A last-minute equalizer at Anfield in their Premier League opener meant that the Gunners weren't about to hit panic mode, despite the absence of quite a few of their starters.

In the build-up to that crucial fixture against Liverpool last week, manager Arsene Wenger spoke with certainty about the absence of midfield trio Alex Song, Denilson, and skipper Cesc Fabregas.

On paper it looked as if it might be tricky, in the end it turned out to be one of the easiest European nights in memory. A Shaktar Donetsk side that came looking not to concede were undone twice in the first half by their own mistakes.

The first goal came from a corner. There looked to be little danger until the Pyatov did his best Arsenal goalkeeper impression and dropped the ball at the feet of Alex Song.

JASON LEIGH

Now, I'm going to get to the real crux of the matter the stick that AW has taken for his ‘stubbornness' over recent campaigns. Arsene has been criticised for sticking so steadfastly to his youth policy, but bear in mind some of the players that this approach has benefited so far Bendtner, Clichy, Song, Vela, Wilshere and, of course, Cesc Fabregas, who is now valued in the £40 million category.

There are those who complain that a sending off so early ruins a game as a contest. Perhaps if the red card were on the other foot I might be inclined to agree but not yesterday.

Not just from my blinkered red and white position either, it remained a game which was still very much in the balance until Alex Song scored Arsenal's second in the 65th minute.

Written by RockyLives

In a game of many villains for us it may seem odd to pick out one, but I'm sad to say that Denilson does not belong in the Arsenal first team.

Before I elaborate, it's worth having a quick word for each of the other villains of the piece (and some heroes):

Alex Song: idiot for the first booking (he was carded for the dissent, not for the non-foul).

Yet again, Arsenal midfielder Alex Song not only helped his team with his strength and determination in midfield but also by finding the back of the net. On target against Chelsea on Monday, the Cameroon International ...

Might Arsenal still be in for Felipe Melo?:

That's the report floating around the internet, anyway, apparently originating from the Italian press. They claim that Arsenal are prepared to offer full-back Gael Clichy to Juventus in exchange for Melo.

It's no secret that Arsene Wenger tried quite hard to get Felipe Melo from Fiorentina last summer, but we were ultimately outbid by Juventus, and the Brazilian midfield enforcer chose to stay in Italy.

League positions usually go out of the window when there is a local derby, and West Ham who had fared quite well against us in recent years came with the obvious intention of not losing. Expectations were high amongst the home supporters after seemingly scoring for fun whoever we played in the last few weeks,yet it soon became apparent this was going to be in the main an all out attack against a resilient defence.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere believes his new role with the Gunners is helping him improve the defensive aspect of his game. Speaking to the Official Arsenal Magazine, the 18-year old explained how he is enjoying his ...

...or, The Song Remains the Same for Arsenal.Alex Song may return for the visit of Manchester City on Saturday evening.The midfielder, who has missed the last three games with an inflamed cartilage, faces a fitness test on Friday. The inclusion of the Cameroon international is the only major change possible from the squad that lost at Wigan last Sunday.

Another legend and former captain returns to the Grove today, the second one that we've had after Thierry Henry with Barcelona. From 1997 to 2005, he was the best midfielder in the league with probably only Roy Keane the only other player that is the same level as him. Those were glorious years for Arsenal.

The Arsenal summer transfer plan jigsaw puzzle is slowly taking shape after yesterday's pre-Blackburn interview by Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman, who confirmed the Gunners will add one player to the squad before the World Cup Finals, ...

Not too much going on in actual Arsenal-related news today, so we focus on the World Cup:

The biggest Arsenal-related story is that Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen is apparently probably going to be leaving Alex Song on the bench tomorrow when Cameroon open their campaign against Japan. According to Le Guen:

Alexandre Song may not start the first match against Japan.

Arsene Wenger has had a great view of all the best players at the World Cup, so most of the Arsenal transfer rumours today are focused on players that are performing well in the competition, but the problem is that other scouts can see the Arsenal players on show too! Franck Rijkaard, the Galatasary manager, is [.

One of the best players for Arsenal last season, midfielder Alex Song started the new campaign with a point to prove and a new haircut. Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the Cameroon International finally revealed what ...

Song nicks it for Arsenal

Is "rescue" the right word to use? Arsenal were never behind in this game and were never chasing the game. Yet, the word is rightly use in context of the title race. With current league leaders, Chelsea winning away at Blackburn, we can least afford to drop points at home.

Alex Song has now scored three goals in three games. Excellent for a midfielder and astonishing for someone supposed to be a holding midfielder. Add the fact that all were crucial goals – first one against a determined Shakhtar side, game-killer against City, and the winner against the Hammers – and we have to acknowledge Song has been immense for us in the last couple of weeks.

Alex Song does his best impression of Samuel Etoo

After the result on Saturday, it's fair and obvious that the plaudits goes to Alex Song. Arsene Wenger attributes it to 2 points, maturity and improved fitness. We all have to admit that it is a big transformation for the player himself. From being someone who we rather not get on the pitch to someone whom we absolutely cannot live without.

Clean-sheets are fast becoming a thing of the past as clubs pour more focus and importance into the aspect of scoring goals. That said, however, Week 10 proved to be a more normal week in the English top-flight as seven of the twenty clubs managed to keep clean-sheets. Chelsea were able to overcome an early goal to keep their five-point lead over the rest of the title contenders.

