Victoria Concordia Crescit

Sahin edges closer to Emirates switch

2012-08-04T16:39:00.002+01:00

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he will let Nuri Sahin go on loan for the upcoming season.

"The point is that he's a young boy who wants to play every match," the Real manager said.

"He wants to play to be happy and in Real Madrid with Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Lassana Diarra, Esteban Granero and Mesut Ozil, the situation is not easy.

"Real Madrid is very difficult. It is not an easy club, because we demand a lot.

"We have great players and when you don't start well, it's difficult to do it.

"If he stays, he's not a problem for me. He's one more solution. We are leaving the situation in his hands.

"Decide what you want to decide, to be happy. If you decide to leave we're going to help you to leave.

Sahin has been heavily linked with a loan-switch to Arsenal since Spanish newspaper Marca, first reported the deal was completed last Friday (27^th).

The Turkish starlet only made five competitive start for Madrid last season, but there is no denying his quality.

Mourinho was swift to act last year, signing the young midfielder from Borussia Dortmund before the season had ended.

Sahin inspired Dortmund to an unprecedented title in 2011 and somewhat overshadowed Manchester United’s new signing Shinji Kagawa in the process.

Sahin laid on the most chances for his teammates in the league as well as having a very high number of interceptions and tackle success rate. He also contributed an impressive eight goals and 13 assists from his somewhat withdrawn, deep-lying playmaker role.

Sahin would add enormous quality to Arsenal’s squad and further strengthen our midfield options, which are starting to look very healthy and versatile. He would also ease pressure on Jack Wilshere and allow the Englishman time to regain full fitness and be introduced slowly back into the first team.

A potential deal seemed to be held up by Madrid’s unwillingness to include a future purchase clause, which is hardly surprising on their part - Mourinho isn’t likely to want to risk losing one of Europe’s great prospects.

And I can’t see why this would be so important on Arsenal’s side. If Wilshere is able to return to fitness and something like his form from the 2010-11 season, then although it would be great to have a player of Sahin’s quality at the club, his necessity will be greatly diminished.

If Sahin does join, and with Cazorla all but confirmed, the Arsenal squad looks in very good shape and the strongest it has been for some time.

Caen’s President Jean-Froncois Fortin has revealed that the Gunners have had two bids rebuffed for teenage striker M’Baye Niang and we have also been linked with a number of defensive midfielders, notably Yann M’Vila, Etienne Capoue and Victor Wanyama.

M’Baye Niang looks like a good prospect and Wenger is clearly an admirer. With Joel Campbell shipped out on loan again after a less-than impressive spell at Lorient last season, his addition could be a good one and lessen the blow of Costa Rican Campbell potentially failing to make it at the Emirates.

At the start of the summer I was convinced that we needed to a genuine defensive midfielder to our ranks, but now I am not so sure. With the addition of Cazorla, it should mean reverting to a more limited midfield two with more clearly defined defensive duties similar to that which we employed with Fabregas. I feel with have the players to do this and I am a big advocate of both Abou Diaby and Francis Coquelin, the former of which I was delighted to see at somewhere approaching his marauding best in pre-season and hope that he can stay fit this year.

Committed Ligue 1 viewers maintain that M’Vila is not the missing piece of the puzzle many Gooners make him out to be and interest seems to have cooled despite Rennes looking to offload. I still rue the fact that we missed out on Yoanne Cabaye.

There was talk of Alex Song moving to Barcelona but with their plethora of midfield talent and recently tying Javier Mascherano to a new long-term deal, a move seems very unlikely in my eyes. Only in the unlikely event of Song moving on, could I see Wenger really pushing to add a holding midfielder.

Coyle trusted with Afobe

2012-08-04T15:49:00.001+01:00

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has once again been trusted with one of Arsenal’s brightest young talents after taking Ryo Miyaichi and Jack Wilshere on successful loan spells in recent seasons.

Arsenal confirmed yesterday that nineteen year-old striker Benik Afobe would spend a season-long loan at Bolton, who were relegated from the Premiership last season.

Arsene Wenger is a big admirer of Owen Coyle and the style of football he likes his sides to play. Wilshere (Jan 2010) and Miyaichi (Jan 2012) both impressed during their stints at the Reebok and Wenger will be hoping Afobe can do the same.

Afobe is rated highly within the Emirates set-up and featured in all of the first-team outing during their pre-season Asian tour. But with new signings Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud joining existing strikers at the club (at least for the time being); messrs van Persie, Chamakh, Bendtner and Park, first-team chances would have been limited for the young Englishman.

