Has Arsene Wenger Lost The Plot?

After their disastrous start to the season on Saturday Arsenal now head off to Turkey for a Champions League qualifier with a squad so thin they could struggle to field a team. There have been no arrivals of note this summer and their injury list is mounting by the minute. They have to somehow patch together a team that can bring back a result which gives them a chance of qualifying for the group stages.

The latest injury news would seem to indicate that only Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be missing from the squad which was available on Saturday and Nacho Monreal will return. There are quite a few players carrying knocks though and despite being in the squad there are still doubts over Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott. All of them could well be available for selection but it's always a risk playing players who are carrying a knock.

There is no choice for Arsenal though with such a thin squad and virtually no players added to it over the summer. While almost all of the other Premier League teams have a week's rest between each game at the moment Arsenal have two vital games against Fenerbache to play. How the squad was allowed to reach this stage in the season without strengthening is anyone's guess.

That leads me to the blog title because Arsene Wenger is the man who makes the decisions at Arsenal and he seemed to be happy to wait until closer to the deadline day to make his moves in the market. I can't help feeling that he thought the side which finished last season so well was strong enough to make a real challenge this season and decided that he wouldn't add to it unless he got the right players at the right price. He has often said how only top, top players will improve his team, but those players cost top, top money.

Gonzalo Higuain was allowed to join Napoli as Arsenal concentrated on chasing Liverpool's Luis Suarez in the mistaken belief he had a release clause in his contract. A month later they have got no further with their quest for Suarez and don't seem prepared to up their offer to a level that would make Liverpool consider selling. While they have been chasing Suarez it appears that they decided to put all other potential targets on the back burner.

The lessons of two seasons ago don't seem to have been learned and Arsenal are making the same mistakes all over again. That summer Arsenal sold both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas and did virtually nothing about strengthening their squad until the disastrous 8-2 defeat away to Manchester United. Then they went on a deadline day shopping spree which resulted in a few good purchases, but some pretty bad ones too.

They were in the market for any player they could get at the right price and it smelled of panic. This season the transfer window is rapidly approaching and Arsenal are again sniffing around for any player they can get their hands on at the right price. The most annoying thing for me is that Arsenal can afford to buy the quality they need but they just don't seem prepared to pay what has to be paid for genuine quality.

There are still players out there who could make a genuine difference to the Arsenal team and who could be bought if the right money was offered. Those players were available in June and July and are still available now and can be acquired if Arsenal truly go all out to get them. If they end up buying three or four reasonable players who will fit nicely into the squad but not actually walk into the team then they will have truly missed an opportunity to get back among the title contenders. 

What I also find hard to understand is that Arsenal allowed both Frances Coquelin and Ignasi Miquel to go out on loan before they brought players in to play in their positions. I have no doubt both of those players could benefit from the loan moves, but why were they not kept until closer to the deadline day just in case they were needed. With the current injury problems Arsenal have those two players could have at least shored gaps until the end of the month.

When Laurent Koscielny was sent off on Saturday Ramsey had to fill in at centre back and surely Miquel would have been a far better choice if he hadn't been shipped off to Leicester. I have no doubt Miquel wouldn't have been caught so badly out of position as Ramsey was when Villa broke to score their third goal on Saturday. I'm not blaming Ramsey though because he's not a centre back and shouldn't have had to have been asked to play there.

If I made serious errors of judgement in my job such as the ones previously made by Arsenal and then repeated them I would expect to be in a lot of trouble. It's one thing to make such serious errors of judgement, but not to learn from them and repeat them is an entirely different matter. If Arsenal end up partaking in another deadline day shopping spree it can be nothing but mismanagement in my opinion.

Whether the boss has lost the plot or not is another thing, but I'm not sure that he even knows what the plot is at the moment. Until the club can have the where with all to work out a cohesive transfer policy and follow it through then the fans will continue to lose confidence in the management. It is getting very close to the stage where even the Arsenal fans loyal to the boss have decided enough is enough and the next two weeks will decide an awful lot.

Arsenal could turn it all around and qualify for the group stages of the Champions League as well as beating both Fulham and Spurs before the window closes. However unlikely that sounds it is of course possible and the world of Arsenal would seem a much better place if they did so. They could also spend all of their transfer loot on the players that are needed and make a real challenge in the league for the first time in a few years. 

That scenario seems highly unlikely at the moment though but it was the one sold to Arsenal fans at the beginning of the summer when it was season ticket renewal time. If the club fail to live up to those promises there will be an awful lot of very unhappy fans who will not forgive what has happened. It's a scenario I really don't want to see but it's one that's becoming increasingly likely. 

Ideally I would like to see Arsene Wenger lead the club forward by investing the money the club has properly and bring the glory days back. There was a real opportunity to make that happen this summer and that opportunity hasn't completely gone yet but the likelyhood of it lessens almost by the day. 

In summation I don't think he has lost the plot but it's quite possible he has got severe writer's block with his publication deadline approaching. The money has been paid up front and if he can't overcome his block then he'll have to hand it all back. If Arsenal don't make the Champions League group stages and drop out of the top four then the financial consequences could be just as severe for them.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's Premier League Trip to Sunderland Previewed

After the rather annoying midweek break for friendly internationals it's back to the real business of Premier League football for Arsenal today. They face a tricky enough trip to a Sunderland team that have turned their season around over the last couple of months. Sunderland are now pushing to get into the top half of the table after flirting with the relegation zone for a while.

They have some pretty good players in Stephen Fletcher, Adam Johnson, Stephanne Sessegnon and of course Simon Mignolet in goal. When they came to Arsenal in the opening game of the season they set their stall out to defend and left with a creditable 0-0 draw. A lot has changed since then with Arsenal losing their defensive stability, but also discovering their goalscoring touch at home in particular.

