Arsenal v Reading: EFL Cup Preview

After the disappointment of only managing a 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday it's EFL Cup action for Arsenal tomorrow night when they play at home to Reading. As competitions go the EFL Cup is at the bottom of the list of priorities, but that can change as the team progresses through the rounds. They had a comprehensive victory away to Championship side Forest in the last round and they play at home to another Championship side in this round.

The prize for the winner is a place in the quarter finals and it's at that stage that Arsene Wenger might just decide to show a little more interest in the competition. For the moment though it's a chance for the fringe players and reserves to get a run and show what they can do. It means we should see more or less all of the bench from Saturday get a run and a few of them will hopefully take the opportunity to impress.

At the moment I think there could quite easily be a case for Kieran Gibbs winning back his first team place as Nacho Monreal has struggled. If Gibbs can put in a good performance against Reading then he must surely have a chance of keeping his place against Sunderland next Saturday. It looks like the other full back will be Carl Jenkinson who will be making his return after a long term injury. It's good to see him back and it means he will be the back up for Hector Bellerin should the case arise as Mathieu Debuchy seems to be "persona nor grata".

We should also see both Rob Holding and Gabriel Paulista play in central defence and they are two more players who will be eager to make an impression. Holding did well when we had no option other than to play him at the start of the season, but the arrival of Shkodran Mustafi meant he became surplus to requirements in the first choice 11. He's most definitely one for the future though and the early signs are we might have got a real bargain when we signed him from Bolton.

Gabriel missed out on his chance to impress at the start of the season when he picked up an injury and the arrival of Mustafi has seen his chances severely limited too. He would be regarded as the next best option at the moment if either Laurent Koscielny or Mustafi were injured or suspended and the game must surely do him some good. I had very high hopes for him when he arrived at the club, but he hasn't progressed as much as we would have hoped and the form of Mustafi since his arrival won't have done his chances much good.

With Petr Cech taking preference in goal in league games and David Ospina playing in the Champions League we should see Emiliano Martinez get a game. He played in the last round and kept a clean sheet even if he didn't have an awful lot to do. He's another one for the future and it's good to see him get a chance like so many others.

In midfield I think we might see the same combination which we saw against Boro on Saturday with Santi Cazorla slightly injured and Granit Xhaka still suspended. It's another chance for Francis Coquelin to stake a claim for a more permanent place in the team while Mohamed Elneny must surely be glad of another chance to play. He's a player who seems to have dropped back in the pecking order despite impressing so much after he joined last January.

From what the boss has said we will also see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex Iwobi, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Lucas Perez in the team and that might just make up the starting 11. There's a chance of Chamberlain dropping back to play alongside Elneny or Coquelin which would possibly see Chuba Akpom play as the central striker, but I think Lucas will be the man to play there. Ainsley Maitland-Niles played in defence in the last round, but he might have to sit on the bench tonight even though he took up that position on Saturday too.

It seems Olivier Giroud might be fit to return too, but I imagine he will be on the bench to start at least. We could have done with his attributes on Saturday when we couldn't find a way through the Boro defence and it will be good to see him back in the fold. I've criticised him often enough in the past, but he still has plenty to offer the team.

All in all it's a fairly strong team with a fair deal of youth and some experience too and they have every chance of progressing. I think Reading will give us a much closer run than Forest did in the last round, but a place in the last eight is certainly attainable. It's a competition the boss has never won, but I don't think he should be overly bothered about it.

Given a choice between progressing to the next round and winning at Sunderland on Saturday I know what I would opt for and I have no doubt he would choose the same. Of course there's no reason why we can't win both games and line up a quarter final game as well as keeping pace with the teams at the top of the table. If things don't go our way tomorrow night I won't be overly concerned and it won't be a huge cause for celebration if we make the last eight either.

Of course I want the team to win and continue their unbeaten run in all competitions which stretches back to the second game of the season. A few impressive performances from players looking to get more first team game time wouldn't go astray either and that's certainly something we should be expecting. The most important thing though is for all the players to come through unscathed. I predicted a win on Saturday so I'll keep my predictions to myself this time.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal v Burnley: FA Cup Fourth Round Preview

Arsenal haven't done too well in their last three Premier League games with only two points to show for their efforts and they get a break from league action this weekend when they play Burnley in the FA Cup. Arsenal are the current holders of the cup and they have won it more times than any other team. In fact they have won the cup for the last two seasons and are looking to become the first team to win it three seasons in a row for 130 years.

With Arsenal doing so well in the league this season they rarely play at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, but the cup has been a different case so far. I was lucky enough to be at the third round game against Sunderland when Arsenal came from behind to win 3-1. They were slow to get going that day, but fully deserved their win and I had a great time on my trip to see them.

One of the highlights besides the Arsenal game and a great day in The Tollington was a trip down Oxford Street the next day. It was a bit of a trip down memory lane for me as I strolled down Carnaby Street and checked out all the shops. I ate in a place called Five Guys and I can't recommend it highly enough. Their burgers are probably the best I've ever tasted and I was delighted to read they're coming to Dublin this year.

Anyway I digress and it's back to the important business of my preview of the Arsenal game. As usual we can expect a bit of rotation for the cup and the boss has a few options open to him thanks to some players returning from injury. It appears the team's injury woes are finally dissipating and it couldn't be coming at a better time with so much still to play for.

Both Francis Coquelin and Tomas Rosicky will be available for selection in midfield while Mohamed Elbeny could be in line for his debut. Mikel Arteta has been back for a couple of weeks too and he might expect to be in the team as well. Alexis Sanchez made his comeback as a sub in the defeat against Chelsea last week and I would imagine he should start against Burnley. There's also the option of Alex Iwobi playing after he impressed in the last round and the boss will certainly have to get his thinking hat on.

With so many options it's not so easy to predict what the team will be, but I imagine we will see him start with David Ospina in goal. Kieran Gibbs should get a run out in defence and Gabriel Paulista is a certainty to start too, but the continued rumours of Mathieu Debuchey's departure will probably mean he won't play. I don't see Calum Chambers as a central defender which will probably mean Laurent Koscielny will play in defence and Hector Bellerin should start too. 

In midfield it's not easy to call at all, but I imagine Mathieu Flamini will get the day off and we could see a debut for Elneny with Arteta possibly beside him. I don't think Coquelin will start as he has been out for over two months and he will probably be introduced from the bench at some stage. If Arsenal are going to fight it out for the league title he's a very important player to have available and the games will be coming hot and heavy very soon.

I can't see Mesut Ozil playing as there's a league game at home to Southampton on Tuesday night and we need our strongest team possible in a game where nothing less than three points will do. Iwobi might just get the nod again although we could see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in Ozil's role too. Aaron Ramsey would probably love to play there and be freed of the defensive responsibilities of his current role, but I think he will be saved for Tuesday night too. Ramsey made the difference when he came off the bench in the last round and he might just be held in reserve if more of the same is needed.

Olivier Giroud was the player to make way early on in the game against Chelsea  when a defender had to be brought in for the red carded Per Mertesacker. Apparently he was carrying a knock in that game which could have swayed the mind of the boss and he might sit this one out too if he's not fully recovered. If that's the case Theo Walcott could get to play in his favoured role as the central striker and maybe that might help him to find some form. He's been well below his best for most of the past two months now and we could do with him firing on all cylinders.

If Chamberlain isn't playing behind the striker I expect him to play in a wide role with Alexis playing on the other side. If he does play more centrally them Joel Campbell could start wide right, but I think he has done enough to make himself so much a part of the team that he could be rested for Tuesday night. I might have the team completely wrong, but I don't think I'll be too far off the players who start the game.

Burnley were relegated from the Premier League last season, but they're looking like they might well make a quick return at the moment. They're up to third in the Championship table and have found same very good form recently. They have won their last three league games and scored 12 goals in the process after struggling for goals for much of the season previous to those games.

As good as they have been recently they're still a whole league below Arsenal and Arsenal will be expected to win convincingly. There's enough quality in any team the boss picks to dominate the game and progress to the next round. I expect Burnley to put up a real fight though and Arsenal certainly won't have it all their own way.

