Morning all and it's Friday, at last.

News is somewhat scarce but we'll muddle on and find something to talk about. We could start with the fact the club gave some futher insight into the appointments of Steve Bould and Neil Banfield. We know that the former is going to be Arsene's assistant but Banfield thought he was just going to have a chat about the reserves when the boss called him into his office:

The manager invited me into his office, and with Steve Bould going up to be assistant manager I thought that he may have pulled me in to explain his decision.

Morning all,

another week comes to an end as we push further forward into the "summer" and there are a few bits and pieces going on this morning.

Firstly, Jack Wilshere is off to Sweden to have a 'minor procedure' on his knee which the club say shouldn't significantly delay his comeback next season.

Morning all,

another week comes to an end as we push further forward into the "summer" and there are a few bits and pieces going on this morning.

Firstly, Jack Wilshere is off to Sweden to have a 'minor procedure' on his knee which the club say shouldn't significantly delay his comeback next season.

Morning all, last night I dreamed that Google launched a thing called Google Cake, where you could download ready made sponge cakes but you had to do all the icing and filling and stuff yourself. It got messy.

Anyway, plenty to be going on with this morning as the club yesterday confirmed that Pat Rice would be leaving after 44 years.

Morning all, last night I dreamed that Google launched a thing called Google Cake, where you could download ready made sponge cakes but you had to do all the icing and filling and stuff yourself. It got messy.

Anyway, plenty to be going on with this morning as the club yesterday confirmed that Pat Rice would be leaving after 44 years.

Morning all, a busy Friday ahead with our last home game of the season coming up tomorrow against Norwich and after a quiet week there's a glut of stuff to get through this morning.

We've been talking all week about how important third place is and the manager is quite well aware of that, especially in light of results in midweek.

Morning all, a busy Friday ahead with our last home game of the season coming up tomorrow against Norwich and after a quiet week there's a glut of stuff to get through this morning.

We've been talking all week about how important third place is and the manager is quite well aware of that, especially in light of results in midweek.

Morning all, welcome to the end of another week which has just flown by. Of course you could have had an interminably long week in which case I sympathise, but the end is nigh and Beer O'Clock beckons.

Early team news ahead of tomorrow's game against Stoke sees Tomas Rosicky recover from illness to take his place in the midfield.

Morning all, welcome to the end of another week which has just flown by. Of course you could have had an interminably long week in which case I sympathise, but the end is nigh and Beer O'Clock beckons.

Early team news ahead of tomorrow's game against Stoke sees Tomas Rosicky recover from illness to take his place in the midfield.

Morning all, welcome to Friday. Last night I dreamt that I won a contract to paint the stadium but the club's insistence that it be painted with Tippex made it a very fiddly and time-consuming job indeed. It was taking ages, and I wasn't allowed to hire anyone to help me.

Anyway, on with early team news ahead of tomorrow's crunch game against John Terry's Philandering Flock, and the manager has confirmed Mikel Arteta's absence but says the injury is just a 'bad sprain' and nothing more serious than that.

Morning all, welcome to Friday. Last night I dreamt that I won a contract to paint the stadium but the club's insistence that it be painted with Tippex made it a very fiddly and time-consuming job indeed. It was taking ages, and I wasn't allowed to hire anyone to help me.

Anyway, on with early team news ahead of tomorrow's crunch game against John Terry's Philandering Flock, and the manager has confirmed Mikel Arteta's absence but says the injury is just a 'bad sprain' and nothing more serious than that.

So, an Arse free weekend looms as we have to wait until Monday night before we take on Wigan. Under normal circumstances, it's frustrating, but because the two Merseyside club are set to kick lumps out of each other due to the fact Martin Atkinson is refereeing their FA Cup semi-final, we've got something to entertain us while we rest those slightly weary legs.

Morning all, today starts with a mild *boilk* but it's not my fault. It's all the fault of The Man from East Lower who has left his comfortable surrounds and is in Dublin instead and insisted that I drink beer with him.

