Champions League action tonight and a chance to seal qualification. An Olympiacos defeat would almost ensure top spot. That said, previous seasons have shown that having the home leg first is no disadvantage in the second round.

Arsene believes that November is the month where most injuries occur and as if by magic another one appears. Gael Clichy is the latest to succumb, a stress fracture of the back likely to keep him out for more than a month. Kieran Gibbs is going to take advantage of this and with a World Cup around the corner, it is not a bad thing for the youngster to get some serious playing time. Perform well and Arsenal will have another England left back on their books. Presumably Arsene will hope that Traore recovers to take on Carling Cup.

Tomas Rosicky returns to the bench tonight which is good news, certainly to have someone who is so influential available from the bench if Alkmaar proves to be as stubborn to break down as in the match in Holland. Equally, Samir Nasri ought to be at the very least in similar position. Perhaps it is too soon for him to start but his inclusion from the start would allow Alex Song or Diaby to have a rest before the visit to Molineux this weekend.

Diaby made an interesting observation about his reception from supporters. Certainly this season is the first time we have been able to see him on a regular basis. Yet he still has his critics, the latest in a long line of players to fall foul of Championship Managers. The player said:

I am trying to be focused on what I am doing now and in the future as well.  Definitely mentally I am stronger because I had a lot of problems in the past. Even in the games I am getting more confidence as well.  I don’t know [what the fans think of my commitment]. I try to give my best in every game. That is it. The most important thing is to give our best and the team win.

Arsene went a step further suggesting that Diaby’s natural instinct is to attack rather than defend, the spark that ignited his fury at the weekend. Diaby is on the path to becoming an excellent all-round midfielder but needs to be consistent over several seasons before he gets elevated to that status. The first step is to be injury-free which hopefully this season will be the start of.

There is a belief that the team can do well this season in all competitions and the next month or so will go some way to deciding that with the next international break being the last interruption until late winter in 2010. Currently, Arsenal are the form team of the Premier League, a momentum being carried across all competitions. A win tonight would keep that going rather nicely.

Stan Kroenke’s purchase of more shares has created a bit of a stir but things may not be as they seem with the American. Whilst he cannot apparently stump up the cash immediately on some deals, a takeover of the club appears to be on the cards with cash rather than borrowings.

Owning 40% of the St Louis Rams, the other owners are apparently putting that franchise up for sale which may be used to fund a full blown bid for Arsenal. At least that is the speculation. Which may or may not be true but if that is the case, it would be hard to see how the Board would be able to not recommend accepting any bid, irrespective of the security felt through plurality of ownership.

Personally though, I am unconvinced that Kroenke is looking to takeover. Not having settled the bill for buying part of Fiszman’s shareholding leads me to believe that more than anything Stan has put himself up as a ‘blocker’ to any bid from Usmanov. If that is the case then millions of column inches have been wasted in speculation, which I doubt anyone would be unhappy about.

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

Michel Platini is once more offering a charm offensive, seeking to make himself Monsieur Popular in his native country and with other bleeding hearts on the continent. Not so much charm directed at Arsenal, definitely offensive. According a Daily Telegraph, the erstwhile chief of UEFA has once more hit out at Arsene Wenger’s ignorance of passports when stockpiling talented youngsters in the Academy.

Problematically for Platini, he keeps rattling on about Cesc:

“You have talent in England – it’s up to you not to buy always the best 13-14 young players in Europe,” said Platini, nodding at mention of Arsène Wenger’s recruitment of Cesc Fàbregas from Barcelona’s academy.

Is it not time he took his head out of the sand and looked at the behaviour of suitors at all levels of the game? Barcelona’s manipulation of the media is open for all to see, frequently from the upper echelons of the Camp Nou, spreading downwards like a viral infection throughout the club.

