Arsenal 3 - 0 Blackburn

So we maintained our 100% record at home. So Pascal Cygan was still playing leftback and everyone knows now where to attack us from. So we were again saved by our excellent attacking players for in truth Blackburn could have scored a few but for their poor finishing.

I am glad that Cesc scored but having watched him many times I believe that he has tried that kind of shot so many times and they never came off. I'd still prefer seeing him making the run into the box and polish his finishing from inside the area. After all he is no Scholes. He is pretty good at timing his run as we could see in that goal against Liverpool last season. He just lacks composure but then Reyes is worse.

Now Henry's goal was interesting. It seems that Pires has, for whatever reason, gradually improved on his form. He hasn't reached that consistency yet but at least he began to pass like the old Pires did. It's Henry 100th goal at Highbury but records are just numbers and it's the three points we earned that really matters at the moment.

I don't understand why Bergkamp was starting but since it was against a team with Savage in it, I guess it's better that we rest Persie. I liked the way Reyes reacted to Savage's antique. I don't know how Savage's teammates could live with this kind of player. He literally goes into the match to kick people instead of ball.

It was mentioned that when we were 2-0 cruising, people were still crying for van Persie. Now that was special. And the boy didn't disappoint. Ten minutes to score is it? So be it. And what a goal! Taking the ball at the far right touchline, he effortlessly went past Gray and Savage, making a run into the box. While other Arsenal players would have passed the ball, this boy was different. He saw a goal. That curler that went in off the post was as good as any other goals scored this week.

I mentioned before that Wenger has got so many goal makers that he really need a goalscorer in the team. Now he got one, a true striker with flair and technique on top of his sublime finishing skill.

And that is the player that cost Wenger probably one-third of the money he paid for Francis Jeffers and one-fifth of the money he paid for Jose Antonio Reyes. Ironic.

Thun Gunned Down, Casillas to Fly Emirates?

Five win out of five. That is really something. As always we had an easy group but still we have improved over the years. We are now looking more like seasoned campaigner. We know how CL games work better. Good for the team's confidence. I didn't watch the game so I couldn't give my comment. But Eboue, which I like a lot, started and played well. Not so for Song who was later injured and replaced by Cesc. Cygan retained his place ( he is experienced, you see) but was unable to help the 10-man-Thun to grab the three points. It's good that he was replaced by Lauren later on (ah.. Wenger finally saw into it). In the end van Persie won as the crucial penalty on the 88th minute which Pires converted (no smart plan this time).

So it's one of the worst Premiership starts and it's the best CL Campaign start.

Iker Casillas has yet to sign his new contract with Real Madrid though I doubt he will opt for Arsenal even if he does leave. I do hope Wenger will do anything possible to bring Casillas to Arsenal. He is a great goalie. His height is a bit concern though. You've got to be good in handling crossed and aerial threat in Premiership, something which Lehmann is good at most of the times. If I were to choose who we should sign, it won't be Casillas. It has to be Shay Given.

Update: Read from arseblogger that Jose Antonio Reyes has again failed to convert his amazing pace and technique into goals. I think he must be the most amusing player Wenger has ever signed. He has all the skill in the world to take on anyone and he has a strong left foot capable of that kind of goal he scored against Chelsea two seasons ago. So why, as the arseblogger put it perfectly, did his brain seem to stop working whenever he got into the final third? I think the answer is 'confidence'.
I think this must be Wenger's biggest challenge to date; and I hope he can tranform Reyes into a deadly goalscoring winger with great vision we know he is capable of.

And Even Barnebeu Applaud Him

That man is Ronaldinho. The maestro who made Ronaldo, Raul and Zidane pale in comparison. Robinho was Real's only hope against the mighty Barca but even Robinho couldn't quite pull off the needed miracle to save Real. Eto'o, a Real reject and once almost bought by Wenger, showed us just how dangerous he can be with that pace and finishing. But Ronaldinho was even better.

Sergio Ramos is a great, great, right back who Real bought from Sevilla. An elegant defender with technique and pace. But even he couldn't stop Ronaldinho. One moment he was still marking the Barca man closely and the next moment he found himself trying to catch up with Ronaldinho who suddenly accelerated and before he could do anything, the ball has already left Ronaldinho's feet and slid past Casillas into the net. The two goals Ronaldinho scored were almost like carbon copy that I couldn't remember the one I mentioned was the first or the second.

