Another 2 points dropped at home after Wolves 'keeper Wayne Hennesey kept his side in the game with a string of outstanding saves.
Positives: Gervinho, who has looked fairly average at times this season, managed to bag a goal which will no doubt boost his confidence endlessly. We were also full of zest going forward and on another day, would have walked away with the three points easily.
Negatives: Football is a game of points and after dropping two of them at home to Fulham a few weeks ago, it was disappointing to drop more here against a side we should be dispatching easily.
Conclusion: The battle for fourth intensifies after this result and though we have been in great recent form, Wenger will want to make sure complacency isn't creeping in. The continuous injuries to full-backs may see the Frenchman dip into the January transfer market for a short term solution.
In a game where the 20,000th Premier League goal was scored, Yossi Benayoun's vital late header snatched an almost champion-like three points.
Positives: Aston Villa played out of their skins and on what was a tough night at Villa Park, walking away with the three points was key. It was the kind of result we would have found hard to graft out in years gone by and Wenger was left delighted with sub Benayoun's late impact, grabbing the win just three minutes from time.
Negatives: At times, it was hard to know which way the game would swing and after poor work from Mertesacker to allow Marc Albrighton in for the equaliser, we were under the cosh for a while until securing our late winner.
Conclusion: It's 25 points from 30 now and to grab a victory tonight was really crucial.
"The result showed the importance of the squad but also the quality of the spirit,” Wenger told Arsenal Player. “That makes a difference if you have players who come on that have a real desire to help the team. You always have a chance because teams have to fight so hard against us that in the last 20 minutes fresh players can have a big impact. Benayoun and Rosicky did and that’s why we were very grateful after the game.”
Our toughest game of the season so far ended in a valiant defeat. It was a game we dominated for large periods.
Positives: After such an abysmal start to the season, not many would have imagined we could compete with the table topping Manchester City jugonaut in the way we did. Yet in all truth, we were more than a match for the champions-elect and should have equalised late on through two wonderful Thomas Vermaelen efforts.
Negatives: A defeat is a defeat and after tonight, the table toppers have edged 12 points clear of us. That extra bit of quality eventually told as Balotelli left Koscielny tangled and out of position and David Silva poked home.
Conclusion: Despite losing here at the Etihad, our performance was great and on another night, would have warranted the three points. It's important we bounce back from this and carry on piling up those points and continue moving up the table.
Robin Van Persie's stunning volley 14 minutes from time gave us another three points as a valiant Everton side were dispatched on the anniversary of the club's 125th birthday.
Positives: It was a great team effort once more. From the back and the solidarity Szcesczny is beginning to spread throughout the team at such a young age. Through to the make shift back line of centre-backs, the wonderfully creative Alex Song in midfield, and of course the irrespresible Robin Van Persie leading our line like nobody we've ever seen before (bar perhaps Thierry Henry) - It was fitting that on our 125th anniversary, one of our current legends was the man to provide the moment of brilliance. A superb volley that not only won us the game, but meant that the Dutchman is now only 2 goals behind Alan Shearer (36) for record league goals in a calendar year.
Negatives: At times, it was hard to break Everton down. The Toffees packed the midfield with a resilient attitude and at times, it looked as though we missed our old creative talents, Fabregas and Nasri.
Conclusion: It's 22 points from 24 now and 15 goals in his first 15 league games of this season for RVP. On a weekend when Man City and Tottenham both lost, our race for that fourth place slot is looking more and more handsome each week.
Olympiakos ran out deserved winners in Greece as our second string succumbed to a deserved defeat in Athens.
Positives: There were no real positives during a woeful performance, but with Champions League qualification already assured as group winners, it didn't really matter. The experience would have done the young players the world of good whilst Benayoun's goal was superbly taken.
Negatives: There was no real conviciton from senior players like Arshavin and Chamakh during our second defeat at Olympiakos in two years. Fabianski's injury leaves us with no senior back-up to Szcesczny whilst Mannone's flap at the the second goal was Non-League worthy.
Conclusion: With qualification secured, this result never fully mattered, though Wenger will be disappointed with the way his side surrended so easily.
After some terrific play from our youngsters, it was a cruel late breakaway from Sergio Aguero that ruptured our Carling Cup hopes at the Quarter Final stage.
Positives: This competition has always been a stepping stone for Arsene to blood fresh faces and tonight was no different. The way the Arsenal kids dominated a Man City starting eleven worth a combined £117m showed some great signs for the future and don't be suprised to see the likes of Ignasi Miguel, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Emmanuel Frimpong as regular starters for the first team anytime soon.
