'Booking players early could deter diving' says Wenger

Following our exit from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night Arsene Wenger suggested a way which could prevent players from diving so often. Some would say he's a sore loser (maybe, but I'd call him passionate about the team's success) but I think he makes a great point.

His comments on the Arsenal website (opens in new tab) come after Roben was up to his theatricals once again over our two legs against Bayern Munich.

He argues players who are deemed to have dived by the referee should be booked on the first instance. This would result in the player then being cautious about attempting to dive again as they could face being sent off. So should this be trialled in the modern game?

At the moment you do see players fall to the ground looking for a penalty and the referee waves play on and tells the player to get up. If the ref believes they have dived then they need to be more ruthless and actually book them, otherwise this system just won't work.

I think it's a great idea personally (though I'm not sure the likes of Ronaldo and Robben would be so keen) but the referees already have the difficult task of judging what is a dive and there's always a risk they can make the wrong decisions. Players may be wrongfully booked or subsequently sent off when they are truly fouled but a referee may have seen it as a dive.

Would this then be a call for TV replays for referees to use and make a second decision on? Maybe that's something further down the line...

Anyhow life goes on and we now turn attentions back to the Premier League with derby game coming up this weekend against Tottenham. Hopefully the squad can pick themselves up after what was a mammoth task against the present European champions. Ozil will miss this one with a hamsring injury (and the next month at least!) after sustained the injury in the opening minutes of the Bayern match on Tuesday, while Ramsey is said to be struggling to be fit enough to return this weekend as well.

Ronaldo often faces criticism for diving and cheating.

Bayern Munich 1-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg): Gunners out of the UEFA Champions League but damage was already done at the Emirates

Bayern Munich were in total control at the Alianz Arena on Tuesday evening, as they progressed through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate win against Arsenal.

There was definitely hope and faith in us Arsenal fans of turning this tie in our favor but we didn't look like getting into this game from the word go, unlike last year where Giroud had scored after only three minutes. I think the damage had already been done in the first leg with Szczesny's sending off and Ozil's missed penalty.

We managed not to lose at their ground, which is something I guess, but we never really looked like doing much to increase our chances against Pep Guardiola's side when we know we needed goals. 

It was difficult to watch as an Arsenal fan as Bayern pretty much looked in total control from the very first whistle. We missed Flamini in the holding midfield position, who started on the bench, while Ozil was poor once again, Giroud struggled on his own, and we only did well in cutting out any real Bayern chances with Mertesacker and Kocielny looking very aware at the back. Oxlade-Chamberlain was the only attacking player who looked up for it and we should have got stuck in and hassled Bayern from the word go; we didn't and let the hosts play it around us with ease. 

Sitting back and taking it in the hope of getting forward on the counter attack was probably the message from Wenger prior to the match, but we couldn't get a foot on the ball in launching a counter attack. Hopefully the message wasn't concede and then take some momentum from that but that's sort of what happened after Bayern scored just under 10 minutes into the second half. 

Schneider was ghosting into the box, sliding through our midfield like a knife through butter, and not being picked up by anyone on more than one occasion, and he was ready to receive when the ball was cut across the box and he supplied a cool finish. My head, along with every other Arsenal fan's, dropped. All hope, however little there already had been, diminished completely as the score stood at 3-0 on aggregate.

But like I said, we hit back and were level minutes later thanks to a ferocious shot by Podolski, and a helping hand by the ref. After playing a one-two he appeared to just push Lahm enough to send him over and then smash the ball past Manuel Neuer from the tightest of angles. It was definitely a push, and Podolski briefly stopped to look at the ref assuming he was to blow for a free kick, but the German carried on noticing the free kick had not been given. 1-1.

Bayern then looked a little rattled but we still faced a tough ask in summoning another two goals from somewhere (three if we wanted to win the tie outright) but it was never going to happen tonight. 

Lukas Fabianski, standing in for the suspended Szczesny, had a solid enough night bar his kicking on a couple of occasions and did well to prevent Bayern from securing a win on the night as he saved Mandzukic's late penalty. Koscielny clipped Robben in the box with the Dutch winger making the most of it as per, but the keeper saved the resulting spot kick with his legs and got back up quickly to push the spinning ball away with Mandzukic ready to pounce.

We may have done it at the Alianz Arena last year, but coming to Bayern and scoring two goals without conceding (as the minimum) was always going to be a difficult task; lightning never strikes twice as they. 

Attentions now turn back to home with our UEFA Champions League campaign over. Our once slight grip on the Premier League has slipped recently and a top-four finish rather than outright winners looks more likely now. We are in with a chance of going all the way in the FA Cup though, and we need to take it seriously if we are to claim any silverware for the first time in nine seasons!