We'll be treated to the thrill of seeing serial bad boy Joey Barton playing against us and I wouldn't put it past him to put the boot in on one of our players or try to get one sent off. He's got away with doing both in the past and it's in his character to try it again. I have no doubt the home fans will give him the abuse he deserves at every opportunity and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

It's not all about the performance as the result is key, but it would be nice if the team could put in a good performance as well as winning the game. They need to put a run of a few league wins in a row together to stay in the title fight and a good win would certainly help with the confidence levels. Hopefully the team can put on that performance and win their 14th FA Cup game in a row to set them up for the next few weeks. Finally for today I really hope the injury problems are behind us and all of those who play will cone through unscathed.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Have A Tuesday To Forget Against Wednesday

What can you say about a night like last night for Arsenal. On the face of it there was a chance for a few youngsters and fringe players to make an impression, but it ended up as an unmitigated disaster. To add insult to the result Arsenal lost two players to injury when the squad was already threadbare.

Arsene Wenger would usually try to make 11 changes from the team that played at the weekend at this stage in the Capital One Cup, but injuries and players loaned out limited those changes to eight. He kept Petr Cech in goal with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain playing the advanced midfield role and Olivier Giroud lead the attack. Otherwise it was all change with both Alex Iwobi and and Glen Kamara making their debuts and the whole defence rotating as well as Joel Campbell and Mathieu Flamini coming in.

The biggest concern for games like this is for the players not to pick up injuries and it took less than 20 minutes for those fears to be realised. First of all it was Chamberlain who went off after only a couple of minutes with hamstring trouble and he was quickly followed by Theo Walcott who had only come on to replace him. 

Those changes did little to help the team shape with Ismael Bennacer coming on to make his debut for Walcott and Giroud as the only player with any real first team experience among the attacking players. It's hard to know if Chamberlain's injury was something he carried into the game or if it was something he just picked up on the night. He certainly seemed to warm up well enough, but the same cannot be said of Walcott and it's hard to see how his injury was caused by anything other than him failing to warm up properly.

The result of those injuries is that Giroud is the only striker available for the trips to Swansea and Munich as well as the North London Derby and Arsenal won't have the option of Walcott's pace on the break. The chances are Campbell will have to play in each of those games too unless Iwobi is risked, but the boss didn't think any of the youngsters were up to the task last night.

If you ask me it was the senior players who should have come in for far more criticism as all of them are a level above the Championship, but allowed themselves to be outplayed and outfought by a team from a league below them. Those youngsters needed help and guidance through their first games, but none of that was on offer from a team who looked like they didn't even want to be there. I really thought players like Mathieu Debuchey and Kieran Gibbs would take the opportunity to remind the boss that they have something to offer the team, but they did the opposite.

Elsewhere Flamini only showed any fight for a short spell in the second half and was again absent without leave when it came to his most important defensive duties far too often. He might have scored the two goals that beat Spurs in the last round, but he should have been the rock on which the youngsters could lean last night and he failed to show up. If Francis Coquelin picks up an injury or suspension I would be very worried to think Flamini would come in for him.

I felt sorry for Canpbell because he gave his all on the night, but football takes more than just commitment and that's something he's clearly lacking. When he got the chance to deliver the ball into the box he failed miserably and not just by slight margins. If he does play in the next three games I have no doubt he will give his all, but I can't see what he has to offer the team. 

Wednesday fully deserved their win and took their goals well even if Arsenal were abysmal. It was an awful night to be an Arsenal fan with the injuries a much bigger blow for me than the defeat. I've never been a huge fan of this competition and I'd prefer it if Arsenal could opt out rather than go through the torture of last night again.

I can't see any positives to take from the game and the next three games are going to be far from easy as a result. I'm not so much worried by the loss of momentum as the injuries and the decision not to add to the outfield players in the squad last summer is coming back to haunt the boss. He has to seriously consider his options for the next three games and hope Aaron Ramsey, Wakcott and Chamberlain can return after the next round of international games in a couple of weeks. 

Their absences for the next three games could have a bad effect on not only the team's chances of getting out of their Champions League group, but also on their chances of keeping up the pace in the Premier League. After a slow start the team are right there in the mix, but the games against Swansea and Spurs won't be easy and last night will only make them harder. There's still enough quality in the team to win both of those games, but one more attacking injury and the crisis will become almost too much for the team to handle.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal v West Ham United Preview

The football season is back at long last and Arsenal get to play their first Premier League game at home to West Ham. The Community Shield victory against Chelsea last week was a great boost for the team, but the game against West Ham will be the real deal. It's crucial for Arsenal to keep their momentum going and get off to a winning start.

Last season ended so well with the team retaining the FA Cup with a commanding performance in the 4-0 victory in the final against Villa. The pre season has gone perfectly to plan too with victories in every single game and some very good performances too. They showed in the win over Chelsea last week that they have what it takes to win games no matter who the opposition might be.

The team who started against Chelsea should give us a pointer to the one which plays against West Ham and I wouldn't be surprised to see the same team. I'm not certain Theo Walcott will get the nod again ahead of Olivier Giroud up front and he surely won't take Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's place on the right of the attacking trio after The Ox was so impressive last week. I wouldn't be surprised to see Walcott on the bench, but there's no harm in having quality ready to bring on at any time.

Alexis Sanchez only came back to pre season training on Monday after winning the Copa America with Chile and it looks like this game will come too soon for him. He may well have kept himself fit during his break, but match fitness is a different thing altogether. There is a chance of him making the bench, but I think we're more likely to see him on the bench at Palace next week.

With Chelsea dropping points at home to Swansea yesterday and facing a trip to City next week there's a real chance to lay down a marker. Chelsea are favourites to retain the title and I think any team who finishes ahead of them will be champions this season. If Arsenal are going to have a chance of doing that they need to take advantage of any Chelsea slips.

West Ham started their season earlier than Arsenal thanks to their participation in the Europa League. They struggled through the first two rounds against minnows before going out on Thursday night and got red cards in each round too. Their fans are happy to see Slaven Bilic in charge after the departure of Sam Allardyce, but he has a lot of work to do ahead of their move to their new stadium next season.

If Arsenal can approach the game with the attacking verve we know they have I think there are goals to be had. I think The Ox looks like this could be his season and I'm hoping to see good things from him from the off today. There's genuine belief in the team and the fans too for this season and now it's time to show us that this team can do something special.

As usual this season my fantasy league is up and running again and it's open to all comers with a €50 prize (out of my pocket) to the winner. You can join up by using the league code 48497-14043 after you have set your team up here and good luck to all who play. There were over 1,000 teams in my league last season and I'm hoping for even more this season.

I'm also running my Predictions League again this season and it's very enjoyable even if there's no cash prize for the winner. The code for my league is FD757-ARR after you have signed up here and of course both games are completely free to play. 

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Ease To A 7-0 Victory in Indonesia

After almost two months of a wait there was finally a game for Arsenal fans to watch their team play today. With pre season training barely a week old the team got their first taste of action as they played the first of three games on their trip to Asia. Their opponents were an Indonesian 11 in Jakarta and they proved to be no match for Arsenal who ran out with an easy 7-0 victory.

Arsene Wenger started with a fairly strong team but there was also plenty of younger players on show too. The goals were shared among six different players with Olivier Giroud getting the pick of the bunch with his second and the teams fourth goal. The other scores were Theo Walcott, Chuba Akpom, Lukas Podolski, Kris Olsson and Thomas Eisfeld with six of the seven goals coming in the second half.

It may not have been a test for the team but at this stage of pre season it's all about fitness and conditioning. The players certainly had a good run out and did all that was required of them on the day. They will face much tougher tasks before the season starts and most certainly when it does too.

The most important thing about the game was the chance for so many Indonesian fans to get a chance to see their favourite team play. Most of those fans will probably never make it to London to see Arsenal play and they took the opportunity to cheer their heroes on. There seemed to be a carnival like atmosphere in the stadium and I have no doubt those fans will remember the visit of their heroes for a long time to come.

