Arsenal Stumble Through Cup Terriers

FA Cup, 4th Round
Arsenal 2 – 1 Huddersfield Town

1 – 0 Bendtner (21)
1 – 1 Lee (66)
2 – 1 Fabregas (86 pen)

Arsenal progressed to an FA Cup Fifth Round meeting at Brisbane Road thanks to a late penalty from Cesc saving the day, a common theme in this season’s cup campaign. When Arsenal have played Huddersfield or Orient in the FA Cup, five of the six seasons has seen Arsenal reach Wembley for the final. That they have lost four of those finals is something we might want to forget. Or not think about. Curiously enough, those finals have all been against teams Arsenal has defeated in this season’s cup runs.

The effort Huddersfield put into yesterday’s match should not be undervalued. They threatened and played well against the ten men of Arsenal and will feel disappointed not to have come away with a replay.

That that there were only ten men on the Arsenal side is baffling. How Huddersfield were not reduced to a similar number when a penalty was awarded for a foul on Bendtner is beyond comprehension. Arsène said afterwards that he would be more lenient in his punishment in the penalty area. It is irrelevant the sector of the pitch an infringment occurs; if the last man is in the centre circle or the penalty area, they should be dismissed. That the referee was Mark Clattenburg says it all; he is the benchmark of inconsistency.

Of more concern is the injury to Samir Nasri. Arsène’s initial prognosis was that the French international would be missing for three weeks, removing him from the first leg of the Champions League tie with Barcelona. It is tempting to say that this was an avoidable injury. In that there was no need for Nasri to play, that is true. That the hamstring might have gone on Tuesday is an imponderable. Diaby and Rosicky in being fit enough for the bench, were surely fit enough to start?

Arsène has never lost to lower league opposition in the FA Cup; that record might quite easily have gone south with Sebastien Squillaci’s dismissal. A match of 10 v 11 is never an easy one for the reduced numbers to play but one that they are prepared for nonetheless. The Frenchman can have no arguments about his dismissal, Eboué was running in a straight line and in no position to cover the centre back.

Once that point had been reached, it was a case of retaining the ball, weathering Huddersfield storms and (hopefully) increasing the lead which had been established. It worked out for them, just about.

The opening phase had been indifferent for Arsenal, Arshavin raked the side-netting with a shot whilst Bendtner’s miskick revealed previously unnoticed comic timing. Within sixty seconds the Dane was having the final word for the derision heaped upon him by the visiting fans. Nasri repeated his accurate pass from the previous minute, Bendtner’s effort was goalbound before Lee’s intervention took it away from the goalkeeper’s grasp.

Lee almost responded immediately for the visitors whilst Denilson weakly gave the ball to the same opponent, who set Pilkington for a cross which evaded everyone and the far post. Arsenal had possession but were not wearing the Yorkshiremen down, Huddersfield looking the more likely to score at that point. Bendtner tried to rectify that with an effort which was blocked at the near post.

In the final fifteen minutes of the half, the afternoon would go from bad to worse. Nasri’s hamstring meant the introduction of Rosicky whilst Squillaci’s dismissal would eventually see Alex Song enter the fray, Denilson tried to make himself available to Arsène as the seventh centre back at the club. It didn’t work.

Huddersfield tried to capitalise on the numeric advantage, Pilkington headed wide adding to the pressure that the reshuffled Arsenal side had to contend with. Half-time was reached though with the scoreline still showing an Arsenal lead which despite the visitors endeavour was probably a fair reflection of the first half.

The second would be a different story. Denilson fluffed his audition in the centre of defence and Chamakh was replaced by Song, the Cameroonean partnering Koscielny. Huddersfield became more threatening and only an outstanding intervention from Arshavin prevented the scoreline showing parity. It merely delayed the inevitable.

Midway through the second half and Lee saw Almunia make an outstanding save from his header, the former would have the final word on the matter, powering home another header from close range. Lee was unmarked and unchallenged, the visitor had shaken Diaby too easily.

The introduction of Cesc was once more necessary to revitalise the team. It did so with Koscielny and Bendtner twice testing the visitors nerves. As the final minutes approached, Cesc drove into the area and squared for Bendtner. McCombe intervened illegally and Cesc calmly scored the ensuing penalty.

