GOOD MAN, WENGER!

First off, Arsene Wenger has been thanked by Alex McLeish for playing an integral role in making sure Hleb proves to us that he’s run his career into the ground. Birmingham? You can’t really be serious. Really? Star at Stuttgart, first-teamer at Arsenal, flop at Fartelona and now… loanee at Birmingham. It seems there were some last minute problems but I have a feeling those “problems” included Hleb getting motion-sick and puking all over the documentation after experiencing that HUGE drop. Fartalan to Birmingham. He can write a book on that. For the record: I like to think Wenger helped the Belarussian’s move out just to embarrass him further.

Now, those are the kind who we should be ridiculing. Not the goalkeeper who still plays at our club and plays a huge darn role in making us win a damn trophy. Adebayor and Hleb. Two examples of how greed can come back and bite you in the buttocks. Look at them. Adebayor, caught in the middle of nowhere, uncertain whether he should move on or stay on with those oil barons who duped him. I mean, here is a man who is too darn afraid to make a statement about his current position because he hasn’t a clue where he’ll play football next. Hleb, on the other hand, is equally bad. Birmingham! I never saw that coming. Really. But, I guess he did better compared to that other La Liga reject who joined Spurs. Hah! Spurs? Rafael van der Vaart? I know I’m asking way too many of these rhetorical questions but I really can’t help myself. It’s all just so hilarious when you look at it from the outside.

But still, ex-Gooners (I’m not going to afford them the honour of being Gooners) feel just right when they have a go at Wenger and his transfer policy. Hey, it gets frustrating! I know. But to question a man as great as Wenger? Bit too much, even for your extremely understanding selves, innit? Well, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. He’s agreed to have a Q&A session with the shareholders, who, obviously are a bunch of miffed fans. I don’t particularly think this is great but hey, they’ve put their money into the club, they do have a right to know. I just hope it doesn’t get ugly like the last time this sort of thing happened.

But, I can understand it when fans question a manager and his capabilities and, much like The Sun, keep going on about how he’s such a load of shite. It’s just one of those ridiculous things managers have to face. One thing I can’t understand however, is that ex-Gooners have decided that they’re going to have a go at Almunia all season long. No matter what he does, fans have decided that Almunia is the man to blame for everything and anything that goes wrong. Wenger’s downfall, Wenger’s mistake, Wenger’s blunder… that’s the kind of shite circulating and it sure doesn’t make a good read. How on earth didn’t we find a goalkeeper in the entire world? Well, I don’t know. Wenger may, but he’s not going to invite you or me to tea and tell you is he? So, why the hell can’t we get our arses behind our PRESENT goalkeeper? I’m sure he could do with some support.

Thomas Vermaelen tells us he would prefer more clean sheets this season than the goals he scored last season. Like it or not, that’s where our title hopes are this season – at the back. And sadly, that is probably our worst region on the pitch. We’ve lost Campbell and Gallas this summer and that is a lot of experience lost. We’ve replaced them with Koscielny, who’s played only one season in the top flight and another Frenchman who does have loads of experience but it remains to be seen if he suits the English game. Expect to see him against Bolton.

Yet, there always seems to be a susceptibility about the defence. We’re lacking the kind of organization champions need and that high backline is something I’m not able to stop worrying about. But in terms of organization Vermaelen seems to have grown into the role and Sagna too seems to have some sort of ability to judge the backline these days. They’re still not the best, and it may take some time. But as long as we know they’re heading there, that’s good enough. Clichy, unfortunately, is a player who I wouldn’t trust with my toast. He seems lost and that’s particularly sad when you consider the fact that he has a chance to prove himself for France during this international break, with Evra left licking his sad self all over after his ban and if he isn’t doing that then it just goes to show what an arse he is.

Andrei Arshavin tells us what’s wrong. He better find whatever he thinks he’s missing soon enough. He’s had quite a horrid time for some time this season and one can only hope that that finish against Blackburn marks a turn around towards somethings better.

Meanwhile, the internationals are set to begin. Sixteen of our players are now spread across the globe, playing senior or U21 football. If you’re looking forward to another blow up in the Fench camp like I am, then prepare to be disappointed as Sagna tells us it’s boot camp time with Laurent Blanc taking command from that insufferable idiot who had the good fortune of staying alive during his term. There’s also an ATVO video with Song telling us how Cameroon won’t dare underestimate Mauritius when they face them in the next few days. Mauritius? Hah! Well, hopefully they don’t kick the ball into the ocean or something like that.

More than worrying about their balls flying into the ocean (that will be my job) with the international games upon us you Gooners will be doing well to give a quick call in to whichever/whatever you believe in. Much like it always is, we’ve experienced two injuries already this season with Nasri having been out for a month and expecting a return against a Bolton and RvP messing up his ankle… AGAIN! Prayers. Pray when you wake up, pray when you’re on the pot and for once instead of singing some random pop song by Adam Lambert it would be nice if you could all belt out a few shout-outs to God while you’re enjoying the rare shower.

Well on that holy note we come to the end for today. Later. Cheers.