It was good to see the young Arsenal players who got a chance doing well and the future looks bright for a few of them. The most impressive player for me was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the coming season will hopefully be the one where he makes his mark at the club. He's a player with a lot of talent and it would be great to see him take the final step and play so well that he becomes a permanent fixture in the team.

Arsenal have to sign some real quality players this summer, but young players will still hopefully get their chance to shine in the team. Chamberlain is a full England international and has a really promising future in the game but he needs to have more impact when he plays. He suffered from second season syndrome last season but it's time to put that behind him and show the manager the team cannot do without him.

With the Indonesian leg of their trip over the Arsenal players will move on to Hanoi where they will play against Vietnam on Wednesday. It's another game they will be expected to win and win comfortably as the work for he new season continues. The local fans will get a chance to see their heroes in action and hopefully the team will be as impressive for them as they were today.

One of the best moments of the day for me was seeing the team play in the new yellow and blue away strip. I really like the look of the strip and the striped socks are a real winner in my opinion. I can see myself making a purchase from the club shop when I get the opportunity to get over to the Emirates this coming season. 

Away from the football action the rumours of pending transfer business continue, but Arsenal still haven't signed any players of real significance yet. The same players names are coming up again and again with Gonzalo Higuain still the most likely one for me. I'd be more than surprised to see either Luis Suarez or Wayne Rooney in an Arsenal shirt next season but stranger things have happened.

Nicklas Bendtner is still an Arsenal player and he continues to be an embarrassment to the club at every opportunity. They have been trying to sell him for a couple of years now but his wages demands added to his off field antics have made it impossible to offload him. His star has fallen so far that it looks like he won't be going anywhere and he will continue to waste his talent in the bars and nightclubs of the world.

It's hard to believe that he's 25 years old already and fast approaching the prime of his career. His opinion of his own abilities married to his off field antics have seen his career plummet and if he's not careful he will end up on the scrap heap very soon. At this stage I'd just like to see him taken off the wage bill at Arsenal to make way for players who appreciate how lucky they are to be professional footballers and are prepared to put in the work required to stay at the top of the game.

That's it or today.

See you tomorrow.

Do Arsenal Need To Change Their Tactics and Formation

When Arsene Wenger took the reins at Arsenal 16 years ago he continued to play a traditional English 4-4-2 system. He had inherited some very good players, and he added to them with some excellent purchases of his own. The core of the team was the defence which had been at Arsenal for so many years.

Just in front of that defence he has two strong and athletic players in Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit. They could do everything that was required of them defensively, and allow other flair players to do most of the attacking. It meant Arsenal relied on their strikers and two wide players for most of their attacking threat and their goals.

Over the next nine years that system never really changed, and it brought Arsenal plenty of success too. The Invincibles were built on a very similar formation, and the central duo of Vieira and Gilberto Silva did the hard work for the team. The two wide players terrorised defences, and Thirrry Henry scored goals for fun.

With the emergence of Cesc Fabregas Arsenal changed their formation, and their style of play too. They depended more on possession football, and prying defences open with intricate passing. The trophies dried up for many reasons, but with the departure of Fabregas last summer it could be time for them to consider changing their tactics and formation again.

The problems with a change would be vast of course, as Wenger has brought in players to suit his system. There are no midfield powerhouses any more, and the wide players don't possess the goalscoring ability of Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires. With the almost inevitable departure of Robin van Persie they need to find someone as prolific to replace him if possible too.

It would be an enormous task for Wenger to undertake, and he is still in the middle of his current project too. Since the emergence of Chelsea and their owner's vast fortunes Arsenal have tried to find a different way to compete at the top in English football. Their model of sustainability along with their large new stadium has made it difficult for them to compete in the transfer market, but Wenger rarely went out to buy ready-made players.

The hopes are that they will reap the rewards of their policies in years to come when financial fair play brings a halt to the vast sums of money being spent by Chelsea, and now Manchester City too. It's a tough route to follow for Arsenal fans, but it's clearly the one that makes sense in the long run. Arsenal fans had become used to winning trophies, and their current trophy drought is not easy to take for many.

Perhaps a return to the formation which won them so many trophies would see them regain some of their former glories, but I doubt it. With the players currently available to Arsenal I can't see any other way they can attempt to play. It's impossible to tell what stature a player will reach when he is signed at a young age, and ready made midfield giants who can actually play the game are hard to come by.

There are a few changes Wenger could make to his tactics which would be easy to integrate into the current system though. A favourite tactic of mine which Arsenal utilised so well in the past was "third man running", and I would love to see it used again. For Arsenal to do so all they would have to change is the way they defend corners and free kicks into their own penalty area.

I can't understand why every single Arsenal player defends when the opposition have a free kick, corner or a throw in. It means the ball comes straight back at them if they clear it, and I'm all for leaving one man up front when Arsenal are defending set pieces. For Arsenal to start using the "third man running" tactic again it is essential for one player to remain in a threatening position to the opposition.

It's a tactic which is very simple, and it proved to be very effective in the past. The lone player up front takes possession of the ball from an Arsenal clearance, and plays it back to another player advancing from the penalty area. His first time pass is then played behind the opposing defence to the third man who is running in behind them on either side.

With the passing ability of some of the current Arsenal team, and the speed of both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain it is surely something which should be considered. It won't work every time of course, but if applied correctly it could lead to a few goals and worry opposing defences too. At the very worst it gives Arsenal an out ball when defending a set piece, and gives their defence some time to regroup.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Players Progress Report At Euro 2012

With the second round of group games now complete at Euro 2012 the tournament is well and truly in full swing. So far the football on display has been very good for the most part, and a few Arsenal players have played a role in making the tournament a success. I'll attempt to give my views on which Arsenal players have impressed the most so far.

Group A

Wojciech Szczesny started the tournament as Poland's first choice goalkeeper, but he didn't fare too well in their first game. Greece's equaliser was partly his fault, and he then received a red card in the incident which saw Greece gain a penalty. The chances are Greece would have scored and won if Szczesny hadn't given away the penalty, and his red card may just have saved them a point.

Unfortunately for Szczesny his replacement saved the penalty, and played quite well in the next game when Szczesny was obviously suspended. Szczesny didn't regain the keeper's shirt for Poland's final group game, and their defeat to the Czech Republic saw them exit the competition at the group stages. The tournament could have gone better for Szczesny, but I am still sure he has a very bright future in football for both Arsenal and poland..

Tomas Rosicky had played the attacking midfield role for the Czech Republic in their first two games, and he has continued the form he showed for Arsenal in the second half of last season. He made their goal in their 4-1 defeat to Russia, and he played an important role in their 2-1 win over Greece too.He missed the win over Poland due to injury, but I have no doubt he will play in the quarter finals if he is fit to do so.

Rosicky is one of three Arsenal players wearing the coveted number 10 shirt for his country, and he has performed very well as their creative force in midfield.Their next game will be against the runners-up of group B, and it will be a very tough test for them. A fully fit Rosicky would certainly be a welcome boost for the Czech's in their attempt to progress to the last four.

Andrey Arshavin is still an Arsenal player despite being on loan to Zenit St. Petersburg, and he is also the captain of Russia. He played a huge role in their 4-1 victory over the Czechs in their first game, as the Arshavin of old shone. He took players on and beat them at will, and he created plenty of goalscoring opportunities for his team mates.

A win in Russia's second game against Poland would have seen them qualify for the last eight with a game in hand, and Arshavin was seen as the man who could make that happen. When the going got tough against Poland Arshavin faded from the game, and his inconsistencies were there for all to see yet again. At times he looks like the world class player Arsenal signed a few years ago, but he can also appear lazy and disinterested too.

His defensive duties are very limited for his national team, and he can save all of his energies for attacking. He still has the incredibly annoying habit of losing interest when his passes go astray or his team's attacks break up.Despite putting in a reasonable performance in Russia's final group game Arshavin was unable to prevent their defeat to Greece and their elimination at the group stages.

