I was interested in hearing that Carlos Vela and Armand Traore is not far behind accoring to our manager. I knew Vela was quick but I didn’t imagine that he would be in the top three at the club

Robin Van Persie has been effectively ruled out for the season by Arsene Wenger and that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to us Gooners. Arsene is usually very cautious about bringing a player back from injury quickly, especially major injuries like our dangerous dynamic Dutchman suffered. I can’t help think back to that meaningless friendly and then sigh loudly to myself. It shouldn’t have happened, it was needless. But chin up, we have coped pretty well without a player who was right at the top of his game, replacing a player with that much talent is no mean feat.

However Arsene hasn’t exactly ruled out a return to the side during this campaign.

Wenger said:

“If you are very positive, you would say [he’ll be back in] April, If you’re a bit cautious, you say May. It is virtually the rest of the season.

“Personally, I thought ‘Let’s put it in my head that he will not play again this season and hope that I will have a good surprise.’ ”

The last thing we want on our hands is another Jimmy Bullard. Hull City brought him back from such a long lay off and have not done enough to protect him. Bang, he is out again. We are going to have to get used to the fact that Robin may go through a similar path as Diaby, Eduardo and Rosicky. Making a come back only to pull up with niggling injuries.

Arsene did once again talk about dipping his feet into the hot waters of the transfer window and he is not too fussed about his target(s) being cup-tied for Champions League football. I do think that too much is made of a player being cup-tied or not cup-tied. When you buy a player it is for the future and not just for a few months then thrown head first into the dustbin.

Adebayor and Arshavin are two players in recent seasons that Wenger has brought in and have not been able to play in the Champions League. Arsene has explained that it allows the rest of the players in that area of the squad to be rested more often for that very reason.

Wenger said:

We are going for the domestic title and the FA Cup as well and doing that allows you to rest a player for the Champions League or play another player in the Premier League. Of course I would prefer the player who can play in both competitions and so it would mean the player has the quality to play in the long-term for Arsenal Football Club.

It certainly isn’t as simple as you might think. To play in the role that Wenger wants requires many ticked boxes. David Villa for example is a wonderful player, natural finisher. Ask many Gooners if they want Arsene to break the proverbial bank for him and you will get the ‘isn’t it obvious’ expression on their faces. Stick him in the middle of a front three away from home and the same problems will rear their ugly heads.

By the way Arsene is talking you would imagine that he already has a little strikers list tucked away in his jacket pocket. He is not usually as open about his transfer intentions as he is his time round which leads me to believe that the work has already begun, waters perhaps already tested, toes have already been dipped.

The one thing I hope is included in that criteria list is pace. I love pace. What would Van Persie be like with real natural pace? Wow, frightening stuff. I suppose you could ask, what would Henry be like without pace, still an amazing player who had vision and technical ability amongst the best in the world in his peak but he wouldn’t have been nearly as frightening as he was.

Pace is just an added bonus, Wenger will want to make sure he has the main attributes first and foremost. Technique, attitude, intelligence would probably be higher on his priorities.

Speaking of pace, Theo Walcott has broken Thierry Henry’s record over 40 meters. We know Theo is as fast as lightening but I was interested in hearing that Carlos Vela and Armand Traore is not far behind accoring to our manager. I knew Vela was quick but I didn’t imagine that he would be in the top three at the club.

The FA must have been about to get their Christmas party underway and hurried through the rest of the possible disciplinary pile. Samir Nasri was forgotten about, paperwork hurled into the bin whilst swigging on the opened bottle of whisky in an attempt to catch up with the office. How Michael Turner must wish he was on the bottom of the pile.

I knew that it wasn’t anything worth getting knickers in a twist but I thought the FA would have another take on the matter, especially with all the hacks frantically trying to make a mountain out of a molehill (god, I hate that saying)

With Arshavin our new temporary striker and Walcott yet to find his best form Samir Nasri is vital for the team during this busy period coming up. His form has been pretty good in recent weeks and his versatility will be important.

Back again tomorrow.