One of Us Speaks: Bridging the Fàbre-chasm

The Magnificent Malochi is here for another ivory-tickling sermon

In December 2007 one of our plucky young Carling cup sides overcame Blackburn Rovers in the quarter final. It was a breathless scrap in the Lancashire mud on a bitter night against an experienced Mark Hughes team. You’ll probably remember it – Arsenal started well, then gave up their two-goal lead, but battled to 3-2 in extra time. No small achievement when you remember the trouble that lot used to give us…haha: “used to”.

Eduardo got the goals, but it was the performance of the centre half that night that I want to reminisce about. Just 20 at the time, this lad played like a narcoleptic Lothar Matthäus.

There were a few points in the match when he swung at air, mistimed his leaps and watched in wonder as the play passed him by.

But for long periods he defended with so much confidence and authority. And striding forward he was really something to behold – dispatching forensic through-passes, or picking out runners from afar, lofting 40-yard balls that barely called on their recipients to break stride. A few months earlier, out on loan at Charlton, he had produced one of the assists of the season – aiming an immaculate pass from deep that cleaved two banks of lunging Watford defenders for Luke Young to finish in one move.

Of course we’re talking about Alex Song. I went back to the yellowing ATVO library this week, and the Blackburn performance was as eventful as I remembered.

It’s an Alex Song we haven’t seen too much of since, despite his vast improvement in the intervening years. Up to now we’ve known him as a calm presence in front of the back four – blissed-out expression, fond of an attacking raid and prone to the occasional lapse in concentration or off day. Clean first touch, a good passing range, without catching the eye particularly.

I really don’t know if he’s about to undergo a transformation, and suddenly reemerge this season as a devastating creative force from deep midfield. But what we can be sure of is that he’s taking on more responsibility in the build up.

Against Blackburn a couple of weeks back he poked a lovely pass through for Gervinho’s opener. Last weekend he would have claimed another had Theo finished his one-on-one against the typically in-form-for-his-visit-to-Arsenal Jääskeläinen. And on Wednesday night he picked out Chamberlain from the halfway line in the build up to the first goal.

I think what we’re talking about here are matters of self-belief and pecking order. It was only natural that Alex Song should defer to Cesc Fàbregas, one of football’s most perceptive creators. Always one to tailor a system to his players rather than the other way round, I’d venture Wenger devised our formation and whole style of play to harness Cesc’s undeniable ability.

So as you’d expect, right now there’s still a big hole – some might call it a Fàbrechasm – in our midfield, but slowly the players added and those still here will find a way to bridge that gap. It won’t be one player that does it, rather a combination of players meeting in the middle, knitting together by using talents already at their disposal, or perhaps calling on skills that have lain dormant, suppressed during the Catalan’s reign as captain. As Wenger pointed out in 2007 and this year, when a side loses one of its stars other players might surprise you by what they can do.

It’s probably also worth pointing out that on that triumphant night at Ewood Park four years ago Song had Eduardo for guidance. He really helped his younger teammates through – gesticulating and pointing at the space ahead of him. And the Brazilian striker was one of the more astute off the ball runners around at the time. Certainly far better than Adebayor, who was our main centre forward during Song’s debut season with the first team.

So it helps that Walcott has started timing his runs more precisely over the past season. Now with Gervinho we’ve got the kind of twin-flanked pace and movement we were begging for at the back end of last season. It should make life easier for our new central midfield, and at this stage Alex Song has one fewer assist than last season after a sixth of the games. He’s at two in seven right now.

Meanwhile, without wanting to play down the talents of Rosicky, Benayoun or the emerging Frimpong and Coquelin, the other members of our first choice three-man midfield over the next few weeks will most likely be Ramsey and Arteta.

Ramsey probably wouldn’t have expected as many games as he’s had this season, and has started to find his range over the last few weeks, chalking up a handful of assists, linking up better with his teammates and in all ways looking more like the player who broke into the team in late 2009. He doesn’t appear to be a guy with endless reserves of confidence to draw on. And I’m sure that nothing harms a footballer’s self-belief like a shattered leg. So just as in those inconsistent 12 months after he joined the club, Aaron is having to find his feet. Thank Colin Lewin and Gary O’Driscoll that the right one is still attached to his lower leg.