Unfortunately for Arsenal that means Arshavin won't get another chance to put himself in the shop window for potential new employers. I am almost certain Arsenal will sell him this summer with Zenit being the most likely destination for his talents.

Group B

Arsenal new boy Lukasz Podolski has played in both of Germany's victories so far, as they look destined for a very good tournament. Despite winning their first two games their qualification for the last eight is not certain yet in a very open group. Podolski hasn't scored yet, but he performed a little better in the second game than the first one.

He looks to be a permanent fixture in their starting 11, and hopefully his influence will increase as the Germans progress through the tournament. At the moment it's very hard to see exactly what player Arsenal have signed for next season, but he must have plenty to offer to be a first choice in such a strong team.

Robin van Persie has led the Dutch attack in their two defeats, but they can still make the quarter finals if results go their way. The defeats to Denmark and Germany were severe blows to the hopes of a Dutch team who were seen as one of the pre-tournament favourites. If they are to make the quarter finals they quite simply have to beat Portugal and beat them well.

RVP missed a few chances in those two games, but he managed to get their only goal so far in the 2-1 defeat against Germany. If The Dutch can somehow make it out of the group they will have to play a lot better to progress, and RVP could still be the man to bag their goals. 

Another Arsenal player who spent last season out on loan is Nicklas Bendtner, and he has had a good start to the tournament with Denmark. He didn't manage to score in the victory over Holland, but he got both goals in the 3-2 defeat against Portugal. Hopefully they can get the right result against Germany to make it through to the quarter finals, and add a few pounds to Bendther's price tag when Arsenal eventually manage to sell him.

Group D

AlexOxlade-Chamberlain was chosen to play in England's first game against France, and he had a pretty good game. He was left out of the next game, as Roy Hodgson decided to play with two strikers. He did manage to come on for the last few minutes, and there is every possibility he will get another chance before the tournament is over.

Chamberlain is still only 18 years old, and his future looks incredibly bright. His experiences as part of the England squad will hopefully help him to become an even better player for Arsenal. It certainly won't be easy for Arsene Wenger to leave him out of the team quite so often next season after his experiences at Euro 2012.

Theo Walcott only managed a couple of minutes as a substitute in England's first game, but he got a longer run out against Sweden. He came on in the second half with England 2-1 down, and managed to be the impetus they needed to turn the game. He scored the equaliser for them before setting Danny Welbeck up to score England's winning goal.

England now look bound for the last eight, and surely Walcott will get more game time after his display against Sweden. There are other players under-performing in the England team, and I would be very surprised to see Walcott on the bench in their final group game.

There are a few other Arsenal players in the tournament, but at the moment they have all being confined to warming the benches for their countries. Perhaps Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker will get their opportunities before the tournament is over, but they look destined to remain squad players for their countries in my opinion.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Awards 2011/12

With the 2011/12 season now well and truly over it's time for me to present my Arsenal awards for the season. It was a real topsy-turvy season for Arsenal for Arsenal, and their third placed Premier League finish was the very most that could have been hoped for in reality. In the dark days of last August I think most Arsenal fans would have been very happy to settle for their eventual league position.

Altogether I have 14 awards to present for various achievements, and they're all from my own perspective of course.

Best Defensive Player:

There are a few contenders for this award with Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny all having a good chance of winning it. I suppose Sagna's injuries should really count him out, and while Szczesny was good there is still plenty of room for improvement. For me Koscielny was head and shoulders above all the other defenders at the club, as he personified the art of defending at times.

His reading of the game is second to none, and the timing of his tackling is excellent. He should be the first choice central defender in Arsenal's team sheet every week next season with others fighting for the right to play alongside him. To add to his excellent season he also managed to score the goal that ensured Arsenal finished third and qualified for next season's Champions League.

Best Midfield Player:

When both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri were sold Arsenal looked certain to hand their midfield duties over to Jack Wilshere. His season long injury meant that somebody else had to step up to the plate, but there weren't too many contenders for the role. It was hoped Aaron Ramsey would be the man to do the job, or that Tomas Rosicky would regain the form of a few years earlier.

Ramsey had an up and down season, and Rosicky came to the fore after the turn of the year, but it was a deadline day signing who proved to be their midfield inspiration. Mikael Arteta is believed to have taken a pay cut to join Arsenal from Everton only hours before the transfer window closed, and he grabbed the chance to play at a higher level with both hands. His ability to control the tempo of the game for Arsenal was crucial at so many times, and they really struggled when he was injured for the last few games.

A midfield consisting of both Arteta and Jack Wilshere next season could be a really exciting prospect for Arsenal and their fans.

Best Attacking Player:

There can't be any doubt about the winner of this award after Robin van Persie scored 30 Premier League goals for Arsenal. He was the top scorer in the Premier League, and some of the goals he scored were quite incredible.

He has suffered badly with injuries over his Arsenal career, but he has managed to stay injury free for the last 18 months. He has been in incredible goalscoring form in that time, and hopefully he will decide that his future should be spent at Arsenal.

Best Player:

Despite both Koscielny and Arteta playing very well all season long there can only be one choice for this award too. RVP had the season of his career so far, and there is every possibility it could be his last season for Arsenal too. His goals almost single-handedly carried the team at times if the experts are to be believed.

It would be great if he signed a contract to see out his career at Arsenal, and helped the club to achieve the success he wants to achieve himself. Whatever happens Arsenal will go on, and RVP's season will be remembered as probably the best one in his career.

Most Improved Player:

When a player turns 30 he is usually past his best, and Toms Rosicky will be 32 later this year. He has spent the last four ears either injured or unable to find the form of his earlier career. In the second half of this season in particular he managed to rediscover some of the form which tempted Arsenal to spend so much money on him six years ago.

He was able to take control of the midfield in games, and play the role vacated by Cesc Fabregas. When the team needed some forward momentum in the second half of the season he was the player putting in the effort to drive others on. Hopefully his new contract will inspire him to even better things next season.

Best Goal:

I was lucky enough to be in the Emirates when RVP scored what I consider to be Arsenal's best goal of the season. Alex Song floated a ball over the top of the Everton defence with 20 minutes left in the game which marked Arsenal's 125th anniversary. As the ball fell to RVP he unleashed a magnificent volley in to the far corner of the net to leave Tim Howard helpless.

The technique on dis play from RVP for that goal was something most players can only dream of, but he has shown all too often what he is capable of. It was a fitting goal to celebrate three points on such a momentous occasion for the club and the fans too.

Best Tackle:

Laurent Koscielny showed what a fine art tackling can be on many occasions throughout the season, and deserved to be named Arsenal's best defensive player. However, the sheer importance of the tackle by Kieran Gibbs in the final game of the season means he has to win the award. With time almost up Gibbs slid in to put his body on the line, and deny West Brom what looked like a certain equaliser.

That tackle was probably the difference between third and fourth place for Arsenal, and it's value cannot be overestimated. Gibbs may still be young and a little defensively naive at times, but he showed how much he wanted to win the game with a fantastic tackle.

Best Performance:

Arsenal had some very good performances during the season, and it's never easy to pick the best one. The 5-3 win away to Chelsea was a highlight, and so was the 3-0 win at home to AC Milan. The best performance in my opinion though was the 5-2 at home to Spurs.

After 20 minutes Arsenal were 2-0 down despite having played very well. Spurs goals came from a lucky deflection, and a penalty awarded after a Gareth Bale dive.

Arsenal went into the game 10 points behind Spurs, and it looked like that gap would increase to 13 points after the game. Surely it would have meant third place was beyond Arsenal, but that didn't matter in the end. Arsenal came storming back with two goals before half time, and then they added another three in the second half.

Within weeks Spurs had collapsed, and Arsenal had passed them to move into third place. Arsenal may have struggled to hold on to third place, but they just about kept it and Spurs were destined for the Europa League yet again.

Most Memorable Moment:

There were quite a few memorable moments during the season, but one sticks out in my mind more than all of the others. During Arsenal's 5-3 win at Chelsea there was an incident which will live long in my memory.