Afobe spent the season-half of last season on loan at newly-promoted Reading and has also spent time at Huddersfield. The striker didn’t look out of place in pre-season, showing good control, positioning and holding up the ball well and linking play, but his finishing left much to be desired. He lacked sharpness and hasn’t had a consistent run of games since suffering a serious groin injury in a pre-season game last summer; something he and Wenger will be hoping he gets at Bolton.

Ryo Miyaichi is also rumoured to be heading out on loan, this time to Wigan, the Mirror and Daily Mail reported this morning.

While some hoped the Japanese winger would be given a chance in the first-team this season, I would like to see him go on loan again, with Theo Walcott, Gervinho, Alex Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin and now Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski ahead of him in the pecking order for a starting berth.

Ryo will gain invaluable first-team experience at Wigan, under the tutelage of Roberto Martinez, who like Owen Coyle, likes his sides to play good football.

As yet, there has been no more speculation of young players heading out on loan, but I would like to see at least two more going.

Kyle Bartley – on loan at Rangers last season, and Ignasi Miquel both impressed at centre-half on tour but with four centre backs (Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Djourou) ahead of them in the first team squad, chances will be very limited, especially for Bartley who was promoted this season. I would like to see one of the two go out on loan.

Similarly, with so many players ahead of him in his position, I would like to see rapper come clothes designer come defensive midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong get a loan stint again, having had last season’s spell at Wolves cut short due to injury. Frimpong has suffered two bad cruciate ligament injuries but badly needs first-team experience if he is to make it at the Emirates, with Francis Coquelin now ahead of him in the pecking-order and the club heavily rumoured to be still be in the market for a new holding midfielder.

He couldn't, could he?

2012-08-04T15:02:00.001+01:00

It was a month ago yesterday that Robin van Persie released that fateful statement, declaring that he would not be extending his contract at the Emirates, and alienating himself from every Gooner in the process.

Having seemed like a dead certainty to be out the door, given Wenger’s previous unwillingness to keep want-away players at the club and a presumed queue of clubs linging up for the Dutchman’s signature, speculation has stepped up in the press that he could be in line to make a sensational u-turn and stay in North London, at least for season.

The Daily Star reported this morning: “The Dutchman has been hugely impressed by efforts made to boost the Gunners squad, which was strengthened further yesterday by the capture of Spain international Santi Cazorla.”

While there is no chance that van Persie’s statement will have forced Wenger’s hand in the market, the least cynical Gunners would at least consider the possibility that our captain’s sole motivation was not money and that he may well have been impressed with the undoubted strengthening to the squad and may wish now wish to stay.

This is highly unlikely as we had already signed two top-class international strikers in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud at the time of the statement, and Kees Voss, van Persie’s agent is supposedly holding out for a £195k a week contract for his client.

If van Persie did indeed stay for another year it would most likely be because of the lack of an ideal move and wage packet he and Voss had hoped for.

Potential suitors Juventus are in disarray with their manager due to be banned for match-fixing, and didn’t seem happy to stump up the £20m transfer fee to match Arsenal’s valuation.

Manchester City, the only big club not to make a signing thus far, will have to offload before they can reinforce. And with Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez looking increasingly likely to stay put, and van Persie himself, rumoured to not fancy a move to City, interest seems to have cooled.

That leaves neighbours United, who also seem unwilling to cough up for a injury-prone striker, who turns 29 on Monday (6^th). This would also be the move that would most distance van Persie from the achieving the legendary status he was so close to at the Emirates.

While many fans would be against the idea of van Persie staying at Arsenal, and understandably so, I for one, wouldn’t be.

The current PFA Player of the year is Arsenal’s best player, talisman and still their captain, as well as being undoubtedly one of the greatest strikers in the world. It is in the club’s interest to keep such a player at the club as it will strengthen the squad no end. It would also show that Arsenal is not just a selling club, a breeding ground for players to reach their peak before moving on, as it has seemed at times in recent summers.

By all accounts, the striker has been training well and The Mirror reported this week that he was due to travel with the squad to Germany for our training camp and final pre-season match against Cologne on Sunday 12^th.

The issue with van Persie staying is winning the fans back over. Some would be unwilling to support the Dutchman I’m sure, even if he was to continue his prolific form from the last 18 months. But Rooney managed it when he threatened to leave Old Trafford only to receive a huge wage rise and change his mind.