"No," I said, "I am an abstemious man who rarely partakes of the demon drink, especially around this most holy of times.

Morning all. It's still pretty quiet despite the fact that we play QPR tomorrow. That should all change when Arsene meets the press later on in his usual pre-game press conference.

As yet there's no team news but I'm hoping no news is good news as far as that goes. The only player we have any real concern about is Laurent Koscielny who has spent the week having his knee knack looked at.

Morning all. It's still pretty quiet despite the fact that we play QPR tomorrow. That should all change when Arsene meets the press later on in his usual pre-game press conference.

As yet there's no team news but I'm hoping no news is good news as far as that goes. The only player we have any real concern about is Laurent Koscielny who has spent the week having his knee knack looked at.

Morning all.

after waiting 9 days for our game against Everton, there's no such delay before our next one, tomorrow against Aston Villa. The early news from the boss regarding injuries is encouraging. He says there's nothing serious, just a couple of 'bumps and bruises' since the win at Goodison, which is as good as it gets, I suppose.

Morning all.

after waiting 9 days for our game against Everton, there's no such delay before our next one, tomorrow against Aston Villa. The early news from the boss regarding injuries is encouraging. He says there's nothing serious, just a couple of 'bumps and bruises' since the win at Goodison, which is as good as it gets, I suppose.

Morning all,

a quiet weekend lies ahead. Everton play Sunderland in the FA Cup which means we have to wait until Wednesday to face them in the league. Earlier in the week I was quite glad of the extra few days rest but now, faced with the prospect of an Arsenal free weekend, I'm itchy for football.

Happy Friday to you all. Normally today we'd be all giddy and excited with the football about to be thrust upon us at the weekend, but we have a Saturday and Sunday free of Arsenal.

And as I said yesterday, as much as Monday night football irritates me I'm kinda glad we've got a bit of extra rest after Tuesday night.

Happy Friday to you all. Normally today we'd be all giddy and excited with the football about to be thrust upon us at the weekend, but we have a Saturday and Sunday free of Arsenal.

And as I said yesterday, as much as Monday night football irritates me I'm kinda glad we've got a bit of extra rest after Tuesday night.

Morning all,

there'll be an early press conference today, I'd imagine, before we make the trip northwards to Liverpool for tomorrow's game. We do have some early team news from the manager, and the good part is there doesn't seem to be anybody banjaxed by the midweek internationals.

There's nothing sinister about van Persie only playing 45 minutes for Holland, according to Arsene:

It was planned by his manager because he knows we have a tough schedule.

Morning all,

there'll be an early press conference today, I'd imagine, before we make the trip northwards to Liverpool for tomorrow's game. We do have some early team news from the manager, and the good part is there doesn't seem to be anybody banjaxed by the midweek internationals.

There's nothing sinister about van Persie only playing 45 minutes for Holland, according to Arsene:

It was planned by his manager because he knows we have a tough schedule.

Good morning, Sunday draws ever closer yet we wait for team news. This morning's Mirror says Koscielny and Gibbs should both be fit but also says that Koscielny has been called up to the France squad when he hasn't.

Arsene will meet the members of the press today ahead of what is being called the most important North London derby in his 16 year reign.

Good morning, Sunday draws ever closer yet we wait for team news. This morning's Mirror says Koscielny and Gibbs should both be fit but also says that Koscielny has been called up to the France squad when he hasn't.

Arsene will meet the members of the press today ahead of what is being called the most important North London derby in his 16 year reign.

So, according to pretty much all the media reports this morning, Arsene Wenger went 'crazy' at the players during a training ground meeting yesterday.

Having stewed overnight on what he'd seen against Milan, he gave them bollocking/rollocking/dressingdown type thing and, frankly, who can blame him?

So, according to pretty much all the media reports this morning, Arsene Wenger went 'crazy' at the players during a training ground meeting yesterday.

Having stewed overnight on what he'd seen against Milan, he gave them bollocking/rollocking/dressingdown type thing and, frankly, who can blame him?