But I definitely remember the moment after he sealed the 3-0 win. Barnebeu stood up and applaud him. Barca and Real may well be rival but I guess you just can't help clapping when you witness such a beauty on display.

I couldn't imagine what would happen if Henry does move to Barca. But I guess I can understand if Henry wants to move to Barca. They were playing different level of football. And the fact that Spanish League does allow you more space when playing gives these football wizards chance to show off their surreal skill.

Oh and Leo Messi looked every bit a legend in the making.

Wigan 2 - 3 Arsenal

What a game that was. I have been spitting out my frustation for the last two days at other people's blogs so I guess it's time to try to look at the game the way a neutral would. It was in every way a thrilling game where you'd just hope that the brave Wigan would earn something out of it. They didn't play like a newcomer; they didn't play like the last season's Everton; they played like a honest English team that deserved their spot just by the merit of their spirit. And they were no thugs; while some tackles were hard, none is particularly dirty.

When Wenger praised Wigan for their intelligence, I think it wasn't the case of being generous. Wigan were indeed playing with discipline and purpose. While Arsenal's defense was almost like a joke bar Lauren, Wigan were organized and composed. Our first goal was the combination of van Persie's good shot and the goalie's poor concentration. Our third goal was Henry's moment of genius. There were nothing they could do about. The only time we managed to break through their defense and score was the second goal. Again Cesc showed his excellent passing skill, sending a perfect through ball to Henry who slipped it in to the farpost with calm. Cesc closed the opponent down, tackled, passed and moved like a veteran midfielder. He was everywhere while the invisible Brazilian wall was at times, nowhere to be seen. When Gilberto did get the ball, he occasionally gave away possession. I wonder if Wenger realized that.

Camara was Wigan's best player as he times and again beat Kolo or Campbell to the ball. Kolo was, as always, too close to the man he marked and Campbell, as Wenger once said, a heavy machine which take longer time to get going. I don't remember us playing a leftback. Seems like we played with 10 men, which explains the space Bullard was allowed to score the second goal.

No I don't blame Cygan for that. We all know how bad he could be. You should instead ask why your manager played him. Why he replaced Pires with Flamini while we were not even threatened at the right flank. Or why he replaced Persie with Bergkamp while we need to try to score another goal. How many lost points it takes for Wenger to know his defenders (and his defense system, if any) are not good enough to hold on to 1 goal lead?

So Wenger needs a tactician. A George Graham. Someone who would teach his creative players how to be disciplined in defending.

Rumours Here and There

Finally, the end of another stupid international football break. I don't really care about the results but I shall say that I didn't like what I saw in the England-Argentina game. Wayne Rooney was too damn good. The boy's skill is unreal. He will be an even bigger threat when we play Man Utd again.

I have actually decided to ignore all the transfer speculation going on, considering Wenger's transfer dealing history. But well, for the sake of blogging something..

Ashley Cole going to Real Madrid for 8 million cutprice next summer- I know his off-the-pitch attitude sucks lately but on the pitch, he is still one of the remaining few who give their 100% in each game. I don't think we are better off with Cole leaving but if he desires so then.. Anyway, that leaves us with Sol Campbell as the only English in the first 11.

Wenger going to Holland- Some claim that he was there to watch Hossam Ghaly, a Feynoord midfielder, but Dirk Kujt believes Wenger was there to watch him play. Well, he could be there to watch both but I believe Ghaly is the more likely target at the moment. Dirk Kujt, at 12 million, is a feasible target though.

Steve Rowley going to Spain- Yes, we all want to see Fernando Torres playing for Arsenal. The player himself also fancy a move. But I think Wenger will only go for him if TH does leave us. The player has got too much reputation to qualify as Wenger's buy. He has not been scoring regularly lately by the way.

Another Ivory Coaster- Didier Zakora of St. Etienne, a Man Utd target, is linked with us. We could well be into the midfielder for real. I don't know how good he is.

Robert Pires sings- Our Frenchman tries to remind us how valuable he is by claiming that he is still with us only because Wenger blocked his transfer to Juve last summer. Still, I don't think he will get anything other than a year extension contract offer.