Of course there is also the possibility that it could upset the dressing room, with one player, the captain no less, seemingly dictating what he wants from the club, especially if he was to be offered a bumper pay-rise.

To me it still seems highly unlikely, especially with the photoshopped squad photos of van Persie and Bendtner released yesterday, but if van Persie stays then we have an incredibly strong squad, vastly improved on last season and capable of winning trophies this season. And that to me, has to still be the most important thing.

Robin van Persie - The modern-day footballer

2012-08-03T21:52:00.003+01:00

Like every other Gooner, up until yesterday evening I loved Robin Van Persie. He was Arsenal’s captain, talisman and undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world.

As money and business continues to enslave modern-day football and its mercenaries, I thought Van Persie was different to the others who have left Arsenal in recent years; notably Messrs Nasri and Adebayor.

Van Persie had led from the front in spectacular fashion for the last 18 months, had transformed the morale of the dressing-room no-end, and had always acted with the utmost respect to the club and the fans.

But now here we are. Another summer, another captain on his way out of the club, leaving behind fans bickering about whose fault it is and what could have been done differently.

I would and will never criticise a player taking a forward step in his career; with clear, understandable motives behind the move – Cesc Fabregas is still my favourite footballer despite his move to Barcelona last summer.

I have said all along that Van Persie deserves to win trophies and deserves to play for one of the best sides in the world, and thus would have accepted him moving on to bigger and better things, as much as I hoped he would stay.

What I cannot accept however, is when players treat Arsenal and Arsene Wenger with utter contempt, as Van Persie did yesterday, and Samir Nasri did last summer.

Van Persie released a statement yesterday on his own personal website, stating that he would not be renewing his contract at the Emirates, without the club and Wenger knowing.

Regardless of whether he is the best player and captain or not, he is still one of many players employed by the club, and the fact that he went behind their back is completely unacceptable. What right does an employee have to criticise the way his club is run, publicly, without their knowledge?

Moreover, despite the pretence of directing his statement at the fans, whom he claims to still love, he openly criticised the way the club is run. The club which gave him his big break, the club which turned him into a centre-forward, the club which stuck by him for seven injury plagued seasons, the club which sold Emmanuel Adebayor and entrusted him as first choice. Arsenal is the club that made Van Persie the player he is today and he has completely disrespected them, and with that lost his chance to be considered in the same legendary bracket as Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

By releasing this statement with a year still to run on his contract, he completely forces Arsenal’s and any potential suitors hands, despite protesting not to.

Wenger is known not to keep want-away players as his club as it can have a detrimental effect, so now he is forced to sell at what will inevitably be a knock-down price to one of Europe’s leading clubs, most likely Manchester City.

Van Persie has stated a lack of ambition and difference in ideas as the reasons behind his departure. Wenger has already worked quickly this summer to secure the signings of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, from Cologne and Montpellier respectively. Two top-quality international strikers, with age on their side, who between them scored 39 league goals last season (Podolski in a relegated team, Giroud firing his side to an unprecedented title and winning the golden boot). What clearer sign of intent could Van Persie have possibly wanted before the start of July?

I would be fascinated to know in what other ways he expects the board to match his burning ambition for the club other than spend money that Arsenal simply do not have on enormous wages.

If he wants success, he should join Barcelona, long-term admirers Juventus, or even PSG. However, he will most likely join Manchester City who will pay him the most money.

I could handle him going abroad for success and have always believed he would never play for another side in England, but his actions reek of greed.

BBC Radio 5Live reporter Ian McGarry reported recently that a deal had already been agreed between the clubs for the striker’s sale. And despite McGarry’s somewhat questionable reputation when it comes to transfer gossip, it would make sense to suggest that Van Persie had made up his mind months ago.

If Van Persie is to join Manchester City this summer then he is no better than Adebayor or Nasri. It is worth noting that Arsenal are due to play City in a pre-season “friendly” on 27^th of July.

With the exception of Cesc, who left to return home to a club he loves, our big money departures in the past few years have all been to City.

Wenger gets results with players in a team who play in a great style and after one good season, or in Nasri’s case; a good six months, they are sold to City because we cannot compete with them financially.

So much is made of our lack of success over the last seven seasons, but if Wenger didn’t keep losing his best players, then he could build a squad capable of winning trophies, just like he did before foreign investors came to the Premier League.

