Just for the record, I think Diaby has been our most impressive player since the turn of the year. He has curbed some of the attacking flair, but he is doing an amazing job defending and bringing the team forward from defence to attack – this has passed without notice or hype, but he has been simply superb lately.

Tomorrow, I would play Arshavin in the Cesc role. It would suit him better and carries less defensive duties. Nasri and Walcott wide with Bendtner bringing them all into play.

What an attacking 3 that is: Nasri, Arshavin, Walcott and all without cesc or rvp – what a squad.

Arsenehollis: Diaby is promising, let me be unambiguous about that. But will he consistently do the job over 90 minutes that Song has been doing so well? Not yet, specially at such a crucial juncture in the season, is my view. I hope the lad develops to the full potential of the physique and skill he’s blessed with however.

King Gooner: Every game hereon is crucial and difficult; each, simply put, is a cup final game. “Accept no slip ups” is the mantra of the moment.

Anto: A little more patience with Denilson may yet be worth your while. I think he’s going to be an exceptional player for Arsenal for quite some time to come.

Flint and FirstLady: Both of you touched a nerve by bringing Arshavin up. For some time now I’ve been wondering if this idea of blending talent matured elsewhere with developing in-house goslings, and expecting it to buy into the shared sense of purpose, is a good idea at all, thanks to Arshavin. Quite a few times this season he’s come across as someone who’d vastly prefer playing with developed stars as opposed to being a leader in a developing ensemble. I held my tongue for fear of jumping the gun. Exactly the same doubts assailed me with Gallas in the aftermath of that infamous Birmingham game. But he’s knuckled down and, if nothing else, been professional this season. I guess the rest of the season will clarify the question. We’ll see…

Darius: Bendtner certainly puts himself about to good effect; can’t take that away from the lad. A better conversion ratio ofcourse would be welcome when our top gun is out injured and the rest are only finding their feet. It’s a purely circumstantial pressure.

Bendtner is an example of the type of player that Wengerball requires. He’s not just a striker geared to put the ball into the net if you will.

When such strikers have an off day like Bendy did on Saturday, then you’re effectively playing with 10 men. The good thing about Bendy, RVP, Eduardo, etc is that they are very good link players who exquisitly weave play in and around the box and bring the rest of the team into play.

In a lot of ways, Bendy got away with his misses by virtue of his overall play. On another day – he would be slaughtered

Its good to have most of our injured players coming back, tough job for wenger deciding who plays and who sits on the bench, the thought of Rosicky, Edwardo, Walcott coming off the bench must be a nightmare for any defense out there.
Looking forward to a win tomorrow, anything less and we are out!

I must admit, there’s a few games where I’ve felt we’d be better off with another player as his overall contribution to the game was minimal.

I think though that with Fabregas missing – Diaby, Arshavin, Rosicky, Eduardo and Bendtner must have a big game.

Nasri has always impressed me though I think it’s taken him a while to settle down. Perhaps his price tag as one of Wenger’s most expensive signings (alongside Arshavin and Reyes) raised expectations.

In a way, he is a more influencial signing than Hleb who he replaced, especially because he is more direct and is not shy in front of goal.

I don’t want to take anything from Hleb because the boy could open up spaces with the ball stuck to his foot. Nasri however reminds me of a bit of Freddie Ljungberg combined with the trickery and finesse of a one Bobby Pires.

At the moment, Nasri is the shoe in replacement for Cesc, though Rosicky in better form can also do a good job.

I think on Theo, there’s just too much undue attention on him and this creates artificial pressure. The lad needs the space to develop his skill and he has time on his side.

Bendtner will most definitely come good. His misses in front of goal are a work in progress. For now, his overall contribution and link play bring a lot to the team.

I gather that Cesc Fabregas didn’t train this morning and has just been ruled out of tomorrow’s game against Porto.

I think we should carry on taking 1 game at a time- all the games are difficult so there is no point looking for them. The next league game is Hull, which will be hard, particularly after the Porto match. I think the Wigan pitch is being relaid, which would be a blessing.

Nasri was more than evidently motm, he was superb. It is encouraging that him, Diaby & Denilson can step up to the plate, when Cesc is missing. Rosicky is still a little bit off the pace but is coming along.

I fully agree with Darius about not playing Cesc unless he is fully fit. There are many examples of us coming unstuck with playing injured players. Without Cesc we lose going forward but possibly gain defensively. I don’t see us winning 1-0 we have to go into the game in the knowledge that we may have to score 3 or more.

Denilson started shakily but grew into the game to be a key player in the 2nd half. He has had a poor run of form after Christmas, which I suspect has been down to him not being fully fit. An excellent player, who’s full effort is not appreciated on a tv screen.

Bentner reminds me so much of the young John Radford. Getting in the right places but often not getting it quite right with the finishing. It ended with him scoring plenty & him going on to be one of the all time great greats of my time. He actually played exceptionally well, perhaps Jenson has a spell put on him.

Theo seems to be a player who is either on form & brilliant or useless. If he is starting to get on form & can keep fit then he will make things a lot easier for the run in.

No-one has mentioned how not interested Arshavin was when he came on. I thought he was a disgrace, particularly with that scare at the end, yet could of got more than the goal he scored.

The injury jinx hasn’t hit me as yet…don’t worry mate.

I’ve been otherwise engaged this past week/weekend and Saloner has admirably held the fort – thanks to him.

I’ll be bakc even before you know it.

I was quite chuffed at Bendtner’s reaction when he was substituted as he approached the bench with that impudent smile and holding his hands out as if to say “what could I do – the bastard refused to go in”…

While his profligacy tested my sanity, what I liked about him is that he still contributed to the overall play, and he didn’t hide away from his shameless misses. He still had the mind to open up spaces and get into good positions. The goals will come.

Theo clearly had enough of giving Bendy the chances and said – “you know what? Fuck this and fuck Chris Woddle – I’ll do this job myself”…Good lad. I’m happy for him.

Papers are reporting that Wenger will risk Cesc. I personally think he should just have him on the bench but go for Nasri to replace him in central midfield.

If Campbell is not available, then Song is a shoe in to partner Vermaelen with Nasri, Diaby and Denilson in the midfield.