Both Nicklas Bendtner and Bacary Sagna potentially to leave Arsenal in the summer

For consecutive years we had lost our top players in the summer (notably Vieira, Henry, Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, Van Persie) but last year was different in the fact we held on to our best players and added a couple of extra faces too in Sanogo (who shows promise), Flamini and Ozil.

The rumours have already started though as to a couple of players particularly who may be on their way out of the Emirates this summer. For me I wouldn't be disappointed if both of them left the club, and they are Nicklas Bendtner and Bacary Sagna.

I'll start with the Dane by picking up on last week's reports that Bendtner travelled to Copenhagen without informing Arsene Wenger.

And he appears to have had the last straw with the Danish striker, who recently started for his country against England in an international friendly. In relation to his comments in the media, all the gaffer has done is reinstate that the striker's contract is up in the summer but that says it all and I think he's had enough of him, as have the fans.

This in turn though means we will be even more desperate for a recognised striker. We simply haven't been scoring enough goals, especially from our main strikers, and this summer we need to start actually doing more to bring in big names to get us those goals. Giroud may get a few but he is inconsistent and slow. Walcott is again inconsistent, he can't always finish, and Podolski is always preferred out on the wing but we know what he can do when he sight of the goal.

Nicky B back in the days before the excessive hair.

Sagna is rumoured to be off too as his latest reported wage demands are higher than what the board are willing to pay out. I'd be happy to see a replacement for Sagna, not that he's the worst player in the world at all, but we need someone fresher and younger (maybe someone who can cross a ball a bit better, and look more natural on the ball; I don't think his fair share of leg injuries have helped though). Carl Jenkinson can be a fairly good back-up but he's no way ready to be starting choice in my defence I'm afraid.

So who would be good enough to fill the void left by the French right-back who has interest shown in him by Inter Milan and Galatasary?

Nathaniel Clyne of Southampton is one potential target (he was certainly one of mine on FIFA...not that that means anything!) The 22-year-old has become an established member of the Saints' defence and he has bags of pace and good awareness.

Borussia Dortmund's Lukasz Piszczek is another rumoured target and I can see Wenger going for the Polish defender who would sit in front of either his Polish internationals of Fabianski or Szczesny. We've also been linked with him in the past so he should certainly be a name us fans keep an ear out for.

Following our knock-out of the UEFA Champions League last week we now give complete attention to the Premier League and FA Cup. Our narrow 1-0 victory over Spurs yesterday (thanks to Rocicky's wonderful early strike and some good defending) keeps us up with the top four. Thank goodness we don't have to play Liverpool again this season who look likely to storm through the final stretch. Our title chances are looking slimmer, however we aren't 100% out of it, while we have a great opportunity to go all the way in the FA Cup and lift a trophy for the first time in nine seasons.

Sagna signed for the club from Auxerre back in 2007.

Lukas Podolski: winger or striker?

Arsenal had to up their game yesterday against Fulham and they grabbed two second half goals, thanks to Santi Cazorla's strikes, to maintain their slender lead at the top of the Premier League table.

It's great to know we have the attacking force in the likes of Cazorla, but as I have mentioned before, it is our options actually up-front that lack the quality to put teams behind. Lukas Podolski came on in the second half yesterday and his presence on the field instantly gave us a new dimension going forward.

The German international has only recently come back into the team following a four-and-a-half-month injury lay off so I can understand Wenger easing him back into the first team, but he openly revealed he sees Podolski more of a left winger.

There aren't many players who can boast as strong a left foot as Podolski and he is a proven goalscorer, with 120 club career goals for Cologne, Bayern Munich and Arsenal (www.soccerbase.com).

And following our 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium, Wenger, speaking to the media in his post match press conference, said: "Lukas has a fantastic spirit and attitude and he showed that when he came on. When he comes in he gives us something...if he is in front of goal and you give him once chance, you score with him. He doesn't hit it into the stand" (www.arsenal.com). Surely he is describing the attitude and abilities of a striker!