However, around Europe there are still examples of loyalty to be found. Gareth Bale, Edinson Cavani and Antonio Di Natale all committed their future to their clubs – Tottenhan, Napoli, Udinese – despite not qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the 2012/13 season. Van Persie had this. He was also the captain and talisman of one of the biggest clubs in Euorpe, with players around him like Theo Walcott and Alex Song who he has developed an incredible understanding with. He was loved and with new signings coming in, he had the chance of leading his side to success in the coming years, just like he claimed he always wanted to. Instead he choses to jump ship, for more money and puts the club he claims to love in a terrible situation once again and move them further away from HIS proclaimed desires which is for them to be successful.

But so is the way of the modern-day footballer.

As for Arsenal, we need to move on. Whatever money is made from Van Perise needs to be re-invested in the squad immediately. A striker, a defensive midfielder and an experienced back-up goalkeeper and this squad can still be strong enough to challenge for the title next season.

No player is bigger than Arsenal Football Club.

Gervinho must fill creative void

2011-08-23T19:13:00.001+01:00

I’m only a week or so late, but it’s time for a little bit of analysis from the Newcastle game.

Like Koscielny a year before and Frimpong a week later, Gervinho was sent off on his full Premier League for Arsenal. But I thought I’d break the trend and look at his football from last weekend rather than dwell on his totally understandable, if a little petty, reaction to one Joey Barton.

The incident would have been avoided if Barton had been culled at birth like he should have been, but unfortunately we’re stuck with him, he escaped punishment for starting a 22-man brawl and we must move on.

The man with the biggest forehead in football arrived at the Emirates off the back of a fantastic season at Ligue 1 champions Lille, contributing 18 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.

And he made an immediate impact at the club, scoring twice on his debut in pre-season. And on his Premier League debut, Gervinho again, looked threatening. He was ran with pace, good close control and looked to be far more direct than we have been in the past.

Having said that however, he greatly let himself down with his final ball. In fact all of his attempted passes into the box bar one were unsuccessful.

This is something that Gervinho will have to greatly improve on, and I'm sure he will as it is only his first game afterall.

But with Cesc and Nasri gone, the importance for their replacements to step up and play dangerous balls in the final third of the pitch becomes even greater.

As you will see from the chalkboard below, Cesc and Nasri both layed on a number of chances for team-mates by completing passes in and around the opposition penalty area:

by Guardian Chalkboards

The top graphic shows Cesc's passes against Chelsea in the 3-1 in December which included two assists. While the second shows Nasri's successful passes against Birmingham in October with a very high amount played inside the opposition penalty area.

These two had an incredible influence on all of Arsenal's best attacking play, and without any more signings, Gervinho will have to step up and go some way to filling the creative void their departure has left the Gunners with.

Eight days and counting...

2011-08-23T17:23:00.001+01:00

So with terms now agreed for Na$ri to move to Man €ity, Arsenal can finally move on after two of the most drawn-out transfer sagas over the last few years. And boy do they need to; fast.

With Cesc and Samir gone, and no external replacements signed as of yet, our strongest XI is substantially weaker than this time last year.

And despite glaring weaknesses in our squad and Wenger promising signings, with only eight days to go until the transfer window shuts, Arsenal face the very real possibility of beginning September with the same group of players as they have now.

That would potentially leave our strongest possible line-up looking something like this:

Now while this wouldn't appear to be a disaster, today’s football is more of a squad game than ever, and with Arsenal’s unenviable injury record in recent history, I honestly have doubts about whether we can finish in the top four this season, let alone challenge for the title, or any competition for that matter.

While he’ll still splits opinion among some Arsenal fans, I rate Laurent Koscielny highly and his decision making in particular. With Vermaelen alongside him, I have no serious qualms over our starting back four.

But how often are we realistically going to be able to field our strongest back line this season?

While Djourou has undoubtedly improved and Miquel is clearly talented, Squillaci is in the Cygan/Silvestre league of Arsenal defenders and we are crying out for another addition to the squad in that area.

Song has done a decent job over the past two years but he lacks quality. Emmanuel Frimpong is fast becoming a fans’ favourite at the Emirates and has impressed already. And while he is a terrific prospect for the future, he is only 19 and Saturday’s game was an unfortunate reminder of his naivety and inexperience at the highest level.

Finally, I think we are most in need of a world-class creative midfielder. Cesc and Na$ri has left an enormous void in that area, which has become painstakingly clear with only one goal from our first three competitive games this season.

