Plenty of talk about the center backs are still in the air but I have a feeling that we may avoid buying anyone. Squillaci is a week away from a return whilst Vermaelen now has a date of return, this is not to say that set backs are not going to happen but with that in mind, I wonder if Arsene will carry on with what he has and possibly Alex Song stepping back in one of the upcoming games. Wenger may be thinking that Djourou and Koscielny will get the chance to rest in the next few weeks with Squillaci

Good Monday to you,

I haven’t written a blog for a little while now and I seem to have missed out on tons of news, I won’t try and play catch up because it is all pretty much history now, well most of it anyway.

I had my wisdom tooth plucked out and the anaesthetic apparently got into my blood stream which has left me temporarily a little messed up inside. Not only this but the area around where my tooth used to be got infected so as you can imagine I wasn’t really in top form but it’s all good now, I am on the mend and raring to go. Not sure where I am supposed to be going exactly but that is what they say, whoever they are. Ok, perhaps I am not yet fully back to myself as yet.

I did however find a bit of time to write about the Leeds United victory in the FA Cup which you can read if you want to hear my thoughts on the game.

We are looking in good shape at the moment and I am probably feeling as positive about our situation as I have for some time now, especially at this stage of the season. Still in all four competitions and we better make sure it stays that way come Thursday morning.

Wenger’s current first team have been looking sharp and confident in their play and now some of the squad players are on the way to joining them. I saw noticeable improvements from the likes of Kieran Gibbs who appears to be learning plenty from Gael Clichy, he made a number of interceptions from Leeds passes during the game and it reminded me very much of our senior left back. His passing under pressure was spot on and his contribution to the game was much improved from Ipswich.

Nicklas Bendtner was better also, worked very hard in putting pressure on the opposition when they had the ball. His touch isn’t quite at its best as yet but a few more games, Huddersfield coming up will be one I assume should help him along with that.

Arshavin is another who is hopefully on the road to recovery. He still looks short of belief which surprises me as he has never struck me as the sort of character who would question himself but that is how it is coming across with his performances. At least he worked more for the team and that is my only real frustration with him.

I am guessing that he will start at either Wigan or against Ipswich. Hard to know which fixture would be better suited for him. Ipswich may pose less of a threat to our defence than Wigan so therefore Arshavin’s defensive work may not impact the team as much but then which is the more important game? The Premier League is clearly the more important competition but then if we do not beat Ipswich then we do not get a trip to Wembley. Would love to know your thoughts on that in the comments.

Wenger said in his pre Wigan interview that Denilson and Chamakh have slight knocks but could still make it back, I am not sure that either will play in the next two games, at least from the start. We need to be at our creative, high tempo best and score some goals.

Plenty of talk about the center backs are still in the air but I have a feeling that we may avoid buying anyone. Squillaci is a week away from a return whilst Vermaelen now has a date of return, this is not to say that set backs are not going to happen but with that in mind, I wonder if Arsene will carry on with what he has and possibly Alex Song stepping back in one of the upcoming games. Wenger may be thinking that Djourou and Koscielny will get the chance to rest in the next few weeks with Squillaci almost fit.

Hey, don’t shoot the messenger, that is just my opinion. Having said that Wenger could already have a player lined up that he and the club are putting the finishing touches to Cahill, Samba, Mertesacker or any of the other names that the media.. I mean Wenger has thought of.

Arsene Wenger has been keeping his cards firmly close to his chest about Cahill. In his press conference today he said Cahill is a good player but will not go into names of targets. He usually tells the press if he is not interested in signing a player even if he is after a player in that position so you never know.

One thing is for certain and that is that Wenger will not pay the requested £20 million price tag that he apparently has dangling over his head. I could see Arsene paying just over half that and surely Bolton are not going to drop by 50%

Those are figures that I have plucked from the air so I have no idea but remember that our record signing is Andrey Arshavin for roughly £15 million. Cahill has no Champions League experience, not very much experience at International level and would probably be back up when all our center backs are fit. Is that worth £18 million if we were to bargin for him? I have my doubts.

Bacary Sagna has joined in with the praise of Samir Nasri and has called for his French team mate to pick up the player of year award, he is very much in pole position for it, especially as it seems the Gareth Bale world player of the decade hype has died down a little in the last few months.

Much can happen from now until the season end but at present Nasri is the best offensive player in the league. Arseblog was correct in stating that Sagna is pushing him close. I have said for some time now that he is the best defender at the club and I can honestly say that I can count the number of bad games he has had since joining us back in 2007 on one hand. I think he could even do a decent job at center back alongside a more dominating stopper like Djourou or Squillaci.

Aaron Ramsey seems to be going back to Cardiff on loan to join Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and that might be a good idea to get him up to speed. I would imagine that it would only be a short term loan as he could be needed for the second half of the season but he needs games at the moment and with every game being so important, Wenger probably cannot take the gamble to allow him the chance to get match fit.

I cannot for the life of me see why he hasn’t been playing with the reserves every week. Surely reserve team football is better than no football. It may not allow some of the younger players a few months of football but it gives a player further up the ladder a chance to regain some fitness and sharpness.

Back again tomorrow for some pre match Wiganess.