Our number 9 looked fit, sharp and strong, and proved he knows where the goal is, forcing Maarten Stekelenburg into a fine save, before hitting the post with a fierce strike. Giroud who started on the other hand, continues to show his incompetence as a leading striker.

Should Giroud's place be up for grabs?

A tall player who likes to use his head yes, but he's all too often unable to hit the target. He had one opportunity yesterday which lingers in my memory when attempting a curling effort into the corner of the goal - the type of shot graced by the likes of Bergkamp, Henry and Van Persie - definitely not Giroud. He can score, but being inconsistent and frustrating is not the requirements of a striker in the Premier League.

I wish Wenger would consider Podolski for the central striker role from now on in. Giroud has lost the kind of form he had at the start of the season, though even then he still needed chance after chance. Podolski will take his chance with both feet knowing Walcott is out for the season, and with Bendtner sidelined too. There are no words for Park who occasionally warms up the bench and Yaya Sanogo appears to be sidelined still and definitely not ready for the ability of the Premier League.

Of course we are still in the January transfer window and rumours are circulating of a bid for Schalke's wonder-kid Julian Draxler, who can play both as an attacking midfielder and striker. Wenger continues to keep his lips sealed on any move in the transfer market so we'll just have to wait and see what happens there. 

Podolski will be keen to add to his goals tally for the remainder of the current campaign.

Arsenal v Chelsea - regaining top spot should be Wenger's priority

We take on Chelsea on Monday evening knowing a win will ensure we will be top of the Premier League by Christmas. This would be a great feeling!

Of course, we have been top for most of the season but now to have let Liverpool and Manchester City overtake us as things stand is very disappointing. Only a couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to go seven points clear but in typical Arsenal fashion, we now find ourselves looking up rather than beaming down with such confidence.

Perhaps the pace and strength of the English game has caught up with Ozil, Giroud is struggling to keep up regular high performances, and we aren't able to call upon top class midfield or attacking back-up. In some ways the January transfer window can't come quickly enough.

I will try to analyse the rumours circulating around the media as to who will may be linked with, and Wenger must surely act when the window opens at the start of the new year. The stubbornness of the man though will mean we are unlikely to go for players in order to have strength-in-depth.

Having said that we do have the quality to beat Chelsea, particularly on home soil, and they didn't exactly outplay us in every department during the 2-0 League Cup game earlier this year. Wenger put out a disappointing side against a very strong Mourinho starting XI which was ridiculous. This time we will go out with a very different side and Chelsea are very much an up and down team this year, unlike Man City.

We need to forget about the result last weekend and hopefully the long break we have had will be beneficial this time around.

After Chelsea we play away against West Ham and Newcastle respectively and, based on how we have played for the majority of this season, these are games we should easily be picking up points in. Of course there is the worry we are about to go on a downward spiral, but let's hope not. Let's get back to winning ways on Monday night and look to regain top spot by the end of the year.

Napoli v Arsenal - Champions League Matchday 6, last 16 place up for grabs

Since my last post a couple of weeks ago (and where has the time gone?) Arsenal have continued their good form with wins in the Premier League against Hull and Cardiff, and most recently earned a 1-1 draw against Everton as we sit five points clear at the top of the table.

Tonight is all about the Champions League however, and we will qualify so long as we don't lose by three goals or more against Napoli. They looked pretty average against us earlier this season, but proved a tough side in our pre-season friendly all the way back in August.

Pre-season is never much to go by however and current form will certainly prove a vital factor. Rafa Benitez's side are third in Serie A with a number of wins, aided by their earlier seven match unbeaten run at the start of the season. They will enjoy playing in-front of their home crowd tonight and so I wouldn't expect us to find it easy. But we've been scoring for fun this season and we are going their with a mentality to get a win and qualify as top of our group.

That said so are Napoli, who have have scored eight in their last three games and they will have former Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain ready to pounce on any opportunity tonight.