And then there’s Arteta. Having watched him a few times now, I think it’s safe to say that he won’t offer Cesc’s attacking penetration. Rather he’s a diligent team player, finding space, bringing the ball under his spell and moving it on with little fuss. I like the idea that he’ll be able to conduct the course and tempo of play in the middle, kind of like a policeman directing traffic, only a little less static, hopefully. Chalkboards from the Bolton game last weekend show that both Ramsey and Song were more adventurous with their passing.

What’s intriguing right now is how the players we thought we knew are changing before our eyes. Who knows what will greet Messrs. Diaby and Wilshere when they finally respond to the distress call.

’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal Stutter But A Win Was All That Was Required

Arsenal 2 – 1 Olimpiacos

1 – 0 Oxlade – Chamberlain (17)
2 – 0 Santos (20)
2 – 1 Fuster (27)

Arsenal stuttered to victory over their Greek opponents, ready to be sacrificial lambs at a White Hart Lane slaughter this weekend. Oh, don’t get bent out of shape, Beasley is a Tiny Tot. It has all the hallmarks of “Duck Season, Rabbit Season, Fire!“

The makeshift Arsenal defence, rocked, rolled, scored, conceded and generally had a night where luck was on their side. And if that failed, Mikel Arteta and the crossbar helped them out. As well as Wojciech Szczesny. But that is what happens when you field a team that is missing its first, second, third and fourth choice centre backs. And still trying to gel as a defensive unit around that by dropping one of the first choice midfielders into the central void.

In short, the performance matched the team selection; bits and pieces. And if Tottenham think it will be as much of a walkover as the media, let their overconfidence be their downfall.

That is not to say that the faults highlighted do not exist, they do but as is always the case the reasons never fit in with the angle being reported.

An early goal would have been a target, to ease nerves and it duly arrived. Chamberlain made a run from the wing to the central position, meeting Alex Song’s exquisite pass from deep. The youngster rounded the defence, the Greek back four distracted by other runs being made, and shot through Mellberg’s legs and off the post, into the net. A great finish from the youngster, goals in consecutive games will be boosting his confidence no end.

It might have been two shortly afterwards, Arteta’s corner was met with a powerful but off target Chamakh header. The Spaniard played a pivotal role in the early stages, prompting and taking responsibility for the midfield as well as providing a solid goal-line defensive barrier. A key block, as vital as the saves the beaten Szczesny would make later on.

The visitors were taking confidence from their forays into Arsenal territory but were leaving themselves exposed at the back. It was a state of affairs that Arsenal would breach. Rosicky and Santos linked on the left, the Brazilian then tried to create a scoring opportunity for Chamakh. As that was snuffed out, he weaved into the area, cut back and trickled his shot home, placement beating power as the guiding light. Roberto Carlos it was not, the outcome was the same.

Chamakh once more had the opportunity to score, spurning Arshavin’s contribution. Scoring is still problematic for the Moroccan, despite having found the net at Ewood Park he is still lacking in confidence in front of goal. One last night would have done wonders for him. It wasn’t to be.

And the Greeks capitalised on that, the goal coming from a fabled Arsenal weakness; a corner. Quickly taken on the left, the ball was worked behind a slumbering Sagna, Ibagaza found Fuster unmarked around the penalty spot and the header was placed firmly into the corner of the net. There were so many errors in conceding it is hard to know what to think. Sleeping on the opportunity of a short corner, Sagna not on the post, no-one on the post, Arshavin nodding off when he had full view of Fuster’s run. Utterly unforgivable at this level of the professional game and suitably punished.

It caused the Arsenal defensive ship to creak. Szczesny tipped over and then used his legs, Jennings-esque, to prevent parity at the interval. Arsenal were ceding too much ground to the visitors, surrendering possession too readily as the Greeks pressed highly. To make matters worse, Ivan Gazidis had to request that the stewards remove a visitor from the director’s box. Apparently the Frenchman had been quite calm and urbane beforehand, whirling like a dervish after Olimpiacos scored.

The second began with sides trading jabs. Fuster shot wide, Chamberlain at the Greek goalkeeper, a leaden first touch taking him too close to the custodian. It was an entertaining if nervy affair. Changes were wrought, Arsenal finished more focussed on their defensive work. Even then, the crossbar came to their aid when a wonderful dipping, curling shot evaded Szczesny. Had their been more daylight between the two sides, you probably find that most would not have begrudged Torossidis his goal. As it was there wasn’t and we are thankful for the crossbar’s intervention.

