Arsene is apparently upset with the Ivory Coast Football Authorities over the African Cup of Nations (ACN) next year. It is hard to see why. He has signed African internationals in the past and knows the inherent risks involved. The tournament is inconvenient for European clubs yet none of them can complain that it is a surprise, so why argue with the FA’s of the countries involved. It is an ill-judged argument, irrespective of their previous behaviour. The nations are merely acting in their own best interests, something clubs are more than adept at doing.

Presumably, there have been initial discussions between the club and the Ivorians, which have not gone well otherwise this is a poorly timed outburst, something to which Wenger is not prone. The true loss to Arsenal will be Toure; we have more than enough cover for Eboue in the right midfield position. The disruption caused is not simply down to the abilities, it means that understandings built are temporarily lost and new ones have to be put in place quickly on the training pitch. Even then that is not the same as match situations.

In Toure’s absence, it appears Arsene has three choices – Senderos, Djourou and Gilberto. Each has their advantages, equally all bring problems. Seemingly the ‘favourite’ would be Senderos, having played there already this season. One aspect that disappoints with Djourou’s loan spell at Birmingham is that most of his appearances have been in central midfield, a position where there is no shortage of capable players at Arsenal. It will be interesting to see which position he fills now Steve Bruce has left. There is little doubt that the partnership, which is formed in January, will be short term and assumes progression by the Ivory Coast in the ACN.

Much is made in the media of the benefits that Manchester United derive through the absence of African players in their squad, about how this will enable them to steal a march on Arsenal and Chelsea. I am unconvinced by this argument in Arsenal’s case. Little doubt that Chelsea will suffer more, losing their top scorer and half of the current midfield. Little doubt either that they will rectify that problem in January’s transfer window. Adaptability to loss of key individuals has been one of the key reasons for Arsenal’s good start to this season and I see no reason for any despondency at this situation either.

The official site is going a tad overboard on the start to the season, twelve games in and comparing it to title winning seasons. I have no issue with a bit of optimism but favourable comparisons with such teams, including ‘The Invincibles’ seems to me at least to be premature. After half the season has passed, then an assessment can be made on how far the team might go. By then, there is a possibility of being eleven points clear of Chelsea if we win our fixture with them and the game in hand, and depending on the result of their clash, up to nine ahead of Liverpool and six ahead of United. The flipside is the disappearance of our current lead over all of them. It is still too early to say how this season is going to pan out. That does not mean though the team should not be given plaudits for their results and performances so far, just a quelling of the talk of silverware.

Several journalists were interviewed about what has changed with Arsenal this season and of course, their observations are all correct about the improvements on the form of last season yet the team are still damned by faint praise from Martin Samuel,

Had they not got a good start to the season, that could have been a problem and it could have gone the other way

Phillipe Auclair believes the change to be as a result of

This season there is a new ruthlessness, a greater willingness to take chances. I don’t just mean the shots from distance but also the scrappy goals, like the one Robin van Persie scored at Blackburn. Arsenal didn’t score goals like that before but there have been a few of those

Quite rightly, the form of the defence, Fabregas and Hleb is held up as the cornerstone upon which the foundations have been built.

Little bit of tittle-tattle regarding transfers to finish off with. According to Martin Caceres, Uruguay’s centre half currently on loan at Villarreal, Arsenal are one of three teams watching him, the others being Real Madrid and Juventus. Elsewhere the club are reported to have taken 15 year old Brazilian ‘wunderkid’ Luiz Guilherme on trial from Botafogo,

The move from Arsenal was very important for me. I’d like to go there, though I am also happy at Botafogo. What is important I do not skip any the steps needed to go from being a junior player to a senior professional

It seems a distant age when goalkeepers from that country were viewed as the ones who could not control the ball so were stood between the posts.

‘til Tomorrow.