Ever since Chamakh signed for Arsenal there has been a question, how will the Moroccan play with Van Persie in the same team. Arsene has in the past mentioned that he will look at various options including a change in formation, something that many fans have been demanding.

Intriguingly enough, we saw Van Persie in a deeper role against Wigan in the Carling Cup.

So, I'm going to keep writing about this until it is picked up as a major story. I've mentioned it a few times already in First Impressions but has anyone noticed the job that Sir Alex is doing at ManYoo this season? Seriously. Just incredible. And, yes, I still consider it to be incredible despite the @sskicking that they got from West Ham in the Carling Cup in mid-week.

Well, we have only ourselves to blame. We made a proper mess of the easiest group and somehow contrived to finish second, and will get a purple-and-blue gift wrapped Jack-in-the-box on Valentine's Day as a result. Arsenal have had more than decent luck in Champions League draws over the past few years, but good luck today would have meant getting Schalke, who topped their group and have Raul and Huntelaar playing up front.

Being Arsene's number one apologist there is a question that has been floating around out there that has been bothering me for a while: why did Wenger play a weakened side against Shakhtar and Braga away? His critics accuse him of arrogance and obstinacy; the fall out of these decisions being that we came runners up and now, unnecessarily, have to face Barcelona.

A bit of what's going on in Butt's Brain as West Ham dominated Manchester United in a 4-0 Carling Cup win yesterday, just days after United had beaten Blackburn 7-1. Amazing. West Ham's faith in Avram Grant is beginning to ... Continue reading →

In a way I find it slightly embarrassing that we are chasing the Carling Cup 'trophy' after dismissing it as being 'Mickey Mouse' in recent years.
When the Spuds won it I laughed. It wasn't a 'real' trophy and we had better things to aim for. Watching them parade the Carling Cup had me pissing my knickers.

Whether an individual is taking something seriously is often an extremely subjective question that only the person involved is able to clarify, and this has certainly been the case for Arsene Wenger's treatment of the much-derided Carling Cup.

However, with the Gunners now reaping the rewards of using the competition to get youngsters used to the pace and competition that exists in the top flight of English football, it appears that Wenger is finally being vindicated in his claim that this experimenting was still treating the competition seriously.

Whether an individual is taking something seriously is often an extremely subjective question that only the person involved is able to clarify, and this has certainly been the case for Arsene Wenger's treatment of the much-derided Carling Cup.

However, with the Gunners now reaping the rewards of using the competition to get youngsters used to the pace and competition that exists in the top flight of English football, it appears that Wenger is finally being vindicated in his claim that this experimenting was still treating the competition seriously.

We go into the 16th match day with a new outlook in the title race. Only a couple of weeks ago we were narrowing our eyes toward the two team race. Now our whites are exposed to five at the top in what is playing out as an unprecedentedly open title race.

On this edition of the EPL Talk Podcast, co-host Laurence McKenna and myself graze across this Huxleyian landscape and try to provide a map for the coming weekend.

By Chris Wright

Last night's Carling Cup tie between second city rivals Birmingham and Aston Villa was always going to be a tasty affair hence the considerable hoik in police presence and, during the game, the two sets of supporters provided a magnificent bristling alchemy of noise that married perfectly with the exciting, fractious football on display.

4-0 win over Man Utd in the Carling Cup and a dodgy decission of a disallowed goal against West Ham could not help the Mancs!

Just a couple of Arsenal stuff to get through today.

Injury news

Except for Samir Nasri who has a knee problem but is still expected to recover enough to feature in tomorrow's game against Fulham, all others maintained status quo. Robin Van Persie will be assessed after getting his first 70 minutes in a game since returning from a long lay-off.

Just a couple of Arsenal stuff to get through today.

Injury news

Except for Samir Nasri who has a knee problem but is still expected to recover enough to feature in tomorrow's game against Fulham, all others maintained status quo. Robin Van Persie will be assessed after getting his first 70 minutes in a game since returning from a long lay-off.

