People should get off this idea that our midfield is weak and gets run over. Our midfield is fine and did well against Chelsea. If anyone won that battle it was Arsenal, not just possesion wise but in terms of hurrying, takeaways and all other indicators.

We lost the game in defence and attack. In defence because unfortunately both of our CBs had bad days (especially Gallas) and both of their CFs had great days (especially Drogba). More worryingly though, we also lost the game because of our complete ineptitude in attack. Credit goes to their defence too but… Arsahvin was ok-ish. Eduardo on this form should not be starting for the Carling Cup team. And Nasri is a good player but he is a MIDFIELDER – he is not penetrative enough to be winger. Only this piece is Wenger’s fault since he couldn’t have planned for both RvP and Bentdner being out at the same time AND Eduardo being this far from top form (or maybe just not good enough, period).

Interesting to see someone who thinks like Wenger

A personal note for Wenger: He should please play a strong squad against city. He should not take chances.

Balotelli, Pazzini, Loic Remy, Ruud Van Nistelroy, Gignac…. i guess the papers are having a field day now since it’s an open secret that we are in the hunt for a striker.

Wenger’s worry right now is that he has to get to Jan without dropping any more points…

Cole would be a good buy up front, the fact that he is English is good too with the new rule coming in next season about home grown players.

Anyone got any thoughts on the CC game tomorrow?

Possible line up of…..
Fabianski
Eboue-Senderos-Silvestre-Traore
Ramsey-Eastmond-Merida
Wilshere-Vela-Walcott

Bench of: Manonne, Frimpong, Coquelin, Eduardo, Gilbert, Bartley, Watt?

Yaya will be a great addition to our team but at a price …this will mean either denilson or song will be sacrificed. I do not think that Wenger wants to do that at the moment, giving that he has carefully nurtured these 2 players for the last 2 years and as part of their development into the finished article. They have to play.

The other draw back with signing Yaya in Jan is that he will play in the ACN and all things being equal we may not see him till mid or late Feb.

If Wenger signs Yaya then he has the luxury of the following:

Wenger can afford to rest Fabregas and play wilshere/merida/ramsey with Yaya and Song/Denilson providing protection. It’s all about player combination, the system, the stakes, type of opposition and player development program. Not to mention the strikers available.

i have seen the clip of Lukaku and i must admit he looks impressive…but i’d love to see him in a full game to make a thorough assessment. Wenger could gamble on him…

For me Wenger should go for Carlton Cole if he has no injury concerns for the following reasons:

1. He can play in our 4-3-3 system as he has improved his close ball control tremendously.

2. Can bring others into the game.

3. Has the physical presence to play upfront on his own if we vary our system to 4-5-1.

4. Does not need time to adapt to the premiership…he will be up and going

5. Extras… Edu or Vela will thrive alongside if we revert to the 4-4-2 system.

Honestly Cole has more to his game than Bendtner at the moment.

In the case of Chamakh he is cup tied for Europe and also may need time to adapt. Or Bordeaux may be unwilling to sell. Frankly with our injury problems arsenal do not have time for that.

Problem with this is that with Wenger you just never know. Wenger may decide to look for solutions within the club by reverting to a 4-4-2 system. That will mean sacrificing either Song or Denilson in midfieled, because he will need speedy players on the left and right of midfield and just 1 defensive midfielder. And also look for a combination of compatible strikers…

Your thougths folks…

Just a thought, but Yaya Toure has said he will leave Barca if he doesn’t play, now he would be a great addition to the team. He’s exactly what we lack in Midfield. Why doesn’t Wenger put a cheeky offer in in Jan?

Upfront, I like the look of Lukaku…he’s been linked on SSN and looking at the picture of him, he could even knock Drogba to the ground!!

The problem is that when we run into teams who set their stall like chelsea and defend as if their lives depend on it we may become unstuck especially when we do not score.

Whilst we fans want to be positive we must all be honest and admit that there is a proven way to play against arsenal.

With the players we have at our disposal (absence of RVP & B52) it is clear that wenger is depending on individual skill and speed of passing to open defences (given that we have similar type of midfielders in walcott, nasri, cesc, rosicky and to some extent ashavin) up in the last third of the field…will this work? we live to see.