Our last home game of the season ended 3-3 and now our Champions League qualifications hopes have become precarious.

I’ve set up this thread for everyone to discuss the game.

Leave a comment below to let us know what you think.

Stoke away has become a strange spot on our fixture list. Since Shawcross broke Ramsey’s leg two years ago this game has boiled down into a weird little bubble, existing within itself, fuelled by hatred and anger. Yesterday it looked like that atmosphere is not receding at all. Wenger was relentlessly taunted by them, Shawcross got booed by our boys and most perplexing of all, Ramsey was jeered throughout.

We always seem to struggle up there and our previous performances have epitomised the negative side of Arsenal in recent years. Last year we were clutching at a wafer thin chance at the title when we showed up at the Britannia but we were bullied and out played and succumbed meekly to a 3-1 scoreline, at times throwing our toys out of the pram and looking a bit silly while they kept us at arm’s length.

It’s easy to think that this game should be simple, looking at Stoke’s style of play and their league position. Yet without their home form, they’d be fighting a relegation battle and they rise to the occasion when the big boys come to the Brittania. At home they’ve beaten Liverpool and Tottenham and drawn with both Manchester clubs,  Chelsea and now us. Add to that they were so psyched up for us –yesterday they fought like it was some kind of cup final–and I’m happy to settle for a point away (see the top free bets for this match).

Yesterday we showed some guts without losing our nerve. The more Ramsey was booed the more it spurred him on as he got around well. He’s still taking two touches when one will suffice but there’s enough there to see that his first full season since that leg break has gone OK and he’s on my “ones to watch” for next season.

His shooting has been nothing short of atrocious and that’s something he has to work on considering the amount of excellent scoring opportunities he engineers. I remember a few years ago Cesc–after a bout of goals–revealed that Wenger set him the target of getting on the scoresheet more often and adding goals to his game. I’m hoping Le Boss does the same with Aaron next season and that the Welshman responds in kind.

I add my voice to Andy’s suggestion that it’s about balance in the team as the reason why he has been played out wide so often when it clearly doesn’t suit his game. He comes back inside too much in search of the more familiar space of centre field. But I’d also add that this is a much deployed tactic from Wenger with younger players and something that he cites as being a part of their “education.”

This way–so goes the Wenger theory–players learn more about the game and can adapt better in later years. He did it with Vela and Bendtner and he’s doing it with Ramsey. It’s a hit and miss tactic. It worked with players like Henry and RVP who moved from winger to striker and from shadow striker to the sharp point of our three man attack respectively, but as mooted with Vela and Bendtner, it doesn’t always pay off.

You go near my wife, I kill you.

It’s getting late in the season and apart from CL qualification we’ve not got much left to fight for. Wigan did us a huge favour in hammering Newcastle and bar a huge slump on our behalf and a massive resurgence from Tottenham, third place should be ours.

This sets up us nicely for a tedious summer of transfer rumours, but behind the scenes our money men can rummage through the higher shelves of players knowing that we are automatically in the pot for the Champions League.

And so my head’s already being turned toward 2012/13. Of course new signings fill the bulk of that thought and instead of big money signings like the much sounded Hazard my attention is focussed on someone a lot closer to home: Yossi. I really like this guy, he looks as though if enough fans blew at the same time it would knock him off the ball but he shows a lot of steel and has some pinache to boot. Making him a quick, cheap, permanent acquisition from Chelsea would be first on my list. It’s good having him around and he’s a fantastic squad player.

Other than that, I’ve no idea. Who actually does? Apart from Podolski there’s not much else going on so time will tell. At the very  least Yossi is wearing our kit, and while he’s not the answer to all our problems he certainly ticks a few boxes.

On a personal note it’s great to be able to watch the Arsenal again, get back onside with the blog and witness RVP’s phenomenal season; they’ve all been a privilege. Off to enjoy the sun, Berlin is scorching…

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Our victory over Wolves was arguably the most straightforward game this season.

It’s rare that a game of football is over after 11 minutes, but that was exactly the case after two goals and red card to Sebastien Bassong ended the contest.

Robin van Persie’s penalty kick was impudent and arrogant — something deep down inside me didn’t actually like it, sorry Robin — while Walcott’s finish was confident. Two excellent goals scored in contrasting manner and the game was over.