Former Manchester United and England defender Viv Anderson has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United's current youth players, questioning whether or not they're up to United standard. Anderson witnessed Sir Alex Ferguson's latest batch of youngsters crash out of the Carling Cup quarterfinals, and Avram Grant's West Ham side thoroughly taught young Red Devils such as Bebe and Federico Macheda a lesson amidst the snowy weather at Upton Park.

After a good weekend for the Premier League assistant referees last weekend, the refs will be looking to impress this week. Want to know whose taking charge of your game? Then now you can as I give you information on the men in black and how they will do in your team's matches.

Saturday

Arsenal vs.

The big freeze and the dismal failure of England's 2018 World Cup bid will not stop the Premier League from rolling on. Its game week 16, time to forget the disappointment, put the heating on and enjoy another weekend of Football.

Spurs enjoyed a much needed rest midweek and will be hoping to capitalise on any signs of a Birmingham hangover following their Carling Cup exploits.

Arsenal 2 Wigan 0
I could moan about Carlos Vela's failure to take numerous chances in the first half. I could equally moan about Theo Walcott's woeful finishing and poor crossing in the second half.
But that would be missing the point. In a sense, the Wigan match was exactly the match we've been waiting for all season - a 2-0 victory, where the opposition didn't create anything and it was just a solid victory.

By Richard Clarke
What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.
Arsène Wenger knows the title bid of his Arsenal side was lucky to survive November. But, having done so, they are now in prime position to steal a march on their rivals during December.
The Frenchman took his team into eight games last month.

No doubt there abound all manner of permutations depending on the various scorelines tonight, but there is a pleasing simplicity about the fact that victory tonight will guarantee us top-spot in the group. This would be a handy time to do away with the latest statistical quirk being waved in our direction by that dastardly band of would-be detractors: apparently our heroes are yet to win outside Londinium this season.

Forget that he played in the World Cup, he was rushed back to lead the line for the Dutch but never actually looked quite right.

Moreover, the lone striker role is just not playing to the strengths of the spikey former Feyenoord man.

I am hugely excited about the new deep lying forward and or roaming number 10, tip of midfield trio, free role thingey he has going on for him now.

The stage is set this weekend for several mouthwatering matches in the Premier League. Top of the list is undoubtedly Manchester United against Arsenal, two teams vying for the Premier League title. And two teams who are capable of playing some jawdropping football.

So who do you think will win on Monday, the Red Devils or the Gunners?

Yaya Toure scored two goals for Man City against West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday, December 11, 2010. Manchester City eventually beat West Ham 3-1. Toure's first goal was an absolute cracker. Look at the power on the shot- you would think that Green should have been able to stop it, but the power [.

With Rio Ferdinand out for the early part of the season, Jonny Evans was counted on to partner Nemanja Vidic in the center of United's defense. After the experienced he earned over the previous few seasons, you would think that the Northern Ireland international would be up to the task.

However, it's been a severe struggle from the word go for the 22-year-old.

I have to admit, I took it pretty hard losing to ManUtd on Monday. I got a lot of it off my chest in yesterday's post, though I really cannot remember what I wrote. Hopefully it was coherent. After being in a funk for most of the day, I decided to at least give myself some perspective to lift my spirits.

It is well known in footballing circles that Eden Hazard wants to move to Arsenal, something he hinted at in his recent comments about his future. Some sources have claimed that he will definitely join the club in the summer after he asked for another season in France last time round, however I hold no information of my own to validate or quash those claims.

Much has been made of Arsenal's inability to win the big games, and how it may be the undoing of their title challenge. So after Monday night's defeat at Old Trafford, and with the boxing day visit of Chelsea to come, should Arsenal be looking towards the Carling Cup as their only hope of silverware?