Arsenal had come back from 2-1 down at half time to lead 3-2 until Juan Mata scored an equaliser for Chelsea with 10 minutes left. Only five minutes later RVP ran on to a back pass which was meant for John Terry, and rounded the keeper to make the score 4-3 to Arsenal. As RVP ran through the sight of Terry falling flat on his face in a hopeless attempt to stop him was the sight which will live long in my memory.

Most Frustrating Player:

When Arsenal signed Gervinho from Lille last summer I couldn't help wishing they had signed Eden Hazard instead. Gervinho had played very well for the French double winners, but Hazard was the real class player in their ranks. Gervinho has looked very good at times during the season for Arsenal, but the lack of end product can be very frustrating.

He is very good at using a burst of pace to beat his opponent, but he seems unable to pick out the killer final pass. When faced with good goal scoring chances he rarely looks composed, and usually grabs at the shot before missing. I'm hoping his second season will offer a lot more because he looks like he has the potential to be a very good player.

Unluckiest Player:

I suppose Bacary Sagna could be considered to be very unlucky to have broken his leg twice during the season. Abu Diaby barely kicked a ball all season long because of his continued run of injuries. The unluckiest player player had to be Jack Wilshere though, as his injuries meant he missed the whole season.

He may have picked up his knock on the Emirates Cup, but the original injury happened on international duty. He had just played almost every game in the previous season for Arsenal, and looked ready to be their midfield leader when Cesc Fabregas left. His progress has been set back by a whole year and he will miss Euro 2012, as well as possibly missing the start of next season.

Player That Should Have Been Used More Often:

When Arsenal signed Akex Oxlade-Chamberlain last summer I didn't think he would be used very much during the season. I assumed he would gradually become a part of the first team squad as Arsene Wenger look to slowly introduce him. As Arsenal's injury problems mounted Chamberlain got a look in sooner than expected when he came on as a sub in the debacle away to Manchester United.

The result was nothing to do with him, but it was a long time before he got another chance in the Premier League. When he did play again he showed glimpses of what Arsenal can expect in the future, and certainly looked like he should have started more than six Premier League games. His performance in midfield at home to AC Milan an excellent one, but he never got the chance to play in that role again.

I thought that Wenger may have been protecting him from the rigours of first team football at his tender age, and possibly hoping to keep him from the eyes of the watching England manager. I think he may not have played too often to make sure he didn't get chosen for England for Euro 2012, but the gamble didn't work. I certainly would like to have seen a lot more of him, and I'm sure I will next season.

Lifetime Achievement:

Pat Rice eventually hung up his tracksuit at the end of the season, as Steve Bould became Wenger's new assistant. Rice joined Arsenal in 1964, and except for a spell at Watford towards the end of his playing career he was an Arsenal man for 48 years. He will be missed by fans and players alike, and it will be very strange to see the Arsenal bench without him on it next season.

Special Mention:

A very special mention has to go to West Brom's goalkeeper in Arsenal's final game. Ben Foster had an excellent season for Albion, but thankfully he picked up a knock before the final game of the season. His replacement was Marton Fullop, and he was in a very generous mood on the day.

Fullop managed to almost throw the ball into his own goal twice during the game, as Arsenal scraped a 3-2 win. If they hadn't won that game they would have finished in fourth place, and been consigned to Thursday night Europa League football.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Season Review Part One

A very difficult and sometimes hard to take season is over for Arsenal and their supporters. Considering how bleak things looked during the summer after the departure of Cesc Fabregas the final Premier League position has to be seen as a positive. At one stage Arsenal found themselves 17th in the league, but gradually they turned things around to finish in a very respectable third spot.

Of course Arsenal didn't exactly do things the easy way, and it's been quite a long time since they did.

There was a huge turnaround in the personell in the first team squad last summer with Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy also being sold. Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela were also sent out on loan, as Arsene Wenger made room for some new arrivals. With loads of money to spend the hope was that he would replace the quality of Cesc with players of the highest calibre.

The signs were promising early on when Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson arrived, but there were no more significant arrivals until the transfer window was very close to slamming shut. In the last days and hours of the summer transfer window Arsenal brought in Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker, Ju-Young Park, Yossi Benayoun and Mikael Arteta, but none of them commanded a huge fee.

With both Cesc and Nasri gone it looked like the midfield strings would be pulled by Jack Wilshere, but Wenger could not have known he was going to miss the whole season through injury. The other midfielder who very rarely featured because of injury was Abu Diaby, and his constant injury problems must cast some serious doubt on his future at the club and in the game too. Their absences gave chances to other players who might have been expected to have had less opportunities in the first team.

The goalkeeping duties were taken over by Wojciech Szczesny, and he has shown himself to be a real star of the future. It's been a few years since Arsenal have had a goalkeeper who looks capable of playing at the very highest level, but Szczesny has shown enough to suggest he is that man. He's still only 22 years old, but if he continues to progress he could have the Arsenal goalkeeper's shirt for many years to come.

With Thomas Vermaelen available again after missing most of last season through injury there was some hope that the Arsenal defence would be a lot tighter than it had been the previous season. The additions of Mertesacker and Santos also looked to be very promising, and there was real hope of Arsenal having real cover in all four defensive positions.

Of course most of those arrivals were after Arsenal's first three league games of the season, and they only managed one point in those games. Worse still was what happened when they went to Old Trafford to play Manchester United just a few days before that window closed. The horror of that 8-2 defeat to United will be a memory which haunts Arsenal fans for many years to come.

Despite their terrible start to their league campaign Arsenal somehow found the strength within themselves to beat Udinese over two legs to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. They were drawn with the champions of both Germany and Greece, as well as the runners up in the French League. It looked like Arsenal would have a tough task ahead of them, but they qualified for the knockout stages by winning their group with a game still left to play.

Arsenal managed to win four of their six games in September, as the new players seemed to be settling in very well. The only game Arsenal lost in September was away to Blackburn in the league, and it was in true Arsenal style. They were 2-1 up early in the second half when Bacary Sagna went off injured, and Blackburn ended up winning 4-3.

The fact that Arsenal put the ball through their own net twice didn't help, but the defending on display was nothing short of comical. When Arsenal eventually woke up they pounded the Blackburn goal, but they could only pull one goal back despite creating loads of chances. By early October Arsenal had seven points from seven games, and they were already 12 points behind the league leaders.

They had lost four league games which included defeats at home to Liverpool, as well as away to United and Spurs. They had at least progressed past Shrewsbury Town in the Carling Cup, as well as taking four points from their first two Champions League games. There were signs that things weren't all doom and gloom, but Arsenal needed to improve an awful lot in the league.

Arsenal then went on to win their next five league games, as they started to make up ground on the teams above them. The highlight of those five wins was the 5-3 victory away to Chelsea when Arsenal showed all of their attacking strengths and defensive weaknesses in the same game. The sight of John Terry lying flat on his face as Robin van Persie raced past him to score was one of the season's highlights for me.

The only Premier League defeat before the turn of the year after the loss away to Spurs was a 1-0 defeat away to league leaders Manchester City. Despite losing Arsenal played very well, and put up a performance to make their fans proud of their efforts. When the year ended Arsenal had 36 points from 19 league games which meant they had taken 29 points from their previous 12 games.

They were also through to the last 16 of the Champions League, and they faced the mouth-watering prospect of playing against AC Milan. There were some real reasons to be hopeful for Arsenal fans, and the prospect of a possible signing or two in the January transfer window were something to look forward to also. The injury crisis which the club had experienced in recent seasons had reared it's ugly head again, and the squad was looking a little threadbare.

Sagna had suffered a broken leg in the defeat to Spurs, and Santos picked up a bad injury in a meaningless Champions League game away to Olympiacos in Greece. With Kieran Gibbs and Jenkinson also injured Arsenal found themselves trying to cope without any recognised full backs in the team. They seemed to cope throughout December, but the question was would they continue to cope.

Arsenal had exited the Carling Cup at the hands of Manchester City, but they still had the FA Cup to look forward to. The prospect of qualifying for the next season's Champions League was still a very rel one, and there was also the matter of that last 16 tie with AC Milan. After an awful start to the season things were certainly starting to look a lot better at the half way mark.