I love you, Alex Song. I try to stay grounded. I try to keep my wits together and realize that you're still only 23 years old, still learning the game, still making big mistakes and ...

Yesterdays blog saw some great discussion following the defeat at Old Trafford and SharkeySure picked out a couple of comments that spurred(!) him on to the following rant.

26 May – "it really annoys me to see our players not matching the energetic determination of their opponents"

Mike – "Thirty minutes to go and I see very little urgency or intensity from any of them.

First-half Player of the Season:

1. Samir Nasri (Average Rating: 7.24, Man of the Match 5 times):

You could tell in preseason that Nasri was rested, motivated from his World Cup snub, and generally ready to kick some ass this season.

Not today Drog

If you're wondering about the title, it is a reference to my yesterday's preview on why Arsenal need to beat Chelsea. Nothing about maintaining the gap to Manchester United, nothing about overcoming our recent bout of dire results against them and certainly nothing about shutting John Terry up.

... we also need the kind of youthful exuberance and enthusiasm that was shown by Aaron Ramsey following his equalizer at Upton Park. The 19-year old ran straight into the 500 traveling Arsenal supporters followed by Carlos Vela to celebrate his superbly taken equalizer.

Slightly older players like van Persie and Eduardo enthusiastically celebrate goals but not like Ramsey today or, for that matter, Cesc.

Arsenal return to action tomorrow afternoon against Everton at the Emirates. With the Bolton match canceled, there hasn't been much news in the last few days. What is the media's reaction to slow Arsenal news cycles? Create another Cesc-to-Spain rumour? Correct!

This time, Pep Guardiola has allegedly delayed renewing his contract until he receives a commitment from the Barca brass that they will bring Fabregas to Camp Nou this summer.

I wanted to wait to write today's piece until I had a chance to view the ATVO highlights of the first half of reserve match at Upton Park. The most we got to see of Sol was his jog onto the pitch. He didn't appear to have much to do at all in a first half that saw two Jay Emmanuel-Thomas goals put the Gunners in front at the break, the first being a deft header.

Since we find ourselves engaged in a 3-way title race at the end of February, from here on out, every draw will have us considering one of football's most philosophical questions: Was it two points lost, or a point gained?

I know. I did it after the Everton match. While many disagreed with me, though not most according to our poll, I believed we had gained a point on that day.

We're sort of left in limbo with regards to Vermaelen. Initial reports say he may have broken his leg. If that is the case then it is perhaps typical of our season that this injury takes place just weeks after we signed Sol Campbell.

In a season riddled with injuries, one position where we had blessings in abundant was in the central defence.

So, it's finally here... the run we've all been waiting for since the fixture list came out. I still hold the draw at Villa Park was a decent result for us and now it's United at home. Anything less than a win at home will have the pundits' knives out again to cut Arsenal's title chances to pieces.

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No, Arsene has not left us.....

Yesterday, Arsenal Ladies confirmed that they had appointed their new manager, Laura Harvey.

The new boss takes up her position after Terry Gervaise stepped down after just eight months in charge – he wanted to give all in his role as Academy Director.

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Still unsure as to whether Alex Song will play against Porto on Wednesday so I thought about Craig Eastmond – the player many hope to see take his place.

We probably all know that Arsene Wenger will replace Song with Denilson sadly, but let's take a look at just who Craig Eastmond is and where he came from.

Now we're getting to the business end of the season, a few players who could make the difference...

1. Mikel Arteta

Recently back from injury, Arteta has looked like he's never been away. One of the most naturally gifted players in the league, he seems to have taken up a position off the striker which offers even more points potential.

While talking about our little match tomorrow night, Arsene Wenger has hinted that Sol Campbell may start alongside Thomas Vemaelen in defence if he is fit able to get through ninety minutes, I say ninety minutes as I can't see this game going into extra time, not the way we score in the dying sconds.

Barcelona 4 Arsenal 1
It was, in one sense, horribly reminiscent of how Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League two years previously.
At Anfield, Theo made a lung-busting run, cut it across to a big centre forward and we scored. As things stood, Arsenal would go through to the Champions League semi-final.

Go Gunners..

Last week, the footballing duel of the decade was witnessed by mortals around the globe, and a few of them were lucky enough to be at ground zero. I had to make-do with a view on the tube and boy was it a spectacle or what!? Wenger billed the game as a walk through an art gallery; for the first 70 minutes, it was a walk through a morgue per say.

I think that has meant a lot more goals for me. If I had scored every goal that I missed against Burnley then my goal tally would mean I have scored two more goals than the games I have played since my injury. Bendtner has more humour in him than we realised but without doubt the [...]

Arsene Wenger always does two interviews prior to any game. One with the Arsenal TV and another with the press and it is always interesting to listen to what he has to say. I've watched the one with Arsenal TV and is at the moment still downloading the other one. One thing that strikes out [...]

The end result meant that for the first time this season, no goals were scored at the Grove and only the second time that Arsenal have failed to hit the back of the net (Chelsea was the last one to be able to do that). The match itself was no where near a classic. Jabs [...]

The irony of the draw for the upcoming World Cup Finals saw Arsenal players Nicklas Bendtner, Alex Song and Robin van Persie all in the same group, in group E. The Danish and Cameroon International were ...

During the past few weeks, over 58,000 soccer fans from around the world voted in the 2009-10 EPL Awards, a readers choice awards competition that recognizes the best in Premier League football — everything from players and managers to podcasts, blogs, commentators and TV shows of the 2009-2010 season.