There is a clear foundation in the team now, a strong platform for our offensive players to reap the rewards. Arsene has had to place many midfielders on his mental weighing scales in an attempt to find the right balance. The first switch to 4-3-3 meant that we were often punished on the counter attack so then a second midfielder had dropped back into a second midfield position to readdress that issue. What this midfield reminds me of is part of the 2008/09 midfield when Cesc Fabregas

I don’t really want to say it for the sake of jinxing, to be honest I don’t think that I even believe in jinxing but I tend not to risk anything. That said, this is a blog so I don’t think I can get by without actually saying something, so it is all out of my hands.

So far so good on the injury front. There I said it, it is out there and if we pick up a collection of injuries in the next few days then you all know where you can find me and I will also know where I stand on the jinxing front.

Round of applause for Berty boy van Marwijk for listening and talking to Arsene Wenger about the health of Robin van Persie. Apparently we have sent the Dutch some medical proof that van the man is running low of fuel so he has been excused from the squad against Germany. Given the rather feisty past between these two countries it is just what the doctor quite literally ordered.

I wonder what the Arsenal captain thinks of missing such a big game though. Any footballer worth his pepper or something would want to play in those big games but I am sure Robin can see the bigger picture and will know that his health is the main priority and risking himself in friendlies is just not cool.

England vs Spain was similar to plenty of home games we have seen from Arsenal over the years. The better side from start to finish, the only side attempting to score goals, having all the possession but not able to create enough clear chances until the dreaded set piece goal from the opposition. To be honest, I cannot go into the game very much as I watched some of the first half and then gave up. It just isn’t the same as watching the Arsenal.

We do not have long to go before we face Norwich at Carrow road. Arsene Wenger has been speaking to Arsenal player and he had some very interesting things to say regarding our style of play at the moment.

Wenger said:

“I would say we are a bit more controlled and less cavalier, we are less adventurous when the job is done, I must say. You can feel that there is some reserve there if needed. In the second half against West Brom we just kept it serious without going overboard. Overall I would say it is a more mature attitude. We were more functional. We did the job properly, with quality and, I must say, with seriousness.”

I was thinking the same thing myself recently. There is a clear foundation in the team now, a strong platform for our offensive players to reap the rewards. Arsene has had to place many midfielders on his mental weighing scales in an attempt to find the right balance. The first switch to 4-3-3 meant that we were often punished on the counter attack so then a second midfielder had dropped back into a second midfield position to readdress that issue. What this midfield reminds me of is part of the 2008/09 midfield when Cesc Fabregas was absent through injury for a large chunk of the season. An inexperienced Alex Song was thrown into the deep waters of the Premier League and was told to swim, he had Denilson alongside him who had played the most amount of games that season for us. Alex Song had the power and made tough tackles, while Denilson made a high number of interceptions and kept our football flowing by always being in position to receive a pass and then move it on again.

Three years later, we are watching a similar style midfield but a more experienced version with a slight variation. Arteta could well be the player that Denilson could have been if he had progressed the way that his then partner Alex Song has done. Aston Villa were flying high in fourth place and we had fallen away. While Arshavin’s January signing grabbed all the headlines and the credit for our fighting comeback into fourth ahead of Villa, it was the two youngsters Alex Song and Denilson that steadied the ship and gave the likes of Arshavin the platform to improve the results.

Today, I look at someone like Alex Song and I am utterly amazed at how little praise he receives from others outside of the club. I don’t think others are able to quite look hard enough because if I had a quid for every time a pundit has said ‘They have Alex Song but they need a true holding midfielder’ then I would be a filthy rich man. I think the idea of having a defensive midfielder who can play football seems to be a little alien to narrow minded pundits.

Song’s partnership with Mikel Arteta is improving all the time as is the understanding between the two and it is this that lets the likes of Ramsey, Walcott, Gervinho and of course van Persie do damage in the final third.

Like in 2008/09 this current side has been through some troubling times but the midfield is starting to take on the responsibility of keeping the team solid and difficult to beat.

While it was ‘only’ West Brom in our last game, I was so impressed in the attitude of the players at 2-0 up. The game was won as West Brom offered very little but the work put in from the midfield and those around them was very enjoyable, much more enjoyable than any of the goals on the day, in my humble opinion.

Fingers crossed that our spine remains fit because our spine is one of the best in the league. Think about it, how many teams have the quality of Szczesny, Vermaelen (Koscielny), Song (Arteta), van Persie. No matter how you dice it, that is tasty.

Rumours are that Barcelona are sniffing around Alex Song which would be a concern given that he is in the same contract situation as van Persie and Theo Walcott. I don’t see Song anywhere but Arsenal right now. I read a wonderful interview somewhere about Wenger being a father figure to Song and that he had a fantastic relationship with the boss, club and fans so I am going to hold onto that and have Bergkamp like faith that Song will put that pen to that paper.

Ok, onto Cesc’s comments about van Persie…. And now onto Nico Yennaris who wants another chance in the cup. Those who read this blog regularly will know that such matters rather bore me and I’d rather skip over it but I will give you a small percentage of my life talking about this.

Cesc didn’t say anything out of the ordinary, anything that hasn’t been spoken about before. I suspect that our captain already has a good idea of what he wants. Of course Arsenal should do all they can to keep him here and yes it is his last chance of a big contract or new challenge. It is only being dragged up again because it is Cesc talking about it. Zilch has changed, we want him to stay and we have to wait to see what happens. Something tells me that this will not be the last time that I am talking about this again.

Time to get back under the duvet, crossing fingers and toes that the injury gods sail past without noticing us.

Back tomorrow.