Arsène Wenger is already preparing excuses for his goalkeepers ahead of his side's trip to Blackburn this weekend.

Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park towards the end of last season due to the home side effectively targetting Lukasz Fabianski for their two goals, and Wenger fears that referees need to be tougher on players who foul goalkeepers.

Wenger mentioned a goal scored by Stoke against Spurs last week as another example of a problem with the rules.

He said: "I saw some pictures last Sunday; you cannot say anymore it is football, it is rugby on the goalkeepers more than football. The referees cannot go on and accept that. When you see how Shawcross kicked Gomes and how Huth pushed Gomes in the goal.

"I believe that in some situations the goalkeepers are not protected. You cannot have players whose main role is to stop the goalkeepers from catching the ball and not even go for the ball.

"If the referees allow that you cannot accept that because that has nothing to do with the game."

Wenger was quick to say, however, that he does not object to a long-ball game often applied by the likes of Blackburn and Stoke.

He added: "Apart from that, when a team plays long ball and heads the ball and becomes physical I accept that completely and I respect that.

"I believe everybody looks at his squad and tries to find a way where the game is most efficient.

"But it has to be in respect of the rules, that is all."

Wenger doesn't exactly do himself any favours, does he? The whole world and his wife know Arsenal's goalkeepers are weak on crosses, and when we concede in this manner again on Saturday, you can be sure Wenger will point to fouls again.

I know he pointed to the Gomes situation last week, but as it quite clearly happens to us more than other teams, it would be silly to deny that we simply have a weakness that teams are good at exploiting.

If he'd just go and sign a new 'keeper, then maybe he wouldn't have to worry so much about how the referees treat these situations. Just a thought.

Arsene Wenger has told Sky News in an interview that the French international defender Sebastien Squillaci has finally completed his move from Sevilla, but says that he will not figure in this weekend’s game against Blackburn.

Wenger said: “We needed a centre-back of quality and experience if possible, and at the right price – he was all of that.

“He is a real defender and is good in the one against one, good in the air, and can score goals on set-pieces as well.

“I believe he will be suited to the English game.

“He will train with us tomorrow morning, but will not be involved on Saturday.”

Wenger has also announced the return of Denilson to the squad, and thinks that (for once!) he has a reasonably healthy collection of players to choose from.

“We have Denilson back in the squad,” said Wenger.

“Of course Nasri, Bendtner and Ramsey are still injured but everyone else is available.

“Koscielny is back from suspension and he will be involved. The situation of the squad on the health front is quite good.”

There is still no mention of a goalkeeper from Wenger, so we must all assume that it will be Almunia in goal again (for this game and the rest of the season). Wenger seemed to be providing an excuse for Almunia before the game is played when he said: “I believe that in some situations the goalkeepers are not protected. You cannot have players whose main role is to stop the goalkeepers from catching the ball and not even go for the ball.”

There will undoubtedly be a lot of articles over the next day or so that label Arsenal’s Champions League draw as “easy”.

In truth, it is anything but.

Shakhtar Donetsk, Sporting Braga and Partizan Belgrade are not big names in European football, but once the novelty factor of Eduardo’s early reunion with Arsenal subsides a couple of harsh truths will emerge from this draw.

For starters, our boys have a lot traveling to do.

Braga might not be too far away (and have a unique and beautiful stadium) but Belgrade is while Donetsk is the second-most Eastern club in the Champions League after Rubin Kazan.

At this stage of the tournament I consider travel to be far more of a concern than the quality of the opposition because of the knock-on effect long trips have on the following Premier League fixtures.

A quick look at the league fixture list shows that five of the six games we have following Champions League outings are away from home and exceptionally difficult games: Sunderland after Matchday 1, Chelsea after Matchday 2, Manchester City after Matchday 3, Aston Villa after Matchday 5 and Manchester United after Matchday 6.

Things are kicked off with a home game to Braga on Matchday 1, which should see three points secured.

The only home game, against Newcastle after Matchday 4, follows the most difficult fixture of the group, Shakhtar Donetsk away. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see points dropped.

The thought of playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge three days after a long trip to Belgrade is a scary one, particularly as they have a laughably easy corresponding fixture at home to mighty MSK Zilina.

Eduardo’s return to Emirates will come three days before a trip to Manchester City on Matchday 3 while Braga away comes four days before a visit to Villa Park.

Perhaps the most important thing for Arsenal to do is qualify early.

With an away trip to Old Trafford following a home game against Partizan Belgrade on Matchday 6 fielding a reserve team could be significant, particularly if United are also comfortably through.

Arsenal should qualify from Group H comfortably, as we usually do, but the impacts of some very long trips and awkward fixtures may be felt domestically.

As such, any mention of the word “easy” to describe this group would be naive.