Those games would have taken plenty out of the players, especially Wednesday's game and with so many players currently fresh as daisies and twiddling their thumbs on the bench, I am guessing that a few will be drafted in to freshen things up a little. There is an argument that the players will get a full weeks rest after today and that is very true, a much needed rest at that but that does not cancel
Andre Santos was fantastic from start to finish, he is looking stronger and sharper. I suspect that will continue as the games keep coming. He is a joy to watch, a player who could probably play in most midfield positions. His little jinks inside his man from a standing start are becoming his trade mark
The quality of the opposition and the importance of the game will probably see Wenger stick with the team that shot the Canaries from the sky at Carrow road. It could have been worse as many of our players who were involved for their countries during the international matches only played one game
Gervinho may had a few fingers pointed at him for some bad finishing or final balls but the amount of times I saw him sprinting back into the left back position to cover or to close down was quite amazing. Something has changed from last season and a few prior to be honest. I don't know if this is purely down to personnel or the fact that we have been in such an awful position at the start of the
Walcott was not finished there as minutes later he received Gervinho's pass and dummied his right foot shot much in the way his idol Thierry Henry did on so many occasions, his left footed curler look destined for the back of the net but for an amazing last ditch flying clearance from Russell Martin
Aaron Ramsey was not at his creative best but his defensive work was exceptional. He covered so much ground from start to finish. Ramsey found himself in great positions in the box and could have had a couple of tap in's if the likes of van Persie or Gervinho looked for the pass instead of going for goal. It was interesting to see Ramsey have a go at van Persie at one point for not passing to him
All eyes turn to our central defenders as other alternatives. Johan Djourou has been given the nod at right back this season when our current first choice duo have been out but that was before Thomas Vermaelen was fit and ready for action. With the extra experience given by Mertesacker in central defence, Wenger could move Koscielny as the more positionally defensive full back, giving Santos a licence to get forward and support the attack a little more from the left. I suppose this all depends
Theo Walcott has been talking up the impact of Gervinho and I would have to concur. He really gives us something different and as I have said a few times in the past. Even when he is off his game he still gives us that threat. He may have misplaced his last three passes but you want the ball back at his feet because he can burst past two defenders and completely open up the opposition. 5 assists in 8 Premier league games is very impressive for a player still adapting.
If Chamakh doesn't improve soon then he won't just have van Persie to think about because I don't think it will be very long before we start to see a more adjusted Ju Park. He scored another good goal for South Korea last week I think. Great movement and a poachers finish. Like I keep saying, he reminds me a little bit of Eduardo, if he can find form anywhere like
There is a clear foundation in the team now, a strong platform for our offensive players to reap the rewards. Arsene has had to place many midfielders on his mental weighing scales in an attempt to find the right balance. The first switch to 4-3-3 meant that we were often punished on the counter attack so then a second midfielder had dropped back into a second midfield position to readdress that issue. What this midfield reminds me of is part of the 2008/09 midfield when Cesc Fabregas