Why I Welcomed This Interlull | The Squad Gets Deeper After The Break

I usually hate the international break with the kind of passion that I only reserve for bad breath and BO but this time I welcomed it with a loving bear hug and hoped to hibernate for the two weeks that it will last.

I welcomed the break because I saw Gibbs limp off against West Ham last Saturday and after watching his replacement, Santos for the rest of the game I was convinced that he isn't the ideal cover for Gibbs. I really am fond of that cheerfully disposed Brazillian but whatever else Andre Santos may bring to the team, defending isn't one of them. I will be glad to see Gibbs back, fit and ready to man that left-back position; the international break will afford him time to rest and get back to first team duties. He was on England's list for their two games during the international break but that injury against West Ham put paid to that.

Eyeball To Eyeball, Montpellier Blinked | And Mary Had A Li'l Girl On The Day

Montpellier 1 -Arsenal 2

We've never lost a game in France. Before yesterday's win at Montpellier we had won four and drawn one. Yesterday took it to five wins and one draw as the team showed a reluctance to change the trend even if it was the French champions we were playing.

Hitting Southampton For Six

Arsenal 6 - Southampton 1

After the first two games of this season against Sunderland and Stoke City, when we did not score a single goal, I must admit I started to wonder where our goals were going to come from this season. I mean, we had sold the most prolific striker in the premiership during the summer and brought in three players with a lot of promise that on paper made us look a much better team than we were last term but after both games, it looked like it was going to be a while before the team will gel as a unit and start delivering on that promise.

Watch Wenger's Pre-Southampton Press Conference | Thoughts On Issues Raised

            

 Arsene Wenger's press conference yesterday ahead of this weekend's home game against Southampton provided enough material to make up for the dearth of Arsenal news for the past two weeks while the international break lasted. He never disappoints when he has a microphone (or a bank of them as in this instance) stuck in his face. As usual he shot from the hips.

Taking Stock After The Internationals | Played Fifa13 Demo Yet?

On song for France

The last of the international games were played yesterday evening; thank goodness for that. Now we can all turn our attentions to some real football this weekend.

Before we do that though we need to take stock and assess the state the boys who left to do battle for their countries have returned in.

I guess everyone's biggest worry was Abou Diaby; he was mine. After what I saw him do against Liverpool in the last domestic game before the international break, I believe he's an integral part of this team and it was with trepidation that I watched him go off to play for his country. The France game against Finland was not aired in my neck of the woods but I monitored it closely and was glad to hear he scored the game's only goal. I was even more glad to hear that he came out of it unscathed.

Diaby's MOTM Performance At Anfield -The Video

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Cazorla? | Defending With Heart and Mind

Liverpool 0 - Arsenal 2

When the euphoria of finally scoring a goal this season and ultimately winning against Liverpool wore off yesterday, came the chance to assess the feat of going three straight games without conceding nada. Match that against this time last season -we had lost 2 games and conceded 10 goals and went on in that vein for the rest of the season as we leaked goals like a basket with bullet holes.

Everton Fans Hate Traitors Too

Everton 1 - United 0

It was a beautiful start to the season for last season's runners-up, Manchester United and their new boy, Robert Van Persie as they lost away at Everton last night.

Yeah! From the point of view of any Gunner it was a beautiful start. There was nothing more satisfying than seeing the little Robert (that's his name, isn't it?) Van Persie run around like a headless chicken without making any significant impact on the game in which he had come on as a second half substitute. Rumours have it, Wenger sold him off to United without providing them with the user manual. How callous of you, Mr. Wenger. That's so-so unethical.