Arsenal Ranter FC1886: Arsenal's new Triumph TR7

Of course I don't mean the 1980's 'Sports' car - I'm talking about a certain Tomas Rosicky who had a triumphant game against the Villains on Saturday. Very impressive indeed, compared to his recent, rather lacklustre displays anyway.

I've been disappointed with TR7 for quite a while now. He's never set the club alight with the sort of displays that we'd see from him for his home country which enticed Wenger into buying him in the first place. Injury has played it's part in that of course and he has been unfortunate but he's never hit that 'Peak', not in my opinion anyway. Hopefully this season he'll hit those heady heights.

On Saturday he was given the captains armband and had an inspired game. Leading by example, spraying passes everywhere to get others involved and setting up a goal for Chamakh. He clearly enjoyed the role. So did the rest of the team. It was a result very much needed after some poor, disappointing performances recently.

I don't feel the result has lifted us fans and convinced us all that the table has turned again yet. But it is a step in the right direction.

With a Carling Cup quarter final game against Wigan to come on Tuesday where inevitably part of the team will be rested, we'll have to wait until our next fixture to really tell if Saturday's result has boosted the teams obviously frail confidence.

There still remains a huge hole in our defence. We shipped two goals far too easily against Villa. Even with Song actually playing a 'defensive' midfield role instead of trying to do his best impersonation of an on form Cesc Fabregas (badly), He failed to do a job in supporting Kosh and Seb who I thought did a fairly good job. I think Song wants to be what he isn't and therefore tries to hard. When he has a good game, he has a very good game. When he has a bad game, he's not the worst player on the pitch so he gets away with it. I like Song. He's still young and will be an important player for us for a long time. But please Alex Song Billong stick to your role on the pitch consistently.

Clichy was caught in two minds yet again for the first goal which, although should have been wiped off by the ref for interference by Carew, could have been avoided with some basic simple defending. The second goal we were collectively at fault for. The cross should have been blocked, the header should have been prevented and Clichy needs to learn to jump higher on the line!

It's indecisiveness that has cost us so often this season, either by the defence or the goal keeper. This still has to be addressed. Yes we miss Vermaelen but it's the team's defensive mindset which is the problem, not just the quality of the Centre Backs. This needs to improve or we will not win a single trophy this season. Not even the League Cup.

Over all though, It was great to see that despite conceding yet again in a manner reminiscent of a certain game that shall not be mentioned, the mentality in attack was to ignore the score and go for it. And we did just that. I think 4-2 was a flattering result for Villa. We could and should have had 6 or 7 had it not been for Friedel's good saves, last ditch defending or yet again, indecisiveness up front.

Come Sunday evening, we're sitting 3rd in the table, two points behind the shit and only by a slightly superior goal difference for the chavs. So, thanks to our closest opponents also having mediocre patches, we're still in the fight for the League title.

Nasty November is almost over, just one more game left in this horrid month......

So it's Wigan in the league Cup on Tuesday. Robin Van Persie should start for the first time since his return from long term injury. I should imagine Walcott will start too with Eboue back from a knee ligament injury which turned out to be much milder than originally thought. Thankfully.
It will be a tough game, but I think this is one trophy our young/fringe players can achieve if Wenger gets the mix of youth and experience right as he has done so far.

Wenger has asked all Gooners to 'keep the faith'. Words I have often used myself to my fellow Gooners.
And I, for one shall do so. He insists he will continue to take the League Cup seriously and weather permitting, we should hopefully see another convincing cup performance at the Grove which, again is sold out.

Elsewhere:

Manure sit top after hammering Blackburn 7-1. Well, if you were Fergie's best bumchum/buttbuddy/arsemate/bottomfriend/sphincterpal and he'd offered you a bottle of 1890 Lafite Rothschild Antique red, you'd tell your players to bend over and take it up the jacksy too wouldn't you FatSam?!
So they are still unbeaten but only 2 points ahead after many a bore draw. Someone asked me if I was worried about the shite going unbeaten - 'Invincibles' style. I just laughed.
Manure will lose this season and I hope we are the ones to inflict that loss in December.

The Chavs' poor form is thankfully continuing after a draw with Newcastle. Long may that form run. Goes to show that you need a solid foundation in a football club, not just a sugar daddy. With their decent players ageing faster than Dorian Gray after accidently glancing at his picture, they have no future.
They don't seem to have any decent youth players coming through the ranks apart from a certain Josh McEachran who is supposedly as big a prospect as our very own JW. Ha ha!!
With sugar daddy Roman going sour with his spending, how will they compete for titles in the next few years? Inevitably, the media is awash with stories of how Roman is of course blaming wonky browed Ancelotti and apparently wants Barca's out of favour manager. Fickle fuckers the lot of em.

It was Liverpool's turn to capitulate against the scum on Sunday. Poor finishing from 'World Beater' Torres - again. Dye your hair blonde again Torres - the bleach clearly sunk into your brain cells and helped with your accuracy and decision making!
Yet again Skrtel scores at the wrong end. Cheers Liverfools. I suppose I should just give Spuds some credit, but I just can't. It is physically and mentally impossible.

The Premier League served up a record amount of goals this weekend since the 1998 Arsenal Double Winning Season. Up yours La Liga.

Here's how the table looks as of Monday 29th November 2010:

Man Utd	15	31
Chelsea	15	29
Arsenal	15	29
Man City	15	26
Tottenham	15	25
Bolton	15	23
Sunderland	15	20
Stoke City	15	20
Newcastle	15	19
Liverpool	15	19
Blackpool	15	19
WBA	15	19
Blackburn	15	18
Birmingham	15	17
Aston Villa	15	17
Everton	15	16
Fulham	15	15
Wigan Athletic	15	14
Wolves	15	12
West Ham Utd	15	12

So roll on Tuesday and good luck to which ever team Wenger fields.

It's Fulham at home on Saturday the 4th of December; our first fixture of the festive season.

Home form is more worrying than our away form unfortunately, so this game is no way a gimme.
I hate Sparky Spews and desperately want him to lose his job at the end of the season after relegating the Cottagers, so a good sparky spanking will be a great Chrimbo present please lads!

Now to continue the new feature of the blog: Here's this weeks football related babe(s). Of course I have to include something for the ladies and/or any of you who tend to swing the alternative bat. I'm here to please everyone! Enjoy: