Emiliano Viviano is having a season to forget

Fans would be forgiven to question who you meant if you mention goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano. The Italian, on loan from Serie B side Palermo, is having a season to forget while on loan for Arsenal this season, in fact he literally has no first team football to remember as he hasn't made a single appearance in between the sticks.

He has played for the under-21s however...but just the once. It was a non-first team debut for the 28-year-old which went horrendously as he picked the ball out the net five times, in their 5-1 defeat against Sunderland Under-21s four months ago! He hasn't featured since.

Lukas Fabianski was given the starting place in goal for our 4-1 win against Everton in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final match with Viviano benched. Only the evening before had Viviano tweeted a picture of himself all geared up for the big game. I do feel a little bad for the guy.

Emiliano Viviano tweeted this pic on his official Twiter Friday night, with
some fans thinking he may have been ready for a first team call up against Everton (image courtesy of www.hereisthecity.com). 

He was brought into the squad as an understudy to polish keepers Wojciech Szczesny and Fabianski on transfer deadline day back in August, though his move was overshadowed by the arrival of Mesut Ozil kinda understandably.

I guess some loan signings work while others don't. With not too much of the season left as things get serious, Wenger isn't exactly likely to shift Szczesny from the No.1 spot while Fabianki, when called upon, has been good back-up.

AC Milan and Bologna are reportedly tracking Viviano who would have been hoping to make an impression with the FIFA World Cup coming this summer. I fear for Viviano, that unless we have secured the Premier League with a game(s) to spare, he has no chance of featuring for us at all while on loan from Palermo.

His only job thus far has been keeping the sub seat warm, at least occasionally.

Viviano playing for Bologna in 2011.

Sorry West Brom - it was Nacho night

First of all allow me to apologise for the title...I'm not usually a great fan of using puns. However it was Nacho Monreal's winning penalty kick that sent Arsenal through to the next round of the League Cup last night at the expense of West Brom.

It is bad enough listening to football on the radio, without the use of eyes as comfort to know exactly what is going on, but to say it was tense listening to a penalty shoot-out doesn't quite come close enough. I did a fist pump in celebration as the better half tried to watch TV; I don't think she understood how dramatic it was.

Anyhow, the Gunners will now play Chelsea in the fourth round at the Emirates, where they will hope the home tie will give them the edge over Jose Mourinho's side. But, on recent form, I would still give us chance if the tie was due to be played at Stamford Bridge!

Last night's cup game extended Arsenal's away winning form but it was a contest that, as the game progressed, might have swung one way or the other, before penalties could have been established.

The (and I use the word loosely) 'Great' Dane Nicklas Bendtner played in an Arsenal shirt for the first time since 2011 and he did okay. He has a point to prove, if he is as good as he thinks, and I believe Wenger will give him that opportunity as we now lack in striking options due to injuries.

His hair and facial hair has grown since we last saw him all of two-years-ago. Wilson!!

 I managed to catch the very brief BBC highlights late last night, and saw he should have scored late on when 1v1. However he slowed too much allowing an excellent recovering tackle by one of the Baggies' defenders, but from listening to the game as well, he appears to have the mentality and professionalism to come back to the side with the attitude to succeed. He definitely has some rustiness to shake off first!

West Brom looked threatening against an Arsenal side mixed with experience and new, young talent. They held their own against West Brom though which is a good sign. People knew what they would see in Wenger's starting XI and the youngsters impressed.

Bellerin, Miyaichi, Gnabry, Hayden, Olsson, Eisfield and Akpom all featured with Iwobi and unused substitute, alongside loanee keeper Viviano and forward Ju Young Park.

That's right, I said Park! Remember him? I still do not know why Wenger signed the South Korean who never gets a game. He couldn't even get on last night and I would love to question Wenger on where he stands at the club.

However, on the pitch Arsenal took the lead when Bendtner slipped a perfect pass to Eisfield, whose nice touch allowed to calmly slot the ball into the West Brom goal just after the hour mark.

The game had needed a goal, but it then got another ten minutes later. This time, West Brom were level when Saido Berahino found space in the box and headed past Fabianksi. The Baggies man was eager to continue his scoring form, following a hat-trick against Notts County in the previous round.

This made things tense as West Brom began to dominate against a young and tiring Arsenal midfield. They came close with the bar denying them but they could not be separated at the end of 90 minutes or after extra time.

Penalties would decide who would progress to round four.

Reid stepped up first four the Baggies who smashed it high into the roof of the night with Fabianki never having a chance (1-0). Bendtner cooly placed Arsenal's first (1-1), before Rosenberg went down the middle (2-1). Then it looked unlikely to be our night as Gnabry saw his poor effort saved (2-1) and West Brom added their third from Morrison's well placed spot kick (3-1). Olsson scored his penalty to prevent Arsenal's chances slipping away (3-2) but then McAuley hit his penalty wide of Fabianski's left hand post (3-2). Arsenal levelled through Akpom who sent Daniels the wrong way (3-3), Amalfitano then missed (3-3), and Monreal stepped up to strike Arsenal's fifth and winning penalty to send the Gunners through to the next round.

West Brom 0-0 Arsenal (Arsenal win 4-3 on penalties)

Arsenal play away to Swansea on Saturday evening (17:30pm k/o) in the Premier League. Swansea will be looking to move on from their League Cup exit last night, as they fell at the hands of Championship side Birmingham City 3-1.

Jubilance as Monreal's penalty secures a fourth round tie with Chelsea.

Ozil is the business

A couple of days late I may be but first off, welcome to Arsenal Mesut Ozil.

To say Arsene has pulled off a great bit of work here is an understatement. Ozil has proven himself at the highest level and I can't wait to see him start playing for us.

On Monday I fully expected Demba Ba and Angel Di Maria to sign but when I heard Ozil was undergoing a medial (which seemed to drag on) I was still more than happy. I still hoped Wenger would bring in another striker and I am a fan of Ba, but Giroud is in good form so let's hope that continues!

Is the reported fee of £42.4m a bit too much? I'd say so for one player but then I think I've heard of some other players going for more...

Add to the fact Wenger hasn't spent the millions compared to other clubs in recent years, and not even a penny this summer, to spend this amount of money on a world class player doesn't sound too bad.

Ozil becomes the third German over the last couple of years to sign for the Gunners, and he will be welcomed by his fellow international team-mates Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski. I can't wait to see Podolski and Ozil link up together, as well as see our new number 11 play alongside other creative talent in Santi Cazrola and Jack Wilshere.

Nobody would have thought Arsenal would've been able to bring in an established player considering their apparently deteriorating status as a footballing force.

Morale will be high at the Emirates however with Arsenal on a good run, and having made one of the best signings possible. It seems, Mesut Ozil is already a fan favourite, and he hasn't even kicked a ball in Arsenal colours! I'm more than tempted to buy a shirt with his name on.

Podolski celebrates with Ozil, as the new signing looks ahead to joining up
with the Arsenal team after the international break

Arsenal also brought in Emiliano Viviano on loan from Palermo on transfer deadline day. The Italian keeper will be in contention with Szczesny and Fabianki for the number 1 jersey, but Szczesny is in top form and it would be difficult to drop him.

Arsene has finally done business that fans have been shouting out for. He surprised us, like he said, and he's acquired one of the best players in the world. These could be exciting times for the club.

New loanee Emiliano Viviano