Arsenal have now scored more goals at home than any other team in the league, but today's game is away. They have managed to keep some sort of defensive stability away from home still and only City and Swansea have conceded less goals away from home than Arsenal. They are struggling to score away from home though with only four wins and 16 goals in 12 league games.

Sunderland have only won four of their 12 home games and few teams have conceded less goals at home than them. All the statistics would seem to point to a fairly low scoring affair with a goal at most between the teams. It will probably come down to whichever teams makes the most of what limited chances they get.

Arsenal have been a team if two halves in recent times with their second half performances usually being far better than the first. This has been more evident at home where the pressure is on them to make all the play and the players have seemed very nervous at times. With some big games coming up very soon they need to find some more consistency for the whole 90 minutes.

Since his contract situation was sorted out Theo Walcott has being putting in some very good performances. He is back playing in a wide right role and he is having a lot of joy there at the moment. He has shown a level of consistency which he seemed incapable of in previous seasons.

His return of 11 goals and 10 assists at this stage of the season is very good for a player in his position. He seems to have learned when to use his pace to his advantage and the team is benefiting from it. I'm sure Sunderland's left back will be very anxious every time Arsenal come out with the ball at pace on the right.

In team news Arsenal have a few problems in defence with both Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen out. Thankfully new boy Nacho Monreal can slot in at left back as he did so well in his debut last week. His signature is proving to be very important already and the alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

There is also a doubt over Laurent Koscielny but Arsene Wenger is hopeful he will be passed fit to play. He has said his options without Koscielny are either Bacary Sagna or Ignasi Miquel with no mention of Sebastien Squillaci. I like Miquel as a player and I think he could do well, but I have a feeling Sagna might get the nod with Carl Jenkinson coming in at right back if Koscielny misses out.

In midfield Aaron Ramsey has recovered from his knock which means Francis Coquelin is the only player missing. The boss certainly has a lot of options in midfield and I would expect to see some rotation for the FA Cup game with Blackburn next week. I have a feeling the starting three will be Mikael Arteta, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere today.

Wilshere showed the world just what a gem Arsenal have with his man of the match performance for England against Brazil on Wednesday night. His recovery from his long injury absence has been gradual, but he looks better with each game. He is the future of Arsenal and with him in the team that future looks bright.

The boss also revealed that Gervinho has been given five days off after his ACN participation ended in the quarter finals. There is no doubt that he is a skillful player, but his ability to use that skill to it's best is another matter altogether. Hopefully he can become the player the boss hoped he would be when he signed him.

That should mean the front three will be his preferred choice of Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud. They really seem to be developing a good understanding and the team are certainly reaping the rewards. Between those three players they have 28 goals and 21 assists in the league.

I can see this game being a tight one and it could go either way. Sunderland will do all they can to close Arsenal down at every opportunity and try to stop them playing. That tactic could work against them as the game progresses and they begin to tire.

If Arsenal are finding it tough to make a breakthrough they have to keep trying. They will get chances eventually as long as they keep at their task and then it's a matter of taking them. With three in form strikers hopefully they can do just that.

I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal to keep them in touch with Chelsea, Spurs and Everton. Third place is still not beyond Arsenal with Chelsea faltering just like they did last season. There are 13 games left to play and Arsenal have the players to win enough of them to finish third.

Thankfully the game is live on TV in Ireland and I'll get to see it without all the pesky ads on a stream popping up. After this game there's a full week before Arsenal play again with back to back home cup games. The FA Cup game against Blackburn will be followed by the return of Champions League football with a home game against Bayern Munich.

It should make for a fascinating end to the month and hopefully leave Arsenal a little closer to lifting a trophy too.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Beat Coventry City 6-1

Arsenal went into their Capital One Cup tie with Coventry City last night with a completely different team to the one which drew away to Manchester City on Sunday. It meant there were first team debuts for both Damian Martinez and Martin Angha from the start with Serge Gnabry coming off the bench to make his debut.

The team was pretty much as expected with Olivier Giroud playing the central strikers role to try to bag his first goal for the club. There was plenty of experience in the Arsenal team besides Giroud with Johan Djourou, Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott all playing from the start too.

The first half was a fairly scrappy affair with not too much between the teams, but it was Arsenal who made the breakthrough. Five minutes before half time Francis Coquelin slid in to prod the ball through to Giroud and he clipped it over the advancing keeper into the net. He had his first Arsenal goal at last and it actually took him a little less than four hours playing time to do so.

Arsenal picked up the pace in the second half and Arshavin earned a penalty five minutes in when he was taken down in the box. Giroud stepped up to take it, but his well struck effort was very well saved. Thankfully he had managed his first goal already or the miss could have been a real burden for him.

The second goal wasn't long coming when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unleashed a swerving screamer from outside the box which beat the keeper. Chamberlain strikes the ball very well and I'm sure there are plenty of goals to come for him in his Arsenal career.

With 64 minutes gone Arsenal added a third goal and it was Arshavin who scored this time. He was played in by Giroud and finished neatly past the advancing keeper. Arshavin played well last night and he showed he might still have something to contribute to the team.

With 15 minutes left Walcott made it 4-0 when he came in from the right and stroked the ball past the keeper into the far corner. It was a timely reminder from him too that he can contribute to the team despite his contractual dispute.

With 10 minutes left Coventry got a consolation goal to cheer up their 8,000 traveling fans. A good ball across the Arsenal area was met by ? who finished it first time past the helpless Martinez. It was some reward for a Coventry team that had worked very hard, but tired noticeably in the second half.