There is an element of truth in what Platini says, protection and help needed by the youngsters preventing their exploitation yet in choosing Arsenal he misses the point somewhat. The Academy is bringing through significant numbers of English players at the same time, a distinctly different proposition to the public perception created by his ill-informed nonsense:

I am not in favour of the Arsenal system. The more English youth players you have in your team, the better it is for your football and popularity of your game. Perhaps, in the future with Fifa rules on the transfer of minors, you have to work with English youth. Why can’t the English play for Arsenal? They have to come to France to play.

Sorry who goes to France to play? The English? If he is aware of the numerous English players at French clubs, he had better be on the case of those in La Ligue whipping the cream of English talent. Unfortunately for Platini, the youngsters at Arsenal are very well paid. Extraordinarily so by comparison to those at other Premier League clubs. Exploitation? It appears to happen only when agents get their claws into players and their contracts, taking 20% for doing a job that a solicitor or accountant would do for a fraction of the cost.

Erroneously, Platini does not note the progress of Gibbs, Wilshere and others through the junior international ranks, citing only those brought into the club. The question he rightly raises though is whether or not English clubs have an obligation to nuture English talent. They do in some respects but they have a greater responsibility to themselves.

There is a balance to be struck. If football loses popularity, it is not going to be because of England. The clubs are doing a fine job of pricing themselves out of the leisure market through the cost of tickets. Exorbitant wages have to be paid for somehow and whilst broadcast revenues contribute, the supporter pays through the pocket. UEFA and FIFA would do better to direct their energies into making a global salary cap work and having the balls to punish the clubs which breach those rules harshly, no matter their status in the game. Too often privilege is bought though reputation.

Platini believes that bringing through English talent will make the game more popular here. He can start the process by ordering the FA to remove their protectionist policy on geography. As Wenger says, he can sign someone from Africa but not from Salford. Ludicrous and exposing the amateur nature of administration in a professional sport. Little wonder that club owners and executives rail constantly against the governing bodies and their collective ineptitude.

The suitability of the myriad of governing bodies controlling the amateur and professional games is exposed time and again. Surely the time has come for administrators to split the two bodies, allowing each to flourish within their own environments. Decisions taken at the highest levels, such as extra officials, have little relevance to those on Hackney Marshes; they have enough trouble getting officials as it is, let alone an extra couple each week.

The best service Platini, Blatter, Scudamore and co can do is to remain silent on subjects about which they have clearly not thought through. Unfortunately, their ego’s prevent them from doing so. In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

’til Tomorrow.

Having fun at Tottenham’s expense is pretty much a national pastime but they, and their former charges, just cannot help giving us the ammunition…

Anyway, flavour of the month at the moment is Robin van Persie despite the risible attempt yesterday by someone in the comments section to argue that he was essentially crap last season. This season is no different from last, just that his purple patch has started three months earlier.

The Dutchman is keen to take out his revenge on Emmanuel Adebayor, sorry Manchester City, and wants to play in the Carling Cup Quarter Final at Eastlands:

It will be a good game because Man City have a good side. If we can find the right mix – like we did in the last round against Liverpool – we’ve a big chance of winning

Arsenal 3 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur

1 – 0 van Persie (43)
2 – 0 Fabregas (43)
3 – 0 van Persie (60)

It was three but should have been double that. Nitpicking is a favourite pastime of Arsenal supporters. Just joshing. Or was I? The empty rhetoric of Tottenham was exposed for exactly what it was; there is no way that the two squads are comparable. A lack of heart, fire and guts. The hollowness of the calls for Arsenal to sign some English players to get the spirit so hyped of those players shone through.

Tottenham showed the guts of a Wildebeest which had been devoured and scavanged in the savannah for weeks on end. Predictably, Robbie Keane’s bragadoccio ended with his ignominous departure midway through the second half, succumbing to injury having produced nothing of note to back up his claims of parity in the playing staff.

