Arsenal are in the title race on merit, don't let idiots tell you otherwise

I am very much in a Gooner positive mood this afternoon. I have been thinking about our squad and the stage that they are currently at. We are in very good shape right now and it is lovely to see.

For the last few years I keep hearing that this Gunners squad cannot win anything without experience, they are too young and immature. We need to be more like Chelsea and buy 'big players' big players meaning expensive players I assume.

Now I am not saying that those qualities are not necessary (the experience, not the expensive signings) I just think we have plenty of experience players in our ranks. So what happens if we do not win the league this year?

We are likely to have all the usual suspects jumping on the radio and television saying 'I told you so' Arsenal do not have the backbone, lack English grit, are not up for the fight etc without looking a little deeper into our position.

With nine games to go we are joint with Chelsea albeit playing a game more. Does that look like a side that cannot win the league? We are better placed and have traditionally finished higher than all the teams we have to face in the remaining fixtures so I do not want to hear any argument that Arsenal are not good enough because the facts and figures will tell you otherwise.

Already we are hearing backpedaling journalists and frothing ex player pundits rehearsing their excuses already. I have read how if Arsenal win the league, it will be because Manchester United and Chelsea have been inconsistent rather than Arsenal being a good side. Wow, can you imagine that being the case if Manchester United sneak it this year? Not on your flipping nelly mate.

When we finished four points off Manchester United in 2007/2008 it was a case of the league table doesn't lie, United are the best in the country and now it will be won by default. Shove that crap as far up your Arsenal as you can possibly push it, I do not want to be insulted like that.

This is my take on the title race so far.

Manchester United and Chelsea are NOT head and shoulders above us. They have found a way of playing us that suits them and has caused us problems. They have taken all the points off us this season and we need to address that. At Old Trafford we were the better team without a shadow of a doubt, Manchester United fans will tell you that. At the Emirates they produced a masterclass of counter attacking football and we were playing players who had just returned from injury. Not an excuse, just fact.

Chelsea defended superbly at the Emirates, one of the best defensive displays I have seen at our ground and they caught us cold with two defensive mistakes. At Stamford Bridge, we once again dominated the ball and pushed and probed but our defensive shortcomings slapped us in the face again.

We deserved most of those defeats because of our actions not because we were a) out played b) out battled or anything of the sort.

The fact that we are joint with Chelsea and two points behind Manchester United is because WE have been the most consistent side in the rest of the league games. It is that simple. The standard of the Premier League has improved, so more teams can take on the big boys and we happen to be doing better than our rivals against those teams.

I didn't hear any crying that Manchester United shouldn't be title winners last year when they were beaten 4-1 at home to their rivals Liverpool and had the worst record against the 'top four' compared to the others that year. So why should that apply now?

As you may tell from the tone of my blog today, I am getting a little defensive. All I wish is that we get the same credit for doing the exact same as the other teams.

Back to my original point. We are going toe to toe with Chelsea right now and they have all those ingredients that everyone said we needed, experienced players in their peaks along with big money players. Don't you think it is utterly fantastic that our players are nowhere near their peaks? With the few exceptions of course. I can list a whole list of players in their very early twenties who have a long road of improving whilst the likes of Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Deco, Nicolas Anelka are looking for the next turn off to park up their run down cars.

Our squad have a long way to go and even if we lose a big player we have plenty of cash reserves and quality players in reserve who are just waiting patiently for a chance just like the collection of first teamers who have risen to the top this season.

I am speaking about the likes of Diaby, Eboue, Song etc.

Four young Englishmen scored for Arsenal over the weekend, a fact that I heard on a few blogs. The Arsenal foreigners line will have to be knocked on its head as behind the eyes of ignorant people we have some of the best British talent in the country.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is one of those players who made an impression over the weekend. He made his debut for Doncaster Rovers and scored a brace and assisting with another. Pretty impressive stuff on his debut and still so young.

Another Jay, Jay Simpson scored for QPR, while the talented Wilshere volleyed in his first for Bolton. We all know about Theo Walcott's curler into the corner of Burnley's net. So I would say the future as well as the present looks brighter than bright.

I liked Theo's comments about his display against Burnley and more in particular Chris Waddle.

Walcott said:

"I heard what has been going on and what he [Waddle] said, but I don't listen to people on the outside of football. I listen to people around me - the boss [Arsene Wenger], Mr Capello, my family and the people around me. I have got fantastic people who look after me. I am very level headed and keep my feet on the ground.

"The best thing is I do know what's going on , on the outside, but I don't listen to it, I only listen to people around me. It's doesn't bother me whatsoever - maybe if I keep performing like that it will shut people up."

Chris Waddle you are irrelevant, you are no longer a player, you mean nothing to our players. His manager and his family are the ones who really matter. There is a reason why pundits and fans are not managers.