From then on it was always going to be tough for the home side and while Wolves battled hard, forcing Wojciech Szczesny into a superb stop midway through the second half, Yossi Benayoun grabbed a well-deserved goal to seal the result. 3-0, three points and our march towards 3rd continued in style.

Rather than talking about this game too much I’d like to talk about Aaron Ramsey, a player that is dividing opinion at the moment.

Since a strong start to the season it is no secret that the Welshman has gone off the boil a little, a habit of missing relatively simple opportunities in front of goal has frustrated the supporters who expect more.

His deployment on the left-hand side of attack in recent games has also caused people to question Arsene Wenger’s intelligence. Ramsey? A genuine central midfielder on the left side of a front three? With Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain on the bench? You’re having a laugh, Wenger. You’re having a laugh.

Well, no, actually. He’s not.

Anybody who has watched Arsenal play over the last fifteen years knows that Wenger likes balance across the lines of defence, midfield and attack. Whether we are playing 4-5-1, 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, Wenger seeks balance.

When Ashley Cole broke into the team years ago he was balanced with the less-adventurous Lauren. Freddie Ljungberg or Robert Pires was often balanced with a Ray Parlour. When someone on the right is a more attacking player, usually the player on the left will be asked to play more defensively.

Our current team reflects this. Bacary Sagna has had to alternate between playing a more attacking or defensive role depending on whether it has been Santos, Gibbs or Vermaelen on the other flank. Likewise when Djourou has filled in on the right, Santos et al have been encouraged to run riot down the left.

Across our front line Theo Walcott is constantly asked to play as the most attacking winger, a notion that is completely backed up by the statistic that we attack significantly more down the right than the middle or left.

Anybody who is crying out for Chamberlain to be played on the left while Walcott is on the right seems to miss the point of what Wenger is trying to achieve: balance. If an ultra-attacking player is on the right then he requires a player like Ramsey, or in the case against Wolves, Benayoun, to balance things out.

Chamberlain is an outstanding talent but our run of form and results at the moment — marked by Walcott’s propensity to find the back of the net and assist frequently — shows Wenger is getting it right.

Of course none of this would matter if Ramsey had put away a couple of chances. No matter what people say about the Welshman he cannot be accused of a lack of workrate, nor an unwillingness to put his body on the line and get stuck in defensively.

He could fairly be criticised for taking a split-second longer to release the ball than an Arteta or Rosicky and his finishing has been poor but he shoots from long-range as often as the Spaniard and plays the game with the poise of Michael Ballack.

All Ramsey has to do is score a couple of goals and people will get off his back and remember what a fine talent he is.

Thoughts?

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There are many reasons why Sunday’s victory over Manchester City was such a sweet one. Here’s eight:

It ended City’s title hopes

As the title of this article says, it has virtually blocked Manchester City, the club that has only risen to title-challenging potential off the back of it’s ridiculously disproportionate spending, from winning the title. Manchester United are hardly angels (and neither are we to be fair) but the longer a team like City go without winning the brighter the world will be.

Nasri will not be lifting silverware

In preventing City from winning we also prevented Arsenal bail-boys Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor (yes, he still plays there after all) and most sweetly, Samir Nasri from lifting any silverware.

It showed we are ready for next season

More than stopping Manchester City from winning this was another statement to the rest of the league that (1) we are absolutely back in the top echelon of the Premier League and (2) we are ready to challenge again next season. In the last two months or so we have beaten every single team in the top eight — aside from Chelsea, who we beat 5-3 away and host at home in just over 10 days time, and Manchester United, who sit on top of the table. It’s an impeccable record and for once we have stepped up our game when our season has been on the line.

Arteta scored the winner

Mikel Arteta got his reward for superb season with a well-deserved winner. He has been the quiet achiever of our squad, paving the way for Tomas Rosicky to regain his creativity, Aaron Ramsey to have a break from the spotlight and Alex Song to have the confidence to push forward and become our assist king.

Balotelli got sent off

I don’t hate Mario Balotelli but it was satisfying seeing his melodrama of a performance end with a red card being waved in his direction. His first-half challenge on Song was a terrible one, a red card eight days a week, and it was only fair that he eventually received his marching orders. Interestingly Bacary Sagna resorted to some play-acting to ensure the Italian got his eventual punishment: behaviour you wouldn’t usually associate with our hard-as-nails right back and an indication of the sort of player Balotelli must be.

