All those issues have had some sort of influence over the last few years and that is not counting the worst of all problems, injuries. I have said for a few seasons now that wait until our squad stay as fit as the average squad before we can judge their level. It is no coincidence that we are still in all four competitions, our spinal players have kept relatively fit all season minus Thomas Vermaelen and given his impact last season you would say that his

Good afternoon Gooners,

How are you all feeling today? Yep, I am still very much buzzing from Wednesday night. Still feel so proud of our players for holding on at 1-0 down, maintaining such a level of concentration to stay in the game and then manage to carve out those two great chances which were finished emphatically.

No disrespect to Leyton Orient but it is going to be a bit of a culture shock for many Gooners to go from what we watched in midweek to domestic football, especially with what could be a disjointed Arsenal side if the usual wholesale changes take place which I expect they will do.

Much of the news today is still the overspill from the Barcelona game and I am sure you have all read or listened to the quotes so no point me rehashing all of that again but I wanted to talk about our squad, manager and what this result can do for our future.

Sounds a bit dramatic, I know but how much self belief will a result against a team of that quality give our players? Wenger has been rebuilding this Arsenal squad for some years now and it certainly has had a few teething problems. Replacing Flamini and Hleb with younger players, set piece issues, finding the correct balance between defence and attack.

All those issues have had some sort of influence over the last few years and that is not counting the worst of all problems, injuries. I have said for a few seasons now that wait until our squad stay as fit as the average squad before we can judge their level. It is no coincidence that we are still in all four competitions, our spinal players have kept relatively fit all season minus Thomas Vermaelen and given his impact last season you would say that his absence for that length of time should have been a massive spanner in the works.

Had Manchester United of lost Vidic back in August or Chelsea lost Terry at that same time then I think they would have both struggled with their key central defender much more than we have. It has got to the point where if Vermaelen was fully fit for our midweek game against Stoke City then he would have to sit on the bench and wait for his opportunity either through injury or suspension.

Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny have been absolutely fantastic as a partnership. Not only those two but Jack Wilshere. He was on loan to Bolton last season fighting to stay above the drop. He has probably surpassed the level that Aaron Ramsey had before his horrific injury at Stoke. In goal 20 year old Wojciech Szczesny is growing in stature and that was already going to be a difficult task. He is huge but you can already see that he is ironing out some of his earlier flaws. His distribution and decision making is looking much better already.

You all know all of this already but there is a link between all those players listed above. They are all playing their first full season at Arsenal as an established first choice player. Djourou (24), Koscielny (25), Wilshere (19) and Szczesny (20)

That is just wonderful, not only for the present but for the short and long term future. Whilst everyone is rightly waxing lyrical about the quality of our Spanish opponents on Wednesday, let us not assume that we are the finished article, that this is as good as it gets. There is plenty more space in the jumper for growth and improvement.

Barcelona are not an old side, in fact their average age was 26.7 on the night whilst Arsenal’s was 23.3.

Barcelona did not become a great side by accident, they went through a period of rebuilding and working towards the future from 1999 to 2005. It is pretty much the same time frame that Arsenal haven’t won anything and are continuously reminded of this.

Whilst patience may not be a football fans greatest strength, I think many of Wenger’s doubters will have changed their minds about Wenger making a mistake by investing in youth. The light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to shine just that little brighter and it will be very difficult to deny that sunshine is actually not that far away.

Let us think the worst here, let us say that Manchester United continue to bore their way to a league victory and Barcelona score at least two more goals than us in the return leg and even those Brum thugs shut us out and score a last minute header *sicks into a bucket*

Does that mean that we need to tear up the plan, sell half the squad, sack the manager and start over?

The point I am trying to rather long-windedly make is that I think the system, balance and hunger has been found. We have a new blueprint for success. No more altering and tweaking formations from 4-1-4-1, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, at least not for the short term. Obviously we are very flexible and will move through many variations of formations during the course of 90 minutes but the understanding, the partnerships are there. Players are understanding what each other’s role is for the team and how it gets the best results.

I think of the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby who could quite easily come back reach their best form and slot in fantastically in our set up when one of Wilshere or Song are being rested, injured or suspended.

When players such as Frimpong, Coquelin and Lansbury progress far enough to get a start then they will be integrated into the two central spots in front of the back four. Talented young flyers Wellington and Miyaichi will get their chance perhaps in the Carling cup in a few years as a wide forward.

The list is endless. We have so much talent but now we have a structure to work towards. We have to work with and without the ball and hopefully that will be ingrained into all the players that are trying to break through.

The list is endless. We have so much talent but now we have a structure to work towards. We have to work with and without the ball and hopefully that will be ingrained into all the players that are trying to break through.

We started the season with our players readjusting to the new system, ironing out teething problems and in the early part of the season we have been caught out by teams which we should have beaten. I expect Arsenal to start next season strongly and expect Wenger’s team to rapidly improve over the next couple of seasons. I could be wrong but I smell domestic domination coming on.

Tomorrow’s game should be very interesting, I have a funny feeling about that one, especially after what happened against Arsenal light in midweek. I am expecting wholesale changes from le boss so unless the players who come in can have the same work rate and defensive pressing then we could be in for a difficult afternoon.

More about that tomorrow in the pre match chit chat.

Back tomorrow.