1-0 to the Arsenal - away wins like they used to be

'WE want our Arsenal back' has been a popular chant from the travelling Gooners this season, and over the previous five days that is exactly what we have got.

Monday night at Reading we saw the free-flowing, Arsene Wenger Arsenal at it's very best. Flaky at the back, sure, but incisive and inventive going forward.

Wigan, on the the hand, saw us back to the days of George Graham. Solid and pragmatic, grinding out a 1-0 away victory. The sort of victory, in fact, that success is built on.

Both performances were impressive in their own right and showed that this team has more about it then perhaps they have been given credit for.

Of course it was only Reading and Wigan. Two sides in the bottom three and games we should be expecting to win. But in a league where everyone is capable of beating everyone else, two away wins at opposite ends of the country inside a week is pretty impressive stuff.

Anyone on Saturday who was expecting another Reading was always going to be disappointed. Wigan had been struggling with defensive injuries and were never going to allow us as much space and freedom as Reading had afforded us. We needed to work for this one. Grind it out.

Yes, we had one or two things go our way. Arouna Kone should have given Roberto Martinez' side the lead midway through the first half when he raced past the otherwise immaculate Per Mertersaker but fired wide of the target.

Then there was the penalty. My initial reaction was that it was a foul. Theo tricked Bousejour into the challenge and he was caught. Yes it was soft, but a foul is a foul and Mikel Arteta duly converted from the spot.

Having waited 330 minutes to see an away goal in the Premier League this season, Emerson and I were not about to complain about this one that was for sure! Plus, of course, when the goal is a penalty you get two celebrations for the price of one - the first when the referee points to the spot and the second when the ball actually hits the net.



Arteta slots home the winner to give us something to cheer at last

The banter with the Wigan fans to our left was great. They started it with a rendition of 'Robin van Persie, he left 'cause you're s**t.' But we responded with possibly THE chant of the season - 'Titus Bramble, he left 'cause you're s**t!' Hilarious.

But instead of going on to dominate as we had at Reading, for some reason we decided to sit back after that and the substitutions showed our intentions.

The Ox, who had been impressive down the right, was replaced by Ramsey, Podolski was replaced by Coquelin and Cazorla, who had had little influence on proceedings, was replaced by Laurent Koscielny. I wouldn't mind betting all these decisions were made by a certain Mr. Stevie Bould either.

They put us under pressure in the closing stages but that old Graham spirit shone through. Thomas Vermealen and Metersaker were outstanding, while Coquelin and Arteta gave them the necessary protection in the closing stages. 1-0 to the Arsenal. Got a ring to it, eh?

The win lifted us up to third place, thanks to Spurs failing to beat Stoke later in the day, so a club that was in crisis a couple of weeks ago is now looking in fine shape.

Of course I will not get too carried away. Improvements are needed, reinforcements are needed, but in the circumstances we should be fairly happy with our lot going into Christmas.

A title challenge in 2013 looks out of the question, although we did pull back a similar gap in 1998, but this is a work in progress. With the 'Young Guns' tied to long term deals, and Theo expected to sign his soon, this group can only grow and I wouldn't be at all surprised if we do indeed get our Arsenal back before too long.

Just don't expect it to be the class of 2004. More like 1994, but that will do for me. 5-2 wins are great of course, but it is the 1-0's that win you silverwear.

Michu at the double as Arsenal suffer shocking home defeat

ARSENAL 0 SWANSEA CITY 2
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates

Two goals in the final two minutes from leading scorer Miguel Michu gave Swansea a shock win at The Emirates on Saturday.

The Spaniard twice capitalised on Arsenal defensive errors in the closing stages to pile more pressure on beleaguered Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.


The Frenchman had spoken in the build up to the game about the need to win their home matches but his side rarely looked like scoring against a resolute Swans defence.

In contrast, Michael Laudrup's men should have been in front long before the end. Carl Jenkinson did well to block an early effort from Ashley Williams while Angel Rangel was twice kept at bay by Wojciech Szczesny before the break.

Nathan Dyer then broke from half way and would surely have opened the scoring had it not been for a great last-ditch challenge from Thomas Vermaelen.

Arsenal created very little in a first half display lacking any fluency. Jack Wilshere showed his frustration by berating Gervinho and Lukas Podolski for a lack of movement in front of him and the nearest they came to a breakthrough was a Santi Cazorla header which landed safely in the arms of Swans goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel.


Wenger's side came out at the start of the second half with more tempo to their play, but they still struggled to create anything tangible.

Twice Cazorla fired straight at Tremmell while the Spaniard then claimed a penalty after he appeared to be brought down by fellow countryman Chico Flores, but referee Mark Clatenberg was unimpressed.

Wenger threw on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Oliver Giroud and Tomas Rosicky - his first appearance of an injury hit season - for Gervinho, Podolski and Wilshere but it was the Swans who continued to create the better chances.

Szczesny saved well again from Rangel and substitute Dwight Tiendalli before Michu struck two minutes from time.

Vermaelen and Per Mertersacker were both attracted to Luke Moore leaving Michu with a clean run on goal which he never looked like missing.

With the Emirates still in shock, the Spaniard then capitalised on a mistake by the otherwise impressive Jenkinson in stoppage time to seal a famous Swansea victory - his 10th Premier League goal of the season.