Right then, after a week which has been dominated by two craggy faced managers (so much so that Fabio Capello was in my post-apocalyptic dream last night wearing a gigantic gold hooped earring), it's time to turn our attention to the stuff that really matters.

Arsenal play Sunderland tomorrow and under Martin O'Neill they've been about 61 times better than they were under Mrs Doubtfire.

Right then, after a week which has been dominated by two craggy faced managers (so much so that Fabio Capello was in my post-apocalyptic dream last night wearing a gigantic gold hooped earring), it's time to turn our attention to the stuff that really matters.

Arsenal play Sunderland tomorrow and under Martin O'Neill they've been about 61 times better than they were under Mrs Doubtfire.

"Not good enough."

Three words used often by football fans to describe aspects of the club they support. They're used in relation to certain players, performances, the manager, the board, the price of a pint and a pie, how their club handles various communications, pretty much anything they've got the hump with for one reason or another.

"Not good enough."

Three words used often by football fans to describe aspects of the club they support. They're used in relation to certain players, performances, the manager, the board, the price of a pint and a pie, how their club handles various communications, pretty much anything they've got the hump with for one reason or another.

Later this morning Arsene will meet the press for his pre-Aston Villa press conference. And beyond the normal information we get from one of these gatherings, I have to say I'm really curious as to how it will go down.

It'll be the first time he's faced the media since Sunday's defeat to United and that reaction to his decision to take off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Later this morning Arsene will meet the press for his pre-Aston Villa press conference. And beyond the normal information we get from one of these gatherings, I have to say I'm really curious as to how it will go down.

It'll be the first time he's faced the media since Sunday's defeat to United and that reaction to his decision to take off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Morning all,

let's start with early team news ahead of Sunday's game against United and there's nothing good regarding Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard will miss the game, Arsene says he has 'no chance' of playing and the earliest we'll be seeing him is against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Clearly that's a big blow.

Morning all,

let's start with early team news ahead of Sunday's game against United and there's nothing good regarding Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard will miss the game, Arsene says he has 'no chance' of playing and the earliest we'll be seeing him is against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Clearly that's a big blow.

Happy Friday the 13th to you.

Of course it's only unlucky if you're in certain parts of the world and if you believe in superstition. And the only superstition I believe in these days is the one Stevie Wonder belts out. Still, I hope your evening is filled with all the beautiful things this day brings: escaped lunatics wearing hockey masks and eviscerating people with a chainsaw.

Happy Friday the 13th to you.

Of course it's only unlucky if you're in certain parts of the world and if you believe in superstition. And the only superstition I believe in these days is the one Stevie Wonder belts out. Still, I hope your evening is filled with all the beautiful things this day brings: escaped lunatics wearing hockey masks and eviscerating people with a chainsaw.

Good morning and welcome to a Friday ahead of what's going to be a fairly quiet weekend for us. We don't play until Monday at 7.45 (on ESPN too wouldn't it be ironic after weeks of not getting penalties if we got a pelanty?).

Ahead of that game the manager has revealed that Robin van Persie won't play, which is only to be expected.

Good morning and welcome to a Friday ahead of what's going to be a fairly quiet weekend for us. We don't play until Monday at 7.45 (on ESPN too wouldn't it be ironic after weeks of not getting penalties if we got a pelanty?).

Ahead of that game the manager has revealed that Robin van Persie won't play, which is only to be expected.

So, Thierry's return has now gone from possible to probable, the number 12 shirt is set to be handed to him and now we just have to wait and see if he can do the business.

On today's Arsecast, my esteemed colleague from Gunnerblog makes the very good point that there's never been a footballer (Beckham apart, perhaps) quite so conscious of their own image as Thierry Henry.

So, Thierry's return has now gone from possible to probable, the number 12 shirt is set to be handed to him and now we just have to wait and see if he can do the business.

On today's Arsecast, my esteemed colleague from Gunnerblog makes the very good point that there's never been a footballer (Beckham apart, perhaps) quite so conscious of their own image as Thierry Henry.