Walcott has returned, and was slowly being reintroduced back into the first team originally around the time of my last post. His pace has obviously given us more in terms of attacking and Bendtner has also featured with Giroud needing a much earned rest.

Fair credit to the Dane too for scoring against Hull. It was clear what the goal meant to him, as he was handed his first Premier League start for Arsenal in 1,005 days!

In our last match however, a draw was probably the fairest result with Everton putting in a wonderful performance against us (somewhat frustratingly), but Ross Barkley will certainly be trying to stake his claim in the England side for next year's World Cup in Brazil. Ozil opened the scoring late on before Everton equalised just two minutes later. They way our defence has been this year though Napoli will do well to break through us tonight.

It will be a great match tonight I am sure, and I fully believe we will progress as group winners. It could be tight but the result will help our momentum and morale as we head into a difficult fixture period.

Ozil scores a brilliant goal to open his Arsenal goal-scoring campaign
in our 2-0 vicotry over Napoli at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal looking to qualify to Champions League knockouts with duo set for return

I say 'duo set for' but one's already back in contention, while the other's return may only be a couple of weeks away. Of course I'm talking about the returns to bolster our attacking capabilities in Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski.

Theo Walcott came on as a second half substitute against his former club Southampton on Saturday, although Giroud was the forward who grabbed the goals to secure our 2-0 win (albeit with a little help from Artur Boruc!)

Arsenal are currently leading at home to Marseille thanks to Jack Wilshere's brilliant goal after 28 seconds, with our group looking as tough as expected and a win tonight is crucial. We need to make sure we do the business in both matches remaining to be sure of qualifying!

Walcott is on the bench tonight as Wenger slowly reintroduces our pacey winger who will be itching to get on and improve for both club and country bosses. Walcott had been sidelined because of an abdominal injury picked up in September so I can see why Wenger may rest him for most, if not all of tonight. Other good news this week however is the potential return of Lukas Podolski in the coming weeks. Wenger has announced the German attacker has been back in training though isn't ready just yet. Giroud is tiring and Podolski will be a welcomed return when fit, after having been out since August with a hamstring problem.

Back in training: Podolski (far right) back in training with the rest of the squad.

Giroud has stated he is tired, and at this level we can't rely on calling upon Bendtner or Park who will both surely be shifted on one way or another at the end of the season (though preferably in the January window). Walcott's pace offers something different and there aren't many who can keep up with him and Podolski isn't afraid to have a go and is a proven goalscorer. With these two back we'll have the attacking force to keep our momentum and see us go strong into the new year.

Speaking of Bendtner, and Henry's been back training with us now the MLS season has finished and yet I'd still rather see him up at the age of 36 up front than that Danish numpty.

Though tonight's game is too soon for Podolski (Everton next month may be a potential return date) who needs more time in training, Walcott may make another substitute's appearance as we look to secure a win in Group F, and do the double over their French visitor's, who we beat 2-1 on match-day 1 back in September.

Oh and Ozil missed a penalty...and it was poorly taken. Questions are being asked if Ramsey was fouled inside or outside the box which is very much up for discussion as is, I feel, whether he goes down too softly.

It's half time at the Emirates with Arsenal leading 1-0. Enjoy the rest of the game and let's hope we keep or extend our lead and take the points!

Like the old days...Henry and Pires work on their fitness as they train at Arsenal's
 London Colney training ground.

Manchester United v Arsenal: Hernandez to face his future club?

No Arsenal fan will need reminding of tomorrow's big Premier League clash against the 'mighty' Manchester United.

I use the word mighty very loosely based on David Moyes' side's season so far. They currently lie in eighth position in the Barclay Premier League, eight points behind us who are enjoying life at the top.

Wenger has called things weird without Sir Alex Ferguson in charge of Manchester United but the Red Devils will need to give David Moyes some time to take control of a club of such stature. To be fair to the Scot, he's been doing okay of late - some kind of revival perhaps? 