It shows again that we’re not a one-man team

Another game, another win, another scoreless performance for Robin van Persie. Although to be fair he did hit the post and have a shot unbelievably blocked off the line by Thomas Vermaelen, who otherwise had a superb bounce-back performance after his clumsy effort at QPR. A one-man team we certainly are not.

Third looks nailed on

The aftermath of our victory over City saw Spurs lose to Norwich and Chelsea fail to beat Fulham. Wins over Wolves and Wigan, our next two opponent, would almost guarantee a top-three finish and automatic Champions League qualification, not to mention an improvement over last season’s finish. It would be a remarkable result after the start to the season we had. On a related note, with Newcastle in the best form of the team’s below us it’s looking more and more likely that Spurs could miss out on the Champions League altogether. Wouldn’t that be sweet?

We’re all going to get along for a bit

The comments section on this blog is a heated space for contrasting opinions but after this win, surely every single one of us will be happy. It’s Arsenal, with love!

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Arsenal are somewhat of a landmark club, often being the first to set many firsts, and against Newcastle Arsene Wenger’s men did it again.

After Vermaelen’s last minute strike completed our comeback, we became the first team in the league to win four games in a row after conceding the first goal.

It’s debatable whether or not that’s something to be proud of. On the one hand it means we’re conceding sloppy, early goals. On the other, it means we’re finally showing some balls.

Exactly this time last year our form went into free fall. From almost challenging for the title we descended into a shambolic scrap for third. And we lost.

Until recently we never recovered from that form, as inconsistency defined our results we put on some gutless displays summed up by the 4-3 loss at Blackburn.

One year later, and nicely epitomised by our latest record, we seem to be finally doing something about it, giving some industrious performances, winning ugly, and getting late goals to do so. The last few matches are proof of this and it gives me hope to see that we are moving in the right direction. Most notably, up.

So, the game. It was what my Granddad would call a humdinger. Despite their time wasting shenanigans Newcastle were playing a shrewd away game, soaking up pressure and looking dangerous on the break.

They didn’t have to wait long for it to pay off. On the 15th minute Ben Arfa drilled past Wojciech Szczesny’s near post after we gave the ball away in our own half. It was schoolboy stuff and they made us pay for it.

Less than a minute into the restart the ball was played wide to Walcott who spotted Robin lurking in the box, fizzing a low cross into his feet. Two touches and one lagging Newcastle defender later and he’d smashed his shot past panto villain for the night, goalkeeper Tim Krul.

The Dutchman took his sweet time over every goal kick he had, infuriating the Emirates crowd and, as the second half went on, our captain too, who had a few choice words for his countryman.

The best chance in the second half came after clever work from Walcott and Rosicky  down the right hand flank. Theo cut back inside leaving his tracker sliding into the Clock End and offloaded the ball eight yards out to Rosicky who fluffed his lines, shanking his shot well wide. To be fair Theo’s pass was a bit hard and not on the ground so they’re both guilty of wasting a great opportunity.

Yet, they were two of our best performers last night, Rosicky marking his resurgence in form with a contract extension signed earlier that day.

Still, it looked like we were going to rue a lot of missed chances, even after the fourth official’s board gave us a hopeful five minutes of injury time. Four minutes into that period Newcastle had a throw in in our corner and a point seemed the best we could hope for.

But there’s a twist. Whether it was tired legs or inexperience, we easily dispossessed them when they really should have just set up camp by the corner flag.

Song sent the ball out wide to Theo who ended up in a position to provide the vital cross for our supporting attackers in the box. In earnest, I wasn’t hopeful, such is Theo’s dependability in such situations. But he has the air of a new man since the Spurs game and is strutting some long absent pinache of late.

His cross was–almost–perfect. After Robin and Ramsey got into each other’s way the ball dropped for Thomas Vermaelen–who had sprinted the length of the pitch to get into the box–to win us three points, set a new record and keep the momentum up.

You just got Verminated

There was some scrapping and shouting between van Persie and Krul after the goal, the latter upset at Robin’s suggestion that he might like to consider not wasting time any more now that his team were losing.

It led to some petty scenes but the fire in Robin’s belly got the crowd in full voice and showed that the team have really bonded; the goal celebrations and the team’s tribal defence of the captain were evidence enough. Dare I say it but he looks like the best captain we’ve had in a very long time.

