Flamini is back to give the relationship another try.  Back to rekindle the old footballing Barca-lite romance with his mentor. Fans thought it was a going to be a one year fling but it appears not. Flaming-hot-but-slightly-past-it Flamini is here for three more years and he’s come at a fairly hefty price. How much you say”? Why that will be 75 bags a week Monsieur Wenger. Because like Cheryl and her rosy-arsed tattoo I’m worth it”! “You can tell Mr Dickie that too…..ooh and don’t forget Darren’s match-making bonus”.

And as all hope faded, their frustrations got the better of them. Rather than trying to play football, Fener players, led by Raul Meireles, seemed hell bent on trying to see who could score the most points by hitting the apparent bullseyes Jack Wilshere had on him. Thankfully, he doesn't appear to have suffered any lasting effects but for someone who we were still led to believe is fighting his way back to full fitness, the slightest touch is enough to cause the rest of us

Arsene has said that 95% of the team will be the same as against Fulham. We haven't got a great deal to play around with so I am guessing that Monreal will start as he is the closest competitive back up that we have at present. Also Tomas Rosicky started to look a little tired at the end of the Fulham

So a week to go before the window closes. It will be a final push from the club. Angel di Maria has been linked with us and I guess it is dependent on Gareth Bale joining Madrid. We would also need to persuade the player to join according to reports. He would be the Gervinho replacement and a certain upgrade on the Ivorian. I love his jinking, zigzag dribbling style. Kinda reminds me of a lanky but obviously not as good Messi. But what sets him apart from many quick, direct wide players is his ability to spot and find that final pass. Something Gervinho perhaps never ever did at Arsenal. di Maria can cut inside from the left spot Theo darting from the opposite direction and put him in on goal through a crowded penalty box. If we are going to see more of that counter attacking football we produced at Craven Cottage then di Maria would be an excellent addition but I/we've been here before.

Arsene made a selection change before kick off. Resting Jack Wilshere was not a shock given his recent injury history and bringing in Podolski seemed to be Arsene's only real option but due to our shortage of players due to injury and current lack of new signings we started a midfield trio that hadn't started before. Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Santi Cazorla are all excellent ball playing midfielder's but could be seen to lack a bit of defensive quality, because of this Arsene tweaked the game plan. Although some may tell you that he never changes no matter what.

deliberate strategy to prioritise the energy put into the Champions League qualifier and not the opening game of the season. We've seen a sufficient increase in work rate at the end of our last few seasons when we find ourselves playing one game a week rather than two. The squad is currently thin and not only that but is carrying knocks so the chance for rotation is minimal.

Although we couldn't find the breakthrough or even create enough top quality chances, I really enjoyed the first half. We were tigerish in the tackle, took the game to the home team and played some wonderful interchanging football at a nice quick tempo. Rosicky, Wilshere, Ramsey and Cazorla gave our attack a nice spark. We were missing the final bit of quality with the end pass or shot though. There was a point during that half that I thought that having a player like Wayne Rooney would take this team up another level. He would be the type to assist Walcott or hit a first time shot to put us 1-0 up. Oliver Giroud had a hard working game. His little flicks outside the penalty area to team mates are impressive as is his ability to win long balls but there are times when our team could do with a piece of individual brilliance. We have that in midfield but not in attack. Walcott, Giroud and Podolski all need supply.

I think we could revert back more to the style that featured at the end of last season for this first leg. The team putting a lot of energy in team shape, being organised and getting behind the ball when we don't have the ball. Theo Walcott may become an important player tonight if the home side leave

At the start of the summer transfer window, a lot had been promised. Funds were finally available, big names were being linked to the club and there was a sense of optimism. Two whole months later, no progress. The only addition being, 20 year old free transfer, Yaya Sanogo. Not to disgrace him, a lot is being expected of him in the long term, but there has been no significant addition which could boost us in the imminent future. Suarez, Williams, Cesar, Guztavo and the likes have been linked to us all summer. Guztavo was one player I really respect, and was hoping he could be the one to lead us to glory. But for some odd reason he joined Wolfsburg. Maybe they were paying him more, most probably Wenger was being himself, but whatever the reason was, we've lost a gem of a player and he plays a position in which we really need reinforcements. 21 million seemed worth it. Anyway, what's gone is gone. Now, the topic at hand. Luis Suarez. Surely, controversy aside, one of the best strikers in world football today.

As someone who might be called a Wenger loyalist, I have to agree that many of my fellow Gooners are on edge, and if the window closes without significant additions, there is likely to be an Arsenal fans summer revolution with boos sounding out around the ground at the first sign of a poor performance and goodness knows what will happen when we lose, heralding protest groups who will