Baring all that in mind, in an ideal world, this is the team I would like Arsenal to be able to field:

And it is not as unrealistic as many would imagine. Rennes would demand in the region of £16M for the services of 21 year-old Yann M’Vila, while Eden Hazard would command a fee of between £20M and £25M. Bolton want somewhere around £16M for Gary Cahill which may seem a lot; but it seems increasingly reasonable when you look at the fees thrown around for other English players this year; notably Messers Henderson, Young, Downing, Jones and Carroll.

The idea of Wenger parting with almost £60M is incredibly unlikely, but it’s the sort of statement that is required from the Frenchman to reignite the players and fans with the confidence to mount a serious challenge on all fronts this season and finally end our barren spell without a trophy.

But whilst unlikely, it is perfectly feasible. We have just two players on high wages for a total in the region of £60M.

I never wanted to find myself quoting some of the most vocal fans who made the disappointing trip to St James’ Park on the first day of the season, but “Spend some fucking money” seems more apt now than ever before.

Nine defining days for Wenger

2011-08-22T19:59:00.001+01:00

Any Arsenal fan with half a mind loves Arsene Wenger and knows he is still the best man to lead Arsenal into 2011-2012 season.

This is a manager who arrived almost entirely unknown at Highbury and secured the Premier League and FA Cup double in his first full season in charge; the second most successful manager in Premier League history who led Arsenal through the entire 2003/04 league season without defeat.

Despite being deservedly named World coach of the previous decade, some increasingly disillusioned fans are urging Kroenke, Hill-Wood and co. to call time on his Gunners career.

This is nothing short of absurd in my eyes and those of the vast majority of Gunners everywhere. Nonetheless one feels that the next nine days will go a long way to defining Arsenal’s season, if not the remainder of his managerial career.

Arsenal failing to qualify for the Champions League on Wednesday against Udinese would be nothing short of a disaster. For a club of Arsenal’s stature and calibre of players in their squad, Champions League football is an absolute must. Fail to qualify this year and they could jeopardise their chances of qualifying again next year as they will struggle to attract the highest calibre of players who are lured by the prospect of playing in Europe’s premier club competition.

Wenger is right to an extent when he says that everything for the last four months has gone against us, but he shouldn’t be saying it; he should be doing something about it.

Wenger’s ability to churn out team after team capable of finishing in the top four and beating any team in the world while maintaining a self-sustaining fiscal model is nothing short of a miracle.

Arsenal have made an overall PROFIT on transfers since 2004, while every other big club in England is millions (in some cases hundreds of millions) of pounds down on their squad ins and outs.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that the Gunners are without a trophy since 2005, while United have secured a record 19^th English top tier title and Chelsea and Man City have shown that money can in fact buy you success.

Arsenal finished fourth last season, have lost their captain and talisman, are on the verge of losing one of their stand out performers from last season, and yet Wenger has only signed Gervinho and three teenagers un-proven at the top level.

As good as Thomas Vermaelen is, we are still in urgent need of a centre back and as of yet we have not signed one.

Our one remaining member of the “Invincibles” squad from 03/04, Gael Clichy, has left, leaving us with only Kieran Gibbs, more injury prone than Darren Anderton, and the currently injured Armand Traore to fill the left-back position.

Alex Song is *yet* to fully convince in the holding role and at times last season, Arsenal were crying out for a DM in the Vieira mould. Yann M’Vila, at 21, fits the “super quality” bill that Wenger has been describing perfectly.

And for me, most importantly, without Cesc and Nasri, we have already seen this season that we are in desperate need of a world-class creative midfielder.

We were linked heavily with Juan Mata and many will be disappointed to see him join Chelsea, but he was never Wenger’s first choice and nor should he have been.

In my eyes we need a direct replacement for Cesc. Many will say Jack Wilshere can do that but he is a different sort of player. He plays a deeper role than Fabregas and starts moves rather than delivering that final ball that the Spaniard does like no other. Wilshere had a brilliant 2010/11 season but only delivered two assists. Cesc missed large chunks of the season and still layed on 14 goals for his former team-mates.

Aaron Ramsey is a vastly talented player and was clearly signing as Cesc’s long-term replacement, but Stoke RFC’s Ryan Shawcross put his development back a long way and he failed to show against Newcastle, Udinese and Liverpool that he is ready. I rate the kid highly but he is no Cesc.