Negatives: One more chance of silverware has again elapsed from our grasp for another season - a trophy some say was our best shot at winning. And the players will have to learn that for all their domination, against quality opposition like Man City, you can be punished with just one chance.
Conclusion: A cruel counter-attack 6 minutes from time has dispersed our Carling Cup hopes for another year but Wenger will take more positives than negatives from this performance with the likes of Yossi Benayoun and Francis Coquelin now banging very loudly on his door for a starting berth.
Our recent surge of Premier League victories came to an abrupt end against a well drilled Fulham side as Thomas Vermaelen scored at both ends.
Positives: Another 90 minutes, and another game undefeated. We always looked dangerous and on this occasion, it just have been a case of midweek Champions League action taking a chunk of fatigue out of the players. Vermaelen was highly unlucky with his deflected own goal and on another day, things could have been very different.
Negatives: Two points dropped at home against a side we really should be beating if we are to maintain our surge towards the top 4. Arshavin, starting his first Premiership game since Swansea in September, looked anonymous once more, whilst Djourou looked flat-footed at right-back, stepping in for the impressive Laurent Koscielny.
Conclusion: Such is the quality of all opposition in the Premier League, you can't expect to win every game and today that was the case. Fulham looked strong, but more importantly we have kept our two month long unbeaten run in stead and still look in a great position to gatecrash that top four finish.
With a recent resurgence in form, many pundits are asking if Arsene Wenger;s doubters were wrong. Has the Frenchman found the formula to keep his side competing with the very best? With that in mind, it's time to take a look at a half-century of great Gunners goals since Wenger's arrival at the club in 1996...
50) Kanu Vs. Deportivo La Coruna (2000)
A clever finish here from Nigerian Nwankwo Kanu in this 2000 UEFA Cup clash, showing clever feet to trick fellow African, Deportivo goalkeeper Jacques Songo.
49) Robert Pires Vs. Liverpool (2003)
A stunning curled finish from French winger Robert Pires here at Anfield as the Gunners came from behind to seal victory during their unbeaten season.
48) Sylvain Wiltord Vs. Manchester United (2002)
Not so much a great goal in terms of quality, but one that will hold deep sentimental meaning to many Arsenal fans after Wiltord's goal sealed the Premier League title in their fierce rival's very own back yard.
47) Marc Overmars Vs. Manchester United (1998)
Equally important to Arsenal's title charge was this Marc Overmars goal in 1998. The Dutchman, who had terrorised Gary Neville all game, finally put this effort away to see the title pendulum swing in Arsenal's favour. They never looked back and went on to seal a Premiership and FA Cup double.
46) Emmanuel Adebayor Vs. Vilarreal (2009)
After going a goal down to a Marcos Senna stunner, an away goal would have been a crucial factor to take back to the Emirates. Cue Emmanuel Adebayor and a superb overhead finish from captain Cesc Fabregas' lofted pass.
45) Cesc Fabregas Vs. AC Milan (2008)
With the scores locked at 0-0 and this 2008 Champions League clash at the tie headed for extra-time, a moment of inspiration was needed. Step forward Cesc Fabregas whose rasping shot secured an away goal for Arsenal and effectively sealed an historic victory at the San Siro.
44) Thierry Henry Vs. Liverpool (2007)
In an FA Cup tie of stunning goals, it was Thierry Henry who had the final say with this clever run and finish, demonstrating how no other player could match him for raw pace and acceleration.
43) Emmanuel Adebayor Vs. Tottenham Hotspur (2007)
Arguarbly the greatest goal in North London derbies over recent years, here we see Togolese striker Adebayor flicking up Cesc Fabregas' pass and hammering the ball past Paul Robinson with a spinning volley.
42) Ashley Cole Vs. Aston Villa (2005)
Just days after his "tapping up" row with Chelsea, former Gunners left-back demonstrated his commitment to the club (in the short term at least) with this fantastic team move at Villa Park. Watch out for Dennis Bergkamp's perfectly weighted assist.
41) Thierry Henry Vs. West Ham United (2002)
A goal similiar to Adebayor's at White Hart Lane, here we see club legend Thierry Henry flicking up a neat pass before turning past the defender and hammering home past the helpless David James as the Gunners salvaged a 2-2 draw at West Ham to keep their unbeaten run going.