"It was not a good performance," said Wenger at the final whistle. "I felt Swansea deserved to win. We were very jaded physically after two tough away games and today we were not at the races at all.

"We were guilty at 0-0 with two minutes to go. When you can't win it is important not to lose. We were not cautious enough defensively to keep a 0-0," he continued.

"We tried very hard in the second half to get into the game but we were not sharp enough to create many openings.

"We need to get the balance right in our offensive game. We had many attacking players on the pitch but we didn't create enough chances and we will work on that.

"The fans are right to boo. You cannot be happy when you don't win the games. We need to win our home matches but what we produced today was not convincing enough to keep our fans happy."

Swans manager Laudrup was delighted with his side's performance. He said: "It is a fantastic result and a great performance. It was easy to be motivated against one of the big teams.

"We have had a very good week with seven points from three games. It has been absolutely outstanding.

"We could play with no pressure. All the pressure was on Arsenal because they needed to win today.

"I felt we played very well. We created five or six big chances but when we did not take them I felt Arsenal would maybe get the winning goal. Fortunately it did not go like that and we scored two good goals.

"Michu is a great finisher and a great worker but in this team right now everyone is playing at a very high level which is great to see."

ARSENAL - Szczesny 8, Jenkinson 7, Mertersaker 6, Vermaelen 5, Gibbs 5, Arteta 6, Wilshere 5 (Rosicky), Cazorla 7, Walcott 6, Gervinho 4 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 6), Podolski 5 (Giroud 5).

SWANSEA CITY - Tremmell 6, Rangel 7, Yeoung 7, Chico 6, Davies 7, De Guzman 8(Tiendalli 6), Britton 7, Shechter 6 (Moore 6), Williams 7, Dyer 8, Michu 9.

REFEREE; M. Clatenburg

STAR MAN; Michu (Swansea) - Two superb late finishes capped a fine all-round display.

ATTENDANCE; 60,098

Villa away, another trip ruined by the match

ASTON VILLA 0 ARSENAL 0

I AM starting to think Emerson and I are becoming a curse on away games this season. This trip to Villa Park was our third of the season following on from excursions to Stoke in August (0-0) and Norwich last month (0-1), and once again we failed to see the team score.

I don’t know why we thought this would be any different. With Villa struggling at the wrong end of the table, this had Norwich written all over it. But the joy of travelling to away games is the hope you will witness something special, like a Reading, so we tackled the M6 full of optimism.

Villa Park, one of the best grounds in the country

Wenger blamed our lacklustre performance on tiredness following the midweek Champions League win over Montpellier, but how many more years do we have to suffer sub-standard performances in the Premier League due to our labours in a competition we are never going to win?

I am beginning to wonder if we would actually be better off not qualifying for it at all and just concentrating on the things that really matter. I mean it hasn’t done Liverpool any harm has it?

Tiredness or not, we seemed to think we just had to turn up, play our football and we would win. But unfortunately that is rarely the case for us these days.

I couldn’t help feel, however, that if Theo had been fit we would have won without too many problems. He is fast becoming our most important player, giving us that extra bit of pace and quality in the final third. Fingers crossed he signs that new contract then.

Theo Walcott, may have made the difference

But this was not to be our day. We occasionally looked good, stringing together some neat passing moves, but we rarely looked like scoring. Although the substitutions brought cries of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ aimed at Wenger from the away end, it was two of his replacements who nearly combined to give us the points at the death.

Arshavin’s lovely cross from the left would have left Gervinho with a tap in even he couldn’t miss had it not been for the last-ditch intervention of Clark.

I would love nothing more than to see the little Russian to get a run in the side. Technically he is still probably our most gifted player and a run of games may bring back his missing confidence.

Next up came the chant of ‘We want our Arsenal back’ from the increasingly frustrated away section. But just what is ‘our Arsenal?’ Is it the Arsenal I first fell in love with in early 1980’s? You know the one with players like John Hawley, Lee Chapman and Brian Sparrow in the team? And if so do we really want that back? I know I don’t.

Anyway as Emerson and I set off back down the M6, we reflected on another goalless away trip. His opinion was that Mertersaker, Ramsey and Szczesny had all played well and that Villa Park is a very nice ground. I found it hard to disagree.

Emerson enjoying another 0-0 draw!

Oddly the only three away games where we have failed to score this season are the only three we have travelled to. Our next scheduled trip is for the Capital One cup tie at Bradford in a couple of weeks, then Wigan just before Christmas. If we don’t score in either of those two, we will get the message.

Kicking it out or making it worse?

IT is difficult for a white, British male to write about racism in football without being accused of being racist. But to hell with it, I am going to anyway.

I could mention the fact that I grew up in a very ethnically diverse area on the East London/Essex border in the 1970's and that many of my friends were non-white. I could mention the fact that my mother was born in Burma and that I have often been mistaken for a 'foreigner' myself. But none of that matters.

No. I am just a normal white guy who is getting sick and tired of people like Rio Ferdinand moaning about how badly they are treated. Do me a favour.

Let's get one thing clear. This is not 1979. Things have moved on. These days, black players have never had it so good. The so-called discrimination they face is nothing compared to the shocking scenes that greeted players like John Barnes and Cyrille Regis, 30 years ago.