A win was the desired outcome. A squad that is gelling now has four out of five, three on the trot with only two conceded in those games. The performances suggest that there is more work to be done defensively but regaining confidence is a slow process. And it is not helped by three different defences taking the field in those games. You can understand rotation being employed and the negative impact of injuries but the club desperately need to get the back four fit and into a groove. From that, a winning run that is being built can be extended.

As it is, four points out of six is exactly what Arsenal would have wanted before the group phase kicked off. Marseilles next in a double header, at the end of which the target will be qualification all but assured. A tall order but you never know, that little lick of paint tonight might just have been a little bit of luck returning.

’til Tomorrow.

Olimpiacos & Champions League Survival

Olimpiacos arrive at The Emirates this evening with the perfect opportunity to end their dismal run of defeats in their previous nine visits to these shores. An injury-plagued Arsenal, out of sorts and out of centre backs, are desperate to keep their unbeaten home run against Greek opposition but face a Herculean task as their indifferent domestic form continues to plague them.

Arsenal’s precarious position is a real cause for concern for The Emirates faithful. Defeat tonight would leave their qualification dream in tatters.

At least that is what I would have written were I of the tabloid mindset; a bit of truth and a bit of scaremongering, mixed with a dash of ‘what a clever little wit I am‘. At least I think ‘wit’ was the word I was looking for; sounded very much like it.

But I am not employed by a tabloid so normal service will be resumed.

Were this a match that decided the future of Arsenal’s participation in the competition, you can bet that Laurent Koscielny would be playing. As it is, caution is the deciding factor and Arsène has opted to ensure that his compatriot is fit for Sunday’s trip to Tottenham. Also missing from the weekend will be Gervinho and Theo Walcott, absences that suggest a starting place for Park or Oxlade-Chamberlain is on the cards.

But it is defence where most attention is focussed. When your luck is out, there is nothing you can do about it. Sebastian Squillaci might have ordinarily expected to take part tonight in view of the absences but his return to fitness is still days away. Many sighs of relief are being heaved but he may still be in the starting XI against Tottenham.

Wenger could not even rely on Ignasi Miquel, the young Spaniard reportedly suffering a back spasm during the warm-up of the recent reserves clash against Crystal Palace. That he was even taking part suggests that Wenger had already decided to go with Alex Song as Per Mertesacker’s defensive partner.

It means a midfield outing for either of Coquelin or Frimpong. My guess is that the latter will be the beneficiary of Song dropping back into the defence. Whilst it is disruptive, the youngster deserves his chance. Coquelin has been less nervous but I think some of the recent reticence from Frimpong was a reaction to his red card against Liverpool. It would – and should – have made him question his style of play, not negatively but in terms of controlled aggression.

We have seen how long it took Patrick Vieira to adjust in a similar role, cards of either colour flourished with a certain zest by officials at the start of his career. Experience, through playing, brought about the style of play for which he became noted.

There is a tendency for players to be written off quickly. Frimpong having been hyped in certain quarters, has been usurped with Coquelin being touted as more promising. The truth is that at this stage of their career, one may be more ready than the other for first team football but it is no guarantee of how their potential will be eventually realised. If at all.

Elsewhere, the absences of Gervinho and Walcott offers an opportunity for Wenger to put down a marker for the future. Arshavin will slot in on the left but it is the choice made for the right that is more intriguing. Had Song been deployed in midfield, I would have opted for Oxlade-Chamberlain but with defensive woes, I am not sure.

That leaves the choice of either Rosicky or Park. The Korean on paper offers more goal threat; the reality is not that clear cut. Certainly Rosicky has the experience of this competition which may be beneficial to Ramsey and the midfield generally although the Czech is not noted for his defensive diligence.

I suspect the line-up that Wenger will go for is:

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Song, Gibbs; Ramsey, Frimpong, Arteta; Rosicky, van Persie, Arshavin

The attendance tonight will be of interest. There have been more tickets seeming to be available around the web than for other matches. It is rare that I agree with John Cross but in some respects I think he is close to hitting the nail on the head.