40) Carlos Vela Vs. Sheffield United (2008)
When Arsenal's Carling Cup youngsters demolished Sheffield United 6-0 in this home tie, critics were falling over themselves with superlatives to describe Wenger's latest crop of talent. The pick of the bunch this cheeky chip from Mexican Carlos Vela.
39) Tomas Rosicky Vs. Liverpool (2007)
A superb team move now as Tomas Rosicky curls a superb effort past Jerzy Dudek in this FA Cup tie at Anfield in 2007 following some neat work with Aleksandr Hleb.
38) Emmanuel Adebayor Vs. Liverpool (2008)
Liverpool were again the victims of a fantastic Arsenal move here as Theo Walcott's dazzling run set up Adebayor for a goal, that at the time, sealed the club's path to the Semi-Finals of the Champions League.
37) Thierry Henry Vs. Chelsea (2003)
With a Zinedine Zidane-esque roulette spin here past Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who else could pull this sort of goal other than French maverick Thierry Henry?
36) Robert Pires Vs. Southampton (2003)
With both sides set to meet in the 2003 FA Cup Final just a matter of days later, Arsenal and Southampton met here at Highbury in the final home game of the 2002/03 season. This 40 yard chip is a real bobby dazzler from Bobi Pires.
35) Silvinho Vs. Chelsea (2000)
2-0 down with ten minutes to play at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal managed to rescue a draw in this one, the equalizer courtesy of a stoppage time screamer from Brazilian left-back Silvinho.
34) Patrick Vieira Vs. Newcastle United (1998)
Charging forward in their title pursuit, Patrick Vieira goes charging forward here too as he nets a belter at home to Newcastle at the tail-end of the 1997/98 season.
33) Jose Antonio Reyes Vs. Chelsea (2004)
With Thierry Henry out injured, Arsenal had fallen behind to an Adrian Mutu goal in this tie, and their FA Cup future was looking gloomy. With no out-and-out goalscorer on the field, step up new signing Jose Antonio Reyes, who in only his 2nd game for the club, smashed home from 25 yards before adding a second minutes later to seal victory.
32) Patrick Vieira Vs. Manchester United (1997)
It's that man Vieira again with yet another cracker at Highbury. This time a swinging strike past Peter Schmeichel in the Manchester United goal here in Autumn 1997.
31) Thierry Henry Vs. Manchester United (2004)
And the wonder strikes against United just kept on coming as yet another Frenchman smashed a superb effort past them here at Highbury. This time in 2004 as Thierry Henry drives home a swerving effort past Roy Carroll.
30) Andrey Arshavin Vs. Liverpool (2009)
In a game where the little Russian scored an incredible FOUR goals at Anfield, it's his strike from 25 yard that really caught the attention of Arsenal fans, lofting the ball past Pepe Reina with no backlift.
29) Thierry Henry Vs. Blackburn Rovers (2007)
Picking up the ball in his own half, Henry exhanges passes here with Cesc Fabregas before embarking on a mazy touchline run before cutting inside and curling a breath-taking shot past the helpless Brad Friedel.
28) Robin van Persie Vs. Liverpool (2008)
A true moment of magic now from Dutchman Robin van Persie as he control an aerial pass with one touch, turning his marker, before slamming home at home to Liverpool in late 2008.
27) Davor Suker Vs. Sunderland (1999)
During an ill-fated solitary season at Highbury, Croatian goal machine showed flashes of brilliance. None more so than here against Sunderland with a neat flick over Thomas Sorensen in the Black Cats' goal.
26) Nigel Winterburn Vs. Chelsea (1997)
It would seem Silvinho isn't the only Arsenal left-back capable of a last minute cracker at Stamford Bridge! Check out this Nigel Winterburn effort as the Englishman bounds forward before crashing a thunderbolt into the top corner!
25) Kanu Vs. Tottenham Hotspur (1999)
Strength, technique, finesse. This goal has it all as Kanu flicks the ball past his marker before slamming home in this North London derby.
24) Thierry Henry Vs. Charlton Atheltic (2004)
Showing that he isn't all about agility and technique here, Thierry Henry shows incredible strength to hold off Jonathan Fortune before backheeling the ball home for a very cheeky finish indeed.
23) Ray Parlour Vs. Chelsea (2002)
In the 2002 FA Cup Final with Arsenal chasing a uniqie domestic double, something special was needed to break the deadlock. Up stepped Ray Parlour with a fantastic 25 yard curler.