A derby win that for an hour pushed Arsenal to second, one below where they would have been had two late goals not been conceded at Upton Park the week before. If the midweek win over Liverpool partially erased that memory, consigning the potential pattern of conceding late goals to the dustbin was carried out emphatically. The opening forty minutes could be described as even in that van Persie dragged a shot wide following good work by Fabregas whilst Corluka deflected an effort by Arshavin to safety. Even in that Fabregas brought a good save from Gomes whilst Arshavin struck a shot wide from the right side of the effort. Even in that the visitors best effort came when Song tackled Keane in the area and the ball rebounded off the Irishman’s leg for a goal kick. It was only even in effort because Tottenham were doing a lot of chasing and harrying of the ball.

The match turned as the interval loomed on the horizon. Sagna took advantage of lackadiasical marking, crossing from the right for van Persie to show true predatory instinct to get in front of King to direct his shot to the goal. Gomes had little chance as the Dutchman’s technique kept the ball low.

Straight from the kick-off, Fabregas found space and statuesque opponents, still enough to have tourists in Trafalgar square gasping with awe at the lifelike nature of the art. Tottenham were simply appalling. Tackles were half-hearted, the description coming through my magnanomous disposition this fine day. According to the official website, 11 seconds elapsed from the restart to Cesc burying the goal past the hopelessly exposed Gomes.

In that time, van Persie managed what could barely be described as a challenge, allowing the Spaniard to dance exquisitly past several Tottenham players to score, winning this weeks Strictly Come Dancing in the process such was the twinkling of his toes. Two goal leads are rarely dropped in consecutive weeks by any side and Arsenal were not in the mood to do so in this match.

The second half saw chances to increase the lead squandered from the unlikeliest of sources. Either side of van Persie’s goal, Eduardo had one on one’s with Gomes; both times the ‘keeper prevailed as the Croat first effort was well-saved whilst the second saw him in two minds as to lob or slide the ball past the advancing custodian. A shame that the second was wide of the post.

If the second Arsenal goal was comedy defending, the third was pure Keystone Cops. Eduardo was fouled on the right, the linesman flagged and everybody stopped not seeing Clattenburg’s outstretched arms playing the advantage. Sagna realised and advanced to play the ball into the centre. Inexplicably neither Gomes or King cut out what was essentially a poor pass; it turned into a fine cross when van Persie nudged the ball over the line.

Almunia returned to goal and was for large parts a spectator. When Spurs did get shots on target, the Spaniard invariably had a comfortable save to make. Part of that was the defence and midfield starving Crouch of service. Spurs had a game plan to make his height count but when the ball did reach him, the Arsenal players learned the lessons of the past, backed off and won the knockdown. Equally the fullbacks both pressed hard to contain any wide threat. Bentley was rendered a passenger, proving that his ego is bigger than his talent. Clichy may not have grabbed headlines with assists but had his most solid game for a while, adept at going forward, the defensive cobwebs shaken clear.

Arsene lost control in the second half as Diaby and Song pushed forward but they got the message soon enough about reigning in any hopes of a fightback. There may be some bemusement in the media about the incident but little doubt it was something that was worked on in training. Both of them held their positions well and used the ball effectively. Diaby could perhaps have done better with his chance in the second half but like Song, is showing with a run in the team, why Arsene retained faith in the players when others did not.

With Chelsea meeting United next weekend, a win was crucial to maintain pressure on the media’s Big Two. Signs this morning that the top of the table is getting crowded with current form being noted and a realisation in their eyes that Arsene may not have been so mad with the odd suggestion that, whisper it, this team can challenge for silverware.

’til Tomorrow.

Tottenham arrive at The Emirates amidst the usual bluster and blunder from White Hart Lane about how good they are, how we’ve been caught up by them, as if being in the top four for a few weeks is proof of such. They remind me of the little kid next door, the one who believes he has the best toys, the best of everything when in reality everything is a cheap knock-off; he knows it, you know it, everyone knows it.

Arsene put it succinctly:

How do you measure the dimension of a club? Success. If you look at success historically they have a lot of work to do. We have been 12 consecutive years in the Champions League so they have done that they can say that are similar.

That measure is not necessarily the yardstick to use but the underlying performances that have provided that run in the competition are. Many Tottenham supporters were not even born when they last seriously challenged for a title, even fewer when they last won one. Even finishing in the top four has not happened in some lifetimes.