The outstanding player in the first half of the season was undoubtedly RVP, as his goals were a primary factor in many of Arsenal's victories. He had returned from injury in the second half of the previous season, and scored so many goals in the calander year 2011. For the first time in his Arsenal career he was relatively injury free, and the club were feeling the benefits.

Besides RVP I thought the last minute capture of Arteta had a huge influence on Arsenal's recovery. He may not have been their first choice purchase for midfield, and he certainly wasn't a ready made replacement for Cesc. He brought a stability to the midfield which others had failed to do, and the whole team benefited from his arrival.

I'll go into my thoughts on the second half of the season next time, and then move on to an overall summary. 

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's Premier League Trip To West Brom Previewed

Arsenal's season has come down to one game, and it's make or break for them in that game. Arsenal travel to West Brom this afternoon knowing that a win will guarantee them third place and a spot in the group stages of next season's Champions League. If Arsenal fail to win they could end up finishing fourth or even fifth, and that's not a thought worth bearing.

If Arsenal lose they can possibly finish fifth, but Newcastle would have to win at Everton and of course Spurs would need to avoid defeat against Fulham. The chances are the worst Arsenal can do is finish fourth, and normally that would mean they would play in the final qualifying round for next season's Champions League. However, Chelsea's upcoming appearance in the Champions League final could prove to be a fatal blow for any team that finishes fourth.

If Chelsea win the Champions League they will get the final Champions League place, and the fourth placed team will play in the Europa League. It would be a terrible blow for any team that finishes fourth, and I would hate to see Arsenal sweating on the result of the Champions League final. The other really bad thing about Arsenal finishing fourth would of course be that Spurs would more than likely finish ahead of them.

Since Arsene Wenger took over the reins at Arsenal in 1996 they have finished ahead of Spurs in every single season in the Premier League. It would be a bitter blow for the Arsenal fans to see that fantastic sequence come crashing to an end. Arsenal's players have the fate of the club and their fans' bragging rights in their hands, and they have to rise to the challenge.

They have failed to win of their previous four league games, as they have stumbled towards the finishing line. Last week they turned around a deficit at home to Norwich, and looked likely to take all three points with only five minutes remaining. In true Arsenal style they conceded a late goal, and proceeded to miss some great chances in the dying moments.

West Brom haven't got the best home record in the league this season, and they have been beaten nine times already. They are playing well at the moment, and the players will surely be anxious to give Roy Hodgson a great send off. Hodgson will take over the management of the English team after this game, and he has left the club in much better shape than he found it.

Hodgson has been little more than a year in the hot seat at Albion, and the Arsenal players have a much bigger goodbye to say to one of their own staff. Pat Rice has been an Arsenal man since 1964 with the exception of a few years at the end of his playing career spent at Watford. He has been Wenger's right hand man since Wengerr became Arsenal's manager, and there is a huge fondness for him among the players and fans.

Arsenal's inability can to win any of their last four games can be put down to a host of reasons, but the main one for me is the absence of Mikael Arteta in those games. He has had a very good influence on the team since his arrival, and they have struggled in midfield in recent games while he has been injured. He won't be available today of course, and the players who are chosen need to be at their very best.

Wenger doesn't have too many options in his team selection today, and I expect to see a very similar team to the one which played last week. There will be a change at right back after Bacary Sagna suffered another leg break against Norwich, and I expect Carl Jenkinson to get the nod. Frances Coquelin came on for the injured Sagna last week and played well enough, but Jenkinson is the next in line after Sagna for that position.

A place for Coquelin could possibly be found in midfield, but I doubt it and he will probably be on the bench. The only other change might see Theo Walcott return if he has overcome the hamstring injury he picked up a few weeks ago. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had a good effect on the team when he came off the bench last week, and I suspect he might be held in reserve again in case Arsenal need a real option from the bench.

I'm sure it will be a tense and nervous affair, but it's a game Arsenal can most certainly win if they want it badly enough. Despite some of the players feeling the effects of a long hard season they need to raise their game for the very last time this season to fight for the cause.

It would be ideal if Arsenal could come out and blow West Brom away from the first minute to the last, but that has hardly been their way in recent weeks. They have struggled to control games at best, and Norwich exposed their defence far too often last week. I will be happy with any sort of victory whether it's a first minute or last minute goal that brings it.

I have no doubt that West Brom will create chances, but equally I'm sure Arsenal will too. If Robin van Persie can add to his impressive 30 goal league tally for the season their chances will be greatly improved. He scored twice last week, and he missed a few very good chances as well.

Another two goals for RVP will create a record for any player since the Premier League went to a 38 game format, and it would be great for him to add it to his impressive collection of personal accolades for this season. Arsenal have been called a one man team because of RVP's goalscoring feats this season, and there is no doubt his contribution has been immense.

This could possibly be his last game for Arsenal, and if it is to be so I hope he can end on a high for himself and the club too. Ultimately Arsenal's season will be judged on whether they qualify for the Champions League or not, and this game will decide their fate. It would be fantastic to see that fate complete with a  place in next season's competition, and St. Totteringham's Day arriving at the same time too.

I'm predicting a hard fought 2-1 win for Arsenal with RVP getting the goals that are so badly needed. It certainly won't be easy viewing for Arsenal fans, but most of this season has come under that category already. The most important thing is where they finish in the league, and that will finally be decided just before five this afternoon.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Regain The Mastery Of Their Own Fate

It has been an up and down season for so many teams in the Premier League this season. Arsenal have had their own fair share of highs and lows, but Saturday's draw at home to Norwich seemed to be an almost fatal blow for them. They had to hope a struggling Aston Villa team would take something off Spurs on Sunday, and they managed to get a 1-1 draw.

With Newcastle losing at home to Manchester City it means Arsenal are in third place with only one game left to play. The simple fact is Arsenal will finish third if they can win away to West Brom next Sunday, and a draw will more than likely see them finish fourth at worst. Having seen the highlights of West Bron's draw away to Bolton yesterday I have no doubt that Arsenal will have their work cut out in that game.

West Brom have been better away from home this season, but they are not an easy team to beat. They may have nothing to play for at this stage in the season, but Norwich showed how dangerous a team in that position can be. It will take a much better defensive performance in particular for Arsenal to get the win they need.

Next Sunday afternoon at 3 pm Arsenal will get the chance to do what they have been unable to do in their last four Premier League games. With the finishing post in sight Arsenal have faltered very badly, but this weekend they have been greatly helped by the performances of those teams fighting for third place with them. As it stands there are still four teams who can finish third, and Arsenal are ahead of the other three.

Chelsea travel to Liverpool tomorrow night needing a win to keep their slight chances of a top three or four place alive. If they win that game they will be three points behind Arsenal with a home game against Blackburn next Sunday to come. I have no doubt that they will beat Blackburn which would mean an Arsenal loss to West Brom would drop them below Chelsea in that scenario.

However, a point at West Brom will guarantee fourth place for Arsenal, as Chelsea will not be able to catch them and neither will Newcastle unless they beat Everton by 17 goals. It would leave Spurs as the only team that can finish above Arsenal besides the top two teams that have run away with the title challenge. It would also leave Arsenal fans hoping for a Bayern Munich win over Chelsea in the Champions League final on May 19.

It seems incredible that Arsenal have allowed their season to develop in this way, as they had so many chances to take the points they needed at home. They played three of their last four games at home, and a win in any of those games would have Arsenal almost over the finishing line. Each of  those games should really have been won, but now it's their away form that will come under scrutiny.

Arsenal started the season really badly, and took only one point from their first four away games. Since then they have done quite well on their travels with 27 points from 14 games, and not too many teams can better that. In most of those games they had Mikael Arteta in their team, and his absence has been a real problem for them in recent weeks.

He went off injured after only eight minutes of the defeat at home to Wigan, and Arsenal have looked very unsteady in midfield since then. With Jack Wilshere and Abu Diaby both missing virtually the whole season injured it has left the club with very limited options in midfield. Both Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song had very bad games on Saturday, but they will probably have to play against West Brom.