Much is being made of the Spaniard’s request that the referee show the red card; it is unfortunately detracting from the debate as to why Clattenburg only produced a yellow. Perhaps the PGMO might allow officials to explain their decisions post-match, transparency being such a big thing in football in recent years.

This was a performance that began tepidly and became distorted by the dismissal of Squillaci. It was too reminscent of the home match against Leeds; too many players performances were lower than expected. Some surprisingly so, Gibbs and Chamakh chiefly. It is an XI that rarely plays together and it shows. With two games per week for the foreseeable future, the players will need to up their performance levels as they will be required to play between now and the end of March.

Derision greeted the noted attendance when it was announced, the fact that 59,375 tickets were sold but not everyone turned up escapes people’s attention. What is the problem with this concept that has seen scorn poured on the club for reporting the ticket sales?

A forgettable lunchtime, subdued players, subdued crowd. Attention turns to Everton’s visit when an improvement from all is to be expected.

’til Tomorrow.

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Huddersfield Preview: FA Cup Joy Or Terrier?

OK, a quick preview this morning as we’re nearly ready to leave for a kick-off time that is beyond belief. The Football Association keep telling us that they are looking at why the FA Cup is losing (surely that should be ‘has lost’) its place in English football’s standings. Here’s a small hint: noon on Sunday is not a time for a top-class football match.

The Arsenal side that Arsène fields today will bear no resemblance to the one that takes on Everton on Tuesday (here’s another hint to the FA: do away with FA Cup replays in their entirity. None in the final or the semis, so why the rest of the competition?). I would expect Wenger to go with:

Almunia; Eboue, Squillaci, Koscielny, Gibbs; Rosicky, Denilson, Diaby; Bendtner, Chamakh, Arshavin

More to the point, I don’t expect Arsène to make any substitutions unless absolutely necessary. With all due respect to Huddersfield, he will be hoping that there will be a big enough lead established so that he might give Koscielny a rest and perhaps blood Miquel, for example.

History is rather against today’s visitors in terms of a shock. Huddersfield have never beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup. This is Arsenal’s 37th 4th round tie at home (excluding replays) and only 3 have been lost, the latest was Arsène’s first FA Cup campaign, Leeds bringing that to a grinding halt with a 1 – 0 victory. It is hard to see an away win unless complacency sets in.

Since the disjointed perfomances against Leeds and Ipswich, things have been running smoothly. Goals have been flying in and several players are moving into better form. Arshavin most notably has improved, the only thing missing is a goal or two to improve his self-belief. Against Ipswich, his two ‘assists’ must surely have helped particularly as both required the sort of accurate delivery that has been missing in recent months. Being on the scoresheet this afternoon would lift a burden off the Russian’s shoulders.

Elsewhere, Manchester United are apparently determined to steal Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from under Arsenal noses whilst not a lot else is going on. Chelsea’s public pursuit of Luiz from Benfica ended in failure just as lectures are being received on spending (Viv Nicholson is spinning in her grave at Arsène’s parsimony) whilst they look set to sign Fernando Torres from Liverpool for £50m and Anelka. Which probably won’t happen either but at least kept the media busy this morning.

Enjoy the match wherever you’re watching it. ’til Tomorrow.

Sweet FA, Arsène’s Choices & Respect Is Due

Arsène had plenty to say in his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s High Noon encounter with Huddersfield. That the match kicks off fifty five hours before Arsenal meet Everton highlights the depths to which the footballing authorities have plummeted.

They know Sweet FA about running the game

2011 has been a fiasco for those who rule the game. Blatter and Platini are both making their views that football should be a summer sport well known, allowing Qatar to host the World Cup in winter. If England were disappointed to lose out to Russia, football as a summer sport is the death knell of the country as a host again.

In England, Sian Massey has been on the receiving end of the lack of backbone that referees are used to. Whilst her withdrawal from the Crewe match in midweek was understandable, to prevent her officiating this weekend simply allows the media to win. Unless of course the PGMO has no intention of letting her officiate again this season to allow the fuss to dissipate.

The Premier League has made a huge error in its fixture scheduling. Everton play Chelsea at lunchtime today. None of the other teams playing in the FA Cup tomorrow has a game on Tuesday. The FA need to explain why they declined the opportunity to reschedule Southampton’s tie instead.

Equally, the Premier League need to explain why fixtures were scheduled this week rather than the week in February when Arsenal play Stoke in the re-arranged fixture? This is a weekend where games are broadcast over the two days rather than crammed into one afternoon. Nonsensical choices by TV companies are going to lead to more fiasco’s such as this week’s decision to fine Blackpool for a weakened team.

At least everyone knows what the rules mean now. You have a 25 man squad but you cannot use it to the fullest extent because the EPL are the sole arbiters of your club’s playing strengths.

Arsène’s First Choice

Arsène has seen the headline writers strut their stuff and wilfully twist the meaning of his words already this morning. Wojciech Szczesny is Arsène’s Number One we are told except they left off the key phrase ‘at the moment‘. It is not hard to see why Wenger said that. Until this weekend, James Shea was the only other fit goalkeeper. No disrespect to the youngster but at this moment in time, he is not competing for the Number One slot in the first team.

When Fabianski returns to full fitness, the test becomes more real. Arsène has to make his decision about whom he believes to be the best goalkeeper at the club. Until then the younger Pole is rightly in situ and as Wenger observed, done little wrong. Equally, neither had Fabianski so it become’s Arsène’s Choice.

Manuel Almunia returning to the squad has underwhelmed and bemused some. It is apparent from the emotive language used by his manager yesterday that the Spaniard is not going to be joining Carlos Vela in leaving the club on loan or permanently.

Wenger spoke of Almunia ‘fighting for his place‘, of Almunia feeling ‘unemployed‘ – a phrase that suggests the Spaniard has not bee injured for all of the time he has been absent – whilst the manager likes him as a man and a player.

In other words, he is holding out hope for the more experienced goalkeeper. The chance to return to first team action regularly is not gone entirely and if you play well, work hard, opportunities may arise. No guarantees but motivation at least. To place a player in a position where there is no hope of redemption leaves him mentally unready should he be needed.

There is though a need for some to show Almunia some respect as a man. He might not be the best goalkeeper that the club has ever had – he is certainly not the worst – but at no point has he conducted himself without dignity, particularly during the unedifying solicitation of Mark Schwarzer in the summer. Whilst he might not be anyone’s choice as Arsenal Number One, Almunia certainly deserves more from supporters than the abuse he receives.

Arsène’s Central Dilemma

Arsène made it clear that he was only looking to sign a centre back on a loan deal as he feels there is plenty of cover under normal circumstances. It all depends on Vermaelen as to whether he has four or five fit centre backs at the moment but surely Arsène, counting Alex Song is disingenuous.

The manager asked why he would want six centre backs on a permanent basis. 2011 has shown him that numbers can quickly diminish. However, Song is a central midfielder and whilst he is a short-term fix, he is not a long-term solution.

Arsène is right to be mindful of the ongoing costs involved with new players but let’s not muddy the waters by playing a first choice midfielder in the wrong position on paper.

’til Tomorrow.

Stone Cold Friday: When Dark Forces Change The Tide

Right, it’s Friday, I’m late and he’s Darius…

Who would have thought that a young 25 year old lady would etch her place in football history and folklore? For when she left home for work last weekend, she had no idea she was about to bring down a juggernaut.

Imagine the irony when the dark forces of the footballing establishment accuse other mysterious dark forces of plotting their downfall. That’s what happens when you get fat, dumb and happy for you’ve been shovelling in a narcissistic cesspit of self gratified entitlement; it’s hard to see the wood from the trees.

It’s an environment that has cemented a misguided self-righteousness about the power certain individuals assumed within a Neolithic establishment; an old school footballing culture that has a re-entry problem into a civilized 21st century.

And yet there is a profound lesson from the firestorm that has just engulfed the two relics that are Richard Keys and Andy Gray.

The establishment should be afraid, and very afraid at that. History will teach us that revolutions are violent, and I suggest that we are in the midst of a generational revolution. Metaphorically, the exit strategy offered by Sky couldn’t have been more violent for the protagonists.

It’s a revolution that the Arsenal has been part and parcel of; yet the role which Arsenal has played for the best part of a decade has eluded many who fail to grasp the bigger picture. Unsurprisingly, it will take years for Arsenal in general and Arsène Wenger in particular to get the due recognition and respect for blazing a trail that will change the way football is played and managed around the world.

Immeasurable Virtues that are easily forgotten include the audacious ambition of the club; the courage of the manager and the key people within the club to develop a vision and stick to it sometimes in the face of adversity; and the belief in an ethos and style of entertaining football.

