How long have we been hoping for a result like this? We said for a long time that somebody will get a hiding from Arsenal sooner or later and today Blackburn – together with a handful of wasted bin bags, filled with nothing but hot air were taken to the Bin-Bangers.

How long have we been hoping for a result like this? We said for a long time that somebody will get a hiding from Arsenal sooner or later and today Blackburn – together with a handful of wasted bin bags, filled with nothing but hot air were taken to the Bin-Bangers.

Arsenal starlet Francis Coquelin has hailed the locker room impact of legendary on-loan striker Thierry Henry, insisting that the veteran does not need to be on the pitch all the time to offer his leadership.

Henry's two-month spell at the Emirates began with a bang as his decisive goal knocked Leeds United out of the FA Cup but the Frenchman has since been sidelined with injury concerns.

Likely starters

There's a trip to Bolton looming in midweek, where we'll continue our climb up the league table in search of that Champions League spot. But first there's the matter of the FA Cup to deal with. A small matter or a big matter? Depends on the individuals. Arsene Wenger loves a bit of this competition but not over qualification to Europe's premier competition.

Sczesny will do well to rectify his recent mistakes than worrying about his team mates' dressing

Been absent without a post for a few days now. Plethora of reasons why I didn't write anything new. From work to busy personal schedule (yes, there's more to me than just football), to still being lost for words on what that goal on Monday did to me to just being pure and utterly lazy.

Morning all.

The dust has settled somewhat after Thierry's permasmile-inducing return against Leeds the other night, and such was the joy at the goal it's only now that I'm taking in the fact it's knocked Leeds out of the cup too. I do enjoy knocking Leeds out of the cup.

Now, however, we have to turn our attention back to the Premier League.

It was billed one the homecoming for Thierry Henry and in the end, the ending matched the expectation at the start. A single goal separated Arsenal from Leeds United and advances us to the next stage of the competition. A home tie against Aston Villa is the prize that we got and it was a moment of history being reenacted that sent us through.

Will need to step up tonight

What a wonderful night of football yesterday was, if only for the one game which mattered. Nicklas Bendtner did us no favour as he squandered an early chance to put his team ahead but Sunderland won it right at the death to beat Roberto Mancini's Manchester City.

Mr Arsenal himself would be proud of this team

One last job was required of Arsenal on the last day of 2011 and the job was duly delivered. 3 points was what we wanted to see Arsenal end the year on a high and it was a performance that deserved exactly that. The win moves us to fourth in the league, just 3 points behind Tottenham and 9 points behind both Manchester clubs.

That feeling of joy

Another 3 points in the bag that puts us level on points with Chelsea and just 2 points behind Tottenham, until their match tonight at least. Not the most accomplished of performance you will ever see from Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side but don't let anyone tell you that we didn't deserve to get all 3 points from this game.

The young one putting one over the old figure

The last of the Carling Cup quarterfinal fixtures were completed yesterday and surprisingly, Crystal Palace advanced to the next stage. Which leaves Manchester City, Liverpool and Cardiff as the other teams capable of winning this competition. The draw sees the Premier League sides face off against each other and whoever comes out victorious from that clash will probably win this cup.

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin was clearly disappointed after the Gunners crashed out of the Carling Cup, on Tuesday. Speaking to Arsenal Player after the game, the Frenchman explained that the players did well against a strong ...

Video highlights and reaction match report -

So Carling Cup defeat last night, and late defeat at that, but the overwhelming sense I have this morning is that of team that deserved more. Arsenal's youngsters, combined with some experience, more than held their own against the most expensively assembled squad in modern football.

Someone give him back his snood

You know what comes after November? December. What after December? January. Brilliant. You know what comes in January? In so many different walks of life, January usually means a new year and a new beginning. In football, it means the transfer window reopens once again.

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin revealed that football was not his primary sport as a child as tennis was the one he used to practice. Speaking to Arsenal Player, the Frenchman explained that it was his cousin ...

Morning all,

no doubt you've seen yesterday's announcement but to answer a number of questions that have cropped up since:

1 Yes, it will be available to purchase online, via this very website.

2 Yes, I will ship it to [insert your country name here]

3 Yes, there will be an eBook version

4 Yes, it's 99% certain there will be a wider-release paperback edition in the new year because of the fact this first print run is very limited and therefore a bit of a collector's item.

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin was pleased after the Gunners reached the next round of the Carling Cup, on Tuesday. Speaking to Arsenal Player after the game, the Frenchman explained that despite fielding a young squad, Arsene ...

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin confessed that he didn't expect to feature so much for the Gunners in this first part of the season. Impressive against Manchester United at Old Trafford and Tottenham Hotspur at White Hard ...

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin revealed that the players are very disappointed after Sunday's defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. Speaking to Arsenal Player after the 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane, the Frenchman admitted that the Gunners didn't ...

Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin confessed he was surprised when manager Arsene Wenger decided to utilise him in yesterday's North London Derby. Speaking after the game, the 20-year old however explained that once on the pitch his ...

Short-lived joy

It's only October and yet, this is already our 4th defeat in the Premier League. Depending on where your standpoint is, one could judge this latest one. For me, it was far worse than the hiding we got at Old Trafford. Not least because it's the North London Derby but also because unlike the United game, we had the players on the pitch that could've matched them.

Good morning from a country reveling in the joy of Gandhi Jayanti (I hear a collective grumble of ‘fucking dry day' go through my college wing). In a stark removal from all the non-violence, Arsenal are polishing their shields, sharpening their swords and heading off to the Mordor side of North London to do battle with a motley collection of chimps, clowns and Tom Huddlestone masquerading as a football club.

Hello there. I celebrated my birthday in fine style last night by spilling a whole pint right over the Mugsmasher's pants. I think I might make that some kind of tradition. Thank you to everyone for their kind wishes via Twitter etc, much appreciated.

We'll start this morning with the news that Jack Wilshere did indeed have his surgery yesterday.

We won against Shrewsbury Town! Woooooo...*cough* *cough* erm, yeah. A 3-1 huff-puff win against League Two opposition is hardly the tonic you'd want after the League run Arsenal are having at the moment, but I'd prefer to concentrate on the ‘win' part of things for now.

***

Team Selection.

The duo who grab the limelight

It another win for Arsenal as we progressed through to the next round of the Carling Cup at the expense of plucky Shrewsbury Town. It was only our second win of the season and frankly, we'll just have to take that. There was a mixture of first team back ups and youngsters on display in the game yesterday.

Could he get a role in midfield?

There's no use hiding behind it. Today, Arsene Wenger will fully utilize the every corner of his squad. Suspension has robbed (but justified) us of Alex Song, Emmanuel Frimpong and Gervinho. Injuries have put paid to the hopes of seeing Kieran Gibbs, Nicklas Bendtner and Sebastien Squillaci.

Could he get a role in midfield?

There's no use hiding behind it. Today, Arsene Wenger will fully utilize the every corner of his squad. Suspension has robbed (but justified) us of Alex Song, Emmanuel Frimpong and Gervinho. Injuries have put paid to the hopes of seeing Kieran Gibbs, Nicklas Bendtner and Sebastien Squillaci.

Written by Gooner in Exile

Some time ago I wrote an article slightly jokingly about the vines that Arsene had planted and how we were now seeing them produce some wonderful fruits. A few months on and with another trophyless season under the belt there is a serious question to be asked.

I have just woken from the a most fantastic dream. I dreamt that Tom invented a feature for the website which meant that any player could have their legs replaced by a skateboard with just the click of a button.

All I had to do was log into a special section, type the player's name into a box and click 'wheelify'.