Football’s arrogance that it is recession proof is being sorely tested. Clubs outside of the top four and those promoted, have long known that the ‘sell-out’ signs will be needed on no more than half a dozen occasions each season. It is not that people are falling out of love with the game – although there is an element of that – it is just that it is becoming stale and predictabe.

In many respects the feeling is not too dissimilar to when the Premier League was formed. The Champions League group phase might be good for the money men but it is making qualification more predictable. Even Manchester United are likely to be top of the group by the end of matchday four despite only taking two points from their opening games.

Elsewhere favourites are solidfying their positions, ready to field weakened teams in the final match, XIs that are still too good for the second rung of European teams.

Uefa need to freshen the competition up. If they are going to reignite the passion, the simplest route is to do away with seeding and other predictive tampering with the draw, making it a genuine free-for-all. The thought of Barcelona, Real, Manchester United and Bayern for example, may horrify sponsors and money men for the latter stage of the competition but you can guarantee media coverage beyond anything that is received now.

And this is before the added bonus 0f the Europa League receiving some very much needed top quality teams participating in a tournament which is dying.

Uefa’s problem is inaction. Failure to reinvigorate might just see the decision taken out of their hands in two years time, the deadline when the clubs do not have to co-operate with the governing body. Sabres are being unsheathed, ready for rattling.

Before that there is a match or two to enjoy. ’til Tomorrow.

Jack’s Knack Means No Quick Comeback & More

To satisfy those who were whinging yesterday about discussing contract talks and things over which we have no influence, here is today’s blog focussing purely on the issues that matter.

Jack Wilshere’s ankle surgery went well according to the club. The midfielder will return in about four months. Good luck, Jacko, my boy. Chin up! We’ll soon see you weaving across The Emirates turf.

Elsewhere, Arsenal play Olimpiacos tomorrow night at The Emirates. Good luck to the boys. Win another for us. What-o!

’til Tomorrow.

In the time honoured tradition, look away now if you don’t want to know my thoughts on anything else.

Wilshere according to the media is going to miss five months, quoting the four before that as an option is just not sensationalist enough. The Sun, the little tinkers, went one further and added the five to the month of the season already missed and came up with six months out. Technically true although you would be more pleased with the math of the story than the adherence to the truth.

Whatever the length of the absence, Wilshere is being held up as another failing by the Arsenal Medical Team (AMT). Luckily for us, a fair percentage of the Arsenal supporters are qualified doctors who specialise in sporting injuries. Their online diagnosis of Wilshere has been most appreciated. That they can spend the time at their computers explaining this and the failings of the AMT is one of the things that make supporting this club so great.

There is a sense of desperation in the criticism. After The Emirates Cup, there was concern that the initial estimate of two months absence was made. That it was going to take longer became apparent the more time that Wilshere spent in a protective boot and when surgery was announced, Christmas was immediately obvious as the earliest return date.

It’s a little longer. The desperation comes from the gloom and despair, feelings that need wins to be lifted. The second half on Saturday hinted that the team was beginning to gel, a run of consecutive matches without many changes is needed to re-inforce the understandings on the pitch.

The midfield has depth and is learning to adapt to the departure of Cesc. Over-reliance on one player as playmaker has been as much of a problem to overcome as the departure four years ago, of the one player who was goalscorer.

Theo Walcott is joining Wilshere on the sidelines, albeit for a far shorter spell. The injury suffered on Saturday has turned out to be worse than originally thought, the England international set to miss tomorrow and Spurs.

Being absent from Sunday is the disappointing element of that. Walcott away from home, is a potent weapon if he can rediscover his finishing from the early part of last season. As far as England are concerned, is the absence of Walcott really as big an issue? Capello, like his predecessors, seems clueless as to how to best employ Theo. And when Capello resolves the issue, the England players are bereft of ideas on maximising the potential of his pace.

Spurs meanwhile are getting a little Twitchy ahead of Sunday, the usual belief that they are going to overhaul Arsenal is resurfacing. Things must be bad when Wenger is patronised by Ferguson and pitied by ‘Appy ‘Arry,

[When he first arrived,] People said that we were all jumping around like idiot and that Arsene was just sitting there like a chess grand master. It was as if he was a professor of chess sitting there as if he was studying every move while these other idiots are shouting and screaming.