Yet in this arduous journey, Arsenal has had to fight the might of an establishment hell bent on self preservation. An establishment that has permeated the psyche of a section of Arsenal supporters and made them believe that there is absolutely no place for the revolution that the club is trying to inflict on the footballing landscape.

We are told that football is all about short-termism; all about the trophies; all about the glory; and to hell with anyone else who questions whether such an approach is viable, let alone affordable.

Players are judged by how expensive they are as opposed to their value on the pitch and to the collective of the team. Transfer fees are inflated in defiance of the laws of economics and common sense; and a style and brand of agricultural football is promoted as an alternative to entertainment.

Arsenal is fortunate in that we have had the leaders who have not shirked from the responsibility of doing what is right for the club; or not succumbing to the so called dark forces and giving up its vision. Building a team based on a steadfast youth development policy, moving home to one of the best stadiums in the world, setting the bench mark for how clubs should be managed financially for long term stability, and consistently challenging in the top echelons of the game; are all the more remarkable if you think about it.

“But we haven’t won diddly squat for 6 years”, the shouting rabble remonstrate with arms flung out in exasperation.

As the Grand Oral Disseminator so eloquently put it a couple of days ago – Arsenal are 90 minutes away from winning a trophy, yet the media and pundits who have created an art form by reminding Gooners about our trophy drought at available opportunity choose to remain silent. Actually, they spoke more about United mugging Blackpool off 3 points at the seaside.

The issue isn’t really that we haven’t won a trophy in 6 years – that’s a spent story. The issue is that the inevitability of Arsenal winning a trophy is plain to see and it makes for uncomfortable reading. It’s not going to happen by us turning up at Wembley and not performing; it’s going to be damn hard work, but this team will do it.

More importantly, it isn’t unfeasible that a first trophy will be the beginning of an era of dominance by this Arsenal team, and the icing on the cake of a club that is already very successful. The way Arsenal will have achieved this magnificent feat challenges the very core of how football is run and managed, and this is not something the establishment is prepared to contemplate.

But who would have contemplated a week ago that Sian Massey would shake the system to the core and put their noses out of joint, without breaking a sweat. All she did was go to work.

It’s also time for other dinosaurs to move on and make way for a new generation with new ideas, new expectations and more importantly free from the shackles of old school prejudices, clichés and tired arse analysis that have no place in modern football.

With the exit of Keys and Gray, their tails firmly in between their legs, there is an opportunity for a generational shift in football. Folks like Alan Hansen who hasn’t really recovered from his trauma against Arsenal 22 years ago should be given the long walk into footballing oblivion. The BBC remains criminally negligent for dereliction of duty to a licence fee paying public by subjecting viewers to the thoughts of a pundit who should be in a museum.

Arsenal has and will continue to play a key part in this – both on and off the pitch. It’s not an easy job, but someone has to do it. Let’s each make sure we do our part in carrying this magnificent team across that line.

’til Tomorrow

Jack’s Having A Carling Whilst Ramsey’s Loan Is Right Up His Street

A bit later than expected today, problems with broadband and wireless (dis)connections still not resolved so into work we’ve come today just to write this post. The suffering I go through…not as much as Birmingham City will hopefully be put through in the Carling Cup Final.

A bizarre sidetrack were the comments of David Sullivan yesterday who declined attending last night’s match not on the grounds of being hated by Birmingham City but that he could not ‘bear the journey back having lost to that lot‘, a comment designed to endear himself to those ‘Appy ‘Ammers who did make the journey back…

Back to Arsenal, which is where we’re supposed to be. Little Jack Wilshere – backed by Arsène – began the talk of winning trophies again,

We need to bring that back into the football club – this is a big football club and we need trophies. Any trophy is a trophy and if we can win one in February, it will give us confidence for the rest of the season.

It would be massive for the Club – any trophy is a trophy and it has been five years since we won our last one. We know that if we win one, hopefully it’ll come along, and then it’ll open up more for us.

Those feelings echo the view of many supporters. It would be unusual if having won a trophy, it did not come along. The occasion would be rather like a birthday party without the birthday boy or girl in attendance. By making the observation, Wilshere is admitting that this tournament is having a positive impact on the squad.