Arsenal had rung the changes after their third goal with Emmanuel Frimpong making his comeback after a seven month absence through injury. He's another player who will be looking to make an impact on the first team this season. Arsenal's midfield options are increasing almost weekly at the moment and Jack Wilshere has to return yet as does Tomas Rosicky.

The other players to come on were the aforementioned Gnabry and Marouane Chamakh. It's was Chamakh's first action of the season, as he has become the forgotten man at Arsenal. He has slipped so far down the pecking order that surely his exit will come in January or next summer at the latest.

The fifth Arsenal goal came with 10 minutes left and it was young central defender Ignasi Miquel who scored it. He rose high to head home a cross from the left after he had hit the bar earlier in the game. His inclusion ahead of Sebastien Squillaci shows exactly where Squillaci has slipped to in the pecking order too.

In the final minute Walcott added a sixth goal for Arsenal. It was their second home game in a row managing that feat and he took his goal very well. He collected the ball just inside the Coventry half before beating a few players and finishing into the far corner from the left this time.

All in all it was a good display from Arsenal considering it was a completely different team to the one that played on Sunday. The six goals were well taken and the full house enjoyed the goal festival. A few players showed the manager what they can do and reminded him that they might still have a future at the club.

Arsenal are through to the last 16 of the competition, but the next round will pose a sterner test I would imagine. They play away to Reading who are now a Premier League club and will more than likely play the strongest team available to them. There is a possibility of a few injured players returning for Arsenal in that game, but that won't be known until closer to the actual game.

Here's the highlights of last night's game.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's Capital One Cup Game With Coventry City Previewed

After the excitement of Sundays draw away to Premier League champions Manchester City it's back to the humdrum of the Capital One Cup tonight for Arsenal. This competition has gone through so many name changes over the years that it's hard to keep track of them. It was called the Carling Cup last season though and it will probably always be known as the League Cup.

For quite a few years now Arsene Wenger has treated this competition as an opportunity to experiment with his team. There is usually a mix of fringe players and reserves and I can't see this game being any different. It's a chance for players who are currently out of the picture to make an impression on Wenger.

I would imagine the first place to look for tonight's team sheet would be the bench for last Sundays game. All or most of the seven players on the bench on Sunday should be in line to start tonight with a few other players brought in to give the team the right balance. I'm not so sure all of those players will be overly happy to see themselves in the team tonight though.

Theo Walcott has spoken about his desire to play in a strikers role rather than in a wide one. He has even gone as far as to state that his chances of signing a new contract will depend on him getting a chance in that role. I'm not so sure if Walcott sees the same player out on the pitch for Arsenal as the fans see when he plays.

There is no doubting his pace and his finishing can be very good at times too. However, his level of consistency just isn't good enough for him to think he can call the shots about his role in the team. Better players than him have had to adapt their role to suit the needs of the team before and his current options are like it or lump it.

I can't see any way Walcott will be an Arsenal player next season and Wenger must know he can't depend on a player who seems determined to run down his contract so he can leave for free next summer. It will be a blow for Arsenal to lose a player they have spent so much time and money on,but there is little they can do about it now. He has engineered the current situation and only he can decide what the future holds for him.

I wonder if Olivier Giroud will play as the central striker tonight in an attempt to break his goal scoring duck. It's far too early for it to be a problem as he has only started three games this season but it would be great for him to get off the mark. A home game against lower league opposition would surely be the ideal opportunity.

It will be the first time players such as Johan Djourou and probably Ignasi Miquel get a chance to show what they can do this season. Nico Yennaris could get a look in too with Andre Santos more than likely playing at left back. Francis Coquelin should play from the start too and I imagine Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be on show also.

I'm not so sure whether both Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh will be involved in the game though. Both of their futures would seem to be elsewhere, but deals were not tied up before the transfer window closed. I would be very surprised if they didn't find new clubs in the January transfer window, as long as deals can be agreed.

As usual there will be one or two unexpected players in the matchday squad, and Wenger hints at who they might be on the club website. It should be a great experience for those players to play alongside some first team players, and in front of 60,000 fans too.

Tonight's opponents Coventry have fallen from grace recently. Not so long ago they were mixing it with the big boys in the Premier League, but now they find themselves in the relegation zone of League One. They haven't won a league match so far this season in eight attempts and League Two beckons unless they turn their fortunes around.

With the pressure on their players in the league growing this game could be a welcome distraction for them. They might see it as a chance to show they can still play a bit and they will welcome the chance to cause an upset. It could be a tough task for a team in their situation though.

Even with a team of fringe players and reserves Arsenal will still have a lot of talent on display. The players will still play the same way that Arsenal always play and Coventry will have to work hard to get anything from the game. I'm predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal and I hope Giroud plays and scores his first goal too.

That's for today.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United: The Return of the King

Arsenal faced Leeds United last night at home in the third round of the FA Cup, with a home tie against Aston Villa awaiting the winners in the next round. Arsenal couldn't have asked for a much better draw than a home game against a team from a lower league, and they were clear favourites to progress. The teams met at the same stage in this competition last season, and Arsenal needed a replay to dispatch Leeds on that occasion.

The biggest worry on the night for Arsenal was that a combination of injuries, suspension, and international duties had left 10 of their first team squad unavailable. The biggest problems were in defence with not a recognised full-back in sight for Arsene Wenger. Leeds had a few players of their own missing though, and Arsenal played a team which was more than capable of getting the job done.