To you or I, Ferdinand is just a footballer. He is no different to Wayne Rooney or Ji Song Park. Yet he always refers to himself as a black footballer, as though that makes him different. He is bringing race and colour into it, no one else.

Now he wants to form a breakaway black-only players union. The current union looks after all footballers whatever their colour, creed or religion, yet Ferdinand wants one that excludes everyone except black players. Does that seem right?

Football, and society in general, has worked hard to break down the divides that existed 30 years ago. Equality was the aim and it has been achieved.

But that is not enough for guys like Rio. He wants to take things further. He wants to create new divides. He wants black players to have special rights over and above those of his white colleagues.

So now the FA, in their infinite wisdom, have announced plans to use 'positive discrimination' to ensure we increase the number of black managers and coaches over the next three years. That's right, they are not considering giving all potential new managers extra training to ensure we produce better coaches. No. They just want to raise the number of black coaches to appease Ferdinand. Genius.

This will lead to a situation where a stronger white candidate will be overlooked for a weaker black candidate just so the club do not appear racist. Rotas will be made so a certain number of black candidates have to be considered for each job, and if they are not successful...well you join the dots.

Since when has it been racist to employ the best candidate for the job? Forcing clubs to employ a black manager, however, is.

I would go further and question if there is really is a serious problem with the number of black managers currently in the game anyway. What percentage of white players go into management when they retire? I do not have the figures to hand but it can only be a very small number when you look at the jobs available compared to the number of players who retire every year.

Also, most club chairmen prefer to select a manager with experience. It appears only the same few managers jump from club to club. They get sacked somewhere and then appear somewhere else within weeks.

Therefore the bigger problem is a lack of opportunity for all new, young managers, regardless of their colour. It is a tough profession to get into, especially when clubs are under so much pressure to have instant success. Is that not the issue we should be looking at?

The other point worth remembering is that it is only over the past 20 years or so that the number of black players has significantly increased. Many have only recently finished playing, and many are still playing or working in the media, so it will take a few years for them to gain the necessary qualifications and experience at Academy level.

Therefore it stands to reason that over the next 10 years there will be natural increase in the number of black managers without any need for any of this 'positive discrimination.' Actually I will stop using that term. What makes it positive? It is simply favouring one group over another, the very definition of prejudice.

Anyway, I digress.

The fact is, Ferdinand is putting the fight against racism back 20 years. He is creating problems that do not exist and making people think about race again when they had stopped doing so.

There was a time when you knew the number of black of players at every club. They stood out because they were so rare. Unique. Now you don't even notice. They are as much a part of football as over-priced tickets and Chicken Balti pies.

Yet the minute a high-profile black player claims discrimination, it is never questioned. It must be right as they said so. So now players like Ferdinand set the agenda and no one can say anything against them for fear of being labelled racist.

Of course there are still isolated incidents. The odd moron who thinks they are clever. (Step forward John Terry) But these incidents are occurring less and less. We need to keep working, educating, and ensuring the guilty are punished sufficiently, of course, but lets not kid ourselves the problems are as bad as some would have us believe.

Kick It Out, and campaigns like it, are doing a good job when we don't need to think about them. They are tackling the problems without us even noticing. Drawing attention to it, as Ferdinand has done, will only do more harm than good.

It's lucky for Arsenal when the year ends in 6

FANS of a certain North London club like to remind everyone that it is lucky for them when the year ends in 1.

Of course, we should all be thankfully we are not successful for just one year every decade, but there does appear to be a year that is significant for Arsenal.

It all started right at the very beginning - 1886 - the year the club was formed, and it does seem that when the year ends in a 6, something significant happens.

1896 - just ten years after the club was formed, international honours came their way for the first time when defender Caesar Llewellyn-Jenkyns was capped by Wales. The year also saw Arsenal suffer their record league defeat, 0-8 at the hands of Loughbrough Town on 12 December.

1906 - saw the club reach the FA Cup semi final for the first time. Just two years after promotion to the top flight, Arsenal fought their way through to the last four, only to lose 2-0 to Newcastle United at Stoke.

1926 - saw the club finish runners-up in Division One, the highest position a London club had ever finished. It was Herbert Chapman's first season in charge and also the first season of the new offside law. Chapman's old club, Huddersfield Town, won the title that season, the second of their hat-trick of successes.

1936 - saw Arsenal win the FA Cup for the second time. A goal from Ted Drake, who had been injured for much of the season, was just enough to give them victory over second division Sheffield United, a sixth trophy in seven seasons for the club.

1956 - saw the death of manager Tom Whittaker. He was the last link to the great Herbert Chapman sides of the 1930's and it was no surprise that his death coincided with a decline in the clubs fortunes. From the league title success in 1953 until lifting the FAIRS Cup in 1970, the club won nothing.

1966 - was a great year for English football, of course, but it also saw Bertie Mee installed as Arsenal manager. Like Whittaker before him, he had been physiotherapist at the club before being given the job as manager, and he transformed their fortunes. He was the mastermind behind that FAIRS Cup success in 1970 and the Double that followed a year later - only the second time that particular feat had been achieved in the 20th Century. But Mee was unable to rebuild that side and ten years after he took over, he resigned.

