It certainly feels like a case of good and bad news today. Let us start with the bad news. I played football yesterday evening and was kept in the pocket of this kid who was far younger than myself. Twice as fast and very good on the ball. I felt like a pub player being marked by Laurent ‘the Cobra’ Koscielny.

Today I am walking around with aches all over, I feel old and past it, it has been something that I have been trying to avoid for the last few years. I have given up all hope of being scouted by Steve Rowley and showing him my fake passport that says that I am 16 years old.

Reality is a bitch.

However the good news is that I get to watch me Arsenal again after a very tedious international break. When the break frustrates you that much then you know you are well and truly hooked. There is no getting away now I’m afraid. Arsenal is running through your veins so going back to pre support is just not optional, even if you were mad enough to want to do that in the first place.

Anyway, the international break is over and done with. England managed to get a draw against Montenegro which should give Ferdinand, Cole and Gerrard plenty of encouragement for the next game. I kid, I kid.

I didn’t see the game as I was pretending to play football myself and I do not intend to watch any highlights as thankfully (for Arsenal) Jack didn’t make it onto the pitch and cannot be included with the other failures on the field. However, you want our players to get games and do well because he will be disappointed not to have featured, perhaps Capello didn’t want the pile on the pressure on the 18 year old when they were chasing a goal.

At least it is some more good experience for Wilshere to be sat amongst the senior squad in an important game. The future England team could be quite exciting if the likes of Wilshere, Johnson and Walcott continue with their development but this crop just bore me to absolute tears. Quite frankly I am bored of hearing that Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney etc etc are world class and then being subjected to those types of performances time and time again.

I have strayed back to negatives. If I was organised I would restructure the article and find a space for that last section at the top somewhere… but I’m not organised and at all professional, so I won’t.

Abou Diaby was in good form for the French yesterday, according to some Opta stats on twitter, Diaby completed the highest amount of successful passes in a French game for two years. You don’t expect that from Diaby, you expect plenty of powerful running and getting into and around the opposition penalty box and not really to keep the ball moving. Hopefully it is something that he has been working on, perhaps the boss has had a word with him after the West Brom shambles because he was not included in the next squad for our trip to Belgrade but then came back with a storming performance against the Chavs.

Apart from the injury to Sagna it looks like we are A-ok, at least so far. Wenger will speak to the media tomorrow, so I assume we will know more then. However it is good news for those who didn’t go gallivanting around the world.

Cesc Fabregas is ready to rock and roll while Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner are very close, perhaps even ready for the weekend.

This is the bit where you have to sit down and take a deep breath in. Robin Van Persie is back in training and could be back playing soon and that is just fantastic. Only Bacary, Thomas and Aaron on the treatment table, certainly progress me thinks.

Henri Lansbury has spoken to Arsenal.com about his desire to be a first team Arsenal player. He also spoke about learning from the likes of Samir Nasri in training.

Henri Lansbury was pretty much the first promising kid to make a name for himself at the club. I remember plenty being spoken about him when he was 16 years old. I love his energy and commitment to the cause and showed his worth against the Spuds at White Hart Lane a few weeks ago. However the midfield is our strongest part of the pitch so finding room for Lansbury will be difficult in the short term. He needs to continue working and improving and he may just get his chance.

And finally, a bit of transfer rumours (yep, in October) has been doing the rounds. We are apparently interested in the services of Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku. I was hearing something about the player already agreeing a deal with us which was nonsense. Apparently he is closer to a move to Chelsea than anywhere else so don’t hold your breath.

Back tomorrow.