kitaun:

Hleb is okay playing in that role . . . he looks like a natural successor to Pires

hmmn yes i think u are right. But that cant still make Arsenal win the premiership

natural successor to Pires?

hmm, I think its a tad early to put that weight on his shoulders. Pires was more prolific than may of the strikers in his time. in fact in the Unbeaten 49 run, he scored 23 goals, second only to Henry on the scorers chart - beating Bergkamp, Reyes, Kanu, Wiltord who were supposed to be strikers.

besides, Pires played mostly on the wing and cut in from the left. I think Wenger envisages Rosicky to be Pires' successor, but for now he hasn't lived up to the billing.

Kudos to Hleb though, he will be very useful in the CL away games this season in that role, since 4-5-1 is the most effective formation for us in Europe as of now.

I dont think Rosicky or Hleb will be able to fill Pires's shoes.

They don't have the pace, and neither is gifted with a keen eye for goal, at best a few goals here or there.

From way back when Pires was at Marseille, he had scoring potential, which bloomed at Arsenal.

Rosicky on the other hand has played defensive midfield for the Czechs before!!!

you have a good point mate, that is why I think Wenger is silently cursing his luck because he missed out on Ribery. That scar faced dude was the perfect person to fill the slot, the same way Pires came in after Euro 2000, Ribery coming in would've galvanised the team in a crucial area. Alas either money issues or Wenger's vacation at the time prevented him from joining.

Anyways, I think man for man comparisons with the invincibles won't do us much good. this team needs to perform, whichever way that performance/goals come from is not too important to me - just score enough and bring trophies to the Emirates. The emerging trend of the Wingbacks producing assists is a welcome one, it may reduce the effect of the lack of a true winger in the squad at present.

papers were linking Gilberto to Juve, Read also somewhere that Gilberto was disappointed about not choosen as captain or something like that, can anyone confirm this.

the links to Juve are old I think a bid was made sometime in July and rejected outright. don't know if anything new has occured there, but anywys Gilberto isn't going anywhere, Wenger can ill afford to lose such an anchor player with his wealth of experience right now.

Gilberto was disappointed no doubt, but more about the way he found out (through the web according to reports), he said he would've preferred to be told directly by Wenger and not see it online. Wenger has settled the matter by saying Bertie was absent from training on the day the decision was made, so thats why he seemed out of the loop, but the issue has been cleared up as far as I know. Gilberto, being the consummate professional he is, has said he will focus on doing his job for the team and that is the highest priority for him this season

whats ur take on Eboue on the right of the midfield, do you think he has done a good job or hes out of place there?

in the fulham game he was excellent, but he was less effective in the Sparta game, maybe due to the undue physicality of the opposition. I think after 5 premiership games in that position is when we'll be able to judge his performances. In any case, he is out of the Blackburn game with an ankle injury, so Hleb might be back on the right with Dudu starting alongside RVP.

Sagna has shown how excellent he can be on the overlap, he got like 13 assists for Auxerre last season, and he is showing why. His defensive awareness is of course much better than Eboue's and that is also beginning to show.

debosky:

in the fulham game he was excellent, but he was less effective in the Sparta game, maybe due to the undue physicality of the opposition. I think after 5 premiership games in that position is when we'll be able to judge his performances. In any case, he is out of the Blackburn game with an ankle injury, so Hleb might be back on the right with Dudu starting alongside RVP.

Sagna has shown how excellent he can be on the overlap, he got like 13 assists for Auxerre last season, and he is showing why. His defensive awareness is of course much better than Eboue's and that is also beginning to show.

I hope Eboue dosen't become more and more unimportant to the team. He looks good playing infron to Sagna in some matches and totally disappointing in some. Sagna also have that instinct of going upfront. One can still hope on his powerful strikes and crosses though.

unimportant? I doubt it, but we'll lose him for maybe 6 weeks in january, so having competent replacements for him is essential. Personally I feel Sagna is the most astute signing Wenger has made this season, Dudu's performance will determine if he was a better buy.

Eboue's ability to drive into the box and draw fouls will remain important, as long as he cuts out the play acting (fat chance).

more importantly do u guys think E.silva and betdner can convert the many chances we create
luv Arsenal and anyone beating manure & paraga fc

i think arsenal players can convert chances. but too scared to shoot. there's this thing in arsenal about wasting chances that makes players feel reluctant to shoot. u have to be an outlaw to shoot, like van persie does. if wenger wants goals encourage them to shoot. a commentator once said in a champions league match that the crowd were shouting shoot shoot. imagine rosicky well known for his shots now more interested in running in and making passes.

Its gonna be a belter of a game today, and another thing, if blackburn think their defensive game will help them today, they better have a rethink cos we're about to turn on the heat in there

cant wait to watch the best team in the world

UP GUNNERS!!! Dis is how it should be done, make una tell dem,

Goal - RVP

i dey die ooooooooooooooooo

i love my team

way to go RVP

we love you

Man city just made my day

somebody tell me, na futbol Blackburn dey play abi na wrestling? Dem wan wound our boys ooo

abi o see bentley his head like paw paw

they will soon get red

i tire oo. am always proud to be a gunner ooo, dis is sexy

dont mind those blackburn players, everybody want to kick our players

man city gbosa gbosa gbosa!!

they want to injure them

damn man city you are giving me a real good reason to smile

we go hear word

Oh boy, they want to kill Cesc and Van persie, they are not even kicking the football anymore

half time we have played well ._{analyst una talk una own, na my own i talk}

enemies of progress they want to injure our players so we can be like scummie
na lie it wont happen

lehman don kill us ooo

C'mon BLACKBURNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Do us proud in the NORTH.
BEAT THE GUNNERS.

What a goal by DUNN.

SANTA CRUZ . . . . . .Where ya guns @?

honestly I don't know whats wrong with that lehman, simple ball he can't just catch. I don't think we need him again, I'm sick and tired of his stupid mistakes!

Lehmann can someone pls injure him maybe Almunia can do better

*hiss* rubbish

this blackburn players sef, dem too ruff . Ref suppose don give them red since.

@ Dinozzo,

This has ended in a DRAW.
What a howler by LEHMANN? How did that happen?
Just pray the Scousers win to grind CHELSEA's machine or else it's gonna be difficult.
Gunners have been played.
Switch your TV to the Liverpool match.

Game over . .first draw of the season

the ref come dey dash us cards anyhow and he gave them only one red


but atleast two teams  are making my day