1976 - saw Terry Neill become the new manager. Although he had played for the club back in 1960's, he had been manager of Spurs when he returned to Highbury in the summer of 1976. He was the youngest manager in the club's history and built possibly the greatest Arsenal side never to win the league. They did become the first side for over 100 years to reach 3 consecutive FA Cup finals, but won just one, in 1979 against Manchester United. His side also reached the final of the European Cup Winners Cup in 1980, losing on penalties to Valencia. The departures of Liam Brady and Frank Stapleton over the next two years saw the club struggle to maintain that success and Neill was sacked in 1983.

1986 - saw one of the most significant appointments in the club's history. Double-winner George Graham took over as manager that summer, after a successful spell at Millwall, and he would lead the club to six trophies in eight seasons. After lifting the League Cup in his first season - the first time the club had won that particular trophy - Graham's side became Champions for the first time since 1971, two years later. He went on to lead the club to a further title in 1991 - losing just one game in the process - an FA and League Cup double in 1993 - the first time this had ever been achieved - and a Cup Winners Cup success a year later. But with the team in decline and allegations over financial irregularities, Graham was sacked in 1995.

1996 - saw an ever bigger appointment for the club as Arsene Wenger arrived from Grampus Eight. No one had really heard him until then, but he soon made his mark, leading the club to the double in his first full season and changing everything. He brought success not seen at the club since the 1930's, with another Double in 2002, an FA Cup success in 2003 - the first time the club had ever retained the trophy - an unbeaten title in 2004 and another FA Cup win in 2005. With seven trophies in nine seasons, Wenger overtook Graham as the most successful manager in the club's history.

2006 - was the start of a new era for the club. 120 years after it was formed, Arsenal moved into a new stadium, just 500 yards from their old Highbury home. The year also saw the club reach it's first ever Champions League final, going down 2-1 to Barcelona having played the last 70 minutes with only ten men.

So I wonder what will happen in 2016? History tends to suggest it will something significant for the club. A successful new manager, a trophy success, or maybe something else? The good thing is we only have four years to wait...

A tale of two sixes

MANCHESTER CITY 1 ARSENAL 1
By Ricky Butler at The Etihad

WITH so much attacking talent on display, it was somewhat ironic that it took goals from two central defenders, both wearing the No. 6 shirt, to illuminate this Titanic battle at the Etihad on Sunday.

Joleon Lescott's towering first half header gave defending champions City a lead they barely deserved, but Laurent Koscienly earned Arsene Wenger's new-look side a point with a thumping late equaliser.

Both sides began the day unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League, although they had suffered contrasting results in the Champions League in midweek. While City were throwing away a lead in Madrid, Arsenal were coming from behind to win in Montpellier.

And it was the Gunners who set the early tempo, playing a neat, passing game reminiscent of the great Wenger sides of the past.

They should been in front inside twenty minutes when a lovely move carved open the City defence. Abu Diaby, looking like a young Patrick Vieira, found Santi Cazorla in the centre circle. He in turn fed the ball on to Aaron Ramsey, making his first start of the season, who spotted the run of Gervinho inside full back Gael Clichy.

The Ivorian, with three goals in the last week, had only Joe Hart to beat, but his first touch was heavy and the chance was gone.

Lukas Podolski then missed an even better opportunity as Arsenal continued to dominate. Carl Jenkinson robbed Lescott out on the right before pulling the ball back to the German international 12 yards out. Having scored in his previous three matches for the club, you would have expected a better finish from him then the wild drive he produced.

Yet for all their dominance, Arsenal found themselves behind at the break. Kieran Gibbs gave away a needless corner and David Silva's inch-perfect delivery was met with a towering header by Lescott.

Coming as it did in the final stages of the first half, it had more than a passing resemblance to the goal from Vincent Kompany against Manchester United in April that had all but sealed the title for City.

But despite their surprise advantage, City manager Roberto Mancini made a change at the break, replacing debutante Scott Sinclair with Jack Rodwell and changing the shape of his team to counteract the threat of Cazorla.

And it worked as Arsenal were far less effective as an attacking force in the second period. Yet they showed a resilience so often lacking to draw level with less than 10 minutes remaining.

A fierce drive from the outstanding Cazorla was pushed over the top by Hart, but when City failed to clear the corner from the Spaniard, the ball dropped to Koscielny to smash into the top corner from eight yards.

The French defender almost turned from hero to zero in a matter of moments, however, as his mistake nearly gifted City a winner. After Mannone had performed heroics to keep out Kompany's overhead acrobatics, Koscielny presented the ball straight to Sergio Aguero six yards out. But the little Argentinian somehow dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Arsenal had an even better chance to win it in stoppage time, and again it fell to Gervinho. He created space for a shot on the edge of the City area with skill and speed, but with just Hart to beat he lashed his effort into Row Z and it finished 1-1.

"I am pleased because a point was the minimum we deserved today," said Wenger.

"I am pleased also with the quality of our performance and our spirit. I am also a bit frustrated because I feel there was room to do more. We had early chances and very late chances.

"But overall I hope this will reinforce our belief and confidence and reassure us about our potential in this league."

