Individually each of those players are important but they are all equally as important to each other. Alex Song provides a stable platform for the likes of Cesc to play those all important killer passes. Cesc needs movement from his team mates to play those killer passes and the one player who moves

Good afternoon Gooners,

Shortly after my post yesterday afternoon, Arsene’s press conference was available online and he gave us all the wonderful news that the likes of Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby should all be back for our home game against Blackburn Rovers next weekend. We sort of already knew this was going to be the case but it is wonderful to pretty much have it confirmed.

We have missed the first three badly in recent weeks, I cannot count Diaby because he has only recently been struck down with the injury stick.

I don’t usually go into match preview mode a week before a game but there really isn’t that much Arsenal related stuff to focus on right now so you cannot blame me really. Blackburn Rovers are struggling at the wrong end of the table and anything other than an Arsenal victory will not be good enough that’s for sure.

It is one thing having those players back in the squad but it is another having them match sharp. Hopefully they will be working hard on their touch and decision making. Theo Walcott is notoriously a slow starter after coming back from injury but hopefully he can hit this particular ground running and if there is one person who is good at running then it is he.

Individually each of those players are important but they are all equally as important to each other. Alex Song provides a stable platform for the likes of Cesc to play those all important killer passes. Cesc needs movement from his team mates to play those killer passes and the one player who moves and drags the opposition apart is Theo Walcott.

Needless to say, we do not need anymore injuries from those gallivanting around for their countries. Speaking of which, Robin Van Persie was in good form for the Dutch last night in a 4-0 away win at Hungary. Van Persie rather unselfishly squared to an unmarked Kuyt when he was confronted with the keeper. He also managed to get on the scoresheet after being set up by right back and Arsenal admirer Gregory van der Wiel.

I am all for the confidence and momentum of getting goals for his country but please, please come back healthy Robin. If we are to win the league then there is no doubt that we will need a fit and available Van Persie for the run in.

Arsene Wenger was asked about which goalkeeper would start against Blackburn and his answer was quite surprising really. If it was Almunia that had suffered the fractured finger and Lehmann was the only back up to Szczesny then that question would have been swatted away by Wenger, with a speech similar to ‘Jens has been brought to the club as back up. Shezza is our number one’

He may not have said Shezza but I would smack down a couple of pounds on the rest of that sentence being close to accurate. His answer was somewhat more cryptic.

Wenger said: “I do not want to make a public debate of that. I believe for every game you consider three days before the game who will play in the next match.”

I am not suggesting that Jens is in line for a recall but I wonder why Arsene is keeping up the pressure on Almunia. Maybe Almunia is getting a verbal slap to wake him up during these all important games or perhaps Jens has been rolling back the years on the training ground. I personally cannot see the latter happening to be honest. Over to you Arsene.

Thomas Vermaelen has been talking about his injury and talk of Arsene knowing all the way back in January that he did not expect Vermaelen to play again was kicked into touch by the Belgian International.

Vermaelen said: “I always thought I would be out for six weeks [after the surgery]. That was what I was told. So I never could anticipate this long absence.”

I suspect that those quotes will be ignored by people who would rather go down the route of Wenger knew all along just to suit their agenda. The truth of the matter is that Thomas was expected to return. Vermaelen and Wenger were told that the problem had been resolved and it was now a question of getting match fit. That hasn’t happened but Arsene wouldn’t have known that at the time.

Vermaelen said that he can kick a ball as hard as he likes but he needs to run without pain. Vermaelen tried to play through the pain after his surgery but that only made the problem worse. Hopefully the problem will have been resolved and during the pre season we can get to see pictures on Arsenal.com with Tomas smiling and being put through the paces along with the likes of Frimpong and Fabianski.

It would be lovely to have a fully fit Vermaelen available for the next nine games but it is not going to be the case. I do not quite understand those who are slamming Squillaci when he is fourth choice. It is somewhat optimistic to envisage a situation where the side does not feel the pinch of quality when the best players are unavailable.

With the return of Alex Song and co, hopefully we can go back to defending as a team unit and not leave individuals exposed. Whether that be Squillaci or the goalkeeper, we need to keep organised, close down the opposition when we are not in possession of the ball.

We need a positive result almost as important, a positive performance in our next league game. You never know what a convincing scoreline could do to a team with key players returning. If we can get back to our January form then I believe we will win the league. If we do not find that form then it will be difficult.

I am actually looking forward to the game this afternoon. I am hoping that someone like Scott Parker plays in the midfield today to give Wilshere the freedom he needs to get forward and make things happen. Parker is a player that I like but I do not see Capello making that type of change in a qualifying match. I just hope Wilshere isn’t made to sit and act as a traditional defensive midfielder because it is quite clear that he is much more than that.

It’s a shame that Gareth Bale isn’t available for the Welsh. I would much rather he played and then got injured after the game, that would have been much more fun for Arsenal supporters.

Anyhoo, enjoy the game today. Let us hope that the Arsenal players come through without any problems and both have morale boosting performances while our rival players receive the opposite. Not very nice I know, but needs must and all that.

Back tomorrow.