In other news things are  heating up on the Lukas Podolski front. After a torrid spell at Bayern he’s having an excellent season back at FC Köln and while some in England are getting their knickers in a twist believing that he’s already signed let’s just say we should hold our horses for a the time being.

Thumbs up if you hate Tottenham

The only paper to claim he has officially signed is Das Bild, the German equivalent of The Sun. If you’re not familiar with British press then imagine a newspaper full of so much crap you need to wash your hands after reading it.

Saying that, the ever reliable German football correspondent, Raphael Honigstein, did say that the deal is looking very likely, so here’s hoping.

Also on the transfer front and just as pleasing to hear, equally repulsive manure stirrers in England have been circulating reports that van Persie has done a deal to go to Manchester City. I’m crossing my fingers, toes and any other part of my anatomy that can overlap another part that it’s the lady that wears the trousers in the van Persie relationship, as his wife tweeted:

“Rumours, rumours, rumours pfff getting tired of them. Please don’t believe anything unless it comes from @Persie_Official him self.”

Interesting stuff, indeed. And while it doesn’t mean he’s definitely not off in the summer, it does suggest the rumours are, well, just that, rumours. Let’s just sit tight and let him know he’s adored until it’s crunch time.

It’s been a very pleasing period being an Arsenal fan after the start to the season we’ve had, and I’m full of hope for the near future. Somehow things seem to be getting back on track again.

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Prior to the game up on the AFC Blog Facebook wall I posted the video of Cesc’s goal last time we played Milan, and after mentioning Henry in 2003 and Cesc in 2008 I asked who our San Siro hero would be tonight. I meant it in earnest; the San Siro has been a welcoming venue for Arsenal and after some positive games as of late this could have been a night where we really showed some mental strength and threw away that ridiculous handbrake metaphor for good.

But that didn’t happen. In fact–from an Arsenal point of view–nothing happened, and Roy Keane summed it during the half time pundit chat as he said, “Arsenal haven’t turned up tonight.”

It was a dreadful collecive performance. It’s not an irregular occurrence for us to have a worse bark than our bite, holding more possession but not doing much with it. Tonight we didn’t even have any bark. We looked more like a stray mutt wondering around aimlessly looking for a spot to defecate. Our passing was laboured, wide of the mark, our movement didn’t involve any moving; we were guilty of all the things our critics have accused us of being.

But instead of dwelling on the game tonight–because that’s tantamount to an emo kid self-harming plus we all know what happened–it might be better to look at the factors that have culminated in that utterly shambolic performance.

It’s well documented that many former players after leaving the club still feel a strong affinity with the Arsenal. You just have to look at Henry’s behaviour since coming back to see that and even Samir Nasri curiously wished us well for the Milan game and tweeted today “once a Gunner, always a Gunner”.

Even with silly shorts Patrick knew how to win

After the final whistle another former Gunner who still feels that bond, Patrick Vieira, offered his thoughts on what went wrong, tweeting “Really sorry for the result for Arsenal – there was a lack of leadership.”

When van Persie rifled a low volley into the corner after Henry cleverly found him with a flick, the Milan ‘keeper celebrated his save like he’d stopped a penalty in a World Cup final, not prevented his team from conceding while they’re three goals to the good and cruising. We never looked so animated even after the fourth goal went in.

This is also something Dennis Bergkamp touched upon today in an English newspaper when discussing our chances against Milan.

“You need a few strong characters who can get the team going, in training as well as matches.  

“Sometimes you need more of a winning mentality than a passing mentailty.”

It’s extremely difficult not to agree with these formers players, especially as they know what they’re talking about, their trophy cabinets will attest to that.

In a few hours it will have been exactly one year since that wonderful game at the Emirates where Arsenal triumphed over Barcelona. In midfield that night were Jack Wilshere, Fabregas and an in-form Nasri. Since then, one decided a sub’s bench made of 50 pound notes was better than playing for us, one went to play for his childhood club, and one has suffered a season-long injury.

They are three players with the determination to change a game single handedly and we haven’t found similar replacements for them. And so tonight we witnessed a midfield that took part in one of the worst Arsenal performances I’ve witnessed.

What makes it all sadder is that was Henry’s last game for the club. What a way to bid bon voyage to a club hero. It’s almost shameful.

