Circle the wagons boys! Them barcodes are comin!

With much criticism being aired in the media at Cesc, its important to stress one thing. How awesome is this timing?

With the forthcoming fixtures being so critical, I am delighted that this has come out. Come on Cesc, prove every single one of those muppets wrong. We've all come off the pitch, high on adrenaline and full of passion and said one thing or another. It happens. Why this particular incident is being highlighted seems to be unknown, but if the guys needed firing up, then this should do it.

I know its not nice to read everyone having a pop, but if there was anything we needed to galvanise our squad further, here it is.

Millwall played for years with a "no-one likes us, everybody hates us and we don't give a s@#t" attitude kicking everyone on and off the pitch and it generates an amazing togetherness and a willingness to fight for each other.

Come on you Barcodes, we're going to stuff you geordies and show you that 35mil in the bank isn't half as good as a decent striker up front.

WG

Technorati : Arsenal, Everton, Francesc Fabregas Soler, Newcastle
Del.icio.us : Arsenal, Everton, Francesc Fabregas Soler, Newcastle
Zooomr : Arsenal, Everton, Francesc Fabregas Soler, Newcastle
Flickr : Arsenal, Everton, Francesc Fabregas Soler, Newcastle

Passing interest aside, lets chew toffee!

I watched the drama unfold yesterday with a passing interest, the purchase of Andy Carroll for 35 million is either going to be a huge success and great business or just another massively over-hyped, over-priced transfer, the like of which hasn't been seen for a while..Of course I jest.

Onto more important things, Our yoof are scattered across Europe in an adventure to gain first team football experience at various clubs. I wish them well.

Tonight we face Everton, a team who I've always had a soft spot for because they always punch above their weight. They never have any money to spend, they're always scraping the barrell, but they do always put up a good fight.

Without Nasri tonight, I'm hoping Arshavin is feeling on the up and up. We need his creativity and vision to off-set what we've lost in Nasri.

I expect the line-up to look like this..

Sczcesny
Sagna	Koscielny Djourou			Clichy
	Wilshire Song
Walcott		Fabregas		Arshavin
		RvP

I'd really like Chamakh to get some game time. He's looking rusty and I felt for him against Huddersfield. He's a great player and he deserves it. Also with Rosicky back to fitness he might start in the place of Arshavin or Walcott...rotation is the key this week.

For now, I'd put money on Arsenal to win both halves. Also, Betfair has a great multiple on ManYoo, Chelsea and Arsenal.

WG.

Technorati : Arsenal, Everton
Del.icio.us : Arsenal, Everton
Zooomr : Arsenal, Everton
Flickr : Arsenal, Everton

Unbeaten on Merseyside since 2007

The thing about Arsenal this season is that I'm still not sure which Arsenal will turn up to a game. Wednesdays performance against Wolves was awesome, it was a committed, determined performance and we aquitted ourselves very well against the physical threat of Wolves.

I didn't feel concerned pre-Everton. I really rate them as a side (they always start the season badly (poor pre-season?) ) and David Moyes continues to work tiny miracles on a half-shoestring budget but I felt if we took the intensity from Wednesday to the table then it would be us feasting on the sunday roast by 4pm.

Things conspired against me to post the above pre-match. No excuses about the game however, I watched it and I was pleased to see that intensity again. The determination stemming from Fab4 set the marker for our performance. We were in control for the 90 minutes and it was disappointing to concede that goal in the dying minutes. Albeit a scrappy goal, I felt we didnt really help ourselves by not keeping the ball and clearing our lines better.

All in all though an excellent away performance against a top side. Lets not fool ourselves, Everton aren't rubbish and will be around the top 6 by the end of the season. Chamakh played well yesterday, his movement constantly keeping Jagielka and Heitinga on their toes. Great goal by Sagna (66-1, might have a quid on him for the next game, these things seem to go in sequences) to beat Howard at his near post and his first goal for two years.

Great news with Chelski getting done by the Mackems!! I had a feeling the ascendency was with the Mackems pre-match so I had a couple of quid on sunderland to beat chelsea at 17-1. Result.

I'll be posting something this afternoon about Aaron Ramsey and his reintegration this month.

WG

Technorati : Arsenal, Chamakh, Chelsea, Everton, Fabregas, Sunderland, Wolves
Del.icio.us : Arsenal, Chamakh, Chelsea, Everton, Fabregas, Sunderland, Wolves
Zooomr : Arsenal, Chamakh, Chelsea, Everton, Fabregas, Sunderland, Wolves
Flickr : Arsenal, Chamakh, Chelsea, Everton, Fabregas, Sunderland, Wolves

4-nil a wonderful result for fans

Lets not get carried away however, Barnet were a shadow of the team they were last season.

It should be unsurprising that the first pre-season games are strewn with mistakes, un-stellar (if thats even a word, or appropriate description) performances and lung busting runs to get rid of the summer play-weight.

I have a few things that I noted whilst watching the game. Arshavin looked brighter this year, he looked like he wanted it more. I don't know if thats down to being more settled and having a more relaxing summer but he generally looked a hell of a lot happier.

Rosicky looked pretty good for the old-fart he's becoming, I hope he can stay injury-free as I really rate him as a player who can cook up something special.

Jack Wilshire looked good in the centre, admittedly he was given time and space but he created chances and looked very lively. I think Wenger might want to give him a short loan spell and bring him back in Jan as a run in to the end of the season to give us a needed boost in the fit-players dept.

Koscielny also did ok. His reading of the game was pretty good. His slight frame is a worry as was his wayward passing at times. Items to be sorted in pre-season I hope.

There were a few players playing for their next season I felt, trying to show Wenger that they belong, or that they deserve further opportunities. Jay Simpson scored two goals and looked very lively up front. His strength and pace are great assets but I think he lacks the creativity that Wenger craves in his players. A move to a Bolton-esque team would be a huge benefit to him and I think he would be a success in the Prem.

Jay Emmanuel Thomas is another player that needs Prem game time to refine his game, a move to West Brom or one of the promotion hopefuls would be a huge benefit. Maybe a trip back to Blackpool? Should they sort their ground in time anyway.

Frimpong, what to do with him, a busy, combative midfielder with a decent bit of power and pace. He lacks composure and I think better opposition may have a bit too much nounce for him. I think he needs first-team football at a decent level, maybe championship or league one to round his game.

Nordveit, out of position on the right, but coped well with what was in front of him. I want to see more of him at CB over pre-season. I think Wenger's going to keep him at home as a sub for the Prem to save buying someone.

Transfer Gubbins

I underlined it, get me. All professional and stuff.

Phil Jagielka - Absolutely love him on FIFA, he's good on Footy Manager and he's a great defender in the prem. A lesson to be learned is this, Joleon Lescott. Everton didn't want to sell. They refused to be bullied and got a lot of money for him. Anyone that thinks Wenger would sign him for £18 million is bonkers. Perhaps more bonkers than Dizzy Rascal. We've never spent that sort of cash and especially when its obvious Everton would want way more than that for him.

I think our CB reinforcements will come through from within. You can hold me to that, and then call me stupid when we sign Jagielka for £35million..and not before.