Arsene made some interesting observations about Nicklas Bendtner's performance over the weekend.

Wenger said:

"I was pleased with two things, His overall game was quite good. Of course I'm not pleased he missed his chances. The second thing was the crowd was at a certain point wobbling a bit but then they turned for him and that's good. If they turned against him, for a striker that causes a problem.

"Maybe what turned it around was that he had that shot on the keeper [after showing great persistence to keep the ball]. It's true when you are 194 [pounds] like he is you cannot be short and sharp like a smaller player. But he will be a good player."

We have all heard the question, 'Why has Arsene reverted from big powerful players from previous years well his answer could well be in that quote.

Having said that, I wouldn't call Song, Diaby, Bendtner, Van Persie et al small, would you?

I have just read that Cesc Fabregas has missed training ahead of the Porto clash. Like I said yesterday, I think we shouldn't risk him. A midfield trio of Song, Diaby and Rosicky/Nasri is more than capable of dominating at home against anyone.

If need be, then stick Cesc on the bench hopefully without needing to use him.

Before I go, I would like to offer my apologies to all those who have contacted me or sent in Your Vision articles

Due to the amount of spam that is sent via the site, my email account has now diverted everything into the junk folder, which I avoid looking in because it is erm.. junk. So I have just assumed that no one is giving any love.

I shall be reading through the articles, responding and putting them up in the next few days.

Right, I have to make a move, will have a read at the comments later on and hopefully respond this afternoon.

Back tomorrow.

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Nasri stepping up his game, League vs CL & Some 'Arsenal don't like it up em' quotes

I find myself somewhat drunk this afternoon and I haven't had a touch of alcohol, honest guv. I am drunk from tiredness. Late nights and early starts do not go hand in hand.

Part of my late night was due to re watching the extended highlights on Sky Sports. We actually played much better than I remembered we did. It's funny how nerves make you think otherwise.

Nicklas did miss a hell of a lot of chances. He could have ended up top of the goal scorers charts if he had converted half of those chances.

I hope he can put that behind him with some goals on Tuesday. Has Bendtner ever scored a brace for us so far? [scratches head] if he hasn't then that and more should be around the corner. It is no coincidence that he manages to get into so many good positions. The finishing will come and when it does, then we will have a top striker on our hands.

In last night's Match Thoughts I missed out the wonderful display from Samir Nasri. I had watched the game on a stream plugged into my television and unfortunately for me, it wasn't the best stream that I have ever had but once I had watched the extended highlights I noticed all the clever foot work, body swerves and driving runs from our feisty Frenchman.

Nasri has been fairly consistent and pretty steady since he joined Arsenal last season. He quite often makes the right decisions and is neat and tidy without being spectacular on a regular basis. He hasn't won many games single handedly so quite often his work goes unnoticed.

As is often the case, I think we forget that Nasri is still only 22 years of age. This is his second season in English football and he has plenty left in his locker that is bursting to come out. He certainly seems to be a favourite with Arsene, regularly chosen over Rosicky in the wide areas.

You do not get dubbed the new Zidane in France for nothing. He has to start forcing his game on the opposition every week and that is the difference between potential and established.

If we can keep the likes of Nasri (22), Cesc (22) Diaby (23), Song (22) for another two years or so then they will be unequaled in world football.

Currently people drool at the Xavi and Iniesta combination and there is no reason why our players cannot develop to be better than that.

Theo is the perfect example of potential, a player who can destroy the opposition when on his game but still has games where he looks way off the mark. Experience will see him produce the good side of his game more often and the bad side less often.

Speaking of youngsters, Jack Wilshere opened his goal scoring account with Bolton with a nice tidy half volley. I didn't see much more of him on the highlights but it is great that he is now playing regularly, that along with a few steaks will do him some good. It will be an interesting season next season, perhaps he will have the same type of role that Ramsey started out with this season. A regular substitute, getting 15 minutes to begin with then the occasional start until he can play his way into the team.

Will Cesc be ready for Tuesday?

That is most certainly the question. If he only makes the bench, can a midfield of Song, Diaby and Rosicky/Denilson be good enough to beat Porto?

I think it can, especially if Nasri and Walcott can continue where they left off against Burnley. The Champions League is a massive competition but our league challenge this season has really diluted it for me somewhat.

I want us to win the league so badly that the thought of playing Cesc in midweek if he is not 100% worries me. I am sure by the time Tuesday comes around, I will be feeling different about it.

How good would it be if we won both the league and CL? How could our knockers (giggle) cope with that? How would the likes of Stan Collymore cope with the rest of their snivelling lives?

I don't really want to drag all this back up again but I thought I'd share some examples of the crap spouted about us in recent years.