With the maturity of the younger players, Wenger has been able to select a strong XI for each tie. This is a surprise to media observers, it has not been unusual for them to state that Wenger is taking the Carling Cup more seriously because he is fielding stronger sides. The problem is that Wenger has to field stronger sides because that is the squad at his disposal. It is extremely difficult for him to field a weak side. A disjointed and unbalanced one, yes. Weaker, no.

Yet there is a danger that having beaten Birmingham twice this season, complacency will creep into the squad. The patience shown in Tuesday’s victory may need to be replicated as Birmingham have little inclination in making the game exciting by pushing forwards constantly. They will just be pushing. And stamping. And kicking. As is normal for them.

One player who may turn up at Wembley for a first appearance in the competition is Aaron Ramsey. The Welsh international’s return to Cardiff was a little disappointing as it seemed to me that the cup runs were the ideal platform for him to gain his fitness whilst in an Arsenal shirt.

Ramsey believes that the loan spell might be more beneficial,

If going out on loan again for a month to get a few more games helps me get back into shape quicker and into the Arsenal team then I will do that. I just want to get back to playing regularly and get back into the Arsenal team as quickly as I can.

Had Eduardo been given a loan spell following his injury perhaps things might have turned out differently. Certainly the familiar surroundings of his former club might be helpful, close to family who can encourage him along the way. Returning to Arsenal in February will be good timing with the Champions League and other competitions requiring Arsène to rotate the squad.

It is a long road back for Ramsey and in midfield where tackles fly in, a hard one. Playing in a more physical league such as The Championship will be helpful as much mentally as physically. To return to the level he was showing before Shawcross’ assault, his battle is as much in his mind as with his body. Ramsey will need to prove to himself that he can ride a strong challenge without ill-effect.

’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal Plough On To Wembley

Carling Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg
Arsenal 3 – 0 Ipswich Town
Arsenal win 3 – 1 on aggregate

1 – 0 Bendtner (61)
2 – 0 Koscielny (63)
3 – 0 Fabregas (76)

Arsenal reached their first final since 2007 with a comprehensive victory over Ipswich Town. The win was marked by the patience shown by a stronger than expected Arsenal line-up, a signal from Arsene Wenger that he is determined that the club will lift the trophy at the end of next month.

An emphatic scoreline highlighted the difference in the quality of the two sides with Ipswich obdurate and fortunate in their defence of the one-goal lead established at Portman Road a fortnight ago. Progress for Arsenal was achieved in fifteen second half minutes, Ipswich crumbling under the home side’s constant pressure.

From the kick off, Arsenal were singular in their approach. Win possession, keep the ball and create the openings. Against a wall of blue shirts – the visitors frequently had nine outfield players behind the ball – it was an evening where patience was required, a not unfamiliar set of circumstances. Ipswich had a rare shot on goal directly from the start, Szczesny watching the ball clear his crossbar from Leadbitter’s speculative effort.

van Persie responded by shooting wide whilst Cesc was to be the recipient of Mark Halsey’s first, and unfortunately not last, bizarre decision, shoved in the back in the area; as clear a penalty as the one denied to Blackpool. Almost.

An early enforced substitution came when Szczesny clattered Sagna, the full back concussed and replaced by Eboue. Arsenal were creating more pressure on the visitors although clear chances were at a premium. The clearest came with a quarter of the game played. Bendtner stood a cross to the far post where van Persie craned to meet the ball, unable to guide it into the roof the net, connecting with the bar instead.

Arsenal continued to probe. Fulop could not hold onto Fabregas’ free kick with Bendtner unable to capitalise on the rebound. The Spaniard would then weave through the Ipswich defence, lifted his shot past the advancing Fulop and wide of the post. Head in hands, the Arsenal captain wondered what he would have to do to score. Half an hour later, he would get his answer.

The second half commenced with Arsenal measured and controlled once more in their approach. Ipswich were still defending in numbers and with a will that seemingly grew stronger despite the tiredness creeping into their limbs. The latter left gaps at the back as they became a little more adventurous.

Those gaps were ominously filled with Arsenal players. Wilshere had been scurrying and prompting all night, unleashed a forty yard pass into the path of Bendtner on the Arsenal left. The Dane controlled the ball, cut inside and curled his shot around defenders and goalkeeper. A marvellous finish, parity in the tie for Arsenal and a chance to kick on to seal the required aggregate win.

A further step in the right direction came two minutes later when Koscielny beat Fulop to the ball  from Arshavin’s corner, heading into an unguarded net. Ipswich responded as substitute Jason Scotland drilled a low effort that Szczesny saved comfortably.

