full pace and is applying it against the opposition far more regularly this season. I think this is more to do with his advanced position, starting farther up the pitch, closer to the opposition back line. At pace he's terrifying. You either foul him or let him through.

Long may it continue, because with him in the side, Arshavin, Fabregas and Rosicky have someone to play with, someone to read that stabbed first-time pass into space behind the opposition. Something that Samir is excellent at. Don't be fooled into thinking he is Fabregas-lite, Wenger doesn't want to replace Fabregas with Samir, Samir is something else altogether.

WG

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