Wow! It’s been almost 20 days since my last post, and by any measure this is not good for blogger or readers. The fact that we’ve had so much going on in the world of Arsenal makes my absence even less forgiveable. The reason? I’ve been having a hard time adjusting to the demands that major changes in the New year has made in my everyday life.

My predicted teal line-up for tonights game.

For the foreseeable future I won’t be able to post abundantly, but I promise to post regularly on Wednesdays and at least once on the weekends.

When the Premier League fixtures came out last summer we were all flabbergasted at the insane run of fixture the computer fixed for Arsenal starting today with Aston Villa and ending on the 10th of February with Liverpool with Chelsea and Manchester United in between.

Many see this as a make or break run of games, I’m not sure it is. I acknowledge that these games are going to be tough, but it’s no different from any of the other 34 games this season. The goal is to perform well in every game and if we do then chances are we will win.

The only game out of those four that I am concerned about is Chelsea, because frankly they are the only team that are better than us.

Aston Villa we’ve comfortably beaten already and although the game is at Villa Park, it’s not exactly a fortress over there. They tend to be negative and hit the opponents on the break, which can be a double edged sword against us.

That same technique was applied at our last meeting in The Emirates Stadium and our defence comfortably handled their counter-attacking threat. I would have been worried if Traore was still our leftback but with our regular back four well rested I am confident that we will be victorious.

In other matter, it’s nice to see a footballer being sincere and honest about his career. Philippe Senderos has always been hailed as a deep thinking level headed person, and that really showed in his appraisal of his time at Arsenal saying.

“They gave me a fair chance. But at big clubs you have a lot of players and two or three games a week and, if they come in and do well, they will take your place. That’s what happened to me. I don’t think I’ve been unfairly treated apart from the last few months but even then the players in the team were doing well and staying in.”

“I am not bitter at leaving. Arsenal are a big club who gave me a lot and I owe a lot to them. They took me from Switzerland when I was 18 and I got to play in a Champions League final and to win the FA Cup. I am proud to say I was an Arsenal player but I couldn’t go on not playing every week. I needed to move. I didn’t just move to Everton for opportunities, I’ve moved to Everton because it’s a massive club and I can see myself growing as a player and as a man here.”

What a refreshing change from the usual bitterness espoused by most when moved on. It is fair to say that any Arsenal fan reading this can only wish Philippe well and hope that he achieves all his professional aspirations.

One more thing before I sign off. Did anyone really think that Arsène was ever interested in signing a striker? When Arsène says he is looking for the “right” player, you must recognise that he means the right player at the right price.

Who has been available in the transfer window that could fit our needs at the right price?