City boss Mancini was less happy. he said: "I think we need to improve our defending at set-pieces because this has been a problem for us this season.

"We can do better and we need to work on this area. We are finding it hard not to concede at the moment and we are probably two points worse off than we should be so far this season.

"I'm frustrated and the players are frustrated but we will get things right, I'm sure.

"We didn't play very well today and we were getting a little overrun in the first half."

After a break from league action this midweek with the start of their Capital One Cup campaign, both sides return with tough games next weekend. Arsenal are at home to leaders Chelsea while City travel to London to face a resurgent Fulham.

MANCHESTER CITY - Hart 7, Zabaleta 6, Lescott 6, Kompany 7, Clichy 6, Toure 7, Garcia 5, Sinclair 5 (Rodwell 46 5), Silva 6, Dzeko 5 (Tevez 68 5), Aguero 5 (Balotelli 85 5).
Subs unused - Pantilimon, Kolarov, Nastasic, Barry.

ARSENAL- Mannone 6, Jenkinson 7, Mertesaker 7, Koscienly 7, Gibbs 6, Arteta 7, CAZORLA 8, Diaby 7 (Giroud 71 6), Ramsey 7, Gervinho 6 (Coquelin 90), Podolski 7 (Walcott 72 6).
Subs unused - Martinez, Djourou, Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

REFEREE; M. Dean 8

ATTENDANCE: 47,318

Theo Walcott - The Marmite player

THEO WALCOTT. You either love him or hate him. Some say he doesn't have a football brain, others say he has no end product. Personally I think he is one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League.

The problems seem to stem from the fact that when he joined Arsenal as a 16 year old, back in January 2006, many expected him to become the new Theirry Henry. But Arsene Wenger did not want to rush him. In fact he did not play for the first team for the remainder of that season.

Despite this, however, Sven Goran Eriksson selected him for the England squad for that summer's World Cup in Germany. While there is no doubt it was a great experience for the young man, many neutral observers believed he should not have gone. Already the guns were out for him.

Walcott made his Arsenal debut as a substitute in the clubs first ever Premier League match in the new Emirates Stadium on the opening day of the 2006-07 season. Losing 1-0 to Aston Villa, Theo made an instant impression with his searing pace and played a major role in Gilberto Silva's late equaliser.

But Wenger was keen to bring him on slowly. He started just 13 games in all competitions that season, but played a big part in the club's run to the Carling Cup final, where they faced Chelsea. Despite struggling with a shoulder injury, Walcott scored his first Arsenal goal at the Millennium Stadium, although Chelsea were to come back and win 2-1.

Despite being bought as a striker initially, Wenger preferred to play him in a right-sided role where he felt his pace would be more effective. But that seems to be where the criticism has come from. It took Walcott time to adjust to the new position, and while his pace enabled him to get into some very good positions, he all-too-often made the wrong choices with his final delivery.

It was around this time that Alan Hansen said those famous words on Match Of The Day. Walcott had no football brain. That was it. It stuck. Whenever Theo's name was mentioned in any football conversation, that phrase would always be mentioned. Even Arsenal fans, it seemed, where jumping on the bandwagon.

I admit, he was frustrating at times. Injuries were not helping his cause, and he was unable to hold down a regular place in the side. He did not score his first Premier League goals until March 2008, going on to score a brace at Birmingham in the now infamous Eduardo match. But his second goal that day, a marvellous solo effort, showed he not only had a football brain but could finish too.

He ended the 2007-08 season with 7 goals in just 20 starts, but injuries hampered his progress over the next two years. He was in the headlines again at the start of the 2008-09 season with a hat-trick for England in a World Cup qualifier in Croatia, but the critics were soon on his back again. Not even 21, yet it appeared young Theo was not fulfilling his early potential.

The 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons were frustrating for Walcott. Injuries restricted him to just 42 starts and he struggled to find consistency in his game. At times he looked unplayable. At others like a kid out of his depth. Many Arsenal fans had long since lost patience with him. But not me.

I could not understand Wenger's reluctance to play him through the middle, in a central striker's role. With Robin van Persie constantly injured, and Emmanuel Adebayor off to Manchester City, I felt the time was right to give Theo a run up front. He had shown a calmness in front of goal and I could see a 25-30 goal-a-season striker in him. But Wenger insisted on playing him wide.

He slowly began to adapt to that role, however, and by 2010 he had matured into the player I always knew he could be. Unfortunately the critics refused to see it. He actually had a very good 2010-11 season, scoring 13 goals in just 25 starts, and creating numerous others, but still people were on his back.

I remember an incident outside the ground at Blackpool in April 2011 when it was announced over the PA that Theo would be on the bench. Many fans around me were pleased, saying that was where he deserved to be. I was shocked by their reaction. He had scored a hat-trick against them in the reverse fixture at The Emirates in August and their defence could clearly not cope with his pace.

Then, with us about to throw away a 2-0 lead, Walcott emerged from the bench to create the killer third goal for van Persie. That is what he can do and that is why he should be starting. But it seemed I was a lone voice.

Last season Theo reached new heights. He finally established himself as a regular in the side, the injuries finally over, and he worked in tandem with van Persie. In fact Theo assisted in nearly a third of Robin's goals last season, a fact recognised on numerous occasions by the Dutchman himself. No end product?? No football brain?? No chance.