22) Samir Nasri Vs. Manchester United (2008)
In a team move reminiscent of anything Barcelona based, Samir Nasri slams home this effort against Manchester United in a 2-1 victory back in 2008.
21) Andrey Arshavin Vs. Manchester United (2009)
And it's Manchester United who were again on the wrong end of an Arsenal thunderbolt here as Andrey Arshavin bangs a superbly drilled effort past Ben Foster from long range.
20) Andrey Arshavin Vs. Blackburn Rovers (2009)
And Arshavin again shows here just why he's Arsenal's all-time record signing at £15m with a unique individual goal and stunning finish from a tight angle at home to Blackburn in the 2008/09 Premiership.
19) Tomas Rosicky Vs. Hamburg (2006)
A summer signing from Borussia Dortmund, Tomas Rosicky obviously enjoyed his return to Germany in this fixture back in 2006, smashing home a rasping effort in this Champions League clash.
18) Frederik Ljungberg Vs. Juventus (2001)
Though Ljungberg must be credited for the neatly chipped finish over Gigi Buffon in this goal, it is the build-up play of Dutch master Dennis Bergkamp that must really be admired, rolling the ball around on the edge of the Juventus box before waiting for his Swedish compatriot to arrive, and slipping through the most perfect of through balls into the midfielder's path.
Qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League were confirmed with one game to spare as Olympiakos' victory over Marseille saw us ease through to the last 16 as group winners.
Positives: It's 48 goals in 50 games in 2011 for Van the Man - a strike rate even more impressive than Lionel Messi's! Alex Song was in imperative form all game and his jinking run to set up our opener was the type of run Michael Owen would make in his hay-day!
Negatives: There is little to say on this front after yet another win and a clinical display on all fronts.
Conclusion: Another win, qualification secured, the pressure is off and RVP can't stop scoring. It's a great time to be a Gooner!
A hard fought lunchtime kick off saw us grab another crucial three points and climb level on points with Chelsea. It seems our turnaround is now complete.
Positives: It really is hard to throw more compliments at Robin van Persie than I have already, but another two goals, and another three points - our skipper is keeping us in this title/Champions League qualification race almost single handedly this year! Theo Walcott had one of his finest games in an Arsenal shirt, proving he is now almost the finished article and one of the league (if not world)'s most dangerous wingers. The link up play between the two was electric and everytime Walcott got the ball, you felt as if something was going to happen. His pinpoint cross for Robin's opener was one of the finest and most pinpoint balls you'll see all year.
Negatives: Per Mertesacker's gradual acclimatisation to the Premier League continues, though more in a Squillaci way than a Vermaelen way. It's worth remembering that even Nemanja Vidic struggled with the English game at first, but the way Mertesacker was easily brushed off the ball by Steve Morison for the opening goal of the game was laughable and a player of such physique shouldn't be getting bustled from possession in such a way.
Conclusion: As we draw level on points with Liverpool and Chelsea, it seems the re-emergence of our top 4 hopes is complete. The confidence in the side is back to it's peak and we are now arguarbly more of a unit and have a stronger team spirit following the departures of Nasri and Fabregas as the likes of Ramsey and Koscielny have stood up and know they are now ready to be counted. The longer we stay undefeated, the more confidence this will spread, and with the teams above us faultering (bar the Manchester duo), we need to stay focused and make up more valuable ground.
The international break is over (waste of time if you ask me!) and I'm hoping we can carry on at Carrow Road, where we left off. Norwich have been impressive so far, particularly at home, and even managed to hold Liverpool to a draw at Anfield a few weeks ago. Grant Holt will have to be watched in attack for the Canaries, and in all honesty, I'd fancy him to snatch a goal against our shaky defence.
Luckily for us, RVP has managed to sustain fitness over the international games and with that in mind, we look good to outscore the home side and pick up another vital three points. It's something Marouane Chamakh, who has been linked with a move back to France, doesn't mind, telling Arsenal.com this:
“It would be better for me if we played with two strikers, but that's the system and the way of playing here. I respect that and it's working very well. That's the way it is, that's football and if the system were to change we would need another striker. This would provide a chance for another player, but that's the way it is at the moment.”
“It's gone well overall,” he said. “The first year, the first season is about settling in and adapting and there are lots of good strikers around. I haven't played as much, what with Van Persie coming back from injury, but for me, it's been a settling in period. It’s been good to play for a club like Arsenal and getting used to the league, but I‘m trying to learn, enjoy it and long may it continue.”