Add into that sporadic cup wins in derby matches and it is not hard to see why the chip on their shoulders has grown into a full blown potato farm. Arsenal have not lost a league match against Tottenham in a decade, a run that is impressive and highly unusual in derby matches, particularly as we have lost against other London teams in that time. On occasion, especially at White Hart Lane, you wonder how such a run has been maintained, some performances devoid of ambition and cohesion. At home, it has been a different story; I cannot remember the last time I left the ground after a derby match wondering how the hell Arsenal came through unscathed, not even in 2006.

The focus of attention at Arsenal is on the goalkeepers. Arsene refused to confirm who it would be but gave an indication that Manuel Almunia is considered his first choice:

I’m always tempted to start with Manuel Almunia. But he was sick for a long time and it takes some time to come back. A player who is on the bench wants to play. The job of a professional footballer is to perform well when he plays and when he doesn’t play do everything to play the next game.

In all honesty, I would be surprised if Almunia does not start at lunchtime. Mannone has done well, despite last week’s mistake but he is not yet ready for a regular berth. Arsene knows that the Italians performances have put pressure on the injured Fabianski and Almunia which is no bad thing. There has been little pressure on the Spaniard brought about by competition for places in recent seasons, a situation that now ought to spur him onto a higher level of performance.

Crucial though is going to be the reaction to dropping a two-goal lead. Defoe is missing this afternoon for the visitors which would seem to mean a starting spot for Peter Crouch. Gallas and vermaelen will win little in the air against him so it is important that they and the midfield are alive to the knockdowns, tracking their opposition properly, something that has been their undoing in the past.

Arsene may believe that late goals being conceded is not an issue but I am not sure that anyone else agrees with him. Alkmaar and West Ham both profited from games in which they should have not gained anything from; a repeat today would be a pattern that needs addressing. Blaming the officials for the Upton Park result is masking a deficiency in concentration.

Going forward though is not a problem. The passing and movement last week was good in patches, the performances at home have been on the whole excellent in attack this season. Profligacy in front of goal is nowhere near as bad as it has been over the past two or three seasons and there is no suggestion that this will return this afternoon.

No-one is returning from injury but I would expect Arsene to make a change from last weekend, bringing in Bendtner for more potency in attack, especially since he scored in midweek and will be full of confidence. Well, even when he is playing badly the Dane does not lack belief in his abilities as shown in an interview in this morning’s Guardian:

Within five years I want to be the top scorer in the Premier League and I want to be known as a world-class striker. And it will happen. Trust me, it will happen. I look around at other players, I see my own ability and I can’t see anything that tells me it won’t happen.

I’m sure people will think ‘What is he talking about?’ But as I have done before, and as I will do again, I will sit at the other end and laugh at those people when it is all done.

I would expect the line-up to be:

Almunia; Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy; Song, Fabregas, Diaby; Bendtner, van Persie, Arshavin

A win puts pressure on the rest of the teams around us to emulate that result. With the way that this season has gone so far, nothing is guaranteed but a run of form is going to come from someone very soon. Why not start it this afternoon, lads?

’til Tomorrow

Having failed to move Cesc Fabregas to La Liga, the media are moving onto a softer target. Fran Merida is officially on the radar of Atletico Madrid, well, OK some hack saw his performance in the recent youth World Cup and on Wednesday, decided to ask the incumbent rent-a-gob at the Vicente Calderon and got the answer that they want.

A pity then that it does not fit in with the player’s desires, stated recently in an interview and re-affirmed yesterday:

At the moment I am talking to the Club so I don’t know what is going to happen. I am really happy here so hopefully everything is going to be OK. We are going to sit down and talk about [a new contract]

Which is not much of a surprise since it was carried by the official website and in fairness to the lad, he is at a key point in his career when he is about to become a full member of the first team squad. In making that jump, he is tantalisingly close to playing at the highest level. He appears to have the ability to make the grade and little wonder that he is eager to do so.

