It's been 7 days since the beginning of the Dragon Year – and here we are 7 points ahead of Barca in the league table. Our 3-1 over Zaragoza and Barca's 0-0 (their first scoreless game in 15 matches) made sure of that. In a league where the margins of error between a league title or a bridesmaid finish is a hairline, 7 points is gold – it gives us that all-important precious margin for error: to account for that somewhat inevitable match that will see us drop points against a Levante, Sporting or.

It's nearly the end of 2011 (already!), which means its time for leagues and/or associations to bestow some shiny medal to a few of footy's fiercest faces and bodies. Personally, we can't say we have a storied past of winning things and thus, know how it feels since most of the plaques stored beneath our desks say "Dirty Tackle" on them, but we (like most girls) have practised our beauty queen waves all the same.

Stuart Holden's return from a long injury layoff is one giant step closer to completion.

Holden started and played 78 injury-free minutes for Bolton's reserves in Tuesday's 7-0 loss to Fulham in his first game action since suffering a hairline condyle fracture on a tackle from Manchester United defender Jonny Evans in March.

Remember Spartan Stadium? Remember when Lando had a hairline like that?

By Chris Wright

In which Scouse crooner Wayne Rooney serenades new flames Andy Carroll and Gary McAllister with a beautiful, tear-inducing rendition of 'Yesterday' before breaking into a Beatles medley (with a bit of Oasis thrown in at the end for good measure) in a bar in Barbados.

An audience with Wayne and his new hairline Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has been entertaining fellow holidaymakers at the exclusive Barbados resort where he is currently staying by taking the mic for a karaoke sing-song. Wazza managed to shake-off Andy Carroll and Gary McAllister long enough to lead the crowd in renditions of Yesterday [.

Two days ago, Wayne Rooney had hair transplant surgery at Harley Street hair clinic in London, after becoming fed up of balding at 25.

Despite offers for loads of dosh for the exclusive pictures, Rooney posted a picture of his new hairline on Twitter, after the bruising had gone down.

Down a dark, shady road I did wearily trudge

Daisies and sunflowers wilted under my touch

I walked a sad walk and hummed a sad tune

It seemed like unchecked night more than cloudy afternoon

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It was with moist, red eyes and droopy, furrowed brow

That I navigated past people and the odd straggling cow

I had seen my nerves abused and my hairline recede

But to my sincere request The Lord did not accede

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I buried face in hands as it began to mildly rain

The hopeless clowns had gone and done it again

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Arsenal now seem to follow a set season template

Sunny August-iffy February-April irate

Veteran suicide artists in this London team reside

Who revel in sorrowfully falling by the wayside

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This season's commencement saw me baring the pearly whites

Due to Theo Walcott hat-tricks and other surprising sights

November saw the fingernails chewed to naught

Losing to Newcastle and Braga- what absolute rot

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Things started looking up at the turn of the New Year

When Nasri and co.

The other day I made a funny image about Arshavin and his goal face. I said it made him look like he was constipated. Loyal readers commented that generally speaking I was a terrible human being for that. In response, over a twitter conversation with arseblogger, I ended up joking about making Arhsavin riding a unicorn, as though that would make Arsenal supporters happy.

Just in case anyone missed it, Brad Guzan has gone to Hull City on a one-month loan, in his quest for regular playing time. If the first couple games are any indication, it was a good move.

Many of us were hoping Guzan would be starting for Villa at this point, but it's important to keep things in perspective: he's only 26 years old (young by goalkeeper standards), and he's currently sitting behind the namesake of Friedel's Law arguably the greatest/baldest American keeper of all time.