The only other options besides both of them are Frances Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who are both young and relatively inexperienced. It would be a huge risk to throw either of them in at the deep end, and I cannot see Arsene Wenger taking that risk.

With Bacary Sagna having broken his leg on Saturday there is every chance that Coquelin will be needed in defence anyway. I suspect Carl Jenkinson will play at right back instead of Sagna, but Coquelin didn't do so badly there on Saturday when he replaced Sagna.

When I watched the game on Saturday I thought Kieran Gibbs had a bad game in defence, but when I watched it again I realised others had left him badly exposed at times. Thomas Vermaelen is  fantastic player, but some of his performances in the last couple of months have been very poor defensively. He needs to concentrate on his defending this Sunday, as a win for Arsenal will have to be built on defensive strength.

The first priority for any defender is his defending, but against Norwich Arsenal simply didn't do that. When they were 1-0 and 3-2 up they were still somehow outnumbered at the back at times by Norwich. The players need to be aware of their defensive responsibilities, and stick to them unless circumstances and the manager decide otherwise.

I can't say I am overly confident of the team getting the result they need, but I will be cheering them on with my heart and soul as always. I would dearly love to see them score early and build on that lead, but that has been far from the Arsenal way this season. I have no doubt there will be twists and turns as the games progress on Sunday afternoon, and I can only hope when the final whistle sounds Arsenal are looking forward to Champions League football next season.

Finally for today Arsenal have unveiled their new home shirt for next season, and I have to say I really don't care for it. I don't like the black(or is it navy stripe), and I can at least see it saving me €60 because I won't be buying it. That may change with time s it usually does, but I sincerely doubt it.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's Premier League Game With Norwich City Previewed

There are only two Premier League games left to play for Arsenal this season, and on the face of it they should win them both. Since their disastrous start to the season the very best they could really have hoped for was a third placed finish. That target is still well within their sights with their fate still firmly in their own hands.

Of course in true Arsenal style they haven't made things easy for themselves, as they have stumbled towards the finishing line in recent weeks. Arsenal have only taken two points in their last three league games, and only scored two goals in the process. If they had even managed three more points in those games third place would be a much easier prospect for them now.

It's no coincidence that Mikael Arteta only managed to play for 10 minutes of those games before picking up a season-ending injury against Wigan. His influence on their midfield since his arrival on the August transfer deadline day cannot be overestimated. With Jack Wilshere missing the whole season injured Arteta brought the stability that Arsenal's transformation was built on.

They have struggled to impose themselves on opponents without him, but they must find a way in the next two games. The prize on offer is too good to turn down, and it's up to the players available to make sure Arsenal finish third. It is of course possible that fourth place will be good enough for a Champions League place next season, but it's a risk no team can afford to take.

If the unthinkable happens and Chelsea win the champions League final they will take the place of the team that finish fourth in the Premier League. Chelsea lost to Newcastle on Wednesday night, and that defeat means a top four finish is beyond them barring an incredible sequence of results in their favour. They still have an FA Cup final to play, but the Champions League final against Bayern Munich is their real priority.

Arsenal play their game this week on Saturday, and it gives them the opportunity to put some pressure on both Spurs and Newcastle who are chasing them. If Arsenal can beat Norwich it will leave them four points ahead of both of those teams before they play their games. Spurs play away to an Aston Villa team that probably need a point to ensure Premier League survival, and Newcastle are at home to title chasing Manchester City.

It's Arsenal's final home game of the season, and a chance for the players to give the fans a farewell they deserve. It hasn't been a great season for Arsenal fans, but three points on Saturday would put a smile on their faces as they face the prospect of three months without their favourite team. The summer months are never easy for fans, but at least there's the unending transfer rumours to look forward to.

Despite being far from their best at the moment Arsenal still have a far better team than Norwich. The players need to approach the game with the intensity that a must win game deserves, and attack Norwich as if their lives depend on it. There can be no let up for the entire 90 minutes, as the better the victory the tougher it will be for the chasing teams.

The only way Arsenal can tie up third place is if Spurs lose and Newcastle don't win along with an Arsenal win of course. I can see Newcastle not winning, but I think the most Arsenal can hope for is Villa to manage a point against Spurs. If that is the case Arsenal can make things a lot better by racking up a good scoreline against Norwich.

Norwich won't make it easy for Arsenal, as they have put up a fight against every team they have played this season. They create good goalscoring chances in every game they play, but they also give up an awful lot of chances too. Arsenal need to take advantage of the slack defending Norwich are guilty of far too often, and punish them as often as possible.

Robin van Persie needs to score two goals in his last two games to reach the magical 30 league goal mark for the season, and it would be great if he could do it against Norwich. He has won the player of the season awards from both the players and the football writers, and it would be a perfect way to celebrate his awards. Hopefully he will be around next season to try to retain his awards, and maybe even win a trophy with Arsenal.

I would imagine the Arsenal team will be very similar to the one that drew 1-1 away to Stoke last week. There's a possibility of Andre Santos or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting, but I think Arsene Wenger will opt for an unchanged side. The experience of players like Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun could be crucial on the day.

It could be a nervy affair for the players and fans if Arsenal don't score early on, but the team need the full backing of the crowd for every minute of the game. I have confidence in the ability of the players to get the result they need, and to put in the performance required. Now is the time for the players to show they have the same belief in themselves, and do all that is required of them.

It's as simple as giving their all in the final two games of the season, and delivering the results that will achieve Champions League qualification for next season. Arsenal are the only team with their fate in their own hands, and the other teams will be feeling just as much pressure.

I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal with RVP bagging the goals he needs to reach the 30 mark. It would be great if Arsenal could run up an emphatic scoreline, but once they win it doesn't really matter if it's a last minute 1-0 victory. As an Arsenal fan you learn to live with the tension, and it seems like the team don't like to make life too easy for their fans.  

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.  

Arsenal's Premier League Game With Wigan Previewed

Arsenal managed to put the recent blip with QPR behind them by bouncing back to beat Manchester City and Wolves in the space of a few days. They have now won nine of their last 10 games in the league, and have some daylight between themselves and the other teams chasing for third place. With none of those teams playing this week Arsenal have the opportunity to widen the gap by beating Wigan tonight.

The team should be fairly similar to the one which beat Wolves with one possible exception. I think Tomas Rosicky will return to play a creative role in midfield at the expense of Aaron Ramsey. Rosicky didn't play against Wolves, but he probably needed a rest after starting so many games in recent months.

Rosicky has been in great form during that time, and the team has really benefited from his exertions. He finally looks like the player Arsenal signed almost six years ago, and hopefully he can continue that form into next season. I know he has had an awful time with injuries during his time at Arsenal, but six years is still a long time to wait for a player to show why he was signed in the first place.

Kieran Gibbs will probably be fit again, but I expect Andre Santos to keep his place at left back. It looks like Arsene Wenger considers the players to be fairly equal, and whoever has the shirt will probably hold it. Gibbs has done well since his return from injury, but now Santos has his chance to shine thanks to Gibbs having to limp off against Manchester City last week.

The battle between the two of them can only be good for the team in my opinion, and hopefully it can improve both players overall. I would imagine Santos will now be the first choice left-back for the rest of the season unless he performs badly, or picks up an injury.

With Laurent Koscielny still suspended Johan Djourou will again play  alongside Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of the Arsenal defence. Djourou hasn't always looked particularly secure when he has played this season, but he was excellent last season until he picked up an injury against United in the FA Cup. No matter how well he might play tonight I cannot see him retaining his place for Saturday's game at home to Chelsea.

The only other decision Wenger has to make is who to include on the left side of his attacking trio. Yossi Benayoun has done very well there in the last few games, and I think he will probably get the nod yet again. Ramsey will hope to play I'm sure, and Gervinho looks like he might be ready to return from injury too.

It means Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will again be on the bench despite how much talent and potential he has. I have no doubt that Wenger is slowly introducing him into the team, but it must be frustrating for him to be on the bench unless others are injured. I wonder if he is being used so sparingly to ensure he doesn't go to Euro 2012 with England this summer.