But it seemed most of his critics were closer to home. Theo had a poor first half in the game against Tottenham at The Emirates in February and was booed by a section of his own fans at half time. But Wenger stuck with him and it paid off in spectacular fashion as he scored twice in the second half to seal a famous 5-2 victory.

That may well be looked on as the turning point in his career. He ended the season in good form until a hamstring injury saw him miss three matches. But his importance to the team was evident when he was brought on a half time in the final match at WBA, even though he was not 100% fit, and helped us to the 3-2 win we needed to qualify for the Champions League.

He then became England's secret weapon in the Euros this summer. His performance from the bench against Sweden turned the game and the whole Country was calling for him to start the subsequent matches. He didn't and we went out.

So this could now be a crucial season in Walcott's career. Into the final year of his contract at Arsenal, he is stalling over a new deal. Perhaps he feels he is ready for a new challenge. Perhaps he feels he is never going to get the chance to play up front under Wenger. Perhaps he feels the club lack ambition after the recent sales of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and now his mate van Persie.

They say you only truly appreciate something when it's gone, well maybe that is only way the Arsenal fans will fully appreciate just what a fine player Theo Walcott is.

Thankfully it appears he is now staying with us, until January at least. Hopefully he will now get the chance to play in his proper position and save us a fortune in the transfer market by replacing the goals of van Persie.

I know he can do it. I see 25 goals in him this season if he is played up front. Personally I would play him alongside Oliver Giroud, feeding off the big man. With Lukas Podolski on the left, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right and Santi Cazorla playing just behind, we will certainly create the chances for him.

So I urge the fans to get off his back. You haven't seen the best of him yet. He has been a striker playing wide. Perhaps now we will get to see the real Theo Walcott. Perhaps you will realise you liked Marmite all along.

An away trip to Stoke. Warning, this is not for the faint-hearted

STOKE away. Hardly a trip to set the pulses racing is it? But after four years back in the Premier League I decided it was about time I finally visited the Britannia.

My last visit to Stoke was for a League Cup tie in 1996. Arsene Wenger had only just arrived as manager and a late Ian Wright goal gave us a 1-1 draw at their old Victoria Ground. It was knocked down soon after but I'm pretty sure it would not have taken much to demolish it. It was pretty much falling apart that night as I recall.

Despite the new stadium, and Stoke's return to the top flight in 2008, I had always managed to resist the temptation to go back. Maybe it was the football, or lack of football, on offer. Maybe it was Tony Pulis.

Ah Tony Pulis. If Stoke are the football equivalent of the Anti-Christ then Pulis is Satan himself. The man is stuck in a 1980's time warp. From his Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang' long ball tactics to his shell-suit and baseball cap, last seen worn by Harry Enfield in his 'Scousers' sketch from 1988. Calm down, calm down.

Pulis, right, mixes with some of the Stoke fans

Pele once described football as the beautiful game and if that is true then Stoke are clearly the ugly sister. Yet the club, its manager and the neanderthals who fill the stadium, seem well suited to each other.

Some of these guys clearly do not get out much. The look on their faces as they performed their ridiculous 'Wenger' routine told you all you needed to know. The lights are on but no one is home.

The radio on the drive up informed us that the Britannia is the loudest stadium in the country. Yet the only time they made any noise was when they sang Delilah. Once. Just after kick off.

Ah Delilah. I know there is a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why they sing a song about a man who kills his unfaithful wife made famous by Tom Jones in the 1960's (a Stoke fan once explained it to me), but I really don't care. It is just wrong on so many levels.

As it happens this trip very nearly did not happen for me at all. Having actually made the plunge to buy tickets for Emerson and me, mainly as it was the first away game of the season, I tore my ankle ligaments playing football the day before.

By Saturday night I could not walk let alone drive. The chances of me getting to Stoke and then standing for the entire 90 minutes were virtually zero.

I awoke on Sunday morning still in pain but Emerson convinced me we should go.

"You'll only be sitting in the car and then you can always sit down in the ground if it's too sore," he said.

Of course the fact that we were meeting his two older brothers, Rees and Ryan, at the station meant I was under even more pressure to go so I decided to strap the ankle up and bite the bullet.

As it turned out the drive up was pretty stress-free and did not cause too much pain so we arrived in the village of the damned at 12.30pm, an hour before kick off.

The plan was to park at Stoke station, meet Rees and Ryan and get the bus to the ground. However, by the time I had parked the car and hobbled over the road to the station they had already been herded onto the bus by the local constabulary. Perhaps someone should tell them it is not actually still the 1980's and football fans do not have to be treated like animals anymore. But then this is Stoke. Safety first and all that.

Anyway, as the buses would not be back for 25 minutes and would then take another 15 to get to the ground, we were advised to get a cab. A bargain at £7.80. Cheers, Guv'nor.

We arrived at the away end at 1.15pm and the atmosphere was building nicely. I had warned Emerson that there would be songs about Robin van Persie but he wasn't worried.

"I hate him now," he said. "He is just a dimming logger."

Just to clarify, that is Emerson's phrase for a someone he dislikes. Adebayor is a dimming logger, as is Samir Nasri and anyone who plays for Chelsea and Man. United.