It excites me to see us linked with players such as Torres but really, I think we should've signed Mascherano and Tevez instead. Now both are at Roman's disposal. January transfer window is just around the corner. Let's wait and see.

That Unbeaten Run

It was such a pity when I saw those fans celebrating Chelsea defeat. Many say 'We still hold the record, that 49 games unbeaten run'.
Hey, I was too hoping that Man Utd would defeat Chelsea. Nothing to do with the record though. They need to lose in order for us to catch up with them. They need to lose in order for other teams to have more belief when they meet Chelsea. Simple as that.
I would even give them that record if they would draw the next 9 games. Oh but that wouldn't do because they will come to Highbury before that 49th game and we would beat them.
So why the excitement? We would halt their run anyway. Or do all of us have more confidence in Man Utd beating them rather than us beating them?
The truth is: Man Utd are at their best when they are wounded. Had Man Utd not lost to Boro and Lille the week before, we would've seen a slightly different Man Utd.
I don't know whether this has got to do with Keane's comment but I believe that reaction is what you expect from Ferguson's team, as much as we dislike him.
Arsenal should learn from them. Arsene should learn from them. As Beckham put it 'You need to scare players sometime'

And what of Mourinho? He would get his squad all fired up in no time. He too, is a good loser. Learn from that Arsene. Stop moaning.

That Persie Moment

The game against Spurs was the one I'd like to forget. It hurts to see how Arsenal played in the first half. We gave away possessions like a first division team and when we get to attack, no one is in the box. With Dennis playing alongside Reyes upfront, you just know we were not going to score. And surprise surprise, our players was back to their ball watching habit in defending set pieces, allowing Ledley King a free header which he converted nicely.

I didn't get to watch the 2nd half but apparently Pires and Persie made the difference in our attacking. At the end of the day, as Myles Palmer of ANR put it, Pires saved our day with the goal that only he can score. Only Pires would know how to get into such position and that's about the only invaluable asset he still consistently offers to the team. So it was 1-1 and we are yet to win our away Premiership game for quite a while.

And the next two home games was really about this guy
We all know what Henry can do when you give him space and his goal against Sparta Prague was a typical Henry goal, a curling shot from just oustide the box. Awesome. We love his magic but I am sure Wenger would realise that what he really needs at the moment is the effficiency of a young Dutchman who came on for the last 20 minutes, replacing the captain.

I sprung to life the moment van Persie entered the pitch. He has been such a supersub that we just know that he is going to create something when he comes on. Reyes has been hardworking attacking and defending-wise but we know now that he is really a winger who lacks the confidence to shoot. So when he managed to block a Sparta player's pass, I was glad to see the ball fell to Bergkamp who in turn made the perfect pass across to the right side of the area where Persie was left free.

You just knew the boy was going to score. And so he scored. What a lethal left foot.

The third goal involves another player I have been looking forward to see the more of. Eboue made a great run down the right into the box, cut back sharply and fed Persie who, unlike many other Arsenal players, bury the ball instantly into the net with his right foot. Just the right attitude for a centre forward.

It was 3-0 and we qualified into the next round of CL. A perfect start to the competition so far.

The game against Sunderland will probably be remembered for Henry's overhead which hit the bar. But the lasting impression for me was that of Campbell's long pass which was chested down perfectly by Persie as the no.11 ran on and with Stubb making a chase, he wasted no time in unleashing a powerful left-footed strike which went pass the goalkeeper. 1-0 to the Arsenal. A route 1 goal. How often have you seen such goals scored by Arsenal recently? How often have you had such a confidence when an Arsenal forward got into such a position? Normally we would have expected the player to try driblling pass the goalkeeper before passing the ball to another player to score that 'perfect goal'.

We all know what happened later. Sparta may not be the strongest of opponents and Sunderland may well be the weakest side in the Premiership but five goals in four games is an encouraging statistic for a forward who has begun to get his captain's respect. Let's see how far our no.11 can go.

I don't want to talk about Mourinho-Wenger feud. I think it's a waste of time. I was tempted to smile reading PV calling van Nistelrooy 'son of the bitch'. Well the best thing is to know how much PV still loves us. He still addresses the Arsenal as 'we'. A true gunner, a true gooner. We will welcome you back anytime, PV.