Eden Hazard would be perfect. He is on Wenger’s radar but it all comes down to his willingless to spend unfortunately.

You could tell, more than ever on Saturday, that Wenger is under enormous pressure and boy, is he feeling it.

But we have £35M from Cesc, £25M to come from Nasri and a billionaire owner in Stan Kroenke!

The pressure can be massively lifted if Wenger is prepared to speculate in the market for once and spend some money. Wenger has confirmed, again, that he will sign but he is running out of time.

Gary Cahill has impressed already this season, and as the games which chief scout Steve Rowley has watched the Bolton centre-back totals more than 20(!), I cannot understand why Wenger will not make an offer.

With only nine days left in the transfer window, reports are emanating that we are in talks with Rennes offer M’Vila and Lille over Hazard. Frankly, I’m sceptical at best, but surely the ball has finally dropped and Wenger will strengthen the areas we can all see need strengthening, and start September with a squad ready to challenge for trophies, rather than the current one which will greatly struggle to maintain their place in the top four.

It is incredibly unlikely (not that it should be) that Wenger will sign three more players before September 1^st rolls around for another year, but an Arsenal squad containing Cahill, M’Vila and Hazard would be genuine title challengers.

Unfortunately for now it remains a pipe-dream and I’ll have to make do with signing them on FM12. *Sigh*.

Time for Theo to step up with "New Walcott" waiting in the wings

2011-08-22T18:07:00.001+01:00

Throughout his Arsenal career, Theo Walcott has been marred by inconsistency. Signed in 2006 as a 17 year-old, there was always the hope and expectation that Walcott would eventually develop into the world-beater that he has threatened to become since his arrival in North London.

Included in the England 2006 World Cup Squad at the tender age of 17, Theo became Arsenal’s youngest ever Champions League player in the same year and has since become a first-team regular at the Emirates. Blessed with blistering pace and style that have led (not recently) to comparisons with Arsenal legend Theirry Henry; he scored a sublime international hat-trick against Croatia in 2008, becoming the youngest England player to do so in the process.

But Theo has an all-too frequent tendency to completely drift out of games. With Cesc gone, Nasri soon to follow, and Arshavin a shadow of his 2008-09 self, more of the creative burden falls on Walcott’s shoulders this season and the 22 year-old must step up and be counted for on a much more regular basis.

On Saturday, in Arsenal’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, Theo was literally (not literally) nowhere to be seen. (You know on FM when it describes a player as “ineffectual” in a certain position? That summed Theo up in every position this weekend).

by Guardian Chalkboards

Walcott played 21 passes before he was substituted after 80 minutes, completing just 13 of them, of which only one could have been described as a “key” pass. He took no shots, on or off target and completed no crosses. Arsenal desperately lacked any creative influence on Saturday, especially from wide areas when you compare these figures with Arshavin on the other wing who completed only 22 of 37 passes, no crosses and fired his one shot horribly wide.

Wide attackers has been the one area that Wenger has actually strengthened this summer and yet this was our most glaring problem on Saturday. Granted Gervinho was suspended while Tomas Rosicky has been pushed back inside where he is far more accomplished, but we left Ryo Miyaichi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench throughout.

Yes they are both teenagers awaiting their full debuts but that has never bothered Wenger before, never more so than on Saturday when Emmanuel Frimpong, Carl Jenkinson and Ignasi Miquel all made respective Premier League debuts under the age of 20.

They are both supremely talented, with Thomas Vermaelem describing Ryo as the most talented young attacker in the World along with Neymar, while Chamberlain set League One alight last season at Walcott’s previous club Southampton and commanded a staggering £15M transfer fee as a 17 year-old.

With Miyaichi and the “new Walcott” (not sure why we need one of those) waiting in the wings, Walcott and Arshavin are under even more pressure to perform.

They are both direct, exceptionally quick and can score and create goals. I’m not saying start them now, far from it, but with Arshavin and Theo so dreadfully off-colour on Saturday, they have to be given a chance with 15/20 minutes to go.

Instead, we saw the enigmatic Nicklas Bendtner and the better than Denilson, but still limited, Henri Lansbury enter the fray to try and turn our fortunes around.

Walcott may still be young but the time has most definitely come for the winger to step up and become a key player for this transitional Arsenal side surrounded by bleakness and pessimism. Maybe he should be a little less concerned with his book sales and concentrate on re-creating his performance against Chelsea last year in all big games starting at Old Trafford this weekend.