I am of the opinion that the minimum requirement of being an Arsenal registered player is to give 100% in every game you play in for every minute. That is both on the field of play and on the training ground. If you do not have that then move aside until you do have that installed in your mind, if lessons are not learnt then you will be replaced with someone who can

What on earth has happened around here? A few weeks ago a battling Arsenal display at Goodison park brought out the sunshine and smiling faces. Even Phillip Neville had some rather complimentary things to say about Arsenal. That just shows you how quickly things can change in football.

“They seem a little more resilient now. They’re always going to play fantastic football, that’s never going to change, but at the end they were getting men behind the ball. There is maybe still a bit to go before they have a real title-winning team, because you always fancy yourself to rough them up. But we couldn’t do it and that is where they have improved.”

If Arsene Wenger said that today then Gooners would be spitting mad but at the time, I sensed the feeling of nodding heads amongst a majority of the Arsenal faithful.

Perhaps Gary had a little word with Phil and he was told to inflict some jinxing words on our team, well done Phil and thank you for nothing.

Needless to say, I do not think we are rubbish overnight and at the same time I acknowledge that we need the players to pull together and fix the problems that have reared their ugly heads. I am a pretty forgiving Arsenal fan but what I do not take too kindly is complacency, especially when that word has been a regular visitor to the Arsenal stadium.

I am of the opinion that the minimum requirement of being an Arsenal registered player is to give 100% in every game you play in for every minute. That is both on the field of play and on the training ground. If you do not have that then move aside until you do have that installed in your mind, if lessons are not learnt then you will be replaced with someone who can.

I am sure many other supporters feel the same way as I do in that respect but what I do feel is often ignored or confused for lack of concentration is form and confidence. Players are expected to turn up and be in peak mental and physical condition in every game. They are expected to return from injury and hit the ground at 100%

This is not a realistic expectation, it is not possible. So I do not look at the Braga game in the same light as I look at Tottenham or Wigan for example. That Braga team (ours not theirs) was patched up with players who have not had a run in the team (Rosicky, Eboue, Denilson) or who have come back from injury (Bendtner, Wilshere, Walcott)

At the same time, I would have still expected that line up to have produced a better attacking display but that isn’t to say that there were no explanations as to why we were not at our sharpest.

I would love to see one change at a time depending on the game, keeping our team pretty much the same in every game apart from one, maximum two changes depending on which players needed a breather. That way we keep the momentum of the team and the continuity as well as giving chances for others. It isn’t always possible to do that I guess, especially when International football comes around but sometimes the rotation is a hindrance to us I feel.

Obviously we cannot do anything if injury strikes but if our form players are fit then for the most part they should play unless they have had too much football in a short space of time.

I now wonder how the likes of Song, Arshavin, Clichy etc will do after playing no part in midweek, they will all come back in together on Saturday and will be required to be at a very high level at the same time. In many cases, my view here is embarrassingly incorrect as we have often rested players who have come back and produced the goods but too often they have come back looking disjointed and cold.

We are approaching a very hectic period in December where we want our players fine tuned and in top form. We are missing Cesc Fabregas for two weeks according to the manager. Wenger also said that he will have to be more cautious with him in future as he has played a lot of football in the last few years. So our Cesc life my decrease somewhat in the next couple months.

Van Persie is yet to string two games together and we need to get him off and running. Hopefully his absence from Tuesday would have allowed his body to be ready for the weekend, although Chamakh may well be suited to Villa Park.

Vermaelen hasn’t kicked a ball in anger for us since Blackburn in August and that is worrying. Three of our best players are not where they need to be. We have a very strong talented squad but three of your best players are still your best players.

Ideally Wenger would have wanted those three coming in December with 15 games in a row behind them, looking sharp and confident. We have not had that as yet but on the flip side, we are two points off the top at the end of November without our three most influential players at their top level. We have a very good chance to qualify for the next round and we are still in both cup competitions. This is not spin, this is just Rafa!

It is lovely to have Aaron Ramsey back on the road to recovery. He completed his first 45 minutes for us in the reserves and is in a patient mood. He does not want to rush his comeback and I would say that is very sensible. He is also over the tackle and is looking forward to getting back to competing with our first team players eventually.

We are very much looking at the future of Arsenal football club in Aaron Ramsey. From his first showing at Barnet a few years ago I just knew he would be a top player. I didn’t see very much of him at Cardiff apart from the FA Cup final and a few highlights but his raw display at Barnet showed what he was made of, demanding the ball and spraying passes all over the place. I think he may well become one of those players who lead by example on the pitch but right now we have to allow him to do his thing and get back to full fitness.

Arseblog said it right earlier, we have to learn from what happened to both Diaby and Eduardo. If it means reserves and training until next season then so be it. This is his career we are thinking about and not just the result of this season.

I am trying to skip past the Ramsey talk without saying it, as I have done too many times already BUT a midfield consisting of Wilshere and Ramsey in their mid twenties corrr blimey!!!

Bad news for Emmanuel Eboue who will be out of action for at least a month, probably more. It is a shame for him as he would have been in line to play against Wigan at right back so it will be interesting to see who gets pushed their now. Perhaps Johan Djourou will have another position to fill in. We shall see.

Apparently Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is being chased by Sheffield United for a loan move, a move that is much needed in my eyes. That is if he will not be playing for the first team. He needs to go out and do a Jack and show that he is made of the right stuff to play in this first team.

Right, that’s ya lot. Back tomorrow.