Yesterday’s early Swiss FA news and then Arsenal news later on during the day was a bit like being a kid and wanting the latest games console. Begging your parents for it for the last 6 months, which probably felt closer to 6 years at that age. Then your dad comes home with the console box after work and you jump around saying ‘thank you, thank you!!’ only to be told that it is just the packaging. The box actually contains a five pack of

After being on such a high when I published yesterday’s blog, things have taken a turn for the worse. I played football last night and have damaged my thigh and can barely walk. Yesterday, I was almost doing back flips when I heard that Johan Djourou could actually be back within two weeks and then my joy was utterly squashed when Arsenal announced that they still expected him to be out for the long term, he is set to see a specialist tomorrow. It would be great if we were saving the good news for a rainy day, i.e. just before we play West Brom but I shall now fear the worst after having my hopes up for no apparent reason.

Yesterday’s early Swiss FA news and then Arsenal news later on during the day was a bit like being a kid and wanting the latest games console. Begging your parents for it for the last 6 months, which probably felt closer to 6 years at that age. Then your dad comes home with the console box after work and you jump around saying ‘thank you, thank you!!’ only to be told that it is just the packaging. The box actually contains a five pack of grandad slippers, pink fluffy ones at that.

Thomas Vermaelen has spoken about his frustration of being away from the thick of the action and that it is has been a mental test for him during his time out. I think his leadership qualities have been missed more than his actual playing ability. Don’t get me wrong, I think Vermaelen is a quality central defender. Great passer, strong in the tackle, brave and fully committed. But I think the Djourou – Koscielny partnership has been one of the season highlights this season. We have the third best defensive record in the league which stands above Manchester United at present. You may not have heard that too frequently because the media would have you believe that Tottenham have a better defence than we do *bursts into laughter* 

Like I have said previously, we can do nothing at all about the Verminator, we can only wish him a quick recovery and look forward to watching him play, hopefully in pre season.

We have no choice but to rely on what we currently have and that is two fit first team central defenders. Statistically Laurent Koscielny and Sébastien Squillaci have not worked as a partnership and the figures look quite scary. But what I shall cling onto is the fact that since we have tightened up as a team and started defending better from the front, sort of post Manchester United away in December, those two haven’t played very much together. When we defend properly as a team then it takes so much of the pressure away from our defenders. The whole team has to defend correctly, once they do then our central defenders will play better and concede less. That is my theory at least.

It is vital that the players find their game again because domestically I do not believe that we have been anywhere near our best since 12th February when we beat Wolves 2-0 at home. It is not difficult to see why that was when you look at the line up.

Szczesny

Sagna Djourou Koscielny Clichy

Song Wilshere

Cesc

Walcott Van Persie Arshavin

We have had injuries to key personnel from that game until now. Van Persie, Walcott, Cesc, Song and now Djourou have been out and four of the five are spinal players. It has affected our game. While it is easy to blame the players that have taken their place, it seems all to easy to ignore that these ‘back up’ players are still trying to catch up to the other players who have had the benefit of match fitness and momentum. For those who have Arsenal TV Online, I urge you to watch Cesc’s return to the team against Blackburn away earlier in the season after being behind the rest of his colleagues in a match fitness and sharpness sense.

While we do not have another Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas or Robin Van Persie, I refuse to believe that our squad players are all of a sudden rubbish but hey, I guess this is a never ending argument which will always have different views so I shall back out slowly, slam the door and run away as fast as I can before the shouting comes my way.

Without a midweek game to prepare for, hopefully the available players are working to re-tune the engine of the team. We need to get back to our peak. West Brom away is now the most important game of the season and we cannot afford to start the game as we did against Sunderland. We need to start every game as we did against Manchester City and Chelsea at home and we need to finish every game as we did against Barcelona also at the home of football.

Much is being made of the increase in ticket prices for next season and I think supporters have a right to voice concerns over high price tickets increasing. I understand that totally. However I do not agree that ticket prices should have any connection to the amount spent in the transfer window.

Would fans accept it if we had bought Joleon Lescott instead of Laurent Koscielny or perhaps Bebe instead of Van Persie. I mean Bebe cost almost £4 million more than Robin. The quality of a squad is not at all related to the cost of the squad.

We have a manager who more often than not can find top quality for low prices. Arsenal Football club, not Arsene Wenger have never over spent on players and our manager has to work within a budget, he always has. As with London transport, they can slap whatever price they want on their tickets and it is down to us if we want to take the train or walk.

Football is not tax, we have to make our own decisions. 

Back again tomorrow.