We have turned a corner to a certain extent in terms of defending. With the likes of Vermaelan, Koscielny, Mertesacker filling the heart of our defence we have added a certain solidarity to our defending. I'm not saying it's been completely fixed, it hasn't, however, I for one feel like we can finally hold onto [.

The 25 year-old centre-back Johann Djourou has already been at Arsenal for nine years after working his way through the Academy, and it has been revealed today that he has now signed a two-year extension to his current deal. It was announced on the official Swiss Football Federation's website that he will now remain at [.

The 25 year-old centre-back Johann Djourou has already been at Arsenal for nine years after working his way through the Academy, and it has been revealed today that he has now signed a two-year extension to his current deal. It was announced on the official Swiss Football Federation's website that he will now remain at [.

Just a couple of weeks ago Arsene Wenger had a full team of players on the treatment table, but ahead of tonights game against Bolton the Arsenal injury list has reduced by half. Bacary Sagna may have only played a few minutes on Sunday, but it was a relief to see him back after three [...]

By 1970's Gooner Fabiansky Needs to improve his kicking. Other than that had a good game. Came out to collect the high balls when he could and relieved the pressure that we all feel when crosses come in. 6 Coquelin Improves with every game and plays with confidence. With Jenkinson still out I think he will be a very able understudy to Sagna.

Remember our last FA Cup game? One of the great moments in the history of the Emirates. An average performance completely dismissed by 5 seconds of theatre. Today I would love to see a 90 minute performance which will raise the despair around the ground following 3 defeats.

We have to accept that we are not going to be Champions this year yes, even you Peaches.

Remember our last FA Cup game? One of the great moments in the history of the Emirates. An average performance completely dismissed by 5 seconds of theatre. Today I would love to see a 90 minute performance which will raise the despair around the ground following 3 defeats.

We have to accept that we are not going to be Champions this year yes, even you Peaches.

There is a glimmer of hope amidst the sea of negativity that Arsenal have been swimming in recently. Some players are close to making their return after serious injuries. Of course, as we have seen with Wilshere recently and with others in the past, getting hopes up when it comes to injuries and Arsenal is not a smart choice.

The Swiss centre-back Johann Djourou has been at Arsenal for many years, and it was hoped that he would grow into a world-class centre-back, but after seven years at the club (He's 25 now) he is still nothing but a bit part-player at the Emirates. He played a record 22 games for Arsenal last season, [.

The Swiss centre-back Johann Djourou has been at Arsenal for many years, and it was hoped that he would grow into a world-class centre-back, but after seven years at the club (He's 25 now) he is still nothing but a bit part-player at the Emirates. He played a record 22 games for Arsenal last season, [.

The Arsenal youngster Nicolas Yennaris was thrown in at the deep end on his League debut for the Gunners when he replaced Johann Djourou against Man United last weekend. He was tasked with keeping Nani at bay, and he certainly did a better job that Djourou. Although Arsenal lost, Yennaris was more than happy with [.

The Arsenal youngster Nicolas Yennaris was thrown in at the deep end on his League debut for the Gunners when he replaced Johann Djourou against Man United last weekend. He was tasked with keeping Nani at bay, and he certainly did a better job that Djourou. Although Arsenal lost, Yennaris was more than happy with [.

Sorry about the title, but I can't resist a good pun if possible. Misleading as it might be, I must stress that I am not saying Johan Djourou deserves any credit for his performance against Manchester United.

However, for all the criticism surrounding Arsene Wenger for his choice to remove Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain just as he'd made our equaliser and was at the centre of everything good we were doing, a rather more bold move by the boss has gone largely ignored: replacing the more experienced Djourou, terrible as he was, for Premier League debutant Nico Yennaris, a move that proved more successful than bringing on Andrey Arshavin later.

Dateline 22 January 2012, this date will go down in history, it is the date the fans at the Emirates turned on Arsene Wenger.

The fans booed the team off at half-time and were rewarded when youngster Nico Yennaris replaced the hapless and hopeless Djourou who becomes a bigger liability every time he puts on an Arsenal shirt.

Understandably, none of our regular authors were inclined to write a match report following yesterday's game, so you will all have to suffer the thoughts of someone who will I'm sure, not be expressing the mainstream opinion on this site.

I couldn't go to the game as I had to work. I followed the live commentary on BBC Sport football, listened to the radio phone in on my way home and watched the lowlights on MotD through the lattice of my fingers clamped to my face.

Arsenal 1 (Van Persie 71) Man United 2 (Valencia 45, Welbeck 81)
(Premiership)

The bare facts make for grim reading. Defeat to United leaves us fifteen points behind them, and eighteen off the pace set by their city rivals. Our own neighbours remain ten points above us despite their loss earlier in the day, and that critical fourth spot is still an elusive five points away.

By 1970's Gooner Sczesny Couldn't do much about the two goals. Saved well when called upon to do so. 8 Djourou Shouldn't start again as a full back. And I don't see him starting as a centre back again either. He should be sold in the summer as part of a general clear out that is badly needed at the club.

This game was so utterly predictable. The unpredictable part of it was that young Oxlade-Chamberlain started and was arguably our best player, also that Nico Yennaris came on at half time for the hapless Djourou, this also swung the game in our direction. These two good managerial decisions were then more than negated when the Ox was take off and replaced by our lazy fat Russian.

Wenger made two very poor decisions today:

1. Starting Djourou at right back. Yennaris played well once he came on.

2. Subbing Arshavin on for Oxlade-Chamberlain. We lost energy and attacking intent, Arshavin gave the ball away, and was just utterly poor defending the second United goal.

