Arsenal Smoke Stoke: Andrei Arshavin Upfront? Me Likey

Once again, I left you guys alone, lonely and alone on Friday. Apologies. As much as I enjoy writing this wonderful little blog, I really can´t justify forfeiting my salary or ignoring my clients to talk about the Gooners when I´m only getting about 12 hits a day.

So I scrapped the Friday blog and did some work.

I probably would have incorrectly picked the lineups, scoreline, and provoked more injuries to some of our star players. So all in all, I´m delighted with my decision.

One thing I need to ask all you folks is if you have ever had one of those weeks when you can´t seem to stop putting your hand in your pocket and buying alcohol.

I think I have now drank for like 15 days in a row of something. Whether it´s a bottle of wine over dinner, having a chat over six pints, or just cracking open a can while watching the match huddled around your Dell computer and Arabian stream.

Amazing.

I love beer.

Anyway, Andrei Arshavin played lone forward, something I have been asking Wenger to do since Eddie got injured and he demonstrated how PACE AND POWER are an important part of the game.

He held off players well and had that burst of speed over 5 yards to get away from his man.

His control was good most of the time (although the ball got away from him twice), and I just love the way he shoots so early. He just takes his little stumpy legs back quickly and pulls the trigger before the goalie has his feet set. It´s wonderful.

Think the corner against Hull, or the goal against Stoke. I know there are more examples, but I can´t be Arsenaled searching for them.

If you don´t know, we won 2-0.

Some of the highlights can be found here HILIGHTS.

I´m pretty pleased Ramsey got his goal, and I was impressed with his instinctive finish. I can´t believe he is 18 years old. I am probably going to have to get used to that sentence if I am going to continue blogging for Arsenal.

"I can´t believe he was born in "X"."

"I can´t believe he is only "Y"."

"I can´t believe I´m old enough to be his "Z"."

It´s good stuff.

Anyway, we can´t get carried away with ourselves. Stoke at home is three points. It has to be. Everytime.

Just the same as Stoke away should be three points; just the same as Blackburn away should be three points; if you want to win the title, which Liverpool clearly doesn't.

In fact, they are doing their best to miss out on the Europa League next season. Perhaps if they win it this year, UEFA will open up another spot for them out of sympathy for their fantastic ability to be absolute garbage.

Mugmashing fools.

Luckily, we picked up some more injuries against Stoke, which is just great.

Wenger has stated FINALLY that there is a need, in January, to buy. I hope he´ll recognize as well what Arsenal´s medical staff did to be reviewed because we get more injuries than ANY other team in the league, and there is something going on there.

Maybe our players need to stop doing so many five-aside drills, or practicing on the line defending (Nice clearance by the way, Eboue), and start doing some laps or weights.

Traore picked up a knock, which means that Fish Face will probably have to play (For the love of Jesus himself). Gallas hurt his hamstring, which is crap but also interesting.

Will we now move Song back and put Deni in the DM position, or are we going to recall the Swiss Cheese from the depths of whatever Islington Dungeon he´s been holed up in until he moves across the Channel to Atletico in January.

I have to say another thing. Cesc should not take penalties. He can do a lot of things, but his finishing has never been his strongest asset. Granted, he has improved a lot in recent years, but Andrei should be taking that spot kick every time.

Perhaps I´m just a little ticked off because it cost me first place in one of my fantasy leagues.

Speaking fantasy, James Milner as Captain was a masterclass move, and Armand Traore giving me six points for 4.0 was wonderful as well.

Cheers to everyone on my team who was great, and my sympathies to anyone who put Lampard as their captain. Well, not really.

Talk to you tomorrow, guys,

ArsenalAdam