There is still plenty of football to be played and so likewise, Arsenal haven't won the title yet. That would be ridiculous to claim with Liverpool only two points behind at the moment. Chelsea's 2-2 with West Brom this afternoon however helps us to see off other competition for another couple of weeks, but we have to start off by going back five points clear of Liverpool, and then extending the points difference.

We'll take confidence from having been resilient against Borussia Dortmund in the week and gaining our revenge over the German side, following the unfortunate 2-1 loss last month, and our 2-0 win over second-placed Liverpool last weekend.

Javier Hernandez, who Wenger has pretty much denied interest in, may start tomorrow against us with Welbeck sidelined through injury. I'm sure he'll feature at the very least, with Rooney and Van Persie however the likely pairing, and I'm sure I speak for all Gooners who will hope our defence give the Dutchman a torrid time. Flamini could be back tomorrow which will certainly be helpful against United's attacking force.

I'll be keeping up with the Hernandez talk. As I've said before he would be a great asset up-front, particularly with Walcott, Podolski and Sanogo (though is he as useless as Bendtner and Park?) injured. He's hinted at his intentions of leaving Old Trafford but is yet to speak about the issue in the media.

In other news BT Sport have announced their winning bid in providing all Champions League TV coverage for at least three years from the start of the 2015/16 season. As if there wasn't enough money in football, they are taking away the free-to-air coverage of the Champions League meaning there will be only international matches available on ITV, while if you are a sky customer, you'll be losing all Champions League coverage too. It's frustrating as football should be free for all to view but money rules I guess which is the sorry state of the industry. You'd hope Sky would consider lowering their sports package by then due to the competition but I very much doubt that will happen!

With that off my chest,the game tomorrow kicks off at 4:10pm GMT, and is live on Sky Sports...although some of us have the unfortunate reality of being at work which sort of sucks! I'm sure I'll enjoy the result either way though. 2-1 Arsenal win!

Moving on? Chicarito Hernandez

Wenger gets it wrong (yet again) in the League Cup

It was clear by the starting line-ups who was taking this more seriously, as Chelsea deservedly went on to progress to the next round of the Capital Once Cup with a 2-0 win over the Gunners.

Not for the first time this season, Arsenal were undone by a counter attacking goal that proved enough to knock them out of the Capital One Cup.

Chelsea were by far the superior side on Tuesday night, in what was a wasted evening up the local! Mata scored a well struck shot on the edge of the area in the second half as they sealed their spot in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

But it was Wenger's usual approach to this competition that helped Jose Mourinho's side get the win and make it three defeats for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this season, with Wenger still without a win against a Chelsea-managed Mourinho.

I am more than with Wenger for his attitude on giving younger players who aren't on loan, a run out if we are against teams further down the football league. But we have all too often seen his thinking in putting out a weakened side against top teams, and it shoots us in the foot. We don't have as much strength in depth as Chelsea and it showed last night, and the likes of Bendtner and Park will surely move on in January or next summer.

Replacing Szczesny, Fabianski had little to do in between the sticks other than pick the ball out the net (twice) while reported want-out Vermaelen started at the back with Jenkinson to the right. An Ozil-less midfield still looked strong however with the likes of Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla and Rosicky. Ryo Miyaichi started out on the right wing but he lacked the desire and ability to break past the resilient Blues defence, and Bendtner, try as he might, was his typical self.

The fans cried for Giroud who eventually made way for the Dane but it came too late as Arsenal were already 2-0 down and looking all but out. Even Park made an appearance and that sums up Arsene's lack of passion for the competition. For a side who haven't won a trophy since 2005, and when up against a top side, can Wenger still be so nonchalant?

Nine lives: Mourinho has never lost any of the nine ties against Arsenal in his two
managerial campaigns with Chelsea.

I'm surprised Jenkinson played the full 90 minutes too. It was partially his error that led to Chelsea's opening goal. From our corner, they cleared and Eto'o brought the ball forward. The ball looped up in the air and Wilshere and Jenkinson both backed off the high ball, before the Finnish right back headed a woeful ball back to Fabianski, who was unable to get to the ball before Chelsea's own right back Azpilicueta.