Thierry Henry is back training with the club in the MLS off-season and our last visit to Norwich saw the Frenchman run riot, back in 2004 (below)
The run continues and after another victory in the league - this one somewhat comprehensive - we have caught up with Liverpool, with only goal difference robbing us of 6th.
Positives: Another clean sheet - that's two in a week now you know! - and the Koscielny-Vermaelen partnership is looking more solid than ever so Mertesacker may have to get used to his new home in the dugout. The latter of the duo's return truly is invaluable and I for one can't wait to see him showing the kind of form that made him one of the world's best centre-backs during his debut season here in 2009/10. We were comprehensive in attack with Robin adding to his stupendous tally once more, whilst Mikel Arteta gave his finest performance in a red shirt to date, polishing off his performance with a stupendous finish.
Negatives: At times, we looked a little disinterested and Wenger will be keen to stress the importance of keeping mentally switched on for the entire 90 minutes regardless of opposition. On a different day, when West Brom's attacking duo of Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie were available, we may well have been caught out on the counter attack.
Conclusion: The run continues! Robin Van Persie showed the FIFA bigwigs who scandalously excluded him from their 25 man shortlist for the Ballon D'Or earlier in the week just what they are missing whilst Mikel Arteta was the missing link we have so long craved between anchorman Alex Song and the attack minded Aaron Ramsey. Three more points boys, let's keep it up!
With Robin Van Persie rested to the bench, Wenger's plan perhaps came back to haunt him as Arsenal failed to break the deadlock and were consequently denied qualification to the last 16 - for now.
Positives: Another clean sheet was a great sign from an ever-improving defence. And though we failed to break through a mean Marseille defence, we dominated from start to finish, and after the Chelsea game on Saturday, it's hardly suprising some of the lads looked a little tired. Squad players like Benayoun and Park showed they can play an important part when relied upon and proved that our squad isn't perhaps as lacking in depth as the press like to make out.
Negatives: With a victory sewing up our path to the last 16, it was a shame to not fully capitalise - especially at home. Marseille are, yes, a good team. But a team we should be beating at the Emirates. They never really showed any ambition in coming forward and with players like Wilshere and Van Persie missing, a lack of creativity following Fabregas' summer depature was once more an issue.
Conclusion: A solid result, and a win in our next game against Borussia Dortmund will see us qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League for the 11th season in a row. We are moving in the right direction, and the longer we stay unbeaten, the more the confidence in this young squad will grow.
Three days on from our five goal blitz and it's the return of Marseille in the Champions League, where a win will see us through to the last 16.
The French side are no mugs and expect them to hit us hard on the counter attack. In all truth, this game is most likely to decide who will top the group as both look like progressing. Carl Jenkinson and Thomas Vermaelen return, as does Yossi Benayoun, Though Marouane Chamakh is ruled out with a knee problem and joins Bakary Sagna and Jack Wilshere on the sidelines. Another player that misses out is Abou Diaby and Wenger had this say on the Frenchman's recovery:
"You won't see him for a while, the next three weeks. He will not play for France either. I am worried but I was more worried three months ago. His ankle was not good but the surgery went very well then. Now his balance has changed so he has to adjust his muscular strength. He has had two small muscular concerns and if he can get rid of them in the next two to three weeks he will be ready. It's a good time to get him right as we have a two-week break after Saturday."
Loic Remy and Andre Pierre Gignac will pose a threat for Marseille, but I expect three points, and with Van Persie in the form of his life, expect to see the net bulge once more with the Dutchman leading our line.
It was ARSENAL who left Stamford Bridge with the points after an eight goal thriller. Robin Van Persie's superb hat-trick sealing the most entertaining game of the season so far.
Positives: As a spectacle, it will be hard to find a more open, free-flowing, end-to-end game of football all season. Both sides stood toe to toe in what was an all-out-attack straight shootout. On the day, we had the sharper Guns and though the game was littered with defensive errors, it made for a great advert for the Premier League with goals and chances galore. Laurent Koscielny was an absolute rock all afternoon and had a touch of Tony Adams about him as he mopped up every lose ball and jumped in front of every challenge in a do or die style. Sky Sports Jamie Redknapp described today as the day Koscielny came of age and it's hard to disagree. Aaron Ramsey was instrumental in midfield, dictating every creative move in the same way Cesc used to in these big games, whilst Walcott was electric up front, capping his afternoon with a wonder goal. As for Van Persie, where shall we begin?! Lethal with either foot, a cool head to round Cech for our match winning fourth goal, and always in the right place at the right time. Whlst £50m man Fernando Torres barely had a sniff, Van Persie was busy demonstrating why he is the best player in the Premier League right now with his 28th goal in his last 27 games and led from the front superbly all day long.
