Bendtner is coming back to the first team soon and that will ease the pressure slightly but Bendtner may not be match sharp and fit until sometime next month. I suppose the questions are, can our front men hold the fort until Bendtner is ready

A very good afternoon to you,

I am very much looking forward to the Arsenal game on Sunday, I have got so used to us playing every three days or so that when midweek comes around and we are not popping the ball around I start to get withdrawal symptoms. I am deadly serious. So the game at the Reebok cannot come soon enough.

I started writing about our rivals and their issues but it became a little longer than I expected, so I have shoved that aside for a rainy (or snowy) day.

Phil Senderos is being linked with a club in Italy, according to reports he has signed a pre contract with an unnamed club which will see him sitting on his hands until the summer. I find that difficult to believe. He has stated that he wants to play in the world cup and needs football so waiting until the summer does not add up for me.

He was close to signing for Everton during the close season and I would imagine that, that option is still open especially as it looks like Lucas Neill is off to Galatasaray. I am hoping that something is happening behind the scenes involving Louis Saha coming the other way. It makes perfect sense. Everton need a center back, Arsenal have an unsettled one. Everton do not have much money. Arsenal need a striker, Everton have one who could leave on a free in the summer which means no incoming cash, so now would be the time to do swapsies or something near that, preferably with Everton giving us some cash.

Bendtner is coming back to the first team soon and that will ease the pressure slightly but Bendtner may not be match sharp and fit until sometime next month. I suppose the questions are, can our front men hold the fort until Bendtner is ready. Then the next question is can Bendtner lead the line consistently and avoid injury from now until the end of the season. Eduardo is playing from wider positions and Vela is still developing.

It is a shame that Theo Walcott has not been available for longer this season, he would have given us many more options but the good news is that he is on his way back to the squad, hopefully for good this time.

When Tomas Rosicky has had more minutes than you, then you know that you haven’t played enough. I was thinking earlier this morning that if Theo had been fit since the start of the season then he could have taken that step forward that he needs. He may have been putting in some good performances for us, instead we are going to have to be patient again with his displays. The likelihood is that Theo will take a while to get up to speed, so do not expect to see Theo somewhere near his best until mid February if not early March.

Walcott should be involved in the FA Cup game at Stoke City and will almost certainly play to get some sharpness. The FA Cup seems to be the stage to get our injured players back.

Mark Randall has gone on loan to Milton Keynes Dons, good luck Mark.

Have to cut it short today. Enjoy your Friday.

Back tomorrow.