Those injuries for Arsenal meant that Ignasi Miquel played at right-back, and Francis Coquelin played on the left. Unfortunately for Coquelin the full-back curse struck yet again, and he went off with what looked like a hamstring injury after 30 minutes. That meant Nico Yennaris got a chance to stake a place in the team for the last hour.

Wenger played the strongest possible midfield available to him, and Marouane Chamakh played at centre-forward after he delayed his trip to the African Cup of Nations. He was flanked by Andrey Arshavin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as Arsenal went in search of the goals to win the tie. The really big team news for the night was of course the inclusion of the returning Thierry Henry as a substitute for Arsenal.

Henry has returned to the club he loves for the next six weeks to try to do whatever he can to help them. He may not have the pace he had when he left Arsenal almost five years ago, but he still has a lot to offer the team in my opinion. Besides his obvious talent I am sure he can also pass on some of his expertise to players like Chamberlain and Theo Walcott.

With Chamakh leading the line Arsenal rested Robin van Persie, and the player took a chance to have a break in Dubai. Arsenal have been called a one-man team at times this season, as the goals of RVP have inspired the majority of their victories. Chamakh had a chance to show that he can play a part, or failing that there was always Henry on the bench.

Arsenal had the best of the early proceedings, but despite their best attempts they failed to take any of their chances. The best of those chances seemed to fall to Arshavin, but he certainly hadn't got his shooting boots on. He did work very hard for the entire game though, and if he continues to work that hard the fans will have no problem with him.

The pace dropped as the first half progressed, and the game became a bit of a stalemate. Leeds had set their stall out to defend, and Arsenal were having trouble breaking them down. It was 0-0 at half-time and neither team had actually managed a shot on target in that first half. Try as he might Chamakh looked to have all the confidence of a player who knows his days at Arsenal are numbered.

Arsenal started brightly in the second half, but still the goals would not come for them. At least they were making the Leeds keeper work harder this time, as they managed to get a few good efforts on target. The crowd were growing a little restless though, as they knew the introduction of Henry could not be far away.

At the mid-point in the second half Arsenal introduced Henry and Walcott for Chamakh and Chamberlain, and the reception for the Frenchman was magnificent. I have to Admit that it brought a tear to my eye to see him running out in his beloved red and white again. The stage was set for him to steal all the headlines, and all he needed was one chance to do so.

Only 10 minutes after coming on Henry managed to lose his marker in the penalty area, and latch on to an excellent pass from Alex Song. He was through on the left hand side of the goal with only the keeper to beat, and it's the position from where he scored so many goals for Arsenal in the past. He looked up and calmly stroked the ball into the far corner, as if he had never left the club.

Henry celebrated with the fans, the manager, and the other Arsenal players too. Afterwards he said that it was his "first goal as an Arsenal fan", and hopefully it won't be his last one over the next few weeks.

Leeds came into the game a little more after that and they had a couple of decent half chances, but Arsenal emerged victorious. The script could not have been written any better for Arsenal fans, as their returning hero scored the goal to see them through. He will play a bigger part in the weeks to come I am sure, but last night was all about his glorious return.

There were plenty of problems there for all to see in the Arsenal performance, but I'll deal with them on another day. The man of the match award went to Henry which was a little unfair to Aaron Ramsey who had a fine game in my opinion.

The team needs some new blood to boost it, and hopefully Henry won't be the only player to arrive during the current transfer window. Some of Arsenal's injured players will be returning over the next few weeks, and hopefully their returns will be a boost to the team too.

Last night was all about Thierry Henry, and after his goal I'm sure the sale on number 12 shirts will be boosted greatly. It's the number he wanted when he first arrived at the club, and it's his for the next six weeks now. Hopefully during those six weeks he can relive a few more of his former glories, and help Arsenal towards some glory this season too.


That's it for today.

Here's the highlights from last night's game.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league, and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Fulham Previewed

Arsenal played against QPR on Saturday afternoon, and just over 48 hours later they have to play against Fulham. Of course their opponents will be in the same boat, as they played Norwich City on Saturday afternoon too. It's not easy for the players to play so many games so often, as the modern game is so intense.

I'm sure Arsene Wenger will look to make a few changes to the side that just about beat QPR 1-0, but he won't have too many options in his defence. Thomas Vermaelen picked up an injury in that game, and he'll be out for a few weeks according to the manager. It looks like he will have to move to sign a full back on loan, as his defensive options are so limited at the moment.

Arsenal actually had no defenders on the bench against QPR, but both Alex Song and Francis Coquelin are capable of playing there. I would imagine Ignasi Miquel will be added to the squad, and he could well play at left back too. I'm not sure whether Sebastien Squillaci is fit or not, but I would still prefer to see Miquel in the team before him.

Manuel Almunia returned to the bench a few weeks ago when both Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone were injured, but he is still Arsenal's reserve keeper at the moment. I thought Fabianski had recovered from his knock, and I'm a little worried that Almunia might be ahead of him in the pecking order. I know Fabianski has had his problems, but if Wojciech Szczesny picks up an injury I would not like to see Almunia take his place.

With so few defenders available to him Wenger will probably have to keep the same defence that played against QPR with the exception of either Miquel or Coquelin playing instead of Vermaelen. I thought Coquelin did well when he came on for the last 35 minutes, and I wouldn't really have a preference between the two of them.

In midfield I think there might be a change or two, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Tomas Rosicky or Yossi Benayoun play from the start. Aaron Ramsey did have a rest against Wolves and he might be up to playing the full 90 minutes, but surely fatigue must be a factor for Mikael Arteta. If Arteta is up to it I'm sure he will play, but if he's struggling he shouldn't be risked.