Negatives: Despite banging in 5 at Stamford Bridge (the first time any side has done so since 1992), the day could have been oh-so-different thanks to numerous defensive frailites. Per Mertesacker was at fault for both goals and has looked more Igors Stephanovs than Sol Campbell since his arrival. The German's lapse marking of John Terry for Chelsea's second on the stroke of half-time could see him drop to the bench now Vermaelen is fit once more to partner Koscielny. Meanwhile, Johan Djourou looked very much out of place at right-back and was torn to shreds on numerous occasions by Cashley, whilst though impressive going forward, the way Juan Mata just bounced off Andre Santos to whip in the cross for Chelsea's first was embarrassing.
Conclusion: With 8 wins in our last 9, it's fair to say we are well and truly back! Any side would struggle with the losses of players of Fabregas and Nasri's quality. And though it may have taken us a little longer than we would have liked, we finally look as though we are over these losses mentally and have the belief in ourselves and eachother to know we can win this kind of games. As long as Robin Van Persie is on the field, we will always have a chance in any game and the celebrations witnessed at the final whistle are testiment to our ability, our mentality, and back up Wenger's claim that the media have brainwashed fans into their negative perception of this current side. We are now sixth, ahead of Liverpool - perhaps our main challengers for that vital 4th place slot - and though the title looks out of reach this year, let's kick on with this great run and keep moving up that table!
After successfully coming through the midweek game at Bolton unscathed, Thomas Vermaelen is set to return to the starting line-up for the first time in two months. With Sagna and Jenkinson both out, Laurent Koscielny looks set to start at right-back ahead of Johan Djourou. The Frenchman has been in sensational form recently, and with the experienced Belgian Vermaelen partnering Mertesacker at the back, our defence is finally looking more formidable than it has been in recent months. Andre Santos will continue at left-back in place of the injured Keiran Gibbs.
For Chelsea, Didier Drogba, who is suspended following his dismissal against QPR, misses out (which is more than handy considering his recent goal record against us!) though Fernando Torres looks like he is (finally!) hitting form, and will be partnered by the impressive Daniel Sturridge. Chelsea have lost just three of their last 19 games in all competitions against us and we've lost our last two Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge - both by a 2-0 scoreline.
However, the home side have gone eight Premier League games without a clean sheet and with RVP in red hot form, it's a fact we'll be looking to exploit.
An Andrey Arshavin inspired Arsenal side marched into the Carling Cup Quarter Finals with South Korean Park Choo Young netting his first goal for the Gunners.
Positives: Arshavin was fantastic all night and is finally re-demonstrating the form we saw during his four goal rout at Anfield, and cracker at Old Trafford. The Russian led from the front and looked brilliant in a central role just off the main striker. Park's first goal for the club was sublime and had a touch of Thierry Henry about it in the way he cut in off the left flank and the bent the ball into the far corner. Meanwhile in midfield, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain looked assured in possession once more and was always a threat going forward.
Negatives: A lapse in concentration saw us fail to keep a clean sheet at home once more. This is something we must work on in all competitions.
Conclusion: With a very impressive record in the Carling Cup in recent years, our path to the final this year is looking more and more likely as the rounds go on. There is alot of quality in our youth players and let's hope we carry on with this rich vein of form in the competition as we look to end our long wait for a trophy.
As United crumbled 6-1 at home to Man City, we are quietly going about our business and clambering back up the table. Super sub Robin Van Persie came off the bench today to spare our blushes once more and lift us up to 7th, just two points off Liverpool.
Positives: Marouane Chamakh, starting in place of the skipper, looked confident and despite not hitting the back of the net, linked up well in front of goal. It's also hard to ignore Van Persie's contribution, the Dutchman adding his 24th and 25th goals in his last 26 games. Meanwhile across the frontline, Gervinho looked sharp all game and a goal was the right reward for the lively Ivorian, whilst Andrey Arshavin looks well and truly back to his best, terrorising defenders with clever flicks, passes, and dribbles.
Negatives: In what was a pretty comfortable victory, it's hard to pick out any real faults.