Liverpool have reportedly held talks over the potential signing of Charles N'Zogbia.
According to the Daily Express, the Reds are ready to table an offer of around £7 million after scouts were dispatched to watch the Wigan winger at close quarters.
It's not the first time Liverpool representatives have been to watch the 24-year-old Frenchman, with three Anfield scouts - including chief talent-spotter Eduardo Macia - allegedly deployed to monitor N'Zogbia during Wigan's Carling Cup victory against Swansea in October.

There has been alot of speculation in the media in the past few weeks with A.C Milan, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Everton all being linked with Bendtner I suspected it was nothing more than paper talk. Personally, I've always hoped Bendtner will stay put at Arsenal, being my favourite player and knowing the potential he has, It looks as if Bendtner is determined to fight for his place in that starting Arsenal XI.

On this most festive of days, what with all the snow and stuff, I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and thank you all for reading this blog over the past 12 months there are too many people to thank without leaving a few out so that will be something to write with a little thought next week.

Second in the league

Semi final of the Carling Cup

Through to the last 16 of the Champions League

Yet to play in the FA Cup

The best stadium in the Premiership

Zero debt

The only way is up.

Despite what some of the readers may think, I'm not a supporter of the Big Four clubs in the Premier League. I enjoy watching them. But I enjoy watching them the same as I do the other 16 that form the Premier League. But what I do especially enjoy is a couple of days like Monday and Tuesday where the headlines didn't revolve around the massive clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool winning matches.

One of our Guest Posters, AFC Chazza, was at the Wigan match last night, and wants to give his Player Ratings to see if fellow Gooners agree with his comments. Over to you Chazza... Arsenal Player Ratings v Wigan Szczesny: 6.5- solid performance from the current number 2. Not really challenged, but handled the few Wigan half [.

Arsene Wenger saw his much-changed team beat Wigan 2-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, but although Man Utd were knocked out, it doesn't mean that Arsenal are now certainties to win their first trophy in five years. They are certainly now hot favourites with the bookies. He was asked if Arsenal fans were [.

By Eric Beard, ready for 8 Crazy Nights.

The ineffable presence of English cup football reigned supreme at Upton Park as Avram Grant, the Hebrew Hammer himself, received four of his eight gifts for Hanukkah early. The Hammers somehow smashed four goals into the Manchester United net and ended Sir Alex Ferguson's side's 29-match unbeaten run.

By Eric Beard, ready for 8 Crazy Nights.

The ineffable presence of English cup football reigned supreme at Upton Park as Avram Grant, the Hebrew Hammer himself, received four of his eight gifts for Hanukkah early. The Hammers somehow smashed four goals into the Manchester United net and ended Sir Alex Ferguson's side's 29-match unbeaten run.

Manchester United were in action last night in the quarter final of the Carling Cup against depleted West Ham United; the Hammers have been struggling all season, their manager Avram Grant is said to be on the verge of being sacked. Ahead of the game - and ignoring the fact that United rarely have an easy time of it when visiting the Boleyn Ground, United will have fancied their chances of

Written by 26may1989

The important bit is that we are through to the League Cup semi-finals and now stand as favourites it's no longer a case of a good opportunity to win the trophy, it will now rank as a significant disappointment if we don't lift the League Cup in March.

Did well to get into spaces but no end product

As snow descended on the Grove, Arsenal were faced with a chance to get another step closer to a trophy, albeit the Carling Cup. Our first home game of the competition put us up against Wigan with the ticket to the last four being the prize of the match.

Did well to get into spaces but no end product

As snow descended on the Grove, Arsenal were faced with a chance to get another step closer to a trophy, albeit the Carling Cup. Our first home game of the competition put us up against Wigan with the ticket to the last four being the prize of the match.

By Chris Wright

Manchester United manager (and he of the charming red beanie) Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted to being taken aback by the manner in which his side were soundly whipped by West Ham in the Carling Cup at a snow-bound Upton Park last night surrendering their unbeaten start to the season and their 29-game unbeaten run in the process.