I would be very surprised if Gervinho doesn't start, as this could be his last game before he goes on international duty to the African Cup of Nations. Wenger wants both Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh to be allowed to stay for the FA Cup game with Leeds United next week, but they're scheduled to leave two days before that game.

Robin van Persie has suffered with injuries throughout his career, and I would be surprised if he is risked today. I think he will be left on the bench, and only introduced if he's needed to try to get the team out of a tight spot. The most likely replacement for him is Chamakh, and his inclusion won't fill me with a lot of confidence.

There is an argument for starting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the team, as he has done so well on the other occasions he has played. There is a possibility that Wenger is not including him at the moment because of Arsenal's lack of actual full backs. I have heard it suggested that the defensive side of his game may need some work, and until the full backs return his chances will be limited.

Fulham almost beat Norwich on Saturday, but they drew after a last minute equaliser against them. Norwich are not an easy team to play against, and I'm sure the Fulham players will be feeling just as tired as Arsenal.
The two teams played only a few weeks ago, and Fulham took a point at the Emirates after Vermaelen scored for both sides. It was a game Arsenal probably should have won, but they did well to get a point after going 1-0 down half way through the second half.

Since their poor start to the season Arsenal have won four of their last five away games, and only league leaders Manchester City have beaten them in that time. They struggled a little in their last away game against Aston Villa, but they just about did enough to get the three points. I think they have a little more freedom to play away from home because teams don't sit back quite so much.


I think today's game will be a tough game for Arsenal, but they will emerge with a 2-1 win. I would love to see them dominate Fulham and beat them by a good score, but any win will do. As long as they take the three points I'll be happy enough to see them remain in fourth place.

That's it for today.

Here's a look at all 226 Thierry Henry goals for Arsenal.

 It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league, and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 To Reach The Carling Cup Quarter Finals.

Arsenal played Bolton Wanderers in the last 16 of the Carling Cup at the Emirates last night. The prize for the winners was a place in the quarter finals, and Arsenal hoped to reach that stage of the competition for the ninth season in a row. It's some achievement for a team that plays youth and reserve players in this competition every season.

Arsene Wenger stuck with his usual policy in the Carling Cup, as he chose a completely different team from the one that beat Stoke City on Sunday. The really big team news on the night was the return of Thomas Vermaelen to first team action for the first time since late August. He was partnered in the centre of the Arsenal defence by Sebastien Squillaci with Ignasi Miquel and Nico Yennaris as the full backs and Lukasz Fabianski in goal.

It meant Arsenal didn't actually have a recognised full back in the team, but both Miquel and debut boy Yennaris did very well on the night. Yennaris became the 14th Arsenal player to make his debut already this season which is an amazing statistic. I can remember a Liverpool team winning the league back in their heyday, and only using 14 players in the process.

The amount of players who have made their debuts so far this season is a real indicator of the upheaval in the squad between last season and this one. Despite all of that upheaval Arsenal have eventually managed to put a good run together, and they came into the game on the back of three consecutive victories. The team had also managed six wins in seven before this game, but the only defeat was unfortunately against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

In midfield both Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong started with Yossi Benayoun and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain making up what looked more like a four man midfield. It left Andrey Arshavin playing behind Park Ju Young, as Arsenal's formation on the night was more like a 4-4-2 than a 4-3-3.

Bolton made plenty of changes themselves, but they still had a very strong looking team, and Arsenal were not going to have an easy night. The first half was a close fought one with Bolton's keeper making three saves from long-range Arsenal shots, and Arsenal holding fairly firm at the back. Half time arrived with the teams level at 0-0, and everything still to play for.

The second half had only just begun when Frimpong was caught in possession by ex Arsenal player Fabrice Muamba, and Bolton took advantage of the slip. Muamba exchanged passes with Ivan Klasnic before finishing firmly into the roof of the Arsenal net. Bolton had the lead and Arsenal needed to pick up the pace.

That lead thankfully only lasted six minutes, as Arshavin managed to get Arsenal back on level terms. He took a pass from Benayoun and ran at the Bolton defence with the ball. As the defenders backed off him in the penalty area he fired a very quick shot into the far corner of the net to level the scores.

Arsenal went ahead only three minutes later after some more very good work from Arshavin, and a sublime finish from Park. Arsenal won the ball in midfield and it was passed to Arshavin who ran quickly at the Bolton defence, as they backed off him yet again. Park made a great run on the left of Arshavin, and when the pass was played to him he hit it first time with his right foot into the far corner from 15 yards.

The finish would have made Thierry Henry proud when he was at his prime, and hopefully it can open the way for him to get more chances in the first team. His overall play on the night was very good, as he linked up excellently and his movement was top class too. Wenger looks like he may have a real option in attack when he chooses to rest captain Robin Van Persie.

Bolton came into the game a lot more after that and Fabianski had to make a few smart saves to keep the lead intact. He also had a couple of dodgy moments where he was a little lucky to get away with poor handling. However, Arsenal managed to ride their luck a little, and held out for a 2-1 win to reach the last eight yet again.

Vermaelen lasted 84 minutes on his return to the team, and despite some tightness in his calfs he will be available for selection against Chelsea in the early game on Saturday. His return to the squad is very important, as he is Arsenal's best defender in my opinion. It gives Wenger some real options for that game, and that cannot be a bad thing.

Both Frimpong and Chamberlain were replaced in the last 15 minutes by Oguzhan Ozyakup(try saying that after a few beers) and Ryo Miyaichi. Chamberlain may not have had the impact he had in his other two starts for Arsenal, but he still looked impressive. I thought Coquelin was impressive in midfield too, and his season on loan in France seems to have done him a lot of good.