My earliest memory of Manchester United was the 4-5 home defeat on 1st February 1958 which I watched from my usual position on the corner to the right of the North Bank. At the time it was called the best game ever seen in an English League fixture. It was the last game that United played in England before the fateful Munich disaster, only five days later, in which twenty three passengers and crew were either killed or died later from injuries sustained in the crash, among them were eleven United players and staff.

Fulham vs Newcastle 5-2 Goals Highlights 2012 Video Dempsey hat trick Ben Arfa Guthrie Murphy Zamora is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Fulham vs Newcastle 5-2 Goals Highlights 2012 Video Dempsey hat trick Ben Arfa Guthrie Murphy Zamora is a post from Soccer Blogger.

On Sunday, January 22, 2012, Manchester United will take the pitch against Arsenal at the Emirates. Cognizant of the simple fact that Manchester United handed Arsenal an 8-2 loss that is counted amongst the very worst in a period of 100 years, no one is giving much reason to believe that the Gunners have a chance against the Red Devils.

Nine years ago Swansea were bottom of the table of league football. Rock soild bottom. Next stop non-league oblivion. Yesterday they were flying high and should be rightly proud of themselves for turning the Arsenal over in royal fashion. They displayed hunger, desire, fight and unity in abundance and deserved the victory.

The most frustrating thing is that, after a disastrous start to the season, we had done the hard bit.

Written off by everyone, we somehow battled back up the table, all the way to the top four.

A team that seemed to have been cobbled together off the back of Steptoe and Son's wagon on the last day of the transfer window was starting to look like it could really do the business.

Swansea: 61% possession in the first half.

I almost feel like I should just leave it at that. Not often do we have less of the ball than opposing teams. This is what it felt like:

We got to celebrate early, then not so much after that.

I'm not sure I can recap this game. I'll try.

Swansea: 61% possession in the first half.

I almost feel like I should just leave it at that. Not often do we have less of the ball than opposing teams. This is what it felt like:

We got to celebrate early, then not so much after that.

I'm not sure I can recap this game. I'll try.

I have to assume that Per passes his late fitness test as I cannot consider the alternative, to be honest even if Per is still unwell, he is still probably a far better option for us than a fully fit Squillaci. There are rumours that Arteta is not fit, I hope these are not true. Szczesny Djourou; Per, Kos; Miguel Song, Arteta, Ramsey Walcott, RVP, Ox Obviously if Per fails his test, it

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.

Slow news weeks, obviously. Still, a couple of tidbits are noteworthy. Find out which legendary French striker is held in high regard by Gibbs and why our next transfer target could be a 16 year old. More after the jump.

When Thierry Henry re-joined the Gunners at the start of the month, there were questions regarding his potential worth to the team, but also his effect on the team chemistry that has progressed leaps and bounds since the start of the season- it's obvious that this is one of the most closely-knit and cohesive Arsenal team in years.

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

Ok then,

after a dull weekend of FA Cup action it's our turn tonight and we face Leeds at home. Last season this game was saved late on by a Cesc penalty. It was a pretty dour performance from us on the day and hopefully there'll be no repeat of that.

The manager has already said he's going to pick a strong side and while there's certainly going to be a measure of rotation, I don't know how much he can really do at the back.

Part 3 of the review, coming right at you.

Aaron Ramsey
Stats: 22 appearances (3 sub appearances), 6.71 average rating, 2 goals, 6 assists, 2 yellow cards.

On his first full season since coming back from the Shawcross Special, Ramsey found himself as our main playmaker with Wilshere's injury and Cesc's and Nasri's exits.

Keep Clam...and beat a Top-4 London Rival

Hey, remember that time I was freaking out because I was positive that Fulham F.C. were in a tailspin and I said manager Martin Jol was on the verge on getting fired if they didn't do well in their upcoming matches?

It was only two weeks ago.

After Vito Mannone moved to Hull on loan there was some suggestion that he had made available a space for non homegrown players to arrive.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. For the 2011/12 season we named five homegrown players over the age of 21, and 17 (the maximum allowed) non homegrown players.

Fulham 2-1 Arsenal

So, a pretty dismal start to the New Year, but perhaps a focus sharpener as this month's transfer window opens.

It was the ultimate clichéd game of two halves. Arsenal were pretty damn good in the first, creating loads of chances, passing neatly, very enjoyable to watch and well worth their advantage.

Arsene Wenger saw his team go from 1-0 up with six minutes to go against Fulham, and then collapse to a 2-1 defeat with the winner coming in the second minute of added time. Johann Djourou was sent off for a second yellow 13 minutes before the end which led Wenger to bring on Sebastien [...]

Fulham vs Arsenal 2-1 2012 Highlights Video Goals Koscielny Sidwell Zamora Djourou Red card Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Fulham vs Arsenal 2-1 2012 Highlights Video Goals Koscielny Sidwell Zamora Djourou Red card Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Fulham vs Arsenal 2012 ( Fulham Arsenal video below) Final score and result:- Fulham vs Arsenal 2-1 ( Sidwell, Zamora/ Koscielny) 2 January, 2012- Craven Cottage, London- 17.

The result against Wolves has made this game bigger and tougher than it should have been as there will now be an added pressure on the Gunners. Liverpool's win over Newcastle has also put them above Arsenal in fifth and only a win will see Arsenal climb over the Reds. Arsenal's margin of error was miniscule after the poor start to the season but it's almost vanished now.

The result against Wolves has made this game bigger and tougher than it should have been as there will now be an added pressure on the Gunners. Liverpool's win over Newcastle has also put them above Arsenal in fifth and only a win will see Arsenal climb over the Reds. Arsenal's margin of error was miniscule after the poor start to the season but it's almost vanished now.