I agree that a striker needs to get into good positions in the box but it cannot be called a blinking good cross if there is no team mate in the box. We don’t play the game blind folded. A great cross is when a player has the vision and ability to pick someone out. Ramsey’s cross for Walcott in the home

Bloody typical isn’t it? There we were all praying for the International week to ride in, like a Zat Knight in shining armour, it was supposed to take our pain away and let us mentally regroup. No, not the players but us, the fans. A torturous summer came to a head at that place where we were beaten by that score and Gunners around the world were about to find the nearest cliff and jump but then as we all wallowed in our collective misery, the board unlocked the safe that contained Arsene’s golden cheque book and in came half a new team.

It is like the equivalent of being at a really dull party that contained only four geeky blokes and your best mate Phil. You leave to get the last train but Phil stays behind. When you are half way through your journey, Phil calls you on your mobile with loud music blaring in the background ‘Hey, Mean Lean. Beyonce, Jessica Alba, Megan Fox and Kelly Brook have all turned up and they are dancing on tables and asking for you’

That is how much I want to see us play again. For some reason I believed that we didn’t have many players away on International duty until I looked on .com. Arrgggh, all these faces staring back at me as I scrolled down the list. I really think that Arsenal injuries have left me mentally unstable. I bet other supporters look at their players on International duty and wish them good luck and then skip down the road whistling and getting on with life. While Arsenal fans sit naked in basements rocking back and forth, humming to yourself and praying that the injury demons do not take our players away again.

Anyway, you have to say it is a case of so far so good. Aaron Ramsey will have done his confidence no harm by captaining and scoring for the Welsh. With new signings Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun, the youngster will have to raise his game a little. He hasn’t been able to step into Wilshere’s shoes this season let alone Cesc’s and it may take him some time to get to that level but you can see obvious glimpses of what he will become in a few years. An all action, skilful, goal scoring midfielder. It would be very surprising of he didn’t fulfil that potential in time but right now he needs help and he needs time.

I was a little concerned that we would end up having Ramsey as the full time and permanent replacement for Fabregas. Which would have been wonderful for his personal development as it was for Alex Song post Flamini, but I believe the team would have suffered in during that time.

Now he can exchange passes with Arteta and Benayoun and come off with half hour to go or come on to rest legs instead of having to play 90 minutes every week. That along with the pressure of having to create chances  and score goals in big games.

Theo Walcott played a big part in England’s win over Bulgaria. Clearly learning plenty from Alex Hleb, he was involved in two pre assists including one impressive drive in from the right into the middle and then slipped pass into Ashley Young. I take it Fabio Capello no longer wants to kill Theo when he comes in from the flank. That is nice I guess.

Speaking of Theo and positions, check out Squid Boy’s piece on our number 14. A good insight into his desire to play as a striker and his current role.

Wasn’t little Oxlade-Chamberlain impressive a couple of days ago? You can see why we have been fighting tooth and nail to get the youngster to Arsenal. There is another England regular on the way, Just give it time my friends, time.

We haven’t been hitting the target of late and that has been a worry so far this season. If we are to have Internationals then firstly we want them back fit but goals are certainly a Brucey bonus.

New boy JY Park kicked it all off with a hat trick in South Korea’s early game against Lebanon. His first was the typical poachers goal, sliding in the air (if that makes sense) to meet a cross. The kind of Theo cross come shot that is always begging to be tapped in but our strikers are standing outside the box yearning for some more build up play.

I want to get something off my chest for a second. I hate when commentators say ‘A great whipped in cross into the box but the striker is at fault for not being in that area’

I agree that a striker needs to get into good positions in the box but it cannot be called a blinking good cross if there is no team mate in the box. We don’t play the game blind folded. A great cross is when a player has the vision and ability to pick someone out. Ramsey’s cross for Walcott in the home leg against Udinese was a great cross. A smashed ball across the box to Mr Back post is useless.

Anyway, back to Ju Young Park. His second was a great header at the back post, great because he had to be brave and committed and not just jump because he had to like Bergkamp used to. He leaped above his man and powered the header past the keeper. We do not see enough of that at Arsenal. Players with the commitment to be first to the ball, especially in offensive positions. It is partly why so many of our free kicks and corners are wasted. You have to wonder how many goals we are missing over the course of a season due to wasted set pieces both directly and indirectly. Hopefully with the signing of Mertesacker, Park and Arteta can readdress that balance again.

Sorry Mr Park, I keep veering off track. His third was a little like a Theo finish but I like the way he intelligently held his position before latching onto the pass, making sure he was onside. Adebayor could have watched that replay ten times and would have not seen it.

Park’s drilled shot across the keeper hard and low was the kind of finish you want to see late in a game where the scores are level and not side footed into the keepers midriff. That makes me pull my hair out, well it would do if I didn’t shave it off.

Park is certainly an unknown quantity and I have no idea what to expect from him. Will he be Eduardo (pre injury) or will he be Kaba Diawara (forever). As a former legend used to say, the truth will be on the pitch.

So a hat trick for Park ey? Not too shabby until Robin van the man Persie stepped forward and grabbed four. I only now wish that South Korea had played last Sunday instead so van Persie could have helped us out a little more.

I have to say, Robin I love thee immensely. What would we have done at the end of last season without his goals and performances. But his display at Old Trafford was shocking. Not just his footballing performance but his leadership just wasn’t there. I am not picking on the guy, why the hell would I? But the way he hung his head was a little disappointing. I understand why he is captain, he has been here for so long, loves the club and everyone looks up to him but for actual leadership qualities I would have plumped for Vermaelen. Not that a band around your arm actually means that much. It is your character and how you put that across that really matters. I guess I am getting sucked into the English tradition again.

Anyway, I am certainly willing to erase that performance out of my memory if he can do that scoring goals thing that he does so well for the Arsenal.

You would think that the rather large surplus of cash left over this summer has to go back into some tasty big contracts for the likes of Robin, Tommy V and Theo. If we want to avoid the Nasri, Flamini and erm, Adebayor situations then we really need to make a change to our wage policy. We need to pay our top earners more and make sure our best players are not so easily whisked away.

We have an obvious wage structure and we are self sustaining but even if it means slashing our transfer fund by 50% (which isn’t much I know) I think it would be better for the long term. I think we have many world class youngsters who have yet to reach that level but they will in time. Keeping these players together is more beneficial than bringing in new players and then selling three years later. Well that is my view anyway.

As the stadium debt is being paid down, it should be time we pushed Arsenal into the Manchester United bracket of wages. Although that may well have to wait until our commercial deals get renegotiated.

But I am fed up with Arsenal being seen as this middle of the road club that others think they can come along and nick our best players. It is time for the board to take Arsenal as the badge suggests. Forward.

And with that, I am going to head back into the basement and rock back and forth until our players arrive safely back home.

Back tomorrow