What a game in store for us this afternoon. As was said earlier this week a barometer game. A resurgent Sunderland looking to continue their very surprising run against an Arsenal team confident as a result of last week's big win.

And yet, in my opinion both appear to be skating on thin ice.

Fine margins

February and all we've collected from 2012 is a solitary point in the league. Unfortunately for a club the size of Arsenal and the ambitions that we harbour, that is not good enough. 7th is where we are right now in terms of the league standings and hopes of staying with the top pack and clinching that vital Champions League position is not mathematically out of grab.

Written by Double98

Robin van Persie, the balon d'or snubbed, true king of world football, has been reeling in the plaudits for his exceptional scoring feats in 2011. By eclipsing Thierry Henry's mark of 34 goals in a calendar year, and particularly by playing in a less competitive and more transitional team, he has booked himself a seat in the waiting room of the Pantheon of Arsenal Greats.

A real 3 pointer today, what with Spurs and Liverpool dropping points at home.

We all know that Swansea are a very difficult side to beat at the Liberty Stadium, in fact only MU have won there this season. The Swans have conceded just 4 goals at home (compared to AFC's 6) and have drawn half their home games (5/10) Spurs gained a very squeaky point a couple of weeks ago and Swansea will go into the game full of confidence.

Will need to step up tonight

What a wonderful night of football yesterday was, if only for the one game which mattered. Nicklas Bendtner did us no favour as he squandered an early chance to put his team ahead but Sunderland won it right at the death to beat Roberto Mancini's Manchester City.

Another one stopped

The final outcome was a result that we did not need and with Tottenham winning their latter game at Carrow Road, it makes me very uncomfortable with the gap that is opening up slightly between us. This was a chance to move ahead of Chelsea into 4th spot. It ended up being as frustrating a match to watch.

Another one stopped

The final outcome was a result that we did not need and with Tottenham winning their latter game at Carrow Road, it makes me very uncomfortable with the gap that is opening up slightly between us. This was a chance to move ahead of Chelsea into 4th spot. It ended up being as frustrating a match to watch.

Yearning to get back in the middle of things

Football returns today amidst the festivities but for Arsenal the game will not be on Boxing Day as tube strike prevented the game from going ahead today. Of the teams ahead of us, 3 of them play later today. Chelsea are up against Fulham, United at home to Wigan and City away to WBA.

Yearning to get back in the middle of things

Football returns today amidst the festivities but for Arsenal the game will not be on Boxing Day as tube strike prevented the game from going ahead today. Of the teams ahead of us, 3 of them play later today. Chelsea are up against Fulham, United at home to Wigan and City away to WBA.

Yearning to get back in the middle of things

Football returns today amidst the festivities but for Arsenal the game will not be on Boxing Day as tube strike prevented the game from going ahead today. Of the teams ahead of us, 3 of them play later today. Chelsea are up against Fulham, United at home to Wigan and City away to WBA.

Ever since the departure of Fabregas and the long-term injury to Wilshire, I have been trying to figure out how the ‘New Arsenal' will play this season. For quite a while I was convinced Arsène wanted to continue with his 4-2-3-1 formation of the previous seasons, and as such, he was trying to get Ramsey to play in the Fabregas position/role, with Song in the more traditional DM role and Arteta in the box-to-box ‘Wilshere' role which is effectively a second DM (most of the times).

Ever since the departure of Fabregas and the long-term injury to Wilshire, I have been trying to figure out how the ‘New Arsenal' will play this season. For quite a while I was convinced Arsène wanted to continue with his 4-2-3-1 formation of the previous seasons, and as such, he was trying to get Ramsey to play in the Fabregas position/role, with Song in the more traditional DM role and Arteta in the box-to-box ‘Wilshere' role which is effectively a second DM (most of the times).

Name: Rigobert Song In his 1990s prime for: Liverpool Lowdown: The Cameroonian defender became something of a cult figure at Anfield, but like Djimi Traore after him, this was often due to his reputation as a player prone to gaffes as well as strong challenges, with the added benefit of the occasional crazy hair cut.

Appreciation

The legends descended on the hallowed turf of the Grove. This is probably the first time that I've ever used hallowed turf and new-ish stadium in the same sentence. For me (and I'm sure many others too), Highbury remained the truly real Arsenal stadium. However, with each match/season and the growing memories, not forgetting the continual Arsenalisation of the stadium, Emirates Stadium is turning into home.

Come on Robin be honest, you can't dribble past 4 players can you?

One more match before the return of Samir Na$ri to the Grove. Not as if Arsene Wenger sees Manchester City as any kind of a threat. Such is the confidence of the team at the moment, the manager looks to put his second string side to face the league leader.

No one likes to admit it, but it's happened to most seasoned bloggers out there- watching the game, taking home a few well-chosen points of analysis, noticing a few things you think only you have noticed and smugly lording it over less enlightened, coke-and-popcorn football fans who watch matches for silly reasons like ‘entertainment' (simpletons who watch games with the handbrake on, if that term isn't patented); only to have all smugness blown away in a hurricane of shame and comeuppance after reading Zonal Marking.

Arsenal midfielder Alex Song admitted that the fantastic run leading to Robin van Persie's goal on Wednesday was not planned. Speaking to Arsenal Player after the game, the Cameroon International explained that he decided to go ...

I saw so much Michael Essien in Arsenal's Alex Song yesterday I couldn't believe my eyes. The 5.9M rated Fantasy Premier League midfielder has never been a consistent fantasy acquisition nor has he performed at world class levels in ... Continue reading →

Written by FatGingerGooner

Champions League week 5 and ze Germans were the visitors to London town in the form of Borussia Dortmund. Fresh from a fantastic 1-0 win against league rivals Bayern, they came into the game full of confidence and looking for the win that would put them right back in Group F contention.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reserved special praise for midfielder Alex Song, who showed tremendous dribbling ability to beat two Borussia Dortmund defenders en route to setting up Robin van Persie's opening goal in Arsenal's massive 2-1 win.