But if you were winning every game of course you could sit there with your hand behind your head asking your number two: ‘What’s the score? Three nil? Oh wake me up when we get four!’ Now? Suddenly you get beat and he is jumping arund like the rest of us!

But he is a fantastic manager. He is top class. He knows the game and they will be bang there again. He is one of the best in my opinion.

And we all know ‘Arry has an opinion, mostly offered from the comfort of the front seat of his Range Rover to a waiting Sky Sports News camera crew. Wenger is more demonstrative but it is not just this season, he was picking ill-advised fights with Martin Jol at Highbury and suffering the indignity of having the media portray him as an educated thug or Basil Fawlty far before the ill-starred start of this season.

But pity from a Tottenham manager? My goodness, things must be bad.

’til Tomorrow.

RvP & Arsenal – Can The Club Change To Keep Stars?

Arsenal’s win over Bolton has denied an opportunity for criticism in the media of the team’s performance, the clean sheet did not fit into the equation either. Neither the win or stifling Bolton’s forward line means that the problems which beset the squad in other matches have disappeared from anywhere other than the back pages. Instead another route of ‘bad news sells’ had to be found.

Paul Hayward in yesterday’s Observer tried, promoting the notion that Arsenal is a series of splinter groups, cells and isolationists, as Robin van Persie fell into disagreement with various Bolton players over a ball not being kicked into touch whilst one of their number was injured.

Quite aside from the fact that there is no obligation under the rules or any Gentlemen’s Agreement for Arsenal to have done so, Hayward has picked an interesting aspect in which to find fault. We remember the halcyon days of Adams, Winterburn and co surrounding United players from the 1991 title triumph, a fracas with Norwich, Ruud van Nistelrooy receiving the full gory of Martin Keown’s contorted face inches from his eyeballs. We remember the media chastising everyone at Arsenal, telling us how much of a disgrace the players were; Oh the shame, the shame, such a venerated club, such shabby individuals.

And now they are disunited, disinterested and disintegrating. It was a classic exercise in taking pot shots with mud pies, hoping some of the residue will stick. So tell us Paul, where is the evidence of Arteta “already betraying frustration“, your inference being he regrets joining?

But it dovetailed neatly into the key feature of the weekend, the reluctance of Robin van Persie to sit down with the club and talk. Not many would argue with the Dutchman, the start to season, the changes to the squad, all factors that he needs to consider. As a player who is rightly hailed as one of the best in the world, why should van Persie not want to wait to see that the club match his ambitions. It strikes me that he is more aware of his own role in that, more team-orientated than Nasri who simply lacked the character to lift the team.

Of course it leaves a wide scope for mischief making in the media. Matt Law in The Express informs us that van Persie has sold his £1.395m mansion in Hertfordshire, something that  “Gunners’ fans will hardly be cheered to hear“. Presumably Matt he is living somewhere though? The only thing I would be distressed to hear is if he had moved his family into a pied de terre constructed entirely of corrugated cardboard.

I quite understand the conflicting viewpoints on the contract talks. Or lack of them. We presume that the delay is to enable him to assess the revised collective, to see how the squad gels. I also appreciate the view that cites Arsenal’s continued support for a player who has been regularly injured, out for some substantial spells in the past, arguably a significant contributing factor to missing out on silverware.

In the current climate, more is being made of the situation than is necessarily there. Reservations of Darren Dein’s involvement are not misplaced since he has managed moves away for all of his clients who were Arsenal players. His influence of course, has to be fuelled by the players themselves so to blame him entirely is wrong. But that does not absolve him either.

The question of money is going to rear its head at some point. Arsenal’s pay structure is quite egalitarian. That may need to end with this negotiation. Whilst the unity of the squad is maintained with equality of pay, knowing that senior players can earn significantly more elsewhere and will leave to seek those deals, is potentially more damaging. Indeed there is a lot of merit in having a wider gap since it gives those motivated by their pay packets, the incentive to perform exceptionally and consistently in order to feed their finances.

What Arsenal’s position in this will be if talks have not begun by the Spring of next year is interesting to consider. Having seen the damage that belated departures caused, can the club afford to wait on the Dutchman? Indeed, does the captaincy presume the responsibility to declare his intentions as part of his leadership?

’til Tomorrow.