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It’s always a great feeling to finish the day on the right side of a hammering, so to mirror our drubbing of Blackburn here’s seven reasons to be a happy Gooner.

1. This is a little tongue in cheek but looking back at our dreadful start to this season it’s nice to know we’ve hit the fabled 40 point mark and are now virtually assured not to be relegated.

2. Finally we recouped the minus six goal difference Manchester United took from us in the game we dare not speak of.

3. Alex Song is turning into quite the maverick. That was his  fifth assist in twenty games.

For a holding midfielder that tally is pretty impressive. And when we look at those instances in isolation and marvel at the manner of them, for a man who’s probably used to getting bloody noses from being that high up the pitch his classy and intelligent assists are remarkable.

4. People will point to Walcott’s paltry goal count for the season as a stick to beat him with, and while that number is pretty low, as a wide player setting up goals should be just as important for him. He got three today and by all accounts put in a good performance. He’s owed us one.

5. Where to start with the Ox? Hunger, drive and all the talent and potential to apply his innate skills. It’s going to be fun watching this kid grow at Arsenal.

But brace yourselves, there’s an incoming Wengerism heading your way. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain really is like a new signing. Still there? Good. Before today he’s rarely featured apart from some eye catching cameos but he still hasn’t played 90 minutes and with his little playing time in the league he’s produced one assist.

Wenger said after the match today that “He was not ready earlier in the season. He has made a big step in the last months.” Against Blackburn he was the man, and for all those asking where was our attacking purchase in January, well, there he is. Except we bought him in August. That’s just how we roll.

6. Ramsey / Rosicky. Rosicky was given a start in the middle and Ramsey finally got a deserved break. I’ve really felt for Aaron at times this year. Including games for Wales he has already played 36 times this season and we are only half way through. Fatigue and high expectation to run a midfield like Fabregas could is too much to ask, especially when we consider he still might not be fully back to his best after nearly having his leg kicked off.

He’s a great prospect who has needed a rest as he’s looked like he has run out of ideas in the final third of late. A little breather will stand him in good stead and it was made even better to know that Rosicky can step in and, judging by today, play just as good.

7.  Steve Kean, a charmless nobody who had the cheek to bask in his own supposed glory after Blackburn beat us earlier in the season,  giving interviews and attending football shows telling anyone who’d listen how he had scouted Arsenal and worked out how to beat  them. We scored half of their goals that day. So thank you Arsenal for sending him back to the wastelands with a seven-goal rout, the cherry on top courtesy of another goal from Thierry Henry.

Thierry passed to Robin, Robin passed it back. Thierry saw the gaping goal and said I'm having that!

In years gone by Henry wouldn’t have even looked up for the pass as he drove on toward goal concluding with his trademark side foot into the far corner.

Instead he staggered his run and gave it to RVP, the man who scores when he wants. He was probably content with just the three for the day and so he kindly gave it back for Henry to score his 228th Arsenal goal.

I’m loving every minute of Thierry coming home. Seeing his love for the club shine through is a disposition a lot of the other players could do with and aside from that his experience and advice will be a different kind of education for some of the players.

But it’s a bittersweet story, not only because this quick fling with the ex that got away will be ending soon because they’re going to go back to the rich American she left you for, but also because things are not quite the same. He’s carrying a few extra pounds and lost that jump start accelleration that saw him terrorise the league for all those years. No one will care though, he’s already scored more goals than Chamkh and he’s fat and old, but man, to have him in the shape he was in in 2003. We would be so lucky.

Without trying to spoil the party, we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. It’s fair to say you can only beat what’s put in front of you but we haven’t been doing that of late, and today it was only Blackburn.

As much as I’m riding high on the buzz of seeing Arsenal run riot again it’s sobering to put put it in perspective. The fact that we went into this game without the expectation that we would batter them means we’re not completely on the right track.

But to improve we had to start at some point, and hopefully today was that day. Let’s push on from this, hit some form, and see how high we can finish.

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Three goals in seven second half minutes gave Arsenal fans the comeback they were all craving for and the team a trip to the north east to look forward to for the 5th round of the FA Cup.

It was the kind of schizo self-sabotaging performance we are not strangers to from the Arsenal but thankfully that summary only applies to the first half as the team came out assured with an enterprising second half show.

