William Benn

This is why many preferred someone like Suarez or Rooney over Higuain, who is more of a pure finisher than a creator, and (when the deal still seemed a possibility) there was plenty of talk of playing Suarez with Giroud rather than instead of. This is really a killing-two-birds-with-one-stone scenario (the two birds being the need for a creative player and the need for a striker), albeit with one of the birds more being important than the other (the need for a striker). I’ve heard Özil described as the “icing on an unfinished cake” but this is just plain wrong - he helps to both partly complete the cake and provide the icing. To carry on the slightly convoluted two birds example, with Özil’s arrival we’ve absolutely incinerated one of them (the need for a creative player) and managed to partially wound the

Basically, at the heart of it most professional footballers are slimy, greasy dollar-hounds who will jump at a better contract with a larger salary and we just have to accept it. “They’re just like regular people,” we say, “anyone would jump at the chance to change jobs if they were offered more money!” Exactly, which is why I’m pleased to announce I’m leaving my job as a science professor to go and work in

I have been roundly criticised for suggesting that last year’s team was full of potential – more potential than previous Arsenal teams – and especially for suggesting that the Barcelona game was an indication of that. “It was just one game,” they said, and surely the Birmingham loss was an example of how poor we could be in the same way that the Champion’s

Rosicky, Yossi, Coquelin and AOC are four players who have looked good this term and would clearly benefit, and have benefited, from playing in the first instance, but also playing with the first eleven - if Song and Arteta are playing then perhaps play Rosicky and bring Ramsey on if needed; if RvP and Theo are starting then start Yossi and

But vegetables won’t up the pace, So destined to play out the race, You take deep breaths and just sit tight, To wait for Saturday’s delight, And when it finally comes around, You feel your feet lift off the ground, So high that you can fly, not walk, You recommence the talk, talk, talk, And spread your

This is why, at the time of Arteta’s signing many fans (myself included) were still looking at Mata and wondering what might have been. Arteta is quality player, but he’s not regarded as the potential world beater that Mata is – evidenced, perhaps, by the inclusion of one and not the other in the national team. Young Juan is a tricky, skilful little game changer you could consider building a team around and though our own Spaniard possesses some of that ability himself, his expertise has really shined through this season when keeping it simple. Also Arteta is a lot older than Mata, with a lot less room

People tend to remember bad things for longer than good things since negative events continue to provoke a strong emotional response long after they’re finished. Today, the happiness you feel remembering the Invincible season will likely seem less strong than the sadness you feel about losing the Champion’s League final. Indeed, you may even find that remembering the Invincible season makes

A win is a win is a win, as they say, but it’s a shame that, despite winning, our games seem so often to exist merely to provoke further discussion about our flaws. Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy about winning, I just think it would be nice to sit down after a win and spend our time enjoying the performance and not just infinitely analysing our seemingly incurable ailments

When I say inflexible I don’t mean that we need Patrick Rice to sign him up for Spursday night Yoga sessions (Europa what?). No. What I mean is that he is inflexible tactically; seemingly reluctant to make significant changes when the system appears ineffective and openly adverse to adapting to suit varying

Obviously a few of the lesser known lights have left the club this year - Samantha Nasri, Frank Fabregas and Gary Cliche in particular – and we should really give them a tiny mention and wish them at least average luck at their new clubs. Their departures really weren’t planned but in the end we just had to burn some of the dead wood and those three were the last against the school fence when AOC and Ryo were picking teams. Sorry guys! Also, because this is Arsenal, there was just time at the end of the summer for the club to spring one more surprise on us. As mentioned above Jackie Lad had won the annual tombola but in light of recent success the club decided to hold a second prize draw on the eve of the new season. Tommy V was the lucky winner this time around and will be joining Jack at the