We can all sit and point fingers at Wenger for the shambles we are in but I won't be a party to that. The board in my opinion are solely to blame. Put the cash down and Wenger would strengthen. Why wait till the sales of Cesc and Nasri before we start making arrangements for replacements when all knew they would leave at some point this summer. Why not make the required purchases before
The tie was sealed when Walcott found Sagna and our dependable full back showed us his best impression of a former number 4 by sliding through a wonderfully weighted pass. Theo was away in the left channel, the area he loves so much, he gave 'the eyes' and slotted to the keepers right. A great finish and his second goal in the tie. In both those goals he was in central areas
Emmanuel Frimpong has quite frightening potential. A fighter, fully of commitment and a physical freak of nature. As Arsene said, he needs to control his enthusiasm. His second yellow card was fully justified. Mistimed and reckless. His first yellow card was laughable. A Liverpool player played a pass and Sagna slid in attempting to cut the pass out. The ball went out of play and it was not clear if a touch was
Udinese deserved a goal for their second half display but we could have killed off the game in the dying moments. Gervinho's mazy run and through pass was excellently done but Walcott's side footed curler was too close to the keeper even if it was still a fantastic save. A Thierry Henry side footed placer would have found the inside side netting on the goal. I hope we do not rue that opportunity next
Gervinho's red card was the big talking point and many have differing views on it. Fans have said that he defended himself whilst others believe that he should be more professional. I fall into the latter camp. Joey Barton is Joey Barton, everyone knows what he is about. I defended Abou Diaby last season for reacting because it was a dangerous tackle and Diaby has massively suffered from career threatening tackles in the past but knowing what Barton is like, as soon as Gervinho's shirt was
Robin Van Persie. Nine goals in consecutive away matches, 19 goals in 24 games this season and equalling the record from Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo by scoring 19 goals from January to May. However you juggle those figures they always total phenomenal
Van Persie was allowed a goal a minute from time after substitute Bendtner bundled his way through and a blocked tackle on the Dane allowed the ball to roll to Van Persie to side foot in from six yards. 17 goals in his last 16 Premier League games. He has been the one outstanding performer
It went from bad to worse in a matter of minutes when Jermaine Pennant was allowed time and space to head towards the Arsenal goal, his drive was deflected off the leg of Johan Djourou and over Wojciech Szczesny into the Arsenal goal. Looking back at the goal and perhaps the keeper could have
Ramsey is ahead of Wilshere in this department and in the 56th minute the 20 year old Welshman proved his calmness in front of goal. Van Persie received a pass from Ramsey in the right channel, he jinked his way left and right trying to make space for a left footed shot but Ramsey had found his
The shape of the side was very interesting with Van Persie playing behind the front man in a free role while Cesc Fabregas partnered Jack Wilshere in the middle two. Van Persie was finding space in attacking areas, allowing him to play passes that a former Dutch number 10 used to play