Craig Fagan (Hull City player - 19th Dec 09)

"our game plan is to get in their faces. They don't like it. Arsenal have world-class players and you want to play and test yourself against the best in the Premier League."

Kevin McDonald (Burnley player 15th Dec 09)

“They're not going to like it if we’re in their faces. We’ll do that and when we get the ball, show them what we can do. I don’t think any of the Arsenal boys would be wanting to come here on a Wednesday night. It’s always cold and raining playing here. "

Graeme Souness (Then Blackburn manager - 31st Jan 2002)

"They are a top team but they don't like it up them,"

Kevin Nolan (Then Bolton player - 23rd Sep 2008)

“I have never seen anybody as quick as Theo Walcott in my life,” said Nolan. “I said to Jlloyd Samuel ‘Give him a little kick and see if he comes back at you!’

“At the end of the day, it is a physical sport. We don’t want to be like basketballers. We are in the gym four or five days a week to build ourselves up to try to stand up to challenges like that.

This is from a man who almost broken Everton's Victor Anichebe leg in one of the worst acts of violence that I have seen on a football pitch. And I also do not think that working in the gym will put you in good stead to be kicked. That is not a challenge you stupid oaf.

That was only from a few seconds of searching, there are so many examples that it would take me all day to list them. The funny thing is, when you write the same thing into Google but swap Arsenal for Manchester United, the only articles that come back are the ones involving our club. So I am certainly not being paranoid here.

What idiot decided that Arsenal do not like playing in the cold or the rain? What utter rubbish. How many times have we beaten these northern teams in the cold and then nothing is said about it.

I have never heard that Bolton don't like playing in the cold at the Emirates. What is their record at our home?

I think fighting for common sense just leaves me with a sore head from banging it repeatedly against a brick wall, so perhaps I should take a couple of paracetamol and move away from that argument for the time being. Until another one of our more talented players gets hurt by yet another brutish thug I guess.

Anyway, it is Sunday and the kids want me to go on the trampoline, a sight you do not want to see. So have a good Sunday evening all.

Back tomorrow.

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Martinez agrees with Arsene but time to move on & Carlsberg competition

It is no surprise that Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has come out in defence of Arsene Wenger's stance about bad tackles and the state of the game in England. Reading his comments it has made me realise that managers who actually try and play the game correctly haven't really been in the press giving their opinions.

You ask people like bloody Sam Allardyce, Tony Pulis and the like, then you know what type of side they are going to take. I would like to know what Gianfranco Zola's thoughts on this are and why don't Sky ask Ruud Gullit his view. These are not dinosaurs of the past.

Anyway, hopefully the Shawcross, honest lad talk is slowly dying down and we can get back to football again. Saturday and then Tuesday will be very important games for Arsenal but before that can happen I am sure the press will be swarming around like the vultures that they are, ready to pounce on their loaded questions regarding Shawcross.

It is so predictable.

Journo: 'So Arsene, do you still think Shawcross acted thuggishly?'
Wenger: 'I do not really wish to talk about this
Tomorrow's headline:'Wenger in Shawcross isn't worth talking about slam'

One would only hope that it would be a little more imaginative than that but I am hoping that Arsene side steps the issue today and doesn't give the papers the bait that they want.

Ole Gunner said it right on Twitter yesterday, any comment along the lines of 'I have my views about what has happened, but we have 10 very difficult matches to go, and we will focus on that.'

That is our aim and we cannot let anything interfere with that goal. Nothing we say or do can magically heal Ramsey's leg. Arsenal football club should be contacting the Football association behind the scenes, trying to address what is quite clear to most of us. If we cannot stop brain dead pundits and journalists writing the same 'Arsenal don't like having their legs broken' rubbish then we need to make sure the referee's are not also getting sucked in and that is the job of the FA to control their officials who are currently not controlling football matches.

Listening to Arsene's interview with Arsenal TV it looks like our power from midfield could well be missing. Alex Song as we know is suspended (see I did my research) whilst Abou Diaby is rated as 50/50 to make the game. If Diaby isn't 100% then I don't think it is worth risking him for Burnley. Porto and Hull City should be more difficult games and if an extra few days gets rid of any potential breakdown to Diaby then I think it would be a good call. It is the same for Sol Campbell, I would be hoping that Mikel Silvestre would be able to fill in against Burnley whilst saving Sol for Porto in midweek. Wenger has resisted the temptation of playing him twice in a week as yet.

Without wanting to take Burnley lightly [insert cliche] there are no easy games in the Premier League [end cliche] but our goal difference is lagging behind the other two filthy clubs, so Burnley at home should be a game where we should be looking to fire a lot more past their goalkeeper than they do against ours.

But [repeat same cliche]

Theo Walcott has been talking about his difficult task getting into the England team and that fitness is the key, I would tend to agree with him to a certain extent. I do think match sharpness is what is missing from his game, although fitness and sharpness often go hand in hand.

