The tale of Tomas and Andrey

By Avenell Dave

Have you noticed why the first team is not doing so well?

A few tired legs, a failure by Le Boss to mix things up a bit and a lack of experience pretty much sums it up in my opinion.

Steve Claridge was on Radio 5 recently and waxed lyrical about Thomas Vermaelen but said that a shortish ball-playing centre-back was not exactly what Arsenal needed, and that despite impressive performances going forward, he had been at fault for a number of Arsenal's goals.

Maybe.

But the fact is, while most of us have got very frustrated at the enduring fitness battle Tomas Rosicky has had over the past 20 months, he has brought something to the team that has been lost with his absence.

I admit, I wanted Arsene Wenger to sign someone to replace Rosicky in the summer and next year that may well be the case.

Wenger doesn't believe wingers can play at their top level beyond 30 because of the need for fitness and pace - and at 29 and in the last year of his contract, it will be interesting to see if Wenger maintains the same stance he had (incorrectly in my opinion) with Robert Pires, Sylvain Wiltord and others.

But his maturity, experience and impact on the rest of the team cannot be under-estimated.

Rosicky knows when to pass, when to shoot, how to involve others and how to support Cesc Fabregas in conducting the orchestra. No wonder he is known as 'Little Mozart' in his homeland, the Czech Republic.

Without him, the side lacks balance and dynamism and the experience to close games down and the fact that he is again missing this lunchtime is a real loss for the Gunners.

That means Andrey Arshavin has even more pressure on him to deliver the sort of performance we have seen so often since he first donned an Arsenal shirt earlier this year.

We all know what the Russian can do. He is quick, clever and has an eye for goal and how we need a great performance from him tomorrow.

But he has been subdued of late. Notwithstanding the goal he scored against Birmingham City the other week, he still looked isolated, slightly disinterested and a passenger for much of the game. The same was true at West Ham last Sunday.

So today, Arshavin has to do what we know he is capable of - and that is to take his chances, to cut T*tt*nh*m apart.

He is capable of winning big matches and a convincing win tomorrow would be a great fillip after recent frustrations.

We have a handful of games before the next interminable international break, which will hopefully give Theo Walcott, Rosicky and others the chance to recover.

But in the meantime it's up to Arshavin to show why he is one of the greatest players on earth and remind the sheisters from the L*ne who is the top club in North London.

What the papers say: Wenger: 'Let's all laugh at Tottenham'

We're all about making your life easier here at Arsenal Addict, where our team of Addicted editors spend every spare second scrutinising news coverage to make sure you're kept up to date with what's going on at our beloved club. So if you don't have the time to trawl through the UK's national newspapers for Arsenal stories, be sure to check back here where we'll do the work for you.

The Sun - Watch your back, Arsene
ARSENE WENGER today comes face to face with the man who provides possibly the biggest threat to his glittering 13-year career as Arsenal boss... Harry Redknapp.

The Mirror - Arsene Wenger claims Arsenal are 12 years ahead of derby rivals Tottenham
Arsene Wenger last night stoked up the north London derby after claiming Tottenham are a dozen years behind Arsenal.

The Daily Mail - Spurs in our class? Don't make me laugh. We're top dogs on this patch, says Wenger
Their accents are as different as chalk and cheese but when they speak it is worth listening.

The Daily Star - FORGET IT WENG
HARRY REDKNAPP has stoked the fires ahead of today’s north London derby by ruling rivals Arsenal out of the title race.

The Express - WENGER: SPURS HAVE WORK TO DO
ONLY when Tottenham match Arsenal’s dozen-year dominance of qualifying for the Champions League does Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believe their north London neighbours can truly be considered their rivals. 

The Times - Arsene Wenger challenges Tottenham’s title credentials
If Robbie Keane, the Tottenham Hotspur striker, was attempting to inflame feelings before the renewal of hostilities at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon, he failed miserably.

The Independent - Spurs long to turn tide of history
There is very little for Tottenham to celebrate in their recent rivalry with Arsenal, but Harry Redknapp demonstrated yesterday, that does not mean you cannot still wind up the old enemy. 

The Daily Telegraph - Arsenal v Tottenham: Arsene Wenger insists Tottenham are playing catch-up
Arsenal are also facing a little local difficulty just now, but the response of Arsène Wenger, Ferguson's great rival, to the suggestion that Tottenham might eventually become the biggest club in north London was almost as emphatic.

The Guardian - Nicklas Bendtner ignores doubters to concentrate on his Arsenal masterplan
Arsenal's super-confident young Dane believes that nothing will stop him from becoming one of the world's best strikers

Got an opinion on these stories? Then share it with your fellow Addicts using our comments section.

Play Fantasy Arsene Wenger - we owe Sp*rs after last year

By Avenell Dave

Well, there's no doubt about it, this is one of the games we all look forward to, taking on greater significance after T*tt*nh*m's start to the season.

It didn't take long, did it, for their players to start spouting off about how much better than us they are, but more of that elsewhere today.

The fact is, while they aren't really rivals this year any more than in the last decade, we have had a few bitter results against them in recent memory.

The 5-1 defeat at Shite H*rt L*ne may have been in the Carling Cup with a few kids playing, but it's a result Le Boss shouldn't have let happen.

I almost ripped my chair out last season when we let a comfortable lead slip at home, let alone conceding four to them, and hopefully that will be all the focus we need to put indifferent results behind us on Saturday.

The big question is whether Manuel Almunia should start, and the media seems to think he will.

Arsene Wenger hinted that he knows who his number one goalkeeper is but would not say, so I expect to see Almunia back tomorrow or his Arsenal career is finished.

That said, I'm going to stick my neck out and still go with Mannone, who I keep maintaining is a better long term prospect.

Other than that, the team picks itself.

Samir Nasri played the 90 minutes on Wednesday mainly to build up his fitness and I expect him to come in, hopefully for Diaby, although it could be further forward on the right.

This is the sort of game we really need Tomas Rosicky and I'm gutted he is still out. He makes a real difference and it's no coincidence his absence has led to a wobble.

Eduardo wasn't on fire on Wednesday but I still think he brings something to the team, including goal poaching.

If Ledley King or Jonathan Woodgate fail to recover from their perennial injuries, this could be a great day for us Addicts.

We need to remind a few of them, clearly, where they truly sit in the big scheme of things, so I expect us to shove it down their throats tomorrow lunchtime.

Addict XI

            Mannone

Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Clichy

    Song Fabregas Nasri

     Arshavin RvP Eduardo

Who do you think should play tomorrow? Let us know in the comments section below.