Merida merely highlights the problems Wenger is to encounter yet no panic ought to set in yet. If recent seasons have shown anything, player turnover is not showing any sign of being impacted by rising prices and we would expect some of the current squad to be discarded or move of their own choice.

Ahead of Tottenham’s visit to The Emirates tomorrow, Lukasz Fabianski decided that Tomas Rosicky is too lonely in the injury room and suffered thigh knack yesterday, despite having apparently come through the Carling Cup tie with Liverpool. Still, at least he had the good grace to finish the match unlike Aaron Lennon. Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch may believe that the Tottenham squad match Arsenal’s and that we have weaknesses to be exploited but at least we have players willing to put themselves through the pain barrier to finish the match, rather than letting their colleagues, manager and supporters down…

None of the other injured – Rosicky, Walcott, Denilson and Wilshere – will be in Saturday’s squad which in some instances is not surprising, especially with the visit of AZ67 Alkmaar next week. Fabianski’s absence limits Wenger’s choice as he continues to decide who is going to be his Number 1 choice for goalkeeper with a noticeable change in opinion about Mannone. I suspect that he will make way for Almunia, the Spaniard having been given some time to motivate himself on the bench.

Elsewhere, Emmanuel Adebayor continues to behave like a spoilt brat and warns everyone that Cesc will leave if Arsenal don’t finish in the top. Presumably Manchester City fans are preparing themselves for the Togo international to bugger off if they don’t finish in the top four. Either that or they may be so bloody sick and tired of him talking about Arsenal, they will wish he would leave.

’til Tomorrow.

Carling Cup 4th Round
Arsenal 2 – 1 Liverpool

1 – 0 Merida (19)
1 – 1 Insua (26)
2 – 1 Bendtner (50)

A cracking cup-tie ended with an experienced Arsenal side by Carling Cup standards, progressing to the next round. The young players came up trumps in an open game with both sides pushing forward whenever the opportunity arose. Fran Merida is garnering much of the praise this morning and he thoroughly deserves it, prompting continually throughout the evening, rewarded with his first senior goal for the club. I am sure players never forget those moments anyway but Merida would remember his strike whatever the circumstances.

Both sides traded blows in the opening quarter of an hour, Liverpool creating the best chance with Deggen spurning the opportunity to break the deadlock. Ngog sprang the offside trap, Silvestre taken out of the game by an excellent pass. As Senderos closed to make a challenge, the Frenchman backheeled into the path of Deggen who dragged his shot wide.

Seven minutes later, Gibbs found Bendtner outside the area, the Dane combining with Eduardo, set free with opportunity to shoot, he opted to square the ball to the onrushing Ramsey who had a tap-in but the Cavalieri charge stopped the ball reaching the Welshman. Ninety seconds later, that missed opportunity was rectified when Gilbert won possession on the right flank, Merida stepped in to take charge and let fly, finding the net via the near post with the goalkeeper helpless.

Joy was shortlived, Insua picked up Babel’s knockdown, spotted Fabianski off his line and let loose a dipping shot over the Pole and just under the bar. Fabianski’s positioning seemed normal for that situation but was rendered questionable by the finish. For the remainder of the first half, both sides probed. Bendtner had two decent efforts, one into the sidenetting whilst another found the Liverpool ‘keeper’s midriff rather than the net.

Shortly before half-time, the visitors were sent into a state of panic from a corner. Cavalieri lost the flight of the ball and Bendtner led the Arsenal charge after it, the ball pinging around the area like a pinball on speed before the Dane once more found the goalkeeper in the way rather than leaving the net bulging.

Five minutes into the second half and he rectified matters. Merida received Eastmond’s excellent pass on the left, before sliding in a pass to Ramsey, the Welshman put the ball into Bendtner’s path before the Dane gave the move the finish it deserved.

Liverpool had chances to equalise, Voronin and Deggen exchanged one-two’s for half the pitch before the Ukranian shot wide – had it been an Arsenal move, we would have been salivating at the skill before launching into six weeks worth of navel gazing about the finish. Or lack of it. Babel and Kuyt could have equalised but found themselves bereft of technique at the crucial moment or Fabianski in the way.