Theo should use Waddle's words to spur (pardon the term) him on then shove it up Waddle's mulletty arse come the end of the season. However time is running out, the finish line is in sight and Theo really needs to start producing now if he is to positively influence our season.

I expect him to start tomorrow and fingers and everything else crossed that he can come up with the goods for our sake and for his own.

Speaking of England. Ever wanted to know how you would do as a manager? Well..

What Would Your Team Talk Be?

Give the best England Team Talk, and win big!

It’s full time in the final of the World Cup, and the game is drawn. The England team have played their hearts out, but need a final push to deliver a repeat of 1966. You’re the manager, and it’s up to you to fire them up and inspire them to win. What would you say? Well, here’s your chance to tell us, show your support for England, and win the chance of a lifetime!

As The Official Beer of the England football team, Carlsberg launches it’s “England Team Talk” competition, calling on the nation to show their support for the Three Lions ahead of this summer’s World Cup Finals. You can enter your Team Talk in a number of ways at www.englandteamtalk.com (see for more info). Those uploading a video Team Talk can win the chance to meet some of the England players and deliver their words of inspiration in person, at an exclusive day at Wembley Stadium, or see them train in Austria. If that wasn’t enough, others will also star in the next Carlsberg commercial, seen by millions across the country. Get filming, get writing, and get behind the England team!

The contest is now open to entrants, and accepts submissions until 30th April. In addition, there will be weekly prizes, including England tickets, signed England shirts and cases of Carlsberg.

Still not clear? Let Ray Stubbs explain all: www.youtube.com/EnglandTeamTalk or become a fan of the Carlsberg For England Facebook Page that launches shortly.

If you want to meet the England team, and send them off to S. Africa with your Team Talk ringing in their ears, enter now! www.englandteamtalk.com

And with that, I am off. Match thoughts tomorrow at some point, preferably before the actual game.

Back tomorrow.

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Nicklas amongst the goals again, transfer madness, Theo & More

Hello again,

First thing is first, judging by reports it looks like our players have come through the internationals without any injuries, well on the surface at least. We will know more when Arsene is faced by the cameras. It is time to keep everything we have crossed.

Super Nic has now scored his third goal in three games which is fantastic for him and hopefully our run in. His header against Stoke was amazing, the type of leap and header that we have missed this season. I didn't really do it justice when writing about the game because of the obvious but if he keeps putting himself in the right place then hopefully he can continue his run of goals. Burnley at home is a good fixture to attempt to continue his run.

Carlos Vela was the only other Arsenal goal scorer from yesterday. He came off the bench and stuck one away for Mexico against New Zealand. We haven't quite seen as much from Vela as we may have expected, I guess he is still physically developing and will only get an extending run when he is in the correct condition for Premier League football.

For some reason the papers are going transfer crazy. I could have sworn the transfer window was closed. Even though, the hacks have come to the following conclusions. Gallas is off to Roma, Van Persie is heading to Juventus with Melo coming the other way but hold on a sec, Veloso is key to the Melo deal.

Yawn!

However I would like to know what the deal is (quite literally if one is being done) regarding William Gallas. I am sure that the club are working hard to keep the player as he has probably played the best football of his Arsenal career this season. His partnership with Vermaelen has been great but his future depends on what he wants to do. Does he want to test out another league in this stage of his career? Who knows, but you cannot blame him if that is what he would like to do. Personally I hope he stays like I am sure many Gooners do.

Did you all see the England game? I flicked it on to take a look at Theo, his first England game for a while now. Unfortunately for Theo he couldn't influence the game as he would have wanted. He is still lacking regular games so expecting him to make such an impact was perhaps asking a little too much of him. Had he come off the bench when England improved in the second half then it could have been a different story.

What struck me about the game, especially the first half was the lack of technique from the England players was quite apparent. Egypt played some wonderful one touch football while the home side looked very square and lacked imagination. So many English players are one dimensional. The only multidimensional player from that side last night is Wayne Rooney.

England pressed higher up the pitch and played in their half much more, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Peter Crouch turned the game. How frustrated would you feel being Walcott watching Wright-Phillips make the impact that he would have wanted to make.

Mohamed Zidan looks like an Arsenal player, a very gifted forward who is plying his trade in Germany. I was surprised to find out that he was 28, I thought he was younger.

Sol Campbell has been praised by both Tommy V and Gaely C (sorry)

You could feel his presence out there against Stoke, he was furious about Ramsey's injury and defended very well throughout the game. His late celebrations for the goals and then his contribution to the post match huddle showed that big Sol is very much in this title race with our boys.

A big game player who wears his heart on his sleeve. I wouldn't mind him saving his legs for the Burnley game to be fresh for the Porto game coming up at the Emirates.

Back tomorrow.

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