It is the duty of the club to protect their investment and all these players are investments. Some are good investments and some will not make it. Some players do not even look up to the required level at 19, I am thinking along the likes of Alex Song yet we have given him new contracts and he has repaid

I have missed out on so much news in the last couple of weeks or so. I have had so much that I have wanted to say about Stoke, commitment, Bendtner, Cesc, Wenger, the future and the transfer market but I really haven’t had the time and I am still without a laptop so it means the only time I can write is when I am stationed at home long enough without my kids hanging off my legs or throwing toy cars at my head.

I have decided to save much of what I wanted to say until after the season door slams shut. Perhaps I will include it all in an end of season review type thingy-ma-jig.

Plenty has been said about Nasri’s contract and I have been pretty confident that he will sign an extension but I must admit, I am getting a little jittery about the whole caboodle. Wenger is spot on when he says that keeping our players has to be the absolute priority. When I say keeping our players, I obviously mean the best players, the integral part of our squad. There is no point talking much about Cahill, Parker.. sorry, I mean Scotty Parker and whoever else.

If we do not want another year of transition then it is imperative that we keep hold of the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. In 2007/2008 we were so close to winning the league, in fact we were the best team in that division and yes the league does lie because it tells me that Manchester United finished top. Veering off topic a little. That is another cliche that I want to throw into the bin. ‘The league table doesn’t lie’

How about if the referee’s and their trusty assistants decide to give Manchester United two penalties a game and give two penalties against Arsenal every game, all incorrect decisions. Then Manchester United play against Liverpool home and away before January, then Liverpool spend £750 million on Messi, Ronaldo and Zidane, bringing him out of retirement and injecting him with super Arsene enhancing drugs (thanks for the heads up Merse) then Liverpool thrash us 9-0 at Anfield on January 2nd.

Yet at the end of the season we finish level on points with Manchester United but they have a better goal difference of plus one on us. What do you think of the league table now? I call it a filthy liar! Sorry that was very random but footballing cliches get on me blinking nerves.

‘Decisions even themselves out in the end’

Don’t get me started on that one. Right, rewind before the random waffle, I was talking about the squad in 2007/2008. The Hleb, Rosicky, Flamini and Cesc midfield was fantastic at the time and at the end of the season half of it vanished while one disappeared into an injury black hole never to be seen again, well at least that version. The next season was not a step forward that is for sure and the last thing I want is another season of new partnerships, new combinations and more teething problems.

Unless Nasri’s agent is asking for £200,000 a week or something silly like that then I just would not understand why Nasri would not sign an extension. He is clearly developing and making progress and seems to have a good rapport with his team mates, at least on the pitch. His English has come on leaps and bounds (I wonder how many more cliches I can fit into this) and seems content with life in England.

People are now up in arms about why the club have allowed Nasri to get to this stage without getting the fella to sign a new deal. I scratch my head here I must say. The latest stick to beat the club with is that we reward failure and give out contract extensions without the players earning them.

I totally understand the argument but I just disagree with it. We have already experienced what it has been like to lose Flamini and Edu on free transfers. Good to very good players and they upped and left after the club and manager investing plenty of time in their careers.

You can be sure that if Nasri was handed a new contract before this season then many Gooners would be up in arms about a young Nasri being given a new deal when he hasn’t helped the club win trophies.

It is the duty of the club to protect their investment and all these players are investments. Some are good investments and some will not make it. Some players do not even look up to the required level at 19, I am thinking along the likes of Alex Song yet we have given him new contracts and he has repaid the faith of the manager by turning into a key component of Arsene Wenger’s first team.

Now this thing about players earning big money no longer care and do not need to bust a gut to win. I just do not buy it either to be honest. I pay my £5 on a Tuesday evening down at Battersea park and I hate when I misplace a pass or do an RVP special by blasting the ball over the fence. I hate losing, that is just me. If for some strange reason, the lads on Tuesday decided to pay me £50 g’s a week to play then I just cannot see how that desire to win or frustration with my own performance would change. Ok, I am no professional footballer but lets pick someone like Ray Parlour, Jack Wilshere, Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown, Lauren etc do you think if they had their wages doubled that they would not have that same drive and determination to win? I don’t.

I believe it is down to the character of the person and not the amount of money that they are paid. Some players at Arsenal from the youth, reserves and first team are fighters and many are not. It is a character thing and that is where Arsene should be welding his axe over the summer.

Ok, so much more to say but it is Saturday and many of you are outside enjoying the fresh air, unlike when you are at work looking to kill time. Don’t think I do not know what you’re up to.

Time to feed the ducks I hear. Let us hope both Manchester City and Stoke lose the cup final so the trophy can be postponed for another season.

Back tomorrow with a pre match ting init.