Is there room for Bendtner and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in this squad? Does one of them have to leave to allow the other to progress in their career? Essentially they are all fighting for the same central striking role in the 4-3-3. I haven’t even considered Carlos Vela in all of this so I am sure something will have to give by the end of the season

When I switched on my computer last night to write a quick blog, I didn’t really have the time to read around and gather all the news before I said my part, so I missed out a few important things which I suppose is quite handy for me this afternoon as I now have some content to discuss.

I somehow managed to miss Nicklas Bendtner’s supposed frustrated outburst to the Danish media. Apparently he wants to be a first team starter on a regular basis and is in the shape of his life. Basically he wants to be a Bacary Sagna, Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and a Samir Nasri. When they are fit, in a big game then they start. Nicklas Bendtner is not in that category and he wants to be.

I would say at this stage, when all of our players are fit and on form Bendtner is third choice and it is hard to argue any different. As much as we want Bendtner to remain patient and wait for his chance because he will get opportunities at different stages to stake his claim, I can totally see where he is coming from.

He is at the age where he should be improving and developing. The only way he can do that is to string 15 games together. The only reason why he managed his fantastic goal per game ratio at the end of last season was because we had no other players to call on in his position. With Chamakh further advanced in his development and gives the team something that Bendtner does not. Van Persie will always be technically head and shoulders above Bendtner but Bendtner could be a very efficient striker. A striker who loves scoring goals. Probably more goal hungry than any other player in our squad.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out, especially when we have Jay Emmanuel-Thomas supposedly ‘banging on the door with both hands’

Is there room for Bendtner and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in this squad? Does one of them have to leave to allow the other to progress in their career? Essentially they are all fighting for the same central striking role in the 4-3-3. I haven’t even considered Carlos Vela in all of this so I am sure something will have to give by the end of the season.

Potentially I love the look of JET, I think he has more in his locker than Bendtner but he has never delivered at the highest level due to his age and his lack of games. Bendtner has scored some big goals for Arsenal and would continue to do so with more games under his belt. Wherever Bendtner ends up he will become a top player, he will score plenty of goals, some very good goals. His first touch will improve and his link up play will shine through but the question is where will he be given the chance to progress.

This is one of the very few problems we could have with developing so many players at the same time. Not all of them will be allowed to progress and develop how they should at our club because we already have so much quality and talent.

I would say that even many of those who have not made the grade at Arsenal could have been much better players if they were given a first team spot at 17/18 and then played 15 games in a row surrounded by our best players. As crazy as this sounds but if Mark Randall managed to break through a few years ago and was kept in the team then who is to say that he wouldn’t have had an England cap by now.

Players can look well short of the required level one minute and then after a season of football they could be one of the most important players in the squad. I present you Mr Alex Dimitri Song Billong.

Anyway, I am veering off of my original point but I shall move onto our other striking option. Marouane Chamakh.
Arsene Wenger spoke very highly of his contribution so far and called him decisive.

His performances have tailed off slightly from his start to the season but that is understandable, especially when you watch the amount of ground he covers. It is quite amazing really. His link up play is fantastic. His touch and control is probably in between Van Persie and Bendtner, in fact much of his game is a little in between the two. 8 goals from 17 games (not starting in all) is fantastic for a player who isn’t naturally an out and out goal scorer. It is more than we could have asked for.

I am still intrigued to know what will happen when both Van Persie and Chamakh are both fully fit at the same time. Van Persie has to start and Chamakh cannot be dropped, both lose plenty of their effectiveness in wide areas so let us see what unfolds.

Another topic I missed yesterday was that of Thomas Vermaelen. His injury problem continues and Arsene does not know what the problem is. It is so bloody annoying as it happened on International duty and now we have to suffer for it.

I miss Vermaelen, I miss his distribution, I miss his thunderous attempts on goal and want him back playing for us ASAP. At the same time I have to applaud our other center backs who have come in and for the most part have done what has been asked of them. Arsene has also said that he might look to the January window for a fourth center back if Vermaelen’s situation isn’t resolved. I would much rather we just had our player back to be honest.

Let us pray and cross toes and all that kind of stuff that his problems will be pinpointed and fixed sharpish and we do not get another Rosicky situation on our hands.

That is about that, kids calling for lunch and so on, back tomorrow for some pre match stuff, in the meantime.

COME ON THE VILLA!