The situation is as follows. We have four center backs. Two are new players and are unlikely to be sold after their first season at the club, the other is the best center back at the club but is injured, the other is soon to be the best center back at the club, Johan Djourou. Can you add a fifth center back? What are you going to do with a Gary Cahill when everyone is fit?

Happy Monday Gooners,

Plenty of news related to the Arsenal doing the rounds already today and I haven’t got that much time to write this which is just typical. I have been snooping around various different blogs and their comments sections and many are understandably frustrated by the Leeds United result on Saturday.

Although we dominated the game for the most part, we were not very fluid and dangerous enough around their penalty box. I personally am not that frustrated, especially as we got the late draw. I actually think the draw and consequent replay could actually benefit our squad.

There is an imbalance in the squad at the moment in terms of playing time, Arsene’s current first choice 11 have played too much football in recent weeks and have needed a breather, while the rest of the players are lacking the required games to produce top quality football.

Although our players who faced Leeds were technically superior, our opposition’s match sharpness and continuity evened up the playing field. Had the Arsenal players on that day, played the last five games on the trot then Leeds would have been blown out of the water, that I have no doubt about.

Look at someone like Tomas Rosicky who started the season on fire, he looked absolutely superb in his cameo at Anfield and then his captain’s performance against Blackpool at the Emirates. He had pre season training, pre season football and then brought that with him to matches. The likes of Eboue, Denilson, Bendtner and co are training with the rest of the squad, doing stretches, doing keep ball exercises and then sitting on the bench on match days.

Another example is that of the much much-maligned Lukasz Fabianski. He is unrecognisable from the shaky, insecure keeper we witnessed last season. He had to come in cold, without momentum and it showed.

My point is that the Ipswich games and then the FA Cup replay should sharpen many of these players up so when it comes down to certain members stepping into the first team due to injury or suspension then the transition should be much smoother.

I certainly think that the same players (minus Alex Song) should start at Ipswich as we have a second chance to put it right in the home leg if the unthinkable happens.

Clearly it is a very difficult job to try and keep all your squad members finely tuned and sharp for the business end of the season, we are still in the negotiation phase, so we still have time before the business takes place.

Speaking of negotiations, Arsene could be forced into the January transfer window after French defender Sébastien Squillaci has an apparent serious hamstring injury and with Thomas Vermaelen still on the treatment table, it would mean that Arsene only has two first choice defenders to choose from and one of those spent the whole of last season suffering with a knee problem.

Sol Campbell is one of the players rumoured to be on his way to Arsenal. Sol Campbell? That name sounds familiar, where have I heard of him before? Hmmm, spooky.

As short term options go, he would almost be perfect for the position. The problem I have with Sol, would be the issues that I started this article with. He would need time to get up to speed, especially as he hasn’t featured a great deal for Newcastle.

The other issue would be that he was here last season (ah, that’s where I’ve heard of this fella) and he decided to move on. How would that sit with the other players and manager? To be honest, I don’t know if this has any legs to it. Sol’s may be almost gone but I wouldn’t be too unhappy if he was signed until the end of the season.

The situation is as follows. We have four center backs. Two are new players and are unlikely to be sold after their first season at the club, the other is the best center back at the club but is injured, the other is soon to be the best center back at the club, Johan Djourou. Can you add a fifth center back? What are you going to do with a Gary Cahill when everyone is fit?

He is only gods gift to football because he plays for someone other than Arsenal. When Djourou continues his development and Vermaelen comes back to show his leadership and technical ability and then Koscielny takes a massive step forward in his second season and gets used to the English game are we going to have a £15 million center back sitting on the bench waiting for his chance?

I do not see it, so with all that in mind, Sol on a short term deal would be ideal, if not Sol then someone in that same situation and experience. We know what he brings to the dressing room and training and that would be great for the run in.

All we would have to do is tie him to the treadmill and starve him for a few weeks, Bobs your Uncle….

Before we get a center back we have the small matter of Ipswich away to deal with so maybe Koscielny will return but it may well be asking a little too much of Johan Djourou to play yet another game in a row. The last thing we want to do is cause him injury by playing too much football. Youngster Miquel may well have to step up but we shall see.

So while one old boy might be coming back to the fold, one famous name will be training with the Gunners. Thierry Henry *sniff sniff* is on a break from MLS foot..Soccer, and seems likely to be back at Arsenal. Rumours are circling about Henry coaching strikers but I think we should wait to get official confirmation about that.

Having said that, if there was a player to coach our forwards on finishing then it would be Terence.

Mr Henry should have a quick word with Theo while he is at it. While I admire the mans honesty, I wonder what he could possibly gain by stating what is frowned upon in the English game. I mean, it is the foreign players that do that sort of thing. You know, the likes of Rooneyilo, Gerrardicky and Joe Coleindo. Brits such as Walcott should never do that sort of thing.

We already have the rest of the Premier League singing ‘same old Arsenal, always cheating’ we do not need to fuel that even further than it already is. We are just lucky that it is Theo saying it and not Eboue. I doubt that the reaction would have been the same.

Arsene has been defending Andrey Arshavin after his recent lacklustre performances. I find it strange that many Gooners were sticking Arshavin on a pedestal as our record signing and the reason to spend big money and now he is being criticised from pillar to post.

Mr Arshavin is really a strange one isn’t he? I have never seen a player who can be so dangerous yet play so poorly. Then you look at his statistics and say, wow! He has gotta be in the starting eleven for the next game. Match day comes and he is floating around on the left trying back flicks that do not come off and then stands there while the full back runs forward into our half. While you are in the middle of pulling out your hair he scores a bicycle kick out of the blue. What on earth do you do with someone like that?

Personally I love the Theo and Nasri hard work from wide positions and I would keep it that way. I almost enjoy the players chasing back and disposing the opposition as much as I do our quality one touch football.

Interesting that Arsene practically threw his hat into the Eden Hazard ring last week. He certainly looks like a future talent and one that could eventually replace someone like Arshavin but I am sure the likes of Vela, Wellington and company will have plenty to say about that in future.

Right, gotta cut this short..ish.

Back tomorrow.