Arsenal need to focus on the prize

I have not posted anything for over a week because I really didnt see anything worth talking about. There is so much off the ball stuff going on but very little relating to actual football. UEFA suspended Eduardo (which I supported initially) but came out a few days later and said that the Eduardo incident was a one off which further infuriated Arsenal fans. Then there was Rooney going to ground to win debatable penalties all over the place and the English media's reaction to it which was very biased but that is to be expected anyway. Diving is a big problem in football but making one player a scapegoat or the media demonizing a few players is not going to solve the problem. FIFA have to make it formal that players can be punished retrospectively for diving but more importantly introduce video technology during games so that referees can at least review incidents and make the right decision.

Now on to football, aren't the international's such a huge bore? However I think this one came at the right time. I felt the nature of Arsenal's defeat to Manchester United was very bad and things could spiral out of control if the team didnt get their acts together and get the result out of their system as soon as possible. In my opinion Arsenal are better than Manchester United this season and they have a genuine chance of winning the league title. The team has had a brilliant start to the season even with the defeat to United and the negativity surrounding the Eduardo incident. This is not the time to get caught up in all this nonsense, Arsenal need to focus on the prize. It is five long years without the premier league title but I think this team is just about ripe to win the title this season.

I was very disappointed that Arsene Wenger didnt strengthen the team before the close of the transfer window. I found it rather ironic that a week after the transfer window closed it was announced that Djourou got injured and had to do a surgery that would keep him out for six months. However it is not time to press the panic button yet, as long as Gallas and Vermaelen stay injury free, Arsenal would be fine but that is a big ask. On a positive note, Theo Walcott would be back after the break and it looks like Thomas Rosciky should be fit for the next league game after declaring himself fit to play for Czech republic. Nasri should also be very close to returning to the first team action.

while the players were away on international break, Arsene Wenger talked about the 4-3-3 formation and how it has liberated Cesc Fabregas and he compared him to Frank Lampard. I personally think that there is more to Cesc Fabregas game than Frank Lampard. It is a compliment that Cesc is compared to such a prolific goal scorer like Lampard but Cesc is a more rounded football than Lampard. Cesc is more of a passer than goal scorer and in that sense I think Cesc is more like Bergkamp than Lampard. Speaking to the media this week, Cesc Fabregas talked about how Arsenal would not be bullied this season but he also talked about Arsenal winning a trophy this season and his link to Barcelona. Do you sense any hidden messages there?

Arsenal face Manchester City this weekend and a few of the old boys are set to return. Kolo has been made the captain of Manchester City and Adebayor has had a blistering start to his City career. This is one game that Arsenal just have to win but more about the city game in the Arsenal v City preview later this week.