It was a very good result for Arsenal considering the makeshift defence they had to put out on the night, and it keeps the momentum going. That's four wins in a  row and seven in eight games now, but it won't be easy to continue that run on Saturday against Chelsea in the Premier League. The draw for the last eight of the Carling Cup will take place on Saturday before that game, and Arsenal will be playing their quarter final at the end of November.
That's it for today.

Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.

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Six Arsenal Players To Watch Against Shrewsbury Town.

Arsenal host League Two side Shrewsbury Town tonight in the third round of the Carling Cup. It's an opportunity for Arsene Wenger to showcase some of his fringe players, as well as some of the young talent available to him. In this article I will attempt to assess the relative strengths of some of those players who might get a chance.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal signed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer from Southampton for a fee believed to be somewhere between £10 and £15 million. He has been compared to Theo Walcott, who was a little younger than him when Arsenal signed him from the same club for a similar fee.

I can see why the comparisons have been made, but I think Chamberlain is a very different player. He seems to have more awareness of what's going on around him on the pitch and where his teammates are. His ability to take players on and beat them is also superior to that of Walcott, and he has a very bright future in the game.

Arsenal might play him in a central role tonight, but he was very impressive playing in a wide role for the English under-21 team recently. He assisted in four goals in just two games, and his crossing was quite superb.

He has plenty of skill, pace and intelligence, and hopefully he will get the chance to show it tonight.

Ju-Young Park

Ju-Young Park is another player signed by Arsenal in the last transfer window, and they got him for a very reasonable price. He's the current captain of South Korea, and he can play in any of the three attacking roles deployed by Arsenal.

He's 26 years old and will return to his homeland for military service when his Arsenal contract is up, which is why they got him for such a good price. He has plenty of skill and pace, as well as an eye for a goal, and his hard-working attitude will hopefully rub off on some of the other Arsenal players.

He should get his chance to make his Arsenal debut tonight, and hopefully he will flourish against a team three leagues below Arsenal.
I think he will play in a wide role, but his flexibility will allow him to interchange with the other attacking players. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him score a goal on his debut.

Ignasi Miquel

Ignasi Miquel is a Spanish central defender who will turn 19 next week. He joined Arsenal in 2008 and has gradually worked his way through the Arsenal underage teams and reserves.
He is probably considered to be the sixth-choice central defender at the club, but only because of his age and relative inexperience.

Along with being Arsenal's reserve team captain, he was a member of the Spanish under-19 team that were the European champions this summer.

His formative years were spent at Barcelona, and he is a defender who is well capable of playing along with his defending duties. He played twice in the FA Cup for Arsenal last season and came on as a substitute for his Premier League debut against Liverpool last month.

I expect to see him organising the defence despite his youth, and taking the opportunity to bring the ball out and use it when the chance arises. He has all the assets required to be a top-class defender in years to come, and hopefully he can display them tonight.

Emmanuel Frimpong

Emmanuel Frimpong looked likely to make the breakthrough to the Arsenal first team last season, but he suffered a bad injury and missed almost the entire season. His career has been put back by a whole year as a result, but he seems to be determined to make up for lost time this season.

He featured in Arsenal's preseason as a defensive midfielder, and he made his debut as a substitute in their first game of the season against Newcastle United.

He is seen as almost a direct replacement for Alex Song, and it's a position for which Arsenal have needed some reserve strength for a while. His chances will be a little limited this season, as Song is the first choice, but he should get quite a few opportunities to shine.

He is a very strong player with a great engine, and a tough tackler, too. He has already shown this season that he is by no means overawed by playing in the Arsenal first team, and I expect more of the same from him tonight.

As well as doing all the hard work required in the centre of midfield, he has shown an ability to drive forward and threaten the opposition goal when the chance occurs. If he can get a firm grip on the midfield tonight, he could be the player that helps Arsenal to dominate the game.

Carl Jenkinson

Carl Jenkinson was signed from Charlton Athletic in the last transfer window, and he has taken the role of understudy to Bacary Sagna.

He was thrown into action sooner than expected, as Arsenal suffered an early season injury crisis. Despite looking a little raw at times, he has also shown loads of potential, and he should have a much better chance to shine tonight.

His defensive basics look sound, and he likes to get forward from the right back role, too. His height will be an advantage to Arsenal as well, as their full-backs have been quite short for the last number of years.

If Arsenal can progress in the Carling Cup, Jenkinson will get the game time he needs to progress, and hopefully that progress can see him put pressure on Sagna for a place in the team.

Yossi Benayoun

Yossi Benayoun seemed to be a strange deadline-day loan to arrive at Arsenal, but if he can stay fit he could have an awful lot to offer the club.

He is 31 years old, but he has always managed to score and make goals for whichever club he played for.
He has added some much-needed experience to the Arsenal squad, and he will be their most experienced player on the field if he plays against Shrewsbury tonight.

He looked very good in the away draw with Borussia Dortmund in Arsenal's Champions League group, and he showed how hard he can work. He also showed his creative side, and given the chance tonight he could cause Shrewsbury some real problems.

The Shrewsbury players will rarely have come up against a player with his skill and intelligence on the ball, and his eye for a goal could be rewarded against them tonight.
That's it for today.

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Arsenal's Squad Depth Is Exposed Again As They Lose 2-0 At Home To Liverpool.

Arsenal played their first home game in the Premier League this season against Liverpool yesterday, and they lost 2-0 after yet again being reduced to 10 men. The Arsenal team on the day was a weakened one due to injuries and suspensions, as well as the sale of star player Cesc Fabregas. The result leaves them with only one point from their opening two league games, and the prospect of a visit to champions Manchester United next Sunday.

