...but off it, the football world celebrates complete incompetence and negligence.

Following the defeat at Chelsea I decided to give myself a little time to mull things over. A chance to let the hysteria die down. Losing the last game before the international break gives everyone two weeks to dwell on the shortcomings – in our case that we're still unable to rough it against tough tacklers, that we flatter to deceive against the Mancs and Chelsea, and that Wenger's refusal to ‘buy big' means we haven't won a trophy in five seasons, obviously.

Jay Leigh

Yep, it's that time of year again folks. Manchester United or, on this occasion, Chelsea, are touring their respective city in an open top bus showing off the Premier League trophy once again. Liverpool, meanwhile, are insisting that next year will be their year and their first title in decades whilst Arsenal have fallen away at the business end of the season and spent the last few weeks glancing nervously over their shoulder for threats to their Champions League Place.

The rumours surrounding the Arsenal goalkeeping situation just refuse to go away, despite Fulham issuing a denial that Mark Schwarzer has asked for a transfer to Arsenal. The latest "merry-go-round" rumours are being sparked by another story that Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill resigned because Brad Friedel has asked to rejoin his old boss Mark Hughes [.

19.20

"We have a basic squad and I believe in the squad I have, but if I can make an addition – two or three maximum – then we will do it."

Arsenal aren't like any other team. They are a team who suffer a ridiculous amount of injuries and after the past few seasons have been curtailed in some form by injuries to key members of the squad, its time to plan for these injuries because there is certainly no progress being made in stopping the injuries.

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger met up with a Kenyan commentator this week, Ampher Apidi, while working at the World Cup in South Africa, and for some reason granted him a personal interview. He told Apidi that the two best players he had seen at the World Cup were Mesut Ozil, and surprisingly Giovanni Dos Santos, [.

Arsenal 2-2 Everton

A point gained or two points dropped? Both; the former for us, and the latter for Everton.

Let's face it, we were very lucky indeed, scraping a late draw on a day when nothing went right and few people covered themselves in glory. It was a bad day in the office, one to file away in the recesses of the mind.

It felt like a horrific re-imagining of the European match last season, but this game was very different despite what sly sports commentators made out. If you look at the game on paper we had 18 attempts to their 11 (source: BBC website), we were just not clinical enough when it came to finishing and Arshavin had one of his worst games since joining.

Almunia s*cks!

So you've (hopefully) read my first installment, of players I would like to see Wenger buy. Now you'll see the nasty side of me with players I think need to be sold, or could be sold without weakening the team.

11G in sync with Conor, looks into the individual cases of players who should be leaving Arsenal before the next season begins.

Same format as last year all change at half time, but this time the reserves and the first team were more mixed. No Almunia though, which maybe says something we saw the second, third and fourth choice keepers but not Big Al. No Denilson he's injured. No world cup players they [...]

A couple of stories today:

First, the Cesc quotes being circulated yesterday were old. I thought it was weird that Cesc would be giving an interview, since he's on vacation and has been pretty quiet about this whole thing. Apparently the interview was given some time ago to a magazine for some gym or something.

Yesterday marked the closing of the transfer window, something we Gooners have come to fear/put all our hopes into. In past years, we've made some rather stunning purchases, but alas, the most obvious one of the entire summer never came to fruition. Call it what you may, from Wenger's intransigence to perceived failure of the higher-ups to nab his transfer targets, the purchase of a quality goalkeeper which the majority of fans thought was an obvious necessity never materialised in quite underwhelming fashion.

In his press conference after the Braga game Arsene was asked if he expected Wilshere to play a central role so early in the season. In his usual forthright manner Arsene shared his wisdom,

Honestly, no. But football teaches you one thing be open-minded and never have a definite opinion.

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Chels$ki V/s The Beautiful GameIf there ever was an opportunity this season for the Gunners to show that they were genuine title contenders, this is the time.

If there ever was a day when the Gunners would have to assemble to prove that they had the potential to defeat the leaders, this is the day.