The final minutes of the game provided the only real controvesy when Aquilani shot at Senderos, the ball striking both hands as the Swiss blocked the ball’s path to Fabianski’s arms where it would surely have ended. Presumably the referee believed the ball hit the arms rather than it being a deliberate attempt to stop the ball illegally which is the only reason he surely did not give the spot kick.

There were so many positives from last night. Gibbs and Gilbert had excellent matches whilst Fabianski, Nasri, Eduardo and Bendtner all returned from injury with solid performances, ready it seems for the first team in proper competition. Silvestre and Senderos handled Liverpool well and brought their experience to bear faced with a lively forward thinking attack and midfield.

Wenger will no doubt be looking hard at Ramsey for more in the Premier and Champions League. He and Nasri were good together in the centre, boding well for the future. Once more though, young players came through and provided evidence that the Academy is firing on all cylinders. Merida, we knew about and he really needs to be tied down on a new contract so that his development can continue at the club. Eastmond was also impressive in handling Babel but more so because he is a full back by position. The question for Wenger is how does he bring everyone through into the full squad when it is already packed with such bright talent. A nice problem to have, I am sure.

Progress to the next round where the opposition is all Premier League, another opportunity for the younger players to show their mettle. Tottnehham looms on the horizon and the chance to show Robbie Keane just how wrong his belief is that Tottenham squad is as good as that of Arsenal.

’til Tomorrow.

Liverpool arrive at The Emirates this evening for a Carling Cup fixture that relieves the necessity to gaze into the aftermath of Upton Park. It is the opportunity for younger players to renew their acquaintance with a starting place and unusually for Wenger, injured first team ‘regulars’ to gain some much needed match sharpness.

Of course, injuries have prevented Wenger from picking the side that he would like to, it just wouldn’t be Arsenal otherwise. Traore misses out as does Jack Wilshere, who will perhaps be the most disappointing absentee. Still, I am sure that the returning Fabianski, Nasri, Eduardo and Bendtner will try to make up for that.

The Pole is in line to provide competition to Mannone and Almunia according to Wenger. Goalkeepers seem to vex more than most positions with the overhyped “world-class” prefix bandied around, forgetting that most title-winning sides make do with a decent first choice goalkeeper. The enhancements made to the balls these days are designed to favour outfield players whilst any goalkeeper is made to look distinctly average at times. The key thing is to minimise the number of occasions where that arises.

Tonight’s cast is a veritable riches for Arsene to choose from. The defence will largely pick itself with Kerrea Gilbert, Silvestre, Senderos and Kieron Gibbs expected to fill those spots. A midfield built around Samir Nasri should be expected with the Frenchman looking to gain more match sharpness ahead of this weekend’s derby with Tottenham. Alongside him will no doubt be Aaron Ramsey but then Wenger has to start looking at his options.

It would be a chance for Fran Merida to shine although the question would become about width since the three of them prefer to play narrower. That said, Nasri shone when in the wide attacking position so perhaps could do the same job tonight. Whether that would be the case when he returns to the major tournaments remains to be seen, Wenger arguing that Nasri would find it hard to displace Arshavin.

Up front, Bendtner and Eduardo will be vying for a place alongside Watt and Vela. It would be no surprise if Wenger started with both the more senior duo, the Dane’s experience on the right side of attack would leave Eduardo in the centre and Vela on the left.

Such a line-up would be hard on those who contributed to the win over West Brom in the last round but it is more important in the short term that those lacking match fitness get more playing time. Having a bench that includes Watt, Coquelin and Randall gives options for experience to be gained when tiredness kicks in, especially if extra-time looms. A win is a good morale booster for the whole squad and puts another nail in the coffin that this squad has little or no depth. Each season where more games are played in this competition puts those involved a step closer to being ready for the Premier and Champions Leagues. Certainly though each season brings more evidence that Arsenal are streets ahead of the rest of top four in pursuing a sustained and productive youth academy.