Robin’s One Ton Destruction Gives Arsenal The Points

Arsenal 3 – 0 Bolton Wanderers

1 – 0 van Persie (46)
2 – 0 van Persie (72)
3 – 0 Song (88)

Wheater sent off (55)

Arsenal grabbed three points and a clean sheet with a bits and pieces performance, the sort that is necessary to lift the slough which has engulfed the club. On it’s own, the win is not enough to achieve that aim, simply the first building block. If nothing else it has stopped the turgid mindset of those talking of relegation, for a week if nothing else. That could all return with an adverse result next Sunday, of course.

Hero of the hour was Robin van Persie, gleefully telling the world of his position as 17th player to score 100 goals for Arsenal before being knocked sideways with a dismissal of his leadership and a £30m bid from Manchester City. He might reach his next half century a mite quicker if he improves his finishing from set pieces, although he was a whisker away from scoring from Arteta’s firm touch.

It might all have been so different. Bolton capitalised on uncertainty in the Arsenal defence, Sczczesny clawing Pratley’s effort wide. A set-piece and Arsenal were almost undone. The nerves of the previous weekend had yet to be quelled. Wheater had nudged the ball wide before Gervinho found himself through but the leaden touch allowed Jaaskelainen to dim the opportunity. The Bolton ‘keeper had been linked heavily with Arsenal in the past and seemed intent on resurrecting those memories with some outstanding work in the visitors goal. Those moments were fleeting but enough to keep Arsenal at bay for spells.

The first half bustled to its conclusion, flickering into life with half-chances for Gervinho and Walcott whilst Koscielny found that shinning the ball into the net is more difficult than a clean strike of the ball. Halfway through the match, half the objectives achieved with a clean sheet looking likely. It left a lot of work to do in the Bolton half.

And immediately Arsenal set to work. Gervinho was felled on the edge of the centre circle, Ramsey took full advantage of a good refereeing decision to allow play to flow, finding van Persie who taunted and teased Muamba before beating him and Jaaskelainen at the near post. One minute not passed since the restart and a lead established.

It might have been two, van Persie denied and the game turned utterly in Arsenal’s favour with Wheater’s red card. It was not a debatable decision, Walcott had beaten the defender for pace and crucially none of the rest of the Bolton defence were anyway near fast enough to close the space, or create a perception of doing so. No matter how soft the foul, credit to Clattenburg for spotting and acting appropriately.

It changed the dynamic and Arsenal’s rise to the ascendant position in the match went unchallenged. Arteta, Sagna, RvP and Koscielny had efforts blocked, saved and denied before Walcott found space on the right, his cross was into the six yard area with enough pace to tempt Jaaskelainen but not enough to allow him time to gather. van Persie sensed the uncertainty and met the ball with a flick of his foot and goal number 100 had arrived.

Theo has clearly stated his intention of being a central striker in the future – and the now – but did his case harm with an outstandingly poor finish when clean through. It is easy of course to criticise from a distance but he had sold Jaaskelainen a perfect dummy with a cool finish into the corner waiting, instead tamely passing the ball toward goal, allowing the save to be made. It summed up Walcott’s afternoon when he tweaked a muscle and was withdrawn, scans will decide his availability for the coming matches.

As the whistle approached, Alex Song sealed the win, drifting into the area, fleet footed into space and curling home for the third.

The win does not signal a return to form or even hint at it. Three consecutive games scoring three goals shows something is right in that department, raising questions about defending generally with Samba and Cahill on the receiving end in the past two Premier League matches. At least that might have been the argument had the Bolton man played. The point is that such judgements are subjective, neither player is to blame for collective errors. Whilst it is possible to pin some blame directly on a player in some circumstances, no defender is entirely responsible for goals being conceded. Defending is a collective effort.

A clean sheet might instill some defensive confidence though, Wenger rightly highlighting the lack of confidence at the start. Whether the performance will heal that remains to be seen but a repeat in midweek will do no harm at all.

There is a predicted heatwave with sunny weather approaching. Perhaps Arsenal can mirror that with some winning performances in coming games.

’til Tomorrow.

Bolton Preview: Impervious To Media Bullets But Not Injury Gremlins

You cannot harm me, I am impervious to pain, I will slice your quips with my sword of steel and absorb your bullets. Media, my old foe, you are done for.