Just a quick update today, and it looks like we may well have a fully fit squad shortly after the conclusion of the international break.

Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Vermaelen, Almunia, Nicklas Bendtner and Abou Diaby are all expected to be 100% fit after the international break, giving us a nice boost to hopefully kick-start another run at Chelsea after we slipped even further behind on Sunday afternoon.

The word "drog" should be in the dictionary(no not the urban one). "Drog" verb- Completely dominating one's opponent in the style of an Ivorian footballing machine.

It was an all too familiar story at Stamford Bridge. Dider Drogba, 12 goals in 12 games against Arsenal.

Chelsea 2 (Drogba 8, 23) Arsenal 0
(Premiership)

A little over twenty four hours on, and this is no less painful than the second Mike Dean put the whistle to his lips, confirming that once again, Didier Drogba had put us back in our place, trailing both Chelsea and United by a distance that, while not insurmountable, would take a monumental recovery to come back from.

Have you seen Johan Djourou – he's grown his hair during his absence and has dreadlocks, he looks great.

Some good news on the injury front, Johan Djourou has said in an interview on AFC.com that he should soon be back to full fitness, certainly by the end of this season. I'm glad to hear that, not only for him but if the going gets tough towards the final few games and either Gallas, Vermaelen or Sol get injured, we won't have to see Silvestre in the defence – we might yet get to see a fit, fresh and eager to play, Johan step in.

Premier League and FA Cup team news - Barclays Premier League - ESPN SoccernetSo, here's the latest rundown that might have an impact on your team for this weekend and beyond...Arsenal are a bit of a disaster at the back with Song suspended and Gallas and Campbell hurt. This reduces the value of Almunia pretty significantly - I still think they'll beat Burnley handily but they may do so 5-2 vs.

Arsenal travel to the second city today, as they face Birmingham City in a crucial day in the title race. Arsenal lie 2 points behind 1st placed Man United , & 1 point behind Chelsea.

Our featured played Nicklas Bendtner has shaken off a ankle problem in time to face Birmingham, where he arguably made his name and became ready to be an established first teamer at Arsenal.

There was a small sign on the horizon for Mexican hitman Carlos Vela as he returned to the bench in Arsenal's shocking draw against Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.

The young 21 years old got the call by Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger for the 18-man strong squad, but Wenger never had in his mind to let the young Mexican play against the Blues.

In yesterday's preview there was the worry about where the goals might come from in the absence of Arshavin, Fabregas and others. After 93 1/2 minutes I have to admit I was just beginning to think the goal might not come.

Wolves were on the ropes having taken a pounding and in the final furlong Arsenal pipped them to the post finding their second wind late in the innings to win the match.

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been begged by Arsenal fans to find a top-class replacement for the 32 year-old Manuel Almunia, and today he gave his first hint that he may be looking for a replacement in the near future, but refuses to discuss his transfer plans until the end of the season. "I don't [.

Clearly this Arsenal side is woefully short on quality, quantity and height. If we are to win the league make Europe next season, it is imperative we make some massive buys. We all saw what happened to Liverpool right? City came into the scene, splashed a few dozen gazillion pounds and Voila! Champions League football baby!

Who can handle their nerve in the final weeks of the Premier League?

Last weekend the Premier League was full of drama, the story of ‘when 3 became 2′ as finally, Arsenal's legs went in the final stretch, United gained a ‘leg up' and Chelsea looked as if they were start to roast theirs.

Coming into every transfer window, our squad is analysed, and a position on the field is pinpointed as "The Weakness". From that moment on, every player who can fill that role is tipped as a potential signing, with no attention paid to the player's current allegiances, squad role, or value. Or even if he is any good.

I am very confident [we'll do better than last season]," he said. "We know in England that the Premier League is the biggest league in the world and everybody invests a lot of money.

"We invest in our work, in our beliefs, in the quality of our behaviour and I am confident that will pay off.