Conclusion: Even with our star man on the bench for 70 minutes, we managed yet another victory - our 7th in the last 8 - and are rapidly making up for our awful start to the season. The longer people write us off the better as we perform best when we have slipped under the radar. Van Persie agrees, and says he didn't even mind starting on the bench:
Aaron Ramsey's last gasp winner gave us a vital three points in France as we soared to the top of our Champions League group after a solid professional display.
Positives: Another victory was key as the morale in the squad keeps on rising, and an away win at the home of a side of such pedigree is a great message to send out to rivals that we're on our way back to top form. Ramsey's goal was a demonstration of the massive potential the Welshman possesses and a clean sheet was a fair reward for a solid defensive display.
Negatives: At times, we looked vulnerable from set pieces. With 5 goals conceded from free-kicks so far this season (the most in the league), it's a worry that players like Mertesacker aren't stepping up and leading us in these situations.
Conclusion: A fantastic victory on the road in the Champions League has seen us top our group and Wenger will be hoping for more of the same in two weeks time as the French side visit the Emirates
It's a trip to Wenger's homeland in the Champions League on Wednesday as we look to leapfrog table toppers Olympique Marseille in their own back yard. The French giants smashed three past Borussia Dortmund in their last European game and will certainly be no pushovers here at the Velodrome.
With Robin Van Persie in scintilating form, we will no doubt look to our inspirational skipper once more in France but even the Dutchman may have trouble outscoring an impressive Marseille front line containing French duo Andre Pierre Gignac and Loic Remy, whilst French national team Alou Diarra is flanked in midfield by creative Argentine Lucho Gonzalez and playmaker Mathieu Valbuena.
Aaron Ramsey faces a late fitness test in the race to partner Arteta and Song in our midfield carousel whilst Koscielny should continue alongside Mertesacker once more at the back. This will no doubt we our toughest test so far in this season's Champions League, but it is worth remembering that under Arsene, we have never lost in France. Either way, it looks set to be a very open, very attacking, very entertaining game!
After dominating for the entire match, a moment of set piece magic from Sebastien Larsson looked to have robbed Arsenal of a crucial victory. Cue Robin Van Persie, who's late free-kick of his own saw the Gooners take a deserved three points.
Positives: Van Persie declared his commitment to the club in the matchday programme following reports he was planning to join Manchester City - and then backed that up with his match-winning display on the pitch. First with our fastest ever goal in the Premier League (just 29 seconds!)and then almost doubling the lead after 12 minutes with a sublime piece of skill, turning effortlessly on the edge of the box before spotting Mignolet off his line but chipping his effort onto post in an outrageous display of skill. His late winner was a sublime cherry on the cake and the 29th Premier League goal (23 goals, six assists) he has been involved in since 16 October of last year. Meanwhile, Wojciech Szceszcny pulled off the save of the season so far at the other end - a superb point blank stop from Lee Cattermole.
Negatives: Once more, after a large period of domination, all our hard work was undone with a lapse in concentration as Mikel Arteta's needless handball resulted in Larsson's pin-point free-kick. The confidence was then visibly drained from the team until Van Persie's late winner whilst Rosicky was once more absymal, giving the ball away needlessly time after time.
Conclusion: Three more points see us clamber back into the top half as we look to scurry up the table and make up for our woeful start to the season, yet there is still alot more to come from this team. A point backed up by Monsieur Wenger who had this to say:
"The spirit in the team is exceptional and in the second half we just came out and played in their half. We are growing as a team and getting stronger and stronger. Robin van Persie is a special player and he's shown that again today. He's blessed at the moment and let's touch wood with his injuries. He's shown what a great player he is when he can be consistently playing. We have answered a few critics but not enough and there is a lot more for us to show."
Sunderland are the visitors to the Emirates on Sunday and after that loss to Spurs before the international break, three points will once more be top of the agenda as we look to clamber up from 15th position in the table and our improve on our dismally woeful current 7 points from 7 games.
Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, and Sebastian Squillaci have all been passed fit to bolster the defence whilst Carl Jenkinson looks to stand in for long term absentee Bakary Sagna at right-back. Aaron Ramsey has also been ruled out and joins Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Thomas Vermaelen on the treatment table so Tomas Rosicky faces a late fitness test as he looks to partner Mikel Arteta in centre-midfield.
For Sunderland, the black cats will have to do without on-loan Gunner Nicklas Bendtner so Stephen Sessegnon will lead the attack with ex-Arsenal midfielder Sebastien Larsson on set piece duty for Steve Bruce's side.