As it turned out the songs were not as bad as I was expecting. A few about his rape allegations, one about Lukas Podolski replacing him, and that was about it.

More exciting for me was the chance to see our three new signings, although I was disappointed that Gervinho had been selected over Theo. Gervinho should never be selected over Theo. Never.

Despite our poor record at the Britannia I was convinced we would win. Emerson went for a 2-0, but swiftly changed it to 2-1 when he saw Vito Mannone was in goal.

"He's not very good is he?" he said.

I went for a rather more optimistic 4-2. The team appeared to have good shape and I felt Arteta and Cazorla would be too much for them in midfield, but I was convinced we would concede. We always do here. And Mannone was in goal.

Emerson looking happy before kick off.

As expected the neanderthal home fans to our left gave Wenger a 'friendly' reception while we tried our best to boo Pulis. At least I did. Very loudly.

So far so good then. My ankle was holding up well and the pain killers had kicked it. The sun was out, we were wearing our lovely new purple away kit and Emerson was happily singing all the songs.

But then the game started. The thing that shocked me most was Stoke's lack of ambition. I have rarely seen a home team waste so much time, and do so little to actually win the game. It was a blessing that their early 'goal' was rightly disallowed for offside as them going 1-0 up would have killed the game then and there.

I was, however, impressed with the way the back four all stood in a line with their arms in the air appealing for offside. Good to see the Bould influence already having a positive effect. Or perhaps they had they just watched Fever Pitch on the bus journey up?

The rest of the first half saw us dominate possession but create very little. Cazorla and Arteta were both amazing and I was particularly impressed with the work rate of Giroud up front. He chased everything and constantly put their defence under pressure.

The clearest chance fell to L-Pod (as I now call him) when Wilkinson slipped inside the area but he recovered to block the German's effort with his head. It was not until I saw TV replays later that I realised it had actually hit his arm, but you are not going to get a penalty for something like that away from home. Unless you are Man. United.

The players troop off at half time

The second half was even worse, if that's possible. Begovic in the Stoke goal was taking longer and longer over each goal kick and it got to the point where the away fans behind the goal were counting the number of seconds he was taking. Around 25 was about average, and as they had somewhere in the region of 10 goal kicks that would be around four minutes to be added on at the end. Wouldn't it ironic of we scored the winner in that added period, I thought.

But I had the feeling we were not going to score even if we played until Christmas. We finally looked more threatening after Theo and The Ox replaced L-Pod and Gervinho (far too late in my opinion), but we still created very little. Giroud volleyed over from a pre-planned corner routine, while Diaby and Arteta both shot wide from good positions. It led to the inevitable chants of  'Robin van Persie, he would have scored that,' from the Day Releases to our left.

We almost nicked it at the death when Giroud shot just over from 30 yards with Begovic off his line, but while I doubt van Persie would have score that, he may well have spotted Aaron Ramsey unmarked in the centre.

Action from the second half . When I say action.

The only thing to look forward now was to see the amount of stoppage time to be added. Don't forget the four minutes just on goal kicks, and with six substitutions it had to be at least five. But no. Just three. Three! You can bet your life had Man. United been 0-0 here there would have been six or seven, but we get just three. Not even enough to cover the goal kicks. Well done referee. Well done Stoke.

On this very weekend last year we were given our money back after the 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford, but at least that was entertaining. This was just awful and I would rather have got a refund for this one. From Pulis. In person.

Okay, so the positives. Cazorla is a quality footballer and will prove to be a great addition to the squad. A midfield with him, Arteta and Wilshere fills me with excitement.

Podolski showed good touches and will score goals, while I was impressed with Giroud's work rate. And of course the defence was immense against a side that always causes us problems.

We finally met up with Rees and Ryan in the car park behind the away end. Rees had been on night shift and had come straight here without any sleep. Quite how he managed to stay awake for the entire match was beyond me. I was falling asleep in the second half and I had had a full night's kip.

After our usual post-match McDonalds we decided this could be a great season after all. The new guys look good, there is the prospect of others to follow, and we haven't looked this solid at the back since the days of the 'Famous Five.'

I'm sure that if by May we have lifted a trophy this match will be long forgotten, but for now the memory is far too fresh.

Stoke away? Never again.

New season, same old problem?

WELL the first week of the new Premier League season certainly reminded us just how great it is, right? Goals galore, great comebacks, excitement and Manchester United losing. What more could we have wished for?

But for me the bigger issue was the dreadful offside decisions that cost both Southampton and Reading the chance of a point at Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.

There is no doubt that had it been a player from the away side, the newly promoted away side I might add, as far offside as both Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres were when they scored, the goals would not have been given. But the big clubs always seem to get these decisions, especially at home.

FIFA have been calling for the use of goal-line technology to sort out incidents that occur very rarely, but if we are going to use technology for anything - and overall I am against it - then at least lets use it for decisions that happen all the time. Like offsides for example.

The pace of the game these days means it is very difficult for the assistant referees, or linesmen in old money, to keep up with play. That does not excuse the lino in the Chelsea match, however, as it did not need a video replay to tell us that Torres was miles offside when he put Chelsea ahead against Reading.