Other than Fabianski in goal it was as strong a fit starting 11 as we could have fielded and from the off we kept hold of possession well. Yet we never really looked like threatening and the first 30 minutes were pretty subdued aside from a stinging Vermaelen free kick and a shanked Walcott effort from inside the box.

In the meantime Villa looked disinterested with attacking and were quite happy to watch us knocking the ball around them in safe areas while they waited for their chance. Their opportunity came twice and they ruthlessly took both, one from a simple short corner headed home by Dunn, the other a good finish by Bent from an acute angle as he latched onto a through ball on the 45th minute. We may have seen most of the ball but we went in for half time reeling from two sucker punches.

I don’t know what was said/eaten/thrown at the team during the interval but it worked. We started with much the same emphasis on possession but this time we were turning it into some dangerous chances and Mertersacke’s header was cleared off the line from an early corner. Oxlade-Chamberlain was jabbing his way down the wing showing the kind of directness we’ve lacked at times while the movement off the ball from most of the forward players increased, and eventually brought around the seven minute turnaround. In a nutty nutshell, it went like this: two confidently dispatched Van Persie penalties came either side of a Walcott goal courtesy of a rebounded clearance that went in off his shoulder after he wriggled his way into the six yard box from the byline. It wasn’t pretty but who cares. If we’d lost by two penalties and a shoulder spectacular there’d be no sympathy for us from the critics, so I don’t see why there should be any grumbles when we win by such means.

Liverpool got a similar goal when they beat us at home this season so it was nice to see the comedy goal karma come back round in our favour for once.

Robin scores his first penalty with ease.

After we took the lead we looked comfortable in possession which was a good sign considering our tendency toward meltdown in the latter stages of critical games. Arteta made his injury comeback and excellently recycled the ball time after time, even slipping Henry through shortly after he came on, but his touch was poor so there was to be no Thierry magic in this round of the FA Cup.

In other good news it was great to see Henry on the bench talking to the younger players. At the Leeds game the camera showed him regaling Walcott, hopefully inspiring with tales of Champions League finals and league titles. Today he was smiling and chatting with Szczesny. Lord knows what advice he was giving the young Polekeeper–perhaps Irish fans will think it’s something to do with his handling–but I always like to see happy players and any words of wisdom he can impart to the team than all the better. I hate it when the camera pans to the bench and we are greeted by a silent row of emotionless faces while Wenger assassinates his latest Evian bottle.

All in all, a good day to be a Gooner, and as frustrating as it was to concede two sloppy goals at least we saw some resilience from the team, a spirit summed up best by kel’s comment in the previous post’s thread: “So at last we show some BALLS!!!!!!”

Well said.

And finally, a big welcome back to Bacary Sagna, man we’ve missed him.

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That was amazing.

The movement, the control, the finish. The exaggerated sulks, the slow-motion running, the memorable celebration.

It was like he never left.

If you’re going to use the 34-year-old’s goal as evidence that Chamakh/Arshavin/[insert attacker here] isn’t up to it, that it shows what this squad currently lack, I don’t begrudge you.

But I do feel sorry for you.

If you couldn’t enjoy the simple joy of Thierry Henry’s winning goal, you should give up on football.

Monday night wasn’t about the mind, about solving problems or technical analysis. It was about the heart.

Thank you, Thierry, for another unforgettable moment.

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Thierry Henry is back at Arsenal.

The legend — and I don’t use that word lightly, even if I once jokingly referred to Emmanuel Eboue in the same way — has signed a short-term loan deal to help our squad cover their arses while Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh duck off to Africa.

It’s unreal, isn’t it? As much love as he has for Arsenal and as much as I have stated I would love to see him manage the club one day, I never considered he’d pull on a red and white playing shirt again.

Not that I’m not loving it, of course.

Sentimental idealisations aside, I think it’s actually a fairly sensible move to bring in an experienced striker to take the burden of Robin van Persie and provide us with some quality off the bench.

Henry’s blistering pace may have slowed over the last few years but his instinctual knack for finding the back of the net has not, as the following video shows.

Not to mention the man is an absolute legend in the eyes of the fans, a legend of the game in general and a hero in the eyes of certain squad members. As such, his presence will also be felt around the club.

Henry’s little adventure kicks off in the FA Cup against Leeds United tonight, a match that Wenger has confirmed he will start. Judging from comments from the manager it will be a rather mixed side.

I’m looking forward to it and not just because of Titi’s return.

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