Away from the pitch, Stan Kroenke used his Asda credit card to buy some shares, choosing to pay the minimum monthly payment rather than all in one go no doubt. Whilst he edges closer to the takeover threshold, the silence will become even more deafening about his intentions for the club. With a bit of luck both he and Usmanov will realise that any takeover should happen once the season is over and after Arsene has done his shopping, lest anyone get the idea that Arsenal are loaded. Sometimes, the poverty-stricken chord repeated in the media can work in Wenger’s favour.

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

The missing word ought to really be ‘what‘ because crisis does not work since there isn’t one. Navel gazing is, it seems, not the sole preserve of Arsenal supporters; the players are at it as well. Whilst we cannot do anything about the collective failure to secure three points at Upton Park, neither can they. It is gone, over and consigned to dust. All that can happen is that the players learn from their mistakes, a familiar refrain from recent seasons.

It is all part of growing up. The problem is that if those lessons are repeatedly ignored, they are never learned. Consistently, the squad has recognised that there is a mental block at times, teams not finished off nor games closed out from comfortable winning positions. Yet that is to deny the nature of football as well. All teams, no matter how good, has matches where results are turned around in the blink of an eye, even average ones. Arsenal are more that capable of retrieving deficits as proven in Liege not so long ago.

Arsene observed yesterday that the squad is not complacent. That is no doubt true. To suggest that it is not part of the problem though is to downplay the issue, something that obviously the manager will do in private. Gael Clichy hinted as much when he commented that Wenger had not said too much post-match on Sunday but would no doubt be revisiting the last twenty minutes at Upton Park in training this week.

Concentration lapsed, silly mistakes were made. It is not too far wrong to suggest that players switched off, became complacent about shutting West Ham out when concentration should have kicked in and reserves of energy found to do so. The make-up of the bench on Sunday quite possibly contributed to that. There were few defensive options available to freshen the midfield. Wenger did not want to use Nasri unless it was an absolute emergency which begs the question as to why he was there in the first place?

Andrey Arshavin, Thomas Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas – they have all had their say about the draw. Ranging from the disappointment felt is tangible, the Belgian noting that it felt the same as a defeat. Arshavin’s belief that we had been let down by the players on Sunday is a touchy-feely sentiment that actually has little bearing in the great scheme of things. Some may believe it is a signal of his devotion to duty. In the same way that comments about how much better life in Spain are viewed, I am somewhat cynical about collective mea culpa’s. The timing seems a little too coincidental with poorly received comments attributed to him last week.

Professionalism and personal pride ought to inspire the players and by the same token bring about a sense of dissatisfaction when results are not as they should be. The days of devotion to the cause in manner of the double winning side of ‘71 or David O’Leary are long gone; anyone making 500 appearances for one club in the modern era is a freak. #

The pervading sense is that there is too much over-reaction to a draw. Let’s not forget it was not a defeat; the team moved up a place into the top three and are in a healthy position. A win on Saturday and we should be wondering what the fuss is about. It is after all, only October. No titles are won at this stage of the season nor are they lost, although damaging blows can be landed. With no-one yet showing the consistency to open a gap between themselves and the rest, avoiding defeats is going to be important.

Anyway, the Carling Cup provides a breather and a chance for cobwebs to be cleared by the majority of the first team squad ahead of the weekend’s derby with Tottenham. The kids will get their chance to show how much they are moving on against Liverpool.

’til Tomorrow.

West Ham United 2 – 2 Arsenal

0 – 1 van Persie (16)
0 – 2 Gallas (37)
1 – 2 Cole (74)
2 – 2 Diamanti (80 pen)
Parker sent off (84)

The shovels rest in the mud, sweat wiped from brows. In the main drag, tumbleweed flicks through the dust, brushing the surface as it weaves merry patterns aimlessly. In the distance, the church bells crush the silence with the death knell, the words of Padre Hansen hanging in the wind, “You cannae win anything with kids”, the coffin of Arsenal’s title challenge lowered solomnly into the earth for another season.

