Turning the lights on at Elland Road

With the visit of Arsenal, Ken Bates was forced into investing an extra 50p in the meter to keep the floodlights on in what was a thrilling game of football.

Nasri tormented, Song battled and our defence was excellent last night. Koscielny and Djourou's job was made easier by Leeds playing tubby Billy Paynter who's as mobile as a bus, but they handled the threat well and neither of them put a foot wrong in 90mins. Both of them are seeing their stock rise at the moment with their consistent, reliable performances.

Nasri's goal was typical of him at late, everything is working for him at the moment, superlatives escape me as I search for originality, perhaps simply everything he touches turns to goals. This in stark contrast to poor Arshavin. I actually feel so sorry for him right now, we've all been there when everything you try just doesnt come off...you have to play through it and get out of the other side but its a killer. He worked so hard last night, he was even trying to win a defensive header, HIM!! ... he's only 3ft tall! (slight exaggeration).

Sagna's goal was exactly what he needed and he should do it more, a few minutes earlier he chose to put the ball across the box and Bendtner failed to get on the end of it when I think he really should have put something on it. It was an excellent, swerving powerful shot that Schmeichel should have saved, but the power beat him.

A point of frustration to me is Nik Bendtner. He's not a right winger, he never will be. He's not got the pace or the tricks in the locker to beat the left back. I know last night with the rotation Wenger didn't feel he had anyone else to put there but I would put Vela out there (he's not gone out on loan yet has he?) because he has pace and tricks to burn. In fairness to Bendtner, it was a frustrating night but he redeemed his performance somewhat with the cross for Van Persie, it was a peach and made Robins job very easy indeed.

Lets hope this is the first of many cups we continue to progress in, we need to thrash Ipswich. I didn't want to preview last nights game because I didn't want to jinx it. I'm glad I didn't. Bring on the Latics at the grove on Saturday, I can't wait!

WG

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Lets not get carried away shall we?

It was a good win on Saturday, but lets focus a little. West Ham made us look good. They were awful and didn't really offer any threat and didn't show any thing that made me feel worried.

It was a win though and that can only take us forward with positivity to Elland Road on wednesday. Keep the same squad Arsene!! At least for the first half!! Continuity and confidence is what a footballer needs to maintain momentum and performance.

You can't give them that if you keep chopping and changing your lineup. Look at the Tinkermen Ranieri and Benitez. They're always making changes, rotation is necessary I agree, but when its a game you need to dominate from the first minute, start with what you know works and then tinker when you are ahead.

I remember an old Darts saying, "Its scores for show, but doubles for dough" - In translation, it doesn't matter how you play, its the result that gets you the money.

Team lineup's as best as I can guess will be up later today, I suspect even Arsene isn't sure yet. Plus a preview of the second leg at Elland Road to come.

WG

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Bursting with pride, only its the Tractor Boys doing the bursting!

I was listening to the radio this morning only to hear Ipswich fans crowing on the radio about how they're going to go to the Emirates and hold us to a draw.

Let me say what I think - if our team applied itself and was more efficient and more professional Ipswich would be regretting the second leg, not wanting it.

It galls me to know that any other prem side would have gone there and battered them.

Perhaps we should have played more of the kids, they're eager and they wouldn't have been so tame. We played like we expected to win. We were waiting for us to score.

My disappointment is palpable today. I just can't justify the result with anything except that we just didn't want it. Which for a semi-final is ridiculous.

WG

As jokes go, pretty poor to be honest...

Losing 1:0 isnt the problem for me, Ipswich fought for everything and deserved their goal. Losing AT ALL to Ipswich is a problem for me.

Wenger will say it was unfortunate but we still have to play them at the Emirates and we'll put it right there...but if they park the bus in front of the goal we could have been put out of the cup by an Ipswich side that had no right to do it.

We were far too ineffective up front. Playing one up against Championship opposition doesn't work because they don't commit players forward like Premier League sides.

A very poor result. Very poor.

WG

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Koscielny - a lot better than people think

Watching the opening minutes of the match tonight made me think. Koscielny is now someone I am happy to see named at the back. I don't have the trepidation I had about him 4 weeks ago.

His performances in the last 6 games have been good and I think he is easily beginning to justify the faith put in him.

He's a PL rookie and he's been playing very well. He's made a few mistakes but we are much better with him and Djourou than when he's with Squillaci because Djourou talks to him. Djourou tells him where to be and what to do, like Sol used to do for Toure.

I've said it before, but Koscielny is easily the best 1v1 defender we have. I must look at his stats, I reckon they're pretty good.

I don't think Wenger will buy a centre back unless he can grab a bargain. I think he will try and get through with what we've got.

WG

I've got a brand new combine harvester...

The recently appointed Paul Jewell will have to watch from the stands as he was not appointed in time to direct the Tractor Boys on their visit to us at the Emirates.

The recently departed Roy Keane would have been rubbing his hands together with glee at this fixture and will be gutted not to be able to lead his team tomorrow night. It will be a great atmosphere and I'm not jinxing it again.

I hope Wenger starts with the right squad, put out the likes of Theo, Arshavin, Cesc for the first 60 mins and then take them off if we are well in front and in control. Don't start with weak foundations and try and fix it afterwards, make strong foundations and then you have something to stand on.

Its a semi-final and although its a tin-cup its a cup and we need a win. So lets teach these Tractor boys a lesson. We need to show them we mean business. So no fuss, a strong professional job please boys.

Team line-up to follow once I've spoken to a certain someone.

WG

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Possibility of signing a centre-back ?

Media reports are flowing with the news that Wenger "might" be delving into the transfer market in search of defensive cover should Squillaci not recover from his hamstring injury swiftly.

There are plenty of names being banded about and I cannot be bothered talking about them all. Needless to say I wouldn't want Samba if someone gave him to me for free, Mertesacker has been trying to get himself transferred for ages and noone has taken a punt on him which begs the question why? There must be something behind it and I really can't see us taking the SolMan back again.

My gut feeling is Squillaci will make a miracle recovery.

WG

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