Before that trip to United next week Arsenal have to travel to Udinese on Wednesday night for the second leg of their vital Champions League qualifier. It's a game Arsenal need to get a result from to ensure qualification for the group stages, and if they fail the pressure on Arsene Wenger will be huge. This summer has been a very difficult one for Arsenal fans, and he needs to strengthen the squad or the growing feelings of unrest could possibly tilt the balance against him.

The team selected against Liverpool was as expected with the exception of Samir Nasri getting his first start of the season in midfield. His expected transfer to Manchester City still hasn't gone through, and Arsenal's need on the day meant he had to be played. He was part of a midfield trio with Emmanuel Frimpong and Aaron Ramsey, and on the day he gave all he had in my opinion.

The Arsenal fans are far from happy with Nasri's refusal to sign a new contract, and the long drawn out saga of his move to City has made him a villain in their eyes. They understood Cesc's desire to return to his hometown club after eight years at Arsenal, but Nasri is perceived as being greedy. If Arsenal can get over €20 million for him from City they have to take it, as they cannot afford to let him leave on a free transfer next summer.
However, he is a quality player and if he is sold it will only weaken the Arsenal team further. If he is still at the club next weekend he has to be included in the team to play United. Arsenal's midfield options on the day will be so limited that they cannot afford to leave him out of the team.

Arsenal were far from impressive going forward yesterday, as Liverpool had the majority of possession and dealt effectively with any threat from Arsenal. Robin Van Persie had very little influence on the game, but it's not his fault those around him failed to bring him into the game often enough. Both Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin were almost non-existent for the entire duration of the time on the pitch, but neither Ryo Miyaichi or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin were given a chance to show what they can do.

The early injury injury to Laurent Koscielny meant that Ignasi Miquel had to come on in the 16th minute to make his Premier League debut. He was impressive alongside Thomas Vermarlen who had a great game yet again. If Vermaelen picks up an injury I dread to think how the Arsenal defence will perform without him.

It meant the Arsenal defence had a very young look to it with Carl Jenkinson and Wojciech Szczesny also playing. They were fairly solid until the dismissal of Frimpong meant Liverpool simply had too much for them, and eventually got the goals they wanted. I was a little surprised to see Miquel on the bench instead of Sebastien Squillaci, but it was a pleasant surprise.

In midfield Nasri showed he is prepared to play if he is called upon, and Frimpong did very well on his Premier League debut. Unfortunately for Frimpong his youthful enthusiasm got the better of him, and he ended up seeing two yellow cards which meant he was sent off. Ramsey had very little influence on the game compared to the other two, and he already looks like he needs a rest to me.

The young players thrown in at the back and in midfield did well, but it's hard to understand why both Miyaichi and Oxlade-Chamberlain weren't given the same opportunity. With Arsenal's wide players showing so little on the day they surely could have done no worse, but it appears youth only gets it's chance when there is no choice at all. If they have the quality that's needed to perform at this level then they have to be given a chance when others aren't performing.

I thought Arsenal were finally starting to get a foothold in the game just before Frimpong went off, but his departure signalled a change of tactics for Liverpool which Arsenal's 10 men could not cope with. The first Liverpool goal was marginally offside, but it was so close it was hard for the assistant to see. The second Liverpool was virtually walked into the goal, as Arsenal attempted to push forward for an equaliser.

Frimpong's first yellow card was very harsh, as he did very little to deserve it in my opinion. However, the second yellow card should probably have been a straight red card, as his challenge on Lucas was a very dangerous one in my opinion. Frimpong had knocked the ball too far ahead of himself and he tried to chase it down, but his challenge on Lucas could easily have caused the Liverpool player a serious injury.

It means Arsenal will not have a defensive midfielder available to play against United next week, but at least there is a possibility of Jack Wilshere being fit. The Premier League suspensions won't effect Arsenal on Wednesday night against Udinese, and I think both Frimpong and Alex Song should play in midfield with Nasri. If City are going to buy Nasri they will not want him cup tied for the Champions League, but the needs of Arsenal outweigh their needs.

If Arsenal have to play Nasri to ensure qualification it should lead to a €30 million windfall, and that is more than City are offering for Nasri. If it means Nasri stays until the end of the season it will cost Arsenal around €20 million, but maybe it's a risk worth taking. Wenger has to do what is best for Arsenal, and Nasri's potential inclusion might eventually bring the whole sad mess to a conclusion.

Arsenal have now played two Premier League games without scoring in either of them, and they have also created precious few chances in those games. The free flowing attacking football they are noted for is not happening, and it needs to return before their title chances disappear all too early. The return of some of the injured and suspended players will help Arsenal to play better, but the team is crying out for reinforcements.

There are only 10 days remaining in the transfer window, and Arsenal's fate depends upon their ability to use those days wisely. There have to be players available to strengthen both Arsenal's team and their squad, and Wenger needs to move quickly to buy those players. The current glut of injuries and suspensions has shown up the lack of depth available to Arsenal, and if previous seasons are anything to go by they will continue throughout the season.

That's it for today.

Here's the highlights of yesterday's game with thanks to 101greatgoals as always.

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See You Tomorrow.

Arsenal Only Manage to Draw With Orient In The FA Cup.

Before the start of yesterday's FA Cup fifth round trip to Leyton Orient took place the draw for the quarter finals was made. The result of that draw was a potential trip to Old Trafford to play "Manure", as long as Arsenal could overcome their lower league opponents. It brought back memories of the FA Cup defeat to "Manure" a couple of seasons ago which led to Arsenal's season falling apart in a matter of days. In that game Arsenal played a weakened team, and were well and truly beaten 4-0.

