Will Rambo get a shot?

With the well-publicised re-occurance of Cesc's hammy injury an opportunity presents itself within the Arsenal midifeld. Rambo has said in the media that he is rearing to get back into the first team.

Saturday is an ideal opportunity in the absense of Cesc for him to get back. Prior to his injury he was deputising for Cesc and doing a fantastic job. His penetrative runs and movement is only one weapon in his armoury, his distribution another.

I really rate him, I think he's got great awareness and is a good competitor with a desire to match Jacks. We need him. I think we need him tomorrow. ManYoo's midfield will be combative and his skills are in demand. Lets not upset him by not giving him a start. He's a player we need to keep happy.

WG.

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Wholesale changes expected

12:45pm - We take on Leeds in the FA Cup. We will not see the magic of Van Persie and Nasri. But we will see a return to the first team squad for Gibbs and Ramsey. I'm hoping that the young welsh wizard gets a game today. I feel he is in a good state to play Championship opposition after playing against it in his last 5 games.

Ramsey is a player I rate very highly, I see a bit of myself in him. He's combative, powerful and creative. Fully fit he's a shoe in for our midfield and I wonder where that would leave young Jack. I think we'd see a midfield of Ramsey, Jack and Fabregas with Jack and Rambo given the responsibility of defending and creating. Though for today I think it will be different.

Today I expect the squad to be flexed and rejigged. It wouldn't surprise me to see a start for Vela, Bendtner and I'd like to see Sczcesny given a game.

For me, I cant wait. I think Theo will start and Rosicky on the other wing and we'll tear them apart. Rambo, Denilson and probably Song to start.

Its so hard to pick but I expect a good win from us today, but Leeds won't make it easy

WG

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Rambo heads to the jungle....well...forest..

As has been widely reported Aaron "Rambo" Ramsey has joined Notts Forest until the 3rd January. This is a great move for Aaron as he will play, there will be the minimum requirement of cotton wool and then due to necessity he will get thrown in and he will get game time.

I know certain quarters are worried about the physical nature of the league, but don't forget its a league where Rambo cut his teeth and he will know all about it. Lets not discount the fact that he got his leg broken in a Premier league game which is supposedly a better quality league, so injuries happen everywhere.

JET has apparently not gone out on loan at all, I'm wondering if the naff form of Bendtner since his return is making Wenger consider giving him a more prominent role. If it was me I'd keep him...the fixtures over Christmas we will need all the fit and ready personnel we have and if you asked me to pick between Bendtner and JET I would pick Bendtner, but he needs to take a look at himself and realise he needs to perform before spouting off to the media.

Other loaned out players include Lansbury who has joined beleaguered Norwich City on emergency loan until January also. He's another player that I've watched come through the ranks and I like him a lot. I hope he uses his time to prove once again that he is Premiership Quality and if he can't get games at Arsenal I'd like to see him somewhere else.

Thats all for now folks - take care in the Snow!

WG

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Its only Ray P..I mean Henri Lansbury!

Arsene Wenger this week has been waxing lyrical about one of our very own Henri Lansbury. In my opinion one of the most understated players coming through. Without creating waves he has performed well whilst on loan and he has returned to the fold this season and Wenger has brought him into the first team fold. Wenger compares him to the Romford Pele and I can see the similarities.

Born in Enfield, London, Lansbury grew up in Potters Bar. Lansbury has been at Arsenal since 1999, joining the club as a schoolboy from the books of Norwich City. He has featured regularly for both the club's under-18 and reserve sides. He finally made his first team debut on 31 October 2007, in Arsenal's 3-0 League Cup win over Sheffield United as a substitute.

Lansbury is a complete midfielder, he fits perfectly into the Arsenal style. He has a great engine and can dictate a midfield with his passing ability and his tackling and tracking back. He can break forward with good pace, though he's not in the same league as Theo and he's got a good shot on him as us Gooners, the Hornets and the Irons can testify.

I like him a lot. His early career with us was blighted by a debilitating illness that left him lethargic, without energy. He's put that behind him in the last two seasons and he's looking very strong. We have a strong contingent of young, talented, ready for first team action midfielders. Ramsey, Denilson, Wilshire, Lansbury along with the likes of Randall and Aneke pushing to enter the fold also.

I look forward to seeing him grow further tonight.

WG

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How much do we really want the Carling Cup

I know we've been starved for silverware for years. I know that to create a "winning mentality" you need to win. I'm not daft.

Arsene Wenger is able to temper our expectations by selling us the future. A big part of this is showcasing the next big thing coming through the Arsenal ranks in the Carling Cup. Last year and the year previous we've seen such talents as Merida, Wilshire, Ramsey, Gibbs, Traore, Jay Emmanuel Thomas, Jay Simpson, Nacer Barazite, Mark Randall and Henri Lansbury to name but a few.

Allowing the youth to cut their teeth in the Carling Cup is a treble-pebble bonus for Arsene. It rests his top first-teamers and it gives much needed experience to players on the fringe of the first team and match fitness to those in the match-day benchwarmers club.

We've celebrated in the successes of our youth in this competition. We've revelled in their results against premier league opposition. We loved it. "Our kids are better than your first team" is a great chant.

So are we really that desperate to win the Carling Cup that we forget the youth this year? My opinion: Arsene Wenger will sacrifice the Carling Cup to try and succeed elsewhere. Of course he'll try to win the Carling Cup but he'll do it with youth and back it up with first teamers resting on the bench. If it doesn't happen then his targets will naturally revert to what he really wants, the Champions League and the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger isn't daft, he knows a Carling Cup win doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme. His targets are above and I'm with him. I'd rather us have a real shot at the Prem than get half our first teamers injured in a nothing game in the Carling Cup.

WG

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