The German champions took an impressive start at the Emirates in front of a strong traveling support of seven thousand but after losing key midfielders Sven Bender and Mario Gotze in rapid succession to first-half injuries, they looked exposed in the second half.

Video highlights and reaction Match report -

Arsenal were tested last night by a a very hard working and very decent Borussia Dortmund side. I wouldn't say it was one we passed with flying colours but the performance and the result showed that this is an Arsenal team that is improving, confident and, most encouragingly, one that can dig out a result when necessary.

Left foot, right foot. Easy as 1, 2, 3

Qualification to the next phase of Champions League, the first of any English club to do that in this season's competition. Finishing as group winners with a game to spare. Robin Van Persie continued his more than impressive goal-scoring form. Another stand-out defensive performance from the team (the one single minute apart).

Still very quiet, as you might imagine.

The main story this morning is the news that football has come under attack from something called 'common sense'. Robin van Persie has been allowed back to Arsenal to rest up as his international manager has taken a hugely sensible approach to things.

Arsenal midfielder Alex Song revealed that the reason why the Gunners improved in recent weeks is because new players have finally settled down. Speaking to Arsenal's official website, the Cameroon International was full of praise for ...

Arsenal midfielder Alex Song revealed that he always knew that Gervinho would become a big asset for the Gunners, this season. Gervinho's impact at Arsenal was one to remember as he scored a brace in a ...

The criticism of Arsène for trying to force square pegs into round holes has frequently been levelled over recent seasons. Bendtner, Eboue and Arshavin in particular have all been deployed in areas that would not be their first choice let alone the Championship Managers among us. The reason for this has generally been a lack of depth in the squad exacerbated by the perennial injury problems that have depleted us so cruelly at vital times.

Injuries permitting, these two will be taking a backseat

I had a topic in mind and was going to start writing today's post when a new tweet flashed on my tweetdeck. It was Arseblog and his Friday's post has already been up. The headlines tells me that I've got the same content in mind as what he wrote.

Arsenal. Chelsea. Stamford Bridge. If the combination of those three fails to kindle a fire within, then, I don't know, you're not a football fan. Or a human.

A meeting of the minds

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TBA

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TBA

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Arsenal midfielder Alex Song was very happy after the Gunners defeated Stoke City and moved closer to the Top Four, on Sunday. Speaking to Arsenal Player after the game, the Cameroon International explained that the objective ...

Arsenal midfielder Alex Song confessed that he is not feeling good after Sunday's North London Derby defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. Speaking to the Club's official website, the Cameroon International explained that the Gunners had an opportunity ...

David Cannon/Getty Images(Bleacher Report) Arsene Wenger spent big on the last day of the summer window in attempt to stop the bleeding that has seen his club have its worst start in years.
Two losses and a draw now see the Gunners in 17th place in the table, with a host of clubs swarming to try and kick the perennial top four club while they are down the ladder.

Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has urged his teammates to play with more concentration in order to reward the faith of the club's supporters while also relieving manager Arsene Wenger of the heavy pressure that has been heaped on him in recent months.

Song, who was one of the Gunners' only standout performers during Sunday's 2-1 derby defeat away to the Spurs, admitted that the players have repeatedly let the fans down and in order to become more consistent, they must take a close look at themselves to mitigate the rising number of concerns.

After they battled past Olympiacos on Wednesday, Arsenal will now concentrate on Sunday's away game against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Speaking on Wednesday night, midfielder Alex Song explained that the North London derby will ...

Arsenal midfielder Alex Song was delighted after the Gunners battled their way past Olympiacos in the Champions League, on Wednesday. Speaking to Arsenal Player after the game, the Cameroon International declared that the Gunners started the ...

One last time in the stands

Second match of the Champions League and its the first home game at the Grove in the competition proper. Olympiakos are the visitors tonight and we are looking for our first win in the group stage after the draw at Dortmund in the opening round of fixtures. They are the reigning champions of Super League Greece.

Crane style Robin

This was our second win in 6 Premier League games. It pushes us up to 12th place in the league standing with 32 more games to go. The win was made even sweeter by the fact that we managed to claw back 2 points from leaders Manchester United, who drew away at Stoke yesterday.

Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie has claimed that his teammates outplayed Blackburn in Saturday's 4-3 defeat and he is still shocked that Steve Kean's struggling outfit was able to score four times.

Although the Dutchman acknowledged the need to stop conceding soft goals in order to rebound quickly from a third defeat in only five Premier League matches, he reminded the Rovers that they were fortunate to emerge as the winning side at Ewood Park.

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has hailed holding midfielder Alex Song as the protector of the Gunners' defense and insists that an end to the Cameroon international's suspension is poised to help Arsene Wenger's side.

Despite signing a plethora of established players on the transfer deadline day, Wenger was left to witness a far from convincing performance this past weekend as his men grinded out a 1-0 win at home to newly promoted Swansea City.

The captain meeting his future team mate?

First Champions League match out of the way then. Draw was the final result and it was a fair reflection on the game. Both sides went about with their usual tactics but the home side had the upper hand of things in most parts. Like I said yesterday, I would take a draw if it was given to me.

Big responsibility on his shoulders

Time to wipe the slate clean. Not something which can be easily said, especially when the season has already been under way for a couple of weeks. However, that is also precisely the reason why we could regard this upcoming weekend's match as the start "of the star" of the season for Arsenal Football Club.