In the FA Cup so far this season Arsene Wenger has played varying degrees of weakened teams in every game, and it has led to struggles in every round. I had hoped that the second string would step up yesterday, and put in a display to banish those struggles in the previous rounds from the mind, but alas it was not so. I spoke yesterday of the need for some drive in the team, and the player in the pivotal role was Tomas Rosicky. He did manage to score Arsenal's only goal, and he almost got another one too, but he didn't control the game in the manner that Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri or Jack Wilshere would have done in my opinion.With one or two changes in personell yesterday I am sure Arsenal would have strolled through the game, and won at ease.

Arsene Wenger picked the team that was more or less expected, with the exception of the inclusion of Ignasi Miquel at centre back. The young Spaniard was making his full debut alongside Sebastien Squillaci, as both Johan Djourou, and Laurent Koscielny enjoyed a well earned break. The only first team regulars to be included were Bacary Sagna and Alex Song, which meant that the front three consisted of Andrey Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh. I don't think that Bendtner and Chamakh can play particularly well together, and it's not fair to expect Bendtner to play in a wide right role.

The first half was hardly inspiring, as Arsenal had by far the majority of possession, but they created very little in front of goal. The best chance fell to Chamakh when a Kieran Gibbs shot/pass went across the face of the goal, but he failed to make any proper contact with the goal gaping. His form has been very poor since the return of Robin Van Persie to the team, and he needs a goal or two to turn things around for him, but it wasn't to be on this occasion. Half time came with no goals for either team, and I hoped for some better fare in the second half.

The second half started in much the same vein, and I wondered how long Orient could continue to work so hard to keep Arsenal at bay. It turned out that their resilience didn't last too long, as Rosicky broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute. The manner of the goal was a surprise to me and judging by his reaction it was a surprise to Rosicky too. After a couple of blocked shots Bendtner put a cross into the Orient box, and it was met by the head of Rosicky 10 yards out. The ball went off his head, and into the corner of the net for the lead Arsenal wanted.

At that stage it was obvious to me that Arsenal only needed one more goal to finish the game off, but they just couldn't get it. Rosicky almost scored again from an Arshavin cut-back, but the Orient keeper made a good save. Orient gradually began to commit more men forward to try to get an equaliser, and Arsenal had a little more space to attack in. I thought Arsenal needed somebody to play in a wide right role, as there seemed to be acres of space in that position every time they attacked. Bendtner was supposed to be playing there, but as I said it's not his favoured position, or his best one either. 

With only a few minutes left it looked like Arshavin would wrap the game up for Arsenal, as he broke away from the Orient defence, but his shot hit the post and went wide. He could possibly have squared the  ball for Rosicky who had made a great run through the middle, but he chose to shoot instead. I had a funny feeling Arsenal might just pay for that miss, and so it proved almost immediately.

After a little bit of ping pong in front of the Arsenal defence the ball was taken down by Orient sub Jonathan Tehoue. He broke through poor attempted tackles by Gibbs and Miquel, and from just inside the box he blasted a shot under the despairing attempt to stop it by Manuel Almunia.  Neither of the two defenders who missed the tackle did particularly well, and I thought Almunia was a bit slow to get down to the shot too. It was a well taken goal though, and the player deserves plenty of credit for that.

Suddenly Arsenal started to show the urgency that wasn't apparent when they were 1-0 up, but it was too late, and Orient managed to see out the four added minutes with relative ease. It means Arsenal won't have the six day break they looked like getting after the Carling Cup final next week, as they will have to play the replay at home on Wednesday March 2nd. I'm sure Arsenal will play a very similar team in that game, and it won't mean any extra work for most of the first team players, but it is another game they could have done without.

The reaction of some fans was a little over the top after the game, as they slated the players and the manager for the result and the performance. It wasn't a good performance, but without that defensive lapse at the end, it would have given the boss he wanted without troubling any of the players on the bench that he wanted to rest. I still think Arsenal will win the replay, and progress to the next round without too much trouble, but it was disappointing that the team chosen on the day didn't put in enough effort to win a game that was there for the taking.

Arsenal have a far more important game on Wednesday night at home to Stoke RFC in the Premier League, and it was vital that no first team players picked up injuries before that game. A win would see the gap at the top closed to just one point ahead of three tough away league games in a row for "Manure". If the boss had played a few of his first team players, won the game, but picked up an injury or two he would have been slated by the same people who have slated him for not picking a strong enough team. Some Arsenal fans enjoy slating the boss, and the players too, and any game they don't win is seen as an excuse to do just that. 

As it stands Arsenal are joint second favourites to win the FA Cup, second favourites to win the Premier League, favourites to win the Carling Cup, and fifth favourites to win the Champions League. They can still win all four trophies, and within a week the outcome of the first of those trophies will be known. In only six days from now Arsenal will play Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final, and it's a game they will need to have all of their best players available for in my opinion. The Orient replay three days later will be just a sideshow, and the league game against Sunderland three days after that will be far more important in my opinion. 

Some fans are entitled to feel that the team should have won yesterday, but at least they didn't lose. The earlier poor performances in cup games by the second string team has not affected the confidence of the first team, and I'm sure yesterday's game will be no different. It means that Arsenal will play in all four competitions in successive games starting with the game against Birmingham, and it could be a season defining run of games. Hopefully it will bring Arsenal's first trophy in almost six years, a place at the top of the Premier League, and progress to the next round of the FA Cup, and the Champions League also. It's an awful lot to expect of the Arsenal players, but if they can do it the rewards could be enormous.

That's it for today.

Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.

See You Tomorrow.