He often needs a run of games under his belt, and simply returning last night against a strong Chelsea side showed he wasn't ready for that kind of match, looking a shadow of the improved player we saw last season.

Wenger will surely take the blame though for the side he chose to put out last night. Having said that, Liverpool are next up in the Premier League on Saturday evening (17:30pm k/o) so you can understand his reasoning for maybe wanting to rest some players. They currently sit two points behind in third (joint second with Chelsea though the Blues have a better goal difference by one), and Brendan Rodgers' side will again not make things easy for us.

However, after the losses against Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, and a less emphatic display against Crystal Palace in-between, fans will be hoping a general dip in form among the who club isn't on the verge of culminating.

Mata (left), once an Arsenal target, proves his point to Mourinho
 as the Spaniard sinks us.

Unhappy birthday: Arsenal 1-2 Borussia Dortmund

Arsenal succumbed to their first defeat in 13 matches as Borussia Dortmund proved to be no walk in the park on match-day three of the Champions League Group Stage.

I felt this could prove to be their toughest fixture yet but they grew in confidence and perhaps, on the night, should have ended up winning the game. Dortmund took the lead, somewhat annoyingly due to poor marking at the back, when Henrikh Mkhitaryan received the ball in space and drilled the ball past Szczesny.

They came with a game plan and succeeded in pressurising Arsenal well, allowing us to have very little time on the ball. Perhaps Arsenal wanted too much time; Ramsey was often found caught in possession which is annoying to watch for someone who is filled to brim with confidence.

Ozil was quiet in the first half and it took me some time to realise he was on the pitch. Arsenal were not up to the standards they have set themselves in recent weeks, while Dortmund were on top of everything.

Still Arsenal drew level thanks to Giroud minutes before half time. Sagna's cross was somewhat flapped by Roman Weidenfeller in Dortmund's goal, and Giroud smashed the loose ball into the goal. Fair play to the French striker for not giving up on the chance, and he got his reward.

Dortmund, for all their abilities in pressurising Arsenal and possession building, looked a little lacklustre when it came to the final ball or troubling the goal. Then again, Arsenal weren't creating too much in the way of clear-cut opportunities either and tiredness, as shown against Norwich, started to creep in.

Thus came the change in Arsenal's momentum as Santi Cazorla came on to replace Wilshere in the second half, and his impact suggested Arsenal would grab a deserved goal and victory. The Spaniard nearly scored himself, with only the upright denying him with a fierce shot from outside the area. But for all their new-found attacking flair, they were caught by a counter-attack sucker-punch inside the final ten minutes. Gündoğan, whose final ball had been poor all game, saw his deep cross volleyed powerfully by Robert Lewandowsi past his Polish counter-part Szczesny in Arsenal's goal.

In what was a very German affair with all of Dortmund's own, plus Ozil and Mertesacker for us, Wenger, who celebrated his 64th birthday today, brought on young Serge Gnabry late on but he had little time to show us his potential. Bendtner also came on as a late substitute as Arsenal hoped to get players forward and find that second goal.

It didn't come however as Arsenal will now feel a little more pressure on them. Napoli secured a 2-1 win against Marseille which now sees Dortmund, Arsenal and the Italian side all on six points in Group F at the half-way stage.

So Wenger would have wished for a better birthday present tonight, but he now begins life as a 64-year-old with thoughts of Crystal Palace, who are up next to face The Gunners on Saturday (26/10 12:45pm k/o BST).

Girooooud

Two month review: invincibles...anyone?

Arsenal have pushed on from their early good form and proved the critics wrong, by establishing themselves as a side ready to fight to keep their place at the top of the table.

Only one game has been drawn since my last review and the side continue to look more and more like the great sides of the past.

Norwich proved to be the next team to be swept aside by our in-form Arsenal, albeit a little lethargic Arsenal side. Looking a little tired, perhaps understandably with players only just returning from injury or international fixtures respectively, they mustered four goals against the Canaries, with some pure class football on display I'm sure Barcelona would be proud of.

