West Porno United, named after their owners, threw everything at Arsenal in this game, and then some.

We expected rotational fouling – it is what the lesser clubs do, and we got it.  We expected the referee (their 12th man) and his linos (13th and 14th) to do their bit in letter it go – and they did.

But with West Porno you always get something else that is that bit more sneaky – and we got it with  rotational wrestling – something that they obviously spotted while watching the KGB / Inter game on TV last week.

As a result West Porno committed a staggering 24 fouls – and those were just the ones the ref awarded free kicks for. 

Realising that it was not working out the Ref knew he had to do something, so he sent off Vermaelen while watching goal mouth action from the penalty area – you could see him chattring to his lino saying, “I think we can do them for good now,” and the lino vigerously assenting.  Other teams might have withered at this moment, but this, of course, is Arsenal.  They simply slipped Song back into the back four, saved the penalty, and then took the game to the opposition – including the ref.

In the end even he had to give a penalty for Upson’s silly handball, and we got the victory.

And a few valuable extra bits…

First, Vermaelen’s ban means that he is free from being kicked for a while and will be ok for the Champs League whatnot with Bar Bar Blacksheep – and I wouldn’t want us to face them without him.

Second, the game gave us a much delayed chance to see the Diaby experiment in action – in which Diaby plays centre forward, attacking midfield and defensive midfield at the same time.  And for me that display of his was worth the admission money on its own.  He was everywhere, all the time, thus proving that the laws of quantum mechanics can operate at the macro and micro levels.  (And even if you didn’t understand that bit, and there’s no reason why you should unless you read New Scientist or have a particular interest in the way the sub-atomic world works, you have to admit not many Arsenal blogs can get quantum mechanics into a match review).

Third we learned that Denilson has refound his ability to jink around a lot of rotational fouls – which he lost for a while when getting those back injuries.

Nasri is the worry because he was getting kicked to pieces in this game, but otherwise we seemed ok.

Nicklas Bendtner is apparently about to go to Bayern Munich according to EatSleepMakeitup.com

But not every team has someone as mindlessly viscious as Behrami – I mean I know Stoke do, and Birmingham, and Hull, and.. oh well, yes most teams do, but we are getting better at handling that nasty little skimps and sending them off with a flea in the ear. 

So thus it is, and there we go.  Top of the league, tiddly pom.

There’s more inspired stuff on Untold Central (which is also the name that tube drivers give to the red line when it goes out of action).

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

No time for a match report this morning, but I did want to share this with you. I took it yesterday, at the end of the game, just as Eboue was about to do his now customary salute to the fans.

If anyone has been under a rock these last few months and does not realise the incredible turnaround not only in Eboue’s form but also in his relationship with the fans, then watch this. It’s PR genius from Eboue – and note that he ends up giving his shirt to a little boy. Eboue, I salute you – that is class.

Arsenal are top. Even if Chelsea have two games in hand and Manchester United one, the Gunners fully deserve the leadership. Yesterday, Arsene Wenger’s side registered their sixth consecutive win in the English Premiership after beating West Ham United by 2-0. Speaking of the title race, manager Arsene Wenger admitted the Gunners have a good chance of fulfilling their Premiership dream this season.

Wenger explained how football players always want to win, adding how his young Arsenal side will be lifting trophies soon, although if starting from this season, even better.

He said:

Quote:

We are not under any special pressure because we are beyond expectation. We want to win the trophy because we are all conscious we have won nothing yet and the hunger is there, the talent is there and I think the nerves are there. So all we can do is rely on the other results of the other teams, so the only thing we can do is master our own results. When you are a footballer you always want to win championships and trophies. People don’t realise how young we are. This team will win, the sooner the better. We have a good chance to do it this year. It will be exciting, tight and the response we gave today in the second half was very important in future games.

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner is being linked with a shock £15million move to German giants Bayern Munich.
The Denmark ace has found his shooting boots in recent weeks and reports now claim that Bayern are keen to take him to the Allianz Arena if they can agree a deal with the Gunners.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is sure to put a block on the move as he sees Bendtner as a key figure in his future plans but that may not stop Bayern making an approach.

The Frenchman hopes to bring in Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer from Bordeaux during the summer but that does not mean he is looking to sell Bendtner and any offers from Bayern will be rebuffed.

Meanwhile the Gunners are also said to be lining up an £8million bid for AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

club in his illustrious career so far and that team is Barcelona.
The dimunitive midfielder has managed more than 200 appearances for
Barcelona and he has contributed his fair share of goals to the Barca
cause.

But, paramount on the midfielder's agenda is Arsenal and he hopes to
show our captain what he's really capable of: "Playing against Cesc is
not easy and there will be a great battle in the midfield area,"he
said.

He acknowledged that it won't be easy, but he maintained that Fabregas
was Arsenal's password to victory and he's willing to make 'stopping
Cesc' a priority.

"I have known Cesc for years and I'm sure we will have a hug before
each game, but once the whistle goes I will be doing everything to win
the game.
Cesc is a fantastic player and we have to stop him, especially in the
first game."