Decisions like that, even at this early stage of the season, could prove crucial for a club like Reading, where every point is so important. They had played well at Chelsea on Wednesday evening and looked set to earn at least a point with the score at 2-2 going into the last ten minutes. But all their hard work was undone by a dreadful mistake by the assistant, and this should not be allowed to continue.

Southampton suffered a similar fate at City last Sunday. The goal from Tevez may have come early in the match, and at one point the Saints managed to turn it around to lead 2-1, but it makes it no less important. To be fair to the assistant, on this occasion the call was much tighter and at first look it was touch-and-go, but replays showed Tevez was clearly offside and once again a big club had been given the benefit of a tight call.

So perhaps herein lies the real problem. Perhaps the referees and their assistants can tell what is offside and what is not without the need for video replays. Perhaps they just have an agenda in favour of the big clubs?

I am not suggesting for one minute that the officials are 'bent' in any way, just that perhaps they are 'influenced' by the stature of the club and pressure from the fans. I have heard many former referees speak of the pressure they felt at places like Old Trafford, and of course who would want to endure the wrath of Fergie?

But I don't just blame the officials. The Premier League will do nothing about the injustices bestowed on Southampton and Reading this week. Nothing. The assistants involved will be running the line at a Premier League game this weekend. They will not be suspended. Had these decisions gone against City or Chelsea, or, heaven forbid, United, they would have been relegated to League Two, or worse, without a seconds thought. One rule for one.

So what is the answer? Well personally I would like to see the officials come out in the media and explain these decisions after the match. Let them watch replays of the incidents and explain their thinking. Was their positioning wrong? Did they just did not see it? Whatever the reasons they should have to face the consequences. A fine, a ban, extra tuition. A written apology to the club involved at the very least. But they are unaccountable.

Perhaps the officials themselves would welcome the use of video replays to help them. If so, perhaps we should try it. The money in the game is so great these days that they cannot afford to keep getting it wrong.

If Reading are relegated by one point this season, a point they should have got at Chelsea, then the consequences for them will be huge. The lino will no doubt be sunning himself somewhere next summer without a care in the World while Reading will be suffering the consequences of his mistake. Where is the justice in that?

So a potentially great start to the new season has been slightly tarnished for me. As a fan of a club in the 'Big Four,' I fully expect to see my club benefit from decisions like these throughout the season. But that does not make it okay. I would rather see my team lose fairly than win unfairly. Unless it's against United at Old Trafford or Spurs at White Hart Lane, of course. Then I just want to see us to win.

Sky are to blame for much of what is wrong with the game these days, but they could just offer the solution to one of its biggest problems. Their million different camera angles and the speed at which they can produce replays could mean these offside decisions are called right everytime. And we would all welcome that, wouldn't we?

No van Persie, no chance?

SO Arsenal are held to a goalless draw in their Premier League opener against Sunderland on Saturday and it's all down to the sale of Robin van Persie. Yes of course it is. I mean the club never drew a home game while the Dutchman was playing did they?

The late chance missed by new signing Oliver Giroud would surely have been buried by van Persie, they said. Yes, I mean he never missed any chances did he? When he was fit of course.

Yes it was a disappointing way to kick off the new season, but I prefer to look at the positives. Santi Cazorla, for example, made a very encouraging debut. In fact I would so as far as to say he looks the natural replacement for Cesc Fabregas.

Lukas Podolski and Giroud may have failed to shine but both are clearly quality players and will score goals once they have settled in. Plus, of course, the possible arrivals of Nuri Sahin and Yann M'Vila mean we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Furthermore the other challengers have not exactly set the world alight either. Manchester City struggled to overcome an average Southampton side, Chelsea appeared to run out of steam after a good start at Wigan, while United lost, and looked very poor, at Everton.

So it is hardly a time for doom and gloom. I can see great potential in this side. The squad appears to have more balance now and a midfield of Arteta, Cazorla and Wilshere fills me with excitement. Meanwhile, with Steve Bould working his magic on the defensive side of the game, I can see a lot more clean sheets this season.

But where will the goals come from, I hear you ask? Well, Podolski, Giroud, Gervinho, Theo Walcott and Cazorla all have double figures in them so I feel the goals will be more evenly spread this season. The Golden Boot may not be finding its way back to The Emirates come May but a real trophy might well be.

The seven year itch may be about to be scratched. I have not felt this optimistic about the clubs chances of success since the days of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. The other challengers do not scare me and, as long as we can stay in contention through the early weeks, I can see us getting stronger and stronger as the season progresses.

But the whole balance of the team does seem more suited to the Champions League. Chelsea proved last season that you do not have to be the best team to win it, just play to your strengths and have a bit of luck along the way. We can do that.

Failing that, of course, is the FA Cup. By January I believe this team will be flying and no one will fancy getting drawn against us. No one. Three major trophies to go for and we have a great chance in all of them.

Nah, who am I kidding? We have just lost the greatest striker in the World to one of our biggest rivals. And that is following on from the loss of Fabregas and Samir Nasri last year. The club is in decline, a selling club, and Saturday's 0-0 draw with a dire Sunderland side is the reality of where we are at.

The critics cannot all be wrong, can they? Wenger has clearly lost the plot and without van Persie we are doomed to another season of failure. Aren't we??