We are now eight games into the league (with only one draw and loss), on match-day three of the Champions League Group Stages (already taken six points from six), and are through to the next round of the League Cup. It certainly hasn't been a bad couple of months since the season started.

So since that opening day horror, Arsenal haven't lost a match and, well, we are flying. Liverpool remain our closest threat in second place in the Premier League but with Mesut Ozil's influence on this side, there doesn't appear to be a team who can really match us at the moment.

Alongside Ozil, Ramsey has continued to be one of our best players and he scored yet another well taken goal n Saturday, cutting inside defenders before calmly drilling past Ruddy in the Norwich goal. He now has nine goals in the last 12 matches and there appears to be no stopping him.

Target man Giroud with the in form duo of Ozil and Ramsey.

The Champions League continues tomorrow, and Arsenal are already looking set to progress to the knock-out stages in style. Comfortable wins in Marseille and against Napoli have given us maximum points but last year's finalists Borussia Dortmund are up next tomorrow night (22/10 7:45pm k/o BST). They could be our toughest fixture yet, being a side who reflect Germany's position as a footballing force.

We all thought he was an assist magician rather than a goalscorer, but our own fantastic German Ozil has proved he knows where the net is at the Emirates. He opened his Arsenal account with a wonderful strike against Napoli and grabbed two at the weekend against Norwich. His talents are phenomenal and I'm sure even the stubborn Wenger will be pleased to see paying £42.5m has begun to pay off.

There has been negativity in the media though surrounding Jack Wilshere particularly, who was spotted smoking outside a club following our 2-1 win away to Swansea. Though he might not do his image any good to people who look up to him, he hasn't let this attention get to him as he helped lead England to the World Cup Finals, and has seen his overall form rise in an Arsenal shirt too!

After finding the next for the first time in around three years, he levelled against West Brom prior to the international fixtures and then I think we may have seen goal of the season on Saturday. Wilshere began the move from deep. As we burst forward Cazorla...well see for yourself!

Simply Sublime.

Since my last look at the season so far, Bendtner has slowly been reintroduced to the side - and I don't think many would have expected to see his face any time soon. He first played in the League Cup fixture against West Brom (of which he took and scored the first penalty in the shootout!) and he since featured on the bench a little before coming on as a sub against Norwich. He's in with a chance of establishing himself and, with a little more match experience to build his fitness, needs to prove himself. There will be no third chance.

Outside of Arsenal, England found the ability to raise their game and see off Poland in their final World Cup qualifier to finish top of the table and secure a place at next year's World Cup in Brazil. Gibbs got called up to stand in for (c)Ashley Cole but remained an unused sub with Leighton Baines starting at left back. Kept him fresh for us at least! Anyhow, it will be nice to see if Walcott, Wilshere, Gibbs, and/or Oxlade-Chambrlain get called up to go to Brazil but next year's tournament, regardless, will make for some exciting games to watch.

Arsenal will now play six games over the next three weeks with two against Borussia Dortmund, a League Cup fixture against Chelsea, and Premier League matches against Liverpool and a trip to Old Trafford, plus next weekend's trip away to Crystal Palace.

This period could prove a mammoth task for anyone, but we've continued our exceptional form and don't look like letting go of our focus. And as long as there are no more injuries, particularly up front, there is every chance we can take on all of these sides and take maximum points. There is certainly belief again, from both those involved at the club, and the fans.

We are considered to be title contenders after our great start, certainly alongside Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea (can eighth placed Manchester United close the gap?) Yet could we witness the return of the invincibles? 7/49 games to level the record so far...and counting!

Will we witness scenes like these come May? 

Arsenal return to top the table after World Cup qualifiers

As the Premier League returned this weekend, so did Arsenal's winning mentality as they brushed Norwich aside 4-1 at the Emirates.

Wilshere scored his second goal of the season, before Ozil grabbed a double with Ramsey, on as a substitute, adding a late fourth, and his ninth of the season.

