Written by Mean Lean on Friday, 21 January 2011 16:11

Good Monday to you,

I haven't written a blog for a little while now and I seem to have missed out on tons of news, I won't try and play catch up because it is all pretty much history now, well most of it anyway.

I had my wisdom tooth plucked out and the anaesthetic apparently got into my blood stream which has left me temporarily a little messed up inside. Not only this but the area around where my tooth used to be got infected so as you can imagine I wasn't really in top form but it's all good now, I am on the mend and raring to go. Not sure where I am supposed to be going exactly but that is what they say, whoever they are. Ok, perhaps I am not yet fully back to myself as yet.

I did however find a bit of time to write about the Leeds United victory in the FA Cup which you can read if you want to hear my thoughts on the game.

We are looking in good shape at the moment and I am probably feeling as positive about our situation as I have for some time now, especially at this stage of the season. Still in all four competitions and we better make sure it stays that way come Thursday morning.

Wenger's current first team have been looking sharp and confident in their play and now some of the squad players are on the way to joining them. I saw noticeable improvements from the likes of Kieran Gibbs who appears to be learning plenty from Gael Clichy, he made a number of interceptions from Leeds passes during the game and it reminded me very much of our senior left back. His passing under pressure was spot on and his contribution to the game was much improved from Ipswich.

Nicklas Bendtner was better also, worked very hard in putting pressure on the opposition when they had the ball. His touch isn't quite at its best as yet but a few more games, Huddersfield coming up will be one I assume should help him along with that.

Arshavin is another who is hopefully on the road to recovery. He still looks short of belief which surprises me as he has never struck me as the sort of character who would question himself but that is how it is coming across with his performances. At least he worked more for the team and that is my only real frustration with him.

I am guessing that he will start at either Wigan or against Ipswich. Hard to know which fixture would be better suited for him. Ipswich may pose less of a threat to our defence than Wigan so therefore Arshavin's defensive work may not impact the team as much but then which is the more important game? The Premier League is clearly the more important competition but then if we do not beat Ipswich then we do not get a trip to Wembley. Would love to know your thoughts on that in the comments.

Wenger said in his pre Wigan interview that Denilson and Chamakh have slight knocks but could still make it back, I am not sure that either will play in the next two games, at least from the start. We need to be at our creative, high tempo best and score some goals.

Plenty of talk about the center backs are still in the air but I have a feeling that we may avoid buying anyone. Squillaci is a week away from a return whilst Vermaelen now has a date of return, this is not to say that set backs are not going to happen but with that in mind, I wonder if Arsene will carry on with what he has and possibly Alex Song stepping back in one of the upcoming games. Wenger may be thinking that Djourou and Koscielny will get the chance to rest in the next few weeks with Squillaci almost fit.

Hey, don't shoot the messenger, that is just my opinion. Having said that Wenger could already have a player lined up that he and the club are putting the finishing touches to Cahill, Samba, Mertesacker or any of the other names that the media.. I mean Wenger has thought of.

Arsene Wenger has been keeping his cards firmly close to his chest about Cahill. In his press conference today he said Cahill is a good player but will not go into names of targets. He usually tells the press if he is not interested in signing a player even if he is after a player in that position so you never know.

One thing is for certain and that is that Wenger will not pay the requested £20 million price tag that he apparently has dangling over his head. I could see Arsene paying just over half that and surely Bolton are not going to drop by 50%

Those are figures that I have plucked from the air so I have no idea but remember that our record signing is Andrey Arshavin for roughly £15 million. Cahill has no Champions League experience, not very much experience at International level and would probably be back up when all our center backs are fit. Is that worth £18 million if we were to bargin for him? I have my doubts.

Bacary Sagna has joined in with the praise of Samir Nasri and has called for his French team mate to pick up the player of year award, he is very much in pole position for it, especially as it seems the Gareth Bale world player of the decade hype has died down a little in the last few months.

Much can happen from now until the season end but at present Nasri is the best offensive player in the league. Arseblog was correct in stating that Sagna is pushing him close. I have said for some time now that he is the best defender at the club and I can honestly say that I can count the number of bad games he has had since joining us back in 2007 on one hand. I think he could even do a decent job at center back alongside a more dominating stopper like Djourou or Squillaci.

Aaron Ramsey seems to be going back to Cardiff on loan to join Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and that might be a good idea to get him up to speed. I would imagine that it would only be a short term loan as he could be needed for the second half of the season but he needs games at the moment and with every game being so important, Wenger probably cannot take the gamble to allow him the chance to get match fit.

I cannot for the life of me see why he hasn't been playing with the reserves every week. Surely reserve team football is better than no football. It may not allow some of the younger players a few months of football but it gives a player further up the ladder a chance to regain some fitness and sharpness.

Back again tomorrow for some pre match Wiganess.

• Add New
• RSS

Comments (19)

• 21-Jan-2011 16:40 | | Jekyll
  

  Even with Squillaci fit we'd only have 3 CBs. Wenger himself said a while ago if Tommy V wasn't back soon he'd move 'quickly' to get someone in, but now we're down to 2 he's dragging his heels. I guess he didn't think he'd have to act on his word.
  
  It is bad news if we have to move Sagna or especially Song from their best positions. This trying to make do has cost us in previous seasons, isn't it time we learnt from that?

• 21-Jan-2011 16:51 | | Terry Wogan
  

  I'm not reading this because your advertising is coming across your article. It's horrible. There are hundreds of Arsenal blogs and with competition being so rife, I would be trying to improve.

• 21-Jan-2011 17:06 | | MeanLean
  

  I am very upset that you feel that way but would love to know why you think that I am not trying to improve. It is a strange statement to make about someone you know nothing about.
  
  Strange thing to complain about, the text is totally free from advertising but each to their own I guess.

• 21-Jan-2011 17:10 | | MeanLean
  

  Very good points made.
  
  I guess my point is, if Wenger has long term faith in Verm, Kos and Djourou then I don't see a large money deal making sense.
  
  Where would Cahill stand in your pecking order at Arsenal?

• 21-Jan-2011 17:19 | | dkgooner  - Centre backs and other stuff
  

  You've summed it up pretty well. Wenger won't pay the sort of money being bandied around for Cahill - if he comes, it will be because we've made a deal where we pay a lower initial fee with the promise of more based on appearances and international caps. But my strongest feeling is that we will buy no-one (which would be better than buying Mexes) and if anything happens to our currently fit two, then Song or Sagna will fill in. Wenger doesn't like the January window - he's said so many times. And wasn't Cahill sent off at the Emirates for a late tackle on Chamakh? Don't want his sort.
  Ipswich - we will beat them, no question. We're on our way to Wembley.
  I like that AW put out a stronger starting team against Leeds and I think he'll do the same against Ipswich. We'll overwhelm them at the Emirates.
  Diaby is also due back in time for Huddersfield but I wouldn't put money on him playing 90 minutes. I think he'll almost certainly be out for another six weeks at least during the remainder of the season. Just as well Jack has come on so strong - Jack seems to be a really solid type, able to take a lot of tackles - let's hope he doesn't end up in the nick. And despite the Denilson haters, I think our Brazilian is playing really well - the interview with him on arseblog is stuffed with Denilson goals. I know he doesn't get all that many but they are usually crackers when he does.
  But next up is Wigan and let's hope the lads go out and fill their boots. Time to give a big boost to our goal difference.

• 21-Jan-2011 17:21 | | Jekyll
  

  I wouldn't throw Cahill straight in as soon as he arrived, if Djourou and Kos were playing well, but Wenger rotates so Cahill would soon enough get a chance. He'd be automatically ahead of Squillaci for me. Then if Cahill produces and looks better than the others he should become a first choice. It's all about who produces the form.