At least that is probably how Arsène’s romantic visualisation runs, the ending being him riding off into the sunset with all of the trophies safely tucked up in his saddle bag.

The reality is altogether more treacherous.

No doubt that his relationship with the media is on a downward trajectory, a process that is gathering substantially more speed as the weeks of criticism turn into month. He has previously carried the inanities of the press conference with, as the journalists like to tell you, an urbane wit and charm. That is turning to tetchiness and monosyllabic responses. Not that you can blame the man when questions are met with a definite ‘No’, only to be repeated or pursued beyond belief.

It’s a relationship which is an irritant in the current climate, necessary because of rules and regulations governing the game, necessary to communicate with supporters but unnecessary as he seeks to find the answers to the dip in form. Answers that will not be coming any time soon from Jack Wilshere, a body blow as the youngster reaps the rewards of an intense first full season. Criticism of that is already raining in, another brickbat to send in the Frenchman’s direction.

The timing of the release of the information is a hint that the club is acutely aware of the negative air this brings. Late on a Friday night, too late for the early editions of the back pages. In a season which has plummeted new depths on the field, off the field is bringing no respite. Testing times for all.

All of this against a backdrop of a football match. Bolton arrive at The Emirates this afternoon knowing that their first league victory at Arsenal since January 1962 would plunge their hosts to the bottom of the table if Fulham gain a point at The Hawthorns this afternoon. It is not a healthy state of affairs. It is certainly a moment where the factual translation that took place in Arsène’s mind let him down; ‘odd‘ it is not, angst-inducing it is as we have seen.

Of course six games in is rather early to be talking of finishing anywhere in the league. Leaders at the top by this stage of the season have been known to fall away, top six after six games have been relegated on several occasions. Nothing can be read into form this early in the season other than a team is underperforming. And that certainly applies to Arsenal.

Today’s visitors are enjoying the same sort of wretched form as their hosts. Supposedly one of Arsenal’s bogey teams, Bolton will be turning the tide of history on its head if they get a result out of this afternoon. Since that January win, fourteen defeats and three draws in league matches does inspire confidence, especially on the back of a run of five consecutive defeats. But these are strange times.

Gary Cahill is going to be a focus of attention, the England defender subject of Arsenal attention in the summer with Owen Coyle hinting that he expects Cahill to leave Bolton in January for pastures new as Bolton try to salvage some financial gain. Whether that is the case remains to be seen with media reports suggesting that the world is Cahill’s oyster, Barcelona, Internazionale and Bayern all joining the list of usual suspects as his final destination.

What is apparent is that his club form has suffered because of the interest. His tackling and defending percentages are below that of Arsenal players and nowhere near the level an £18m player would be expected to deliver. That sums up the lunacy of modern football, reducing a player’s ability to a set of figures, isolating an individual in a team sport. Thankfully clubs pay more attention to the whole than the individuality of supporters.

So to the line-up this afternoon. Against Shrewsbury, Wenger returned to 4-4-2, sparking some hope of a traditionalist revival amongst some. That is not likely to happen, the manager making it clear that the formation in midweek better suited the personnel he had available. One of those, Marouane Chamakh, might feel aggrieved if he does not start this afternoo his goal at the weekend is a hint at returning to form, a state of affairs which had so wretchedly deserted him. I doubt he will start even though it would be good to see if he and Robin van Persie could form a productive forward partnership.

That would also disappoint Theo Walcott who is still banging on about being a central striker. To me, it is not likely to happen anywhere near as quickly as he would like. He still suffers from wayward finishing too consistently. If that is resolved then he might make a more central move. Time though is on his side. But I would not start him this afternoon. Arshavin and Gervinho have the right mix of guile and pace, allied with the ability to run into footballing cul-de-sac’s. Walcott would exacerbate the latter problem without necessarily having the wit to bring a difference.

The line-up I expect is

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santos; Song, Arteta, Rosicky; Gervinho, van Persie, Arshavin

The requirement is a win, the performance is almost secondary. To bring themselves back to form requires confidence something that is borne of results. A scrappy one goal victory is as welcome as handing out a thrashing. Perhaps more so in some respects for it does not paper over cracks, laying shortcomings for the players to see. A string of those results, especially with clean sheets, would do the players the power of good. Best to start it as soon as possible.

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