Cesc sealed the win with a deserved goal. Breaking from the middle of the pitch, he found Arshavin. The Russian continued his run and returned a beautifully weighted pass into his captain’s path, Fabregas sliding the ball between the onrushing Fulop’s legs leaving defenders forlorn and foresaken in the back of the net, the ball tantilising them by nesting at their weary feet.

The mercurial Russian might not be in the best form in front of goal but last night his character shone through. Despite the lack of touch, he created two goals and never shirked from receiving a pass or trying to play in a colleague. A goal is all that he needs to return to his best on the pitch and on the basis of last night’s performance, will not be too long in coming.

Equally deserving of praise were Bendter and Denilson. They have put the horrors of Leeds at The Emirates behind them and both were outstanding. The Dane once again proving that he can play on the right even if he does not want to, it is simply a matter of application. Denilson meanwhile provided a lot of possession for Fabregas and Wilshere in midfield. Ipswich helped with surrendering the ball quickly through speculative passes but using the ball wisely in those situations is the platform to success.

Personally, I though Wilshere was Man of the Match. He ran the midfield, probing, dribbling and pressurising Ipswich constantly throughout the ninety minutes. An energetic performance which highlights the benefits he has felt of a brief rest through rotation.

Reaching the final was last night’s objective, concentration on the three other tournaments is a priority before the trip to Wembley. To be in four tournaments at this stage of the season is unusual for Arsenal but a situation that the squad seem determined to make the norm.

’til Tomorrow.

Ipswich Preview: Turning The Tides Of History

Ipswich Town arrive at The Emirates this evening looking to preserve their one goal advantage and venture onto Wembley for the first time since 1978. History is on their side. Arsenal has never overturned a deficit incurred in the first leg of a cup semi-final when that match was away from home.

There is a gulf in quality of the opposition on those acursed occasions though and with all due respect to Ipswich, it will be a huge disappointment and surprise if Arsenal do not progress. Complacency though must not come into it. In Saturday’s programme, Jack Wilshere admitted that those who played in the first leg were exactly that. Tonight they need to be as focussed as they were at Elland Road and against Wigan at the weekend.

Arsene confirmed no new injuries this weekend but that he will be rotating the squad for tonight’s match. Which means that most of the team that played at Leeds will start tonight. Squillaci is likely to return against Huddersfield which means that the back four ought really to be the same as last Wednesday.

There is a strong argument for fielding the best XI; this is the first chance for the squad to win a tournament this season and whilst it may not rank as one that sets the world alight, lifting the trophy would push them over the mental hurdle of their first silverware. Arsene alluded to the belief that some of the players are gaining in themselves; a winner’s medal from a genuine tournament not something conjured up to satisfy sponsors, would prove to those involved that they are winners.

The question is whom does Arsene put in midfield. Denilson and Song played well together at Leeds, forging ball retention with timely interception. Tonight is going to be a similar circumstance. Ipswich will be sitting back to try and defend their lead. Arsenal need to be aware of the counter-attack, especially as it was the sucker punch which is the difference between the two sides at this stage of the tie.

Whilst I would prefer Wenger to start with RvP, I do not think it will happen, the Dutchman likely to be on the bench alongside Cesc, Wilshere and Walcott. Nasri though has been so influential on Arsenal’s play this season that his inclusion must be a certainty.

The starting XI I expect is:

Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs; Song, Denilson; Nasri; Bendtner, Chamakh, Arshavin

It is a shame that Carlos Vela will not get the chance to be more involved. Wenger noted that his loan will probably resolved this week. Having been insistent that the Mexican would be playing in the Premier League, he hinted that it may be a La Liga destination, Vela preferring the linguistic aspects to learning Notlobian or deciphering just what is being said on Tyneside.

Interestingly outgoing loans are not the only ones being considered. Wenger is either deceiving the media or genuinely not going to pay £20m for a centre back in this transfer window. His observation regarding wages paid to expensive players is somewhat disingenuous but nonetheless a strong indicator that transfer talks with some have stalled. It seems he is looking for a short-term fix rather than a longer-term solution by bringing in a loanee.

He asked what he was going to do with five centre backs. Arsene, when the situation ever arises where you have five fit central defenders, most of us will probably be propping up daisies so it is really not worth worrying about.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.