Wigan got a very good result at home to United last Wednesday night, and they have now won three of their last four Premier League games. Their only setback in those four games was their defeat at Chelsea, but that was thanks to inept refereeing more than anything else. They have shown more than enough in those games to deserve to stay up this season, and Arsenal have to take them very seriously tonight.

The results against City and especially Wolves would seem to show Arsenal have learned from the mistakes they made against QPR. The players were always going to be up for the game against City, but they almost managed a comfortable win away to the bottom club in the league by beating Wolves. Any complacency in that game could have proved costly, but Arsenal were always in control and should have won by more than three goals.

Arsenal have come out of the blocks at top speed in their last two games, and I expect more of the same tonight. The possibility of opening up an eight point lead over Spurs and Newcastle, and a 10 point lead over Chelsea is one Arsenal cannot afford to miss out on. They will have played a game more than those clubs, but points in the bag area lot better than games in hand.

There are so few games left now that a lead of those proportions would be almost too much for the following pack to overhaul. It's vital for the players to concentrate from the first minute to the last, and take every chance they can to make Wigan suffer. It would be great if Arsenal can tie up third spot before traveling to West Brom for their final game of the season.

If Arsenal can win their last five games they will finish on 79 points, and that would be an impressive haul from such an eventful season. Even four wins would see them average two points a game for the season, and that's always what I consider to be the bare minimum requirement. Any team that averages more than two points a game over a season usually puts in a real challenge for the title too.

If Arsenal can do what is expected of them tonight they play again next Saturday at home to Chelsea in another must win game. It's hardly fair on Chelsea to have played their FA Cup semi final against Spurs yesterday evening, and to have to play at home to Barcelona in the last four of the Champions League on Wednesday night. The considerations of television have certainly made Chelsea's  task harder, but as an Arsenal fan I'm not complaining.

A win tonight and then another win against Chelsea would probably be enough for Arsenal to seal third place, but Saturday's game must be put out of the players minds. I thought one of the reasons they were so poor against QPR was because the players may have been thinking of their upcoming game against City. The fans have been told that the lessons were learned from that game, and the players have the opportunity to show how well they were learned tonight.

Despite Wigan looking impressive recently they are no match for an Arsenal team in full flow. I'm predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal with Robin van Persie again getting his name on the scoresheet. He needs to get three goals in the remaining five games to reach 30 league goals for the season, and I sincerely hope he manages the feat.

It's at the stage of the season where a win is all important for Arsenal, and I don't really care how they get it. Much has been made of refereeing decisions which have cost teams goals or not in recent weeks, but Arsenal are due a few decisions in their favour in my opinion. They have conceded three penalties this season to dives which Ashley Young would have been proud of, and surely these things are meant to balance out over a season.

I'm not suggesting for a moment that Arsenal players should dive, but I wouldn't be unhappy if the referees got a call or two wrong in their favour either. it's not only teams that are looking to retain their league title taht need all the help they can get from friendly referees. Seriously though I'll be perfectly happy if the officials do their job properly tonight, and get their calls right too.

I'm sure the crowd will be right behind the team tonight, as there always seems to be a better atmosphere at night games. I'm not sure why that is, but hopefully it will help to spur the players on to yet another win. 

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's Premier League Game With Manchester City Previewed

Arsenal's seven game winning streak in the Premier League came to an end at Queens Park Rangers last week, and they barely managed to hold on to third spot in the league. With only seven games to go they have a real battle with Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle for the final two Champuons League places. Ideally Arsenal will win all of their remaining games, and tie up third spot before the final game of the season.

Of course Arsenal fans know things rarely happen in an ideal fashion, and the game with QPR proved that. There has been much talk from the club of how the players concentration slipped and complacency was also cited as a factor. It's never nice as a fan to hear that your team hadn't got their attitude right for a game, and it's something Arsenal have suffered from far too often in the past.

I have no doubt the attitude will be absolutely right for the game against City, but it will still be a very tough game. At their very best this Arsenal team are a match for almost any other side, but the three points dropped last week would have been easier to win than the ones against City will be. It's infuriating to think that the players got that game do wrong, and I think they may possibly have had their minds on this week's game.

I won't dwell on QPR too much though, as I'm still more than happy to see Arsenal in with a real chance of finishing in the top three or even the top four. The importance of qualification for next season's Champions League cannot be over exaggerated, and it's worth an awful lot of money to the club too. Arsenal have some serious business to do in the transfer market this summer, and it's always easier to lure players with the promise of Champions League football.

Arsene Wenger said that the defeat to QPR has not stopped the team's momentum, and hopefully he is right. If the players can put that game out of their minds and play like they had in their previous seven league games they will give City a very tough afternoon. There is an awful lot riding on the game for both teams, but City probably have even more to lose than Arsenal.

By the time the game kicks off City will more than likely be eight points behind Manchester United at the top of the Premier League, and a defeat to Arsenal would end their chances of winning the title. They have lost hundreds of millions over the last few seasons in their quest for trophies, and the consequences could be dire for their manager Roberto Mancini. There has been much talk of his job being safe, but I would doubt it if they don't win the league.

City have been quite fantastic at home this season, and their draw with Sunderland last week was the first time they failed to win at home in 21 league games. They have fallen by the wayside on their travels though, and they have only managed two wins in their last nine away games. They were seen as a free scoring team earlier in the season, but they have only scored five goals in those last nine away games as well.

The Arsenal team more or less picks itself at the moment, and I don't expect any real changes despite last week's blip. With Arsenal playing at home I think Aaron Ramsey will return to the bench, and a more naturally wide player will play on the left. That means it's a straight choice between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gervinho, and I hope Chamberlain gets the nod.

I still think Gervinho has struggled to regain any form since his return from the African Cup of Nations, and Chamberlain will have a lot more to offer on the day. There was a suggestion that he might make the English squad for Euro 2012, but his lack of playing time for Arsenal will surely count against him. He could have made a real impact for England in that tournament, but he needs the chance to make a real impact for Arsenal first.

It's not easy to understand why Chamberlain has been given so few opportunities this season, but I suppose Wenger is introducing him gradually. It may have been a different story if Theo Walcott or Gervinho had been injured during the season, but I'm sure his chances will come in the future. It also has to be remembered how well he played in a midfield role against AC Milan when Arsenal almost did the impossible against them.

I'm expecting Arsenal to attack City from the off today, and if City play like they have being doing recently they will have quite a few problems. There is no doubt that City have some very good players, but it seems they have found the pressure of a title challenge too much to take. It would be nice to see Arsenal put the final nail in City's title challenge, even if it hands the title to United.
 
I'm sure it will be far from plain sailing for Arsenal, and the performance of Robin van Persie will be very important for them. He hasn't scored in his last three games, and there is now a chance that he will not reach the magical 30 Premier League goals mark this season. With only one year left on his contract there is a real possibility RVP could leave Arsenal this summer, but a few goals from him today could be the impetus Arsenal need to seal a top three finish.

If Arsenal do finish in the top three I think RVP will stay and sign a new contract, and the players Arsenal need to compliment him will arrive this summer. A goalscoring performance from him today should hopefully be enough to take all three points for Arsenal, and put them back above Spurs in third place. With Newcastle and Chelsea also winning this weekend it is very important for Arsenal that they do not lose.

I hope City try to attack Arsenal and leave a little bit of room at the back for Arsenal to attack them. If they do I can see Arsenal scoring the goals they need, and getting the result they want. I'm predicting a 2-1, but I suppose I wouldn't be too unhappy with a draw either. 

Arsenal have to play Wolves and Wigan in the next week, and wins in those games will be vitally important for them no matter how today's game turns out. The pitfalls of playing teams at the wrong end of the table were all too obvious against QPR last week, and Arsenal have to take six points from those games. Even if the worst were to happen today wins in those games would put the team right on track.

Ultimately it doesn't matter where Arsenal get the points from, as long as they finish in a Champions League spot. Of course a win over City would be a real boost for their chances, but last week proved that three points are three points no matter who they beat to get them.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.