I would go as far as to say that the consistency of our defensive work off the ball could be worth a good ten points over the course of the season. We are yet to put in the graft over the course of a whole season and I don’t know if this is controlled by the statistics or if the players switch on and off during the season. But what has been evident is that against ‘lesser’ sides we haven’t always put in

While we Gooners were enjoying watching our boys on the pitch yesterday, Barcelona and their players were back to insulting our club again. No surprises that it was Xavi doing the talking once more.

Xavi said: “I spoke to Cesc in Ibiza and he said he was suffering, because he really wants to come. It’s what he most wants, he’s done everything he can to come and wants Arsenal to let him go.”

To think that this was actually on the Barcelona official site. It is utter madness and the complete opposite of how we do things at Arsenal. More than a club is correct I guess. A football club as well as a bunch of complete and utter [insert whatever expletive of your choice]

Xavi’s comments are actually factually incorrect. Cesc has not done all he can to leave Arsenal. He hasn’t put in a transfer request and has in fact recently spoken publicly about his love for Arsenal. We already know that Cesc would like to go to Barcelona. I think my goldfish probably even knows this by now but Cesc’s possible departure does not depend on how many times a Barcelona player can publicly say how much Cesc would like to join their club, it is about this club to offer us enough money to persuade us to sell our most influential player, if not then shut up.

Wenger reacted to Xavi’s comments and called them disrespectful and that it wasn’t the first time. I would have loved Wenger to have said something along the lines of

‘We conduct our business the proper way and if another club fails to do the same then we will not be doing any business with them. We respect other clubs and want other clubs to do the same. Talking publicly about our players breaches that respect so any possible business will not go any further’

That may just actually make them think about their actions. Comments like Xavi certainly makes me hope that we do not do business with them.

In other news, we can finally put the Stewart Downing rumours to bed as Liverpool continue to behave like a more expensive version of Martin O’Neil’s Aston Villa by gathering as many average – good English players for massive prices. I think Kenny Daglish is trying to recreate the 1980’s again. I must admit I am much happier with our current crop of players than their collection of new players apart from Suarez I guess.

I wrote a few things about the game last night but what I forgot to mention was the way we had pressed the opposition in the middle third of the pitch. Wilshere, Miyaichi, Ramsey, Song and Walcott were running around like crazy to close down the space. While Barcelona press higher up the pitch from the front we tend to allow the opposition center backs time with the ball but as soon as it goes into midfield we snap at their players to win it back and then break against their defence. It worked very well at the Emirates against Barcelona and against both Manchester United and Chelsea.

I would go as far as to say that the consistency of our defensive work off the ball could be worth a good ten points over the course of the season. We are yet to put in the graft over the course of a whole season and I don’t know if this is controlled by the statistics or if the players switch on and off during the season. But what has been evident is that against ‘lesser’ sides we haven’t always put in the same graft that we have against the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

If we recruit anymore players then I hope they have the commitment and passion needed because in this team I value it more than experience.

Before I go, I would like to pay tribute to the legend that is one Patrick Vieira. He has retired from football. The image of him flicking the ball over a players head and then striding off as well as Patrick chasing after an opponent who looks as if he is getting away until Vieira slides in wraps his leg around the ball, sending the player flying and then stands up with the ball and plays the pass. Those memories will live long in the memory. I would love him to join the coaching staff at some point in the future.

Back tomorrow.