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