Schalke 2 -2 Arsenal | Happy With A Draw | How Sad

My first reaction on seeing the team list about an hour before the game was one of relief not to see Andre Santos. He was replaced at left-back by Vermaleen while Koscielny took his position at center-back alongside the increasingly reliable big German, Mertesacker. On paper it would seem like the perfect call to make under the circumstances especially since Vermaleen plays as a left-back for his country. But given his and Koscielny's bungling forms in recent times, I was wary of having both on the field at the same time.

Verm, Gibbs and Giroud Test Run The New Electric Citroen

Came, Saw But Could Not Conquer

Arsenal 0- Sunderland 0.

Not the start to the season we dreamt of, was it? The 38 game race kicked off yesterday and by the time it was over there was that same old déjà vu feeling in the pit of our stomachs.

Vermaleen Undergoing Shaolin Training Ahead Of Next Season

Ahead of the next campaign, the club has put out a couple of videos of The Verminator that will make opposing attackers squirm in their boots -hopefully.



 The first team resumed training at London, Colney on Tuesday and the likes of Arshavin and Bendtner were conspicuosly present as well as Van Persie who was spotting greying hair that was not there at the end of the Euros -that's before murder he wrote. I wonder what brought on the grey. Must have had a really stressful vacation.

The full picture gallery can be seen Here.

The team is due to depart on Saturday for the pre-season tour of Asia. Despite reports that the club has informed Van Persie that he is not going to be allowed to leave and that he will be expected to be on the trip, it will be interesting to see the actual reality.

If he does not go with the team, it's as good as saying he's gone and the buzzards in Manchester, Turin and anywhere else they've stayed perched on trees can begin to circle.

His staying back at the club will come with it's own peculiar headache after publicly stating that he disagrees with the club's management on how to move the club forward. He's unlikely to be allowed to continue skippering the team after that. The fans may not be quick to forgive and forget and may get on his back at every given opportunity. Can the best be gotten out of him under these circumstances? It may just be in everyone's best interest to let him move on.

There are conflicting reports this morning on the signing of M'baye Niang, the French teenager with some reporting that Caen rejected our £6m bid and another reporting that terms have been agreed so I guess we'll just have to wait for an official statement from the club. Hope we pipped City to it though. That will be one small victory against their rich ass.

That's your midweek edition in the bag, Gooners. See ya.