Acouple of snippets of news today regarding our illustrious Number One goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and our I'll-be-best-in-world striker Nicklas Bendtner. The first story seems to pour cold water on the ongoing rumours tha Arsene Wenger is going to sell Almunia to make room for a replacement, as the Spanish stopper has no intention of leaving [.

It is more than a little concerning that there are only seven days left before the competitive start to the season. We have a big problem in the goalkeeping position, Fabianski is not good enough, Almunia has not been playing and is Szczesny ready for a game as big as Anfield? We are desperately short at the back both in terms of centre back numbers, but the Legia game has also shown that our

After months of hitting out at Barcelona for their tapping up of Cesc, the official site have lowered themselves to their level with this article with Bakary Sagna talking about Emir Spahic, the Montpellier defender.

Its the lowest of the low, and just months after arsenal.

In a little over two days, Arsenal will step out at Anfield for the first game of a season which will hopefully end with Cesc lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley.
And yet, we enter it with a squad which is at least two or three players short, and the failures of the past few seasons ready to be exploited even more.

It is the day before our big kick-off and one of the issues we all wanted sorted at the end of last season, hasn't been.

So how do you solve a problem like a dodgy keeper?

What has been so strange is that we have clearly looked at other goalkeepers, ending in a bid for Mark Schwarzer which was rejected; but we haven't followed it up and actively looked to sort out a situation that not only unsettles the already unsettled defence but undermines all the hard work of the forward players when the keeper cocks it up and concedes a stupid goal.

Despite making two unsuccessful attempts to clear the ball from set-pieces and conceding at his near post, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Manual Almunia had a good game for the Gunners. Speaking after yesterday's 1-1 draw ...

A couple of things today:

First, the rumors around a possible Sebastien Squillaci transfer are reaching a bit of a crescendo, and it is being widely reported that Squillaci is in London for his physical. He has reportedly agreed personal terms (on a 3-year deal, supposedly), and Arsenal and Sevilla have reportedly agreed to a fee of £5.

Calamity keeper remains the best of an achingly bad lot It seems that Monsieur Wenger has made his bed... and now must lie in it. After a month in which Arsenal fans, football fans and Almunia's family assumed a goalkeeper would be bought, Arsene Wenger did not make a deadline day purchase. It is fair to say [.

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Good Save.. Or Is It!?

The week has gone and the transfer window is shut and Arsenal have not signed a new goal keeper.

Mark Schwarzer was touted to come in and even handed in a transfer request but the deal did not conclude for what ever reason. I am now not interested in why the deal did not happen but want to look forward.

Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1
In the same way that there were positives and negatives to be taken from Arsenal's performance, there are times when a draw feels like a point gained and there are times when it feels like two points dropped.
What's been odd about the draws against Liverpool and again against Sunderland, was that they were somewhere in the middle.

It won't be an exaggeration to say that this result was the shock of the season so far, at least in the Premier League. That is if you consider the reputation of the teams and their respective home and away form. But if you see the performance on the pitch on the day it is very difficult to say this was a shock.

Wenger sees the afternoon crumble against West Brom

The plan was clear. To maximize points in the easier stretch of games before the big showdown with Chelsea. The West Brom match was a clear opportunity to win three points. An golden opportunity for the Gunners to vault to the top of the table following Chelsea's loss against Man City.

Almunia, Turnbull, Fabianksi... you are all forgiven Remember the Moroccan keeper that celebrated sending a penalty without knowing that it had gone in? Well he is at it again. In a league game for FC Rabat this weekend Khalid Askri attempted to control a backpass, but only conceded in being tackled and letting in another [.

Having had a chance to reflect upon yesterday's poor result, I think there are a few things that need addressing if we are to sort ourselves out and make a proper challenge for the title.Goalkeeping: There is no doubt this has been woefully managed. Almunia makes an easy scapegoat for yesterday's defeat but this is not only shortsighted but also foolish.