Well, that was the expected response from this morning’s media but instead the reaction has been more measured. A season where the top three have already all lost two games is not going according to plans hatched pre-season where Manchester United and Chelsea would rampage away from the rest, Liverpool clinging to their coat-tails and Manchester City would usurp Arsenal from the top four.

Dropping a two-goal lead is never good. Under any circumstances. OK, it is not an issue if you then go and score another three or four and in truth that is exactly where Arsenal should have been before Chris Foy intervened. Blaming the official for the result is a shortcut to masking your own failings. A match in which Arsenal were comfortably in control swang away from them yet could still have resulted in a win but for more heroic intervention by the opposing goalkeeper. Nine times out of ten, Robert Green would have watched van Persie’s header leave the net bulging; this was the one time where his leg made decent contact to pull off an outstanding save.

Arsenal dominated from the off despite the hosts best efforts to disrupt their game. van Persie tried a backheel a la Henry against Charlton a few years back; the outcome was somewhat different as the ball bounced off the Dutchman for a goalkick. A sense of foreboding may have entered the proceedings when van Persie’s shot clearly struck an outstretched arm, preventing it from continuing its goalbound trajectory. A penalty? Absolutely. The reticence to give the spot kick would not last all afternoon.

The opener came in a typically flowing move. Diaby and Sagna exchanged passes and the full back delivered a decent centre. RObert Green flapped under pressure from one of his own defenders and van Persie watched the ball fall to his feet, despatching the simplest of tap-ins that other more seasoned centre forwards have made a habit of missing. Domination of the proceedings ensued and it was little surprise when the second goal came shortly before the interval.

Having seen van Persie thwarted by a timely Collinson intervention following Arshavin’s excellent release, Vermaelen’s threat was recognised by the Hammers defence at an Arsenal corner. They forgot about William Gallas, the Frenchman meeting van Persie’s setpiece to nod home. A comfortable and well-deserved lead that for all of West Ham’s hard work was never seriously threatened.

The second forty-five continued in much the same vein but without the same threat level from Arsenal, a suggestion that the two goals were deemed enough and that killing the game off was the order of the day. Fabregas came closest to doing so, a ferocious strike from the edge of the area curling agonisingly wide of Green’s upright. Clichy and Eboue vaguely threatened before Arshavin once more called Green into action, saving the Russian’s effort.

Chris Foy made his second telling contribution with barely fifteen minutes remaining. Hines wriggled and then wrestled with Diaby and it looked six of one and half-a-dozen of the other, impossible to decide who committed the first offence. Foy incorrectly assumed it was Diaby and West Ham’s diamond geezer stepped forward to strike an excellent freekick. The ball moved violently as it reached Mannone’s hand, rebounding invitingly for Carlton Cole to reduce the deficit. Mannone was not the only ‘keeper yesterday to suffer such movement in the air, Reina doing so. The difference being Reina’s deflected to safety despite an equally unsure touch.

The game turned entirely on its head with five minutes remaining. Parker dived in the area and should have been booked for his actions, the lack of clamouring for his head noticeable this morning. It did not matter for West Ham purposes as Song gave Cole a clip on the ankle. At the same time, the sniper in row Z shot Cole with more accuracy or so it seemed with the speed at which the Hammer hit the deck. It is a penalty that is infuriating to concede but produces even more agitation when they are not given. Diamanti duly buried the spot kick.

Parker’s dismissal minutes later was as inevitable as the penalty, falling on the ball and controlling it with your arms an act of stupidity. But for Green’s intervention, the word ‘costly’ would have immediately preceded the word ‘act’ in that sentence.

The problem for Arsene was that nobody played particularly badly yesterday, just some average performances over the course of the 90 minutes. Average is a subjective term since the average Arsenal player will still perform to a higher standard than even the best of players at 14 other Premier League clubs. The result is not to be glossed over but it is done. A point gained in the title race. Ultimately, May will decide whether it is two points dropped.

’til Tomorrow.