• 21-Jan-2011 17:21 | | bobbyp
  

  Mean Lean, good article. I don't get what Terry Wogan is going on about either. I can't see any problem with text and having adverts is completely normal for a blog.
  
  Keep up the good work fella!!

• 21-Jan-2011 17:22 | | dkgooner
  

  Ah diddums.

• 21-Jan-2011 17:22 | | dkgooner
  

  Sorry ML - I meant that as a reply to "Terry"

• 21-Jan-2011 17:28 | | perrygrovesworld
  

  Glad to see a blog that gets it with CBs. When you read stuff at the Arsenal Action creche wingeing on about buying Cahill for £20m without looking at the bigger picture and the long term I just weep. I think Wenger wants to buy Vertongen from Ajax in the summer and buying another CB now would kill that deal. Its all about juggling and forward planning rather than glory hunting in the short term.... and finding you have too many players in one position at the end of the season.

• 21-Jan-2011 17:32 | | Showtime!  - Cb
  

  I quite certain wenger is goin to get a center and he's not goin 2 gve names 2 prevent disturbilisin our cb's..m sure u guys are seein wt o these rumours n being dropd hs dne to arshavin..who knws wt cn happen to koscielny and djourou.they r both knew in ther positions....

• 21-Jan-2011 17:39 | | Jekyll
  

  Maybe it's time though for a little 'short term glory'? We can't bang on about 'the future' forever.
  
  Too many players in one position - sell one.

• 21-Jan-2011 17:46 | | MPJ59W
  

  I reckon Wenger should offer Vela on loan for the season plus 10 mil for Cahil and Bolton would bite his hand off !!! That way we'd get the defender and Vela would get the time and games he needs to prove his worth in the same way WIlshire did. if he doesn't then we sell him in Summer. Everyones a winner !!!!!

• 21-Jan-2011 18:48 | | Byo  - CB
  

  I honestly don't get this hoopla over Cahill, especially when figures like 10-20M are thrown around! . Would there be much talk of him if he was not playing in the PL and English? But I trust Wenger to know what the team needs more than any opinion over the internet/press, who only see the team on game-day.
  However, I'm sure one can make a big deal over a Vertonghen or a Mertesacker (only my opinion of course).

• 21-Jan-2011 20:02 | | dkgooner
  

  Hey Showtime - do you think you could post once more - but in English?

• 21-Jan-2011 21:33 | | Daymee  - 9ce one
  

  You were doing so well until Sagna playing centre back alongside a Djourou. I like your post and I like your writing style but maybe you need to think again about Sagna playing centre back. Imagine how he would cope with aerial bombardments, which Arsenal are susceptible to.
  
  Sagna may actually be a good try in that position but I think that would bring up a weakness in him. He is not a centre back FULL STOP.
  
  There are centre backs in the markets. We need to get ONE and FAST too.

• 21-Jan-2011 22:04 | | MeanLean
  

  I wasn't suggesting that we should play him at center back, I was just saying that he is such a good defender and professional that he COULD play there if needed and adapt to it.
  
  It would be mad to move him there for no reason but I rate him that highly that if an emergency arised then he would be more than capable.

• 21-Jan-2011 22:09 | | MeanLean
  

  Have to agree with all of that DKG, good stuff.
  
  I sure hope we get that trip to Wembley, the players fully deserve it. If we can continue to improve on what we are doing now then this will be our year for big things.
  
  If we take our foot off the pedal then we will have thrown this great position away.
  
  From here on in, it should be about playing our game at a high tempo, defending as a team, from the front and we will do well.

• 26-Jan-2011 00:09 | | richie  - Cahill Questions
  

  Arsene won't buy Cahill not even for 10 mil its rare for him to buy already established players and for that money No Chance. He'd pay !0 mil for a young one with great potential who'll give 10 years 17 to 27 but at 26 the player could would only give us 4 years. Arsene would consider that bad value for money.

Write comment

Your Details:

Name:

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Powered by Compojoom comment 4.1.7 stable