A good defensive display will be imperative and at home, you'd have to fancy us for the win. Score prediction? 2-0 Arsenal.
It's always sickening to lose to Spurs, but when you dominate for large periods and end up losing to a goalkeeping error and losing your most consistent player to injury for 3 months, it makes your day that bit worse.
Positives: Thrust into the heart of the midfield in a North London derby, young Francis Coquelin excelled and atoned for his awful display at Old Trafford. Alex Song looks like he has played centre-back all his life and we dominated possession for large periods and should have had the game out of reach long before Walker's winner. His error aside, Wojciech Szczesny excelled once more and kept us in the game with a smart stop from Adebayor towards the end.
Negatives: Yet again, we struggle to find consistency in an away run now stretching to 10 games without a win. Defensive lapses were once again our nemesis with Mertesaker run ragged by Defoe and a lapse in concentration from Szczesny costing us the game.
"It is two steps forward and one step back," said Wenger. "Sunday was a game we could have come out of with a point but it [our inconsistent form] is down as well to a lack of confidence. We will come back because you could see again that there is a strong spirit in the team. But we have to become a bit more realistic and do our job better in certain situations. “We lost the ball from good positions in the final third so we could have done better with our passing. Tottenham's second goal made the difference. After that they could sit back and play on the counter-attack. That is why we are guilty because we did not do our job properly, we didn't defend properly on the winning goal."
Conclusion: It was more of the same for us at White Hart Lane as wasted chances up front and schoolboy defending cost us the game. Per Mertesacker, a man with 76 international caps, was made to look like Igors Stephanovs, whilst Bacary Sagna, our most consistently excellent performer in recent seasons was ruled out for three months with a broken fibula. His replacement, Carl Jenkinson was made a fool of by Bale and in truth Tottenham could have added a third and fourth late on.
For many, it's the game we all look to when the fixture list comes out. Though as laughable as it is how much the scummers fear us, truth be told and we're more worried about Man United or Chelsea than we are our sad North London rivals.
It's been the same old story for years now as Tottenham fans delude themselves pre-season after pre-season into believing "this is the year" they will topple us. Yet even in our most disastrous season of recent years, 2005-06, we still managed to pip our desperate foes to fourth whilst they were still busy grumbling over a dodgy lasagne.
This time round is no different with added spice as an incentive as former Gunner and now universal hate figure Emmanuel Adebayor faces off against us once more - and this time, in blistering form. The God of twitching, dodgy 'Arry, seems to have an obsession with Gunners rejects. First David Bentley, then William 'Le Sulk' Gallas. Now Ade-pay-me-more. And though he has a record of starting well at every club, I have no doubt his appaling attitude will lead to his downfall once more in North London.
Spurs go into this one at full strength will the likes of Bale, Modric, Van der Vaart and Lennon all back, though with Djourou, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Diaby, Ramsey and Wilshere all out, and Walcott & Gervinho facing late fitness tests, we will have to take extra care in ensuring our midfield is not over-ran on the day. It's a test Per Mertesacker is looking forward to, telling press:
"A lot of people have been telling me about it, how massive it is, and what a special experience it is and I am looking forward to it. It is an especially important game for Arsenal and for me. There is nothing similar to it in Germany. You cannot compare Bremen against Hamburg because they are not quite in the same city, so the London derby is bigger."
In a round of Champions League fixtures where we emerged as the only English side to win, three more crucial points are on the board after a less than convincing display.
Positives: Three more points have seen us remain in second in our group, but three clear of nearest placed Borussia Dortmund after Marseille recorded an impressive 3-0 win over the Germans in France. Yet another impressive performance from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has seen the teenager become the youngest ever English goalscorer in the Champions League whilst Alex Song filled in at centre-back with impressive ease.
Negatives: A shambolic defensive display in which Olympiakos were gifted chance after chance could, and should, have come back to punish us. Our new zonal marking system simply isn't working, as seen from the Greek's goal where Fuster was left entirely unmarked in our six yard box to head home.
Conclusion: Three wins in a week, is our season finally back on track? There are still many issues to work on defensively but with Van Persie rested ahead of Sunday's trip to Tottenham, three points is the main thing tonight. It's now surely a matter of time untill Oxlade is starting in the league whilst Andre Santos persevered well for his first ever goal in a red shirt.
Another 2 points dropped at home after Wolves 'keeper Wayne Hennesey kept his side in the game with a string of outstanding saves.