Despite picking up a knee injury midweek, Ozil was declared fit enough to start on Saturday, which also saw the return of Cazorla and Sagna, and Bendtner featured as he replaced Giroud late on.

Congratulations go out to England, after they succeeded in topping their group in the World Cup qualifiers. In what was a tense, but enthralling encounter, seeing off Poland 2-0 ensured their place at next year's major tournament in Brazil. Of course nobody will expect them to go on and compete against the likes of Germany or Spain say, but I think we're seeing more young talent inject something a little more exciting and I can't wait to see the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wacott and Wilshere featuring more, alongside the country's new hero in Andros Townsend (This is no credit to Spurs!)

Having said that, few would have thought Arsenal would have been playing the football and be in the form they are, so who's to say England can't surprise a few.

So Arsenal returned to Premier League action with a good win over the Canaries; a win they knew which would see them go ahead Liverpool on points after they drew with Newcastle in the lunchtime kick off. And Manchester United ey? Who are they I hear you ask.

I think people expected them to be below the level we have associated the Red Devils as being with the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm. His successor David Moyes was hoping to have secured his first back-to-back win as manager but a late Southampton goal put an end to that. They are a force though with talent in the likes of De Gea, Rooney, Van Persie but this is the problem; they lack depth and talent throughout the squad. Fergie, for me, held the key to their success and now he has moved down from his managerial role, their bossiness and stature in the league has certainly slumped.

Are they en-route to do 'an Arsenal'? I don't think many will really see it coming (Van Persie certainly won't be hoping for it) but I have an inkling for some reason they face dark times ahead - something they aren't used to. Here's hoping anyway.

Arsenal play Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday (22/10, 7:45 pm k/o BST), in what will be a great fixture against last year's finalists. Our good form will give us a fine chance and I can't wait to see how we do in what could be our biggest test of the season so far. 

Spot the ball: Ramsey completes the rout 

Second chance for Nicklas Bendtner

Nicklas Bendtner has spoken of how he feels he is a different person now, via the Arsenal website.

Our number 52 featured against West Brom in the League Cup last month, to make his first Arsenal appearance since 2011. For the last two seasons he has been on loan at Sunderland and Juventus respectively, but his attitude to the game clearly has put himself above who he actually is.

I remember seeing him at Euro 2012 and saw a Bendtner I hadn't really seen in an Arsenal shirt. He was playing well for the Denmark national side, suggesting there is some talent within him.

Talking to Arsenal player, he revealed the birth of his son and other experiences away from the pitch have made him a different person.

The perception of him as a footballer has come down to his attitude and performances on the pitch. Arsenal fans have generally taken a dis-likening to him, but the Dane says the wider perception of him is wrong.

Hands up: No apology as such but Bendtner says
he is a different person now 

He also denies his comments suggesting he feels he is bigger than the game. Wenger hasn't been able to shift him on though because of his wage demands, and his performances haven't matched his worth, so how good does he think he is?

So are his comments just a cover? It was circulating in the past that he never wanted to put on an Arsenal shirt again. Now nobody appears to want him, and with an opportunity to break into our side, is he desperate to make amends?

For me, with Bendtner coming back into the side, this is his second chance. He now has to prove he is worth something to the team, who are on such a high following their superb undefeated streak. But should Wenger put him back into the Arsenal side? With Giroud our only recognised, injury free striker left in the side (not including Park, I'm sorry), now is a better time than ever for the 25-year-old to up his game. He certainly has a point to prove.

He says he is ready to make the step up and fight. Is he a different person and player now? I suppose there is only one way to find out.

The article and video can be found here (Arsenal.com).

Beardy man: New look, new player?

In other news, Aaron Ramsey has been awarded Arsenal player of the month for September; the third month in a row he has now won the monthly accolade.

The Welshman is certainly deserving of the achievement, who has maintained his fine display on the pitch, week in week out. He scored five goals last month, bringing his total to eight goals, in eleven matches across all competitions.