And with the rumours circulating as they often do...was that Wenger's last UEFA Champions League game in charge of Arsenal?

Chambo: Coming of age as he proves why he deserves
a place in England's World Cup squad this summer.

Arsenal are off to Wembley in the FA Cup

All us Arsenal fans will be jumping for joy at the thought of a cup final. We are playing at Wembley yes, but there's still just one more cup game to play against Wigan before ensuring our cup final place. But what an opportunity we now have to end our run of nine years without a trophy.

The holders Wigan beat Manchester City 2-1 earlier today (Sunday 9/3/2014) which is obviously a huge shock. It now makes us the favourites to win the competition but we will have to be on top of our game and be wary of Wigan's confidence after their win against City.

We've had a tough looking cup run this year which shows just how well the players have done. I was at the Emirates for the third round tie against Tottenham where playing Walcott up top seemed to do the trick.

It was more of a straight forward task against Coventry as we beat them 4-0 to set up a place against Liverpool. The difficulty of that tie was increased as it came a week after we were thrashed 5-1 by Brendan Rodgers' side but they showed character and determination to ensure there would be no repeat defeat. That win consequently set up yesterday's tie against Everton who we eventually saw off thanks to a Giroud Brace and a man of the match performance by Mesut Ozil.

Memories of the League Cup final in 2011 will still be fresh in the minds of Gooners worldwide, of course that was the last time we played at Wembley. Birmingham City grabbed a last minute goal thanks to a Szczesny-Koscielny blunder and we must cut out any of that kind of rubbish. We will have to be on top of our game and treat this semi-final like THE final, and ensure Wigan don't beat us like they did City.

The Wigan v Arsenal semi-final will be held at Wembley over 12th/13th April. The other cup tie sees Hull take on Sheffield United.

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.

A familair time of year for Arsenal fans

We are still just about hanging in there. It's the same every year though come February / March when we need the players to really dig in, our trophy chances collapse around us. Wenger denies that his teams dip in form around this time of the year but I guess this is the stubbornness of the man.

I sense something isn't quite there as it has been in past times this season and it always seems to be the same around this time of the year with Arsenal. Our 5-1 thumping by Liverpool and a poor result at Stoke have contributed to a dodgy looking spell in the Barclays Premier League. Our UEFA Champions League hopes look a little lost too after Bayern Munich outclassed us in the first leg, and if we don't pick our game up tomorrow against Everton in the FA Cup (kick off 12:45pm GMT), I fear our season is well and truly over.

Going out of the FA Cup would be terrible for the team's morale that's for sure as it seems even the title race will go down to either Chelsea or Manchester City if we're being realistic. Mathematically it's still possible for us to win it of course but a cup win seems a little more likely (if only a little).

Our squad has been rocked by injuries, as per, with Jack Wilshere the latest to be side lined yet again in his short career, this time following a tackle by Daniel Agger in England's Wednesday night 1-0 friendly win against Denmark. He'll be out for six weeks though some what encouraging is the return of Aaron Ramsey which could happen next weekend.

The major concern for Wilshere is however, will he be fit enough for the World Cup in June? I should think he will be, there are about nine weeks left of the season and he'll be able to carry out fitness training prior to the start of the World Cup. He may even be able to feature for us before the final whistle of the season. With all the other England players likely to be playing every game  between now and the end of the campaign, I can't see how there will be too much difference in separating them; Wilshere won't be half as tired as the other guys.

Anyway we shall see how quickly the physios can get him back to full fitness. Wenger is backing the tenacious midfielder and wants him ready for Brazil.

Tomorrow's FA Cup tie will be tricky. I like Everton but playing at home should give s the advantage. I wonder if Wenger will have some resting to do though ahead of the UEFA Champions League tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night?

He said earlier in the week that he would love to win the FA Cup again. For sure I would love us to lift the trophy, but is it more a need to win a cup for Wenger's sake? Apparently he's stalling over signing a new contract.

It would be something to make it through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, with the Premier League looking likely to be us trying to keep a top four spot once more, and it being a tough ask to go to Bayern and win at the Allianz Arena again. Maybe a win tomorrow could give us that little boost we need, when we need it. Maybe.

Stoke 1-0 Arsenal: Reaction to this afternoon's Premier League result

On my way back from work I was constantly refreshing my phone to get this afternoon's live Premier League score updates, more importantly hoping to see us bag a goal or two at Stoke.

It was nervy seeing the words 'Penalty to Stoke' and a little heart wrenching seeing 'Stoke Goal: Walters 76' (pen)' a minute later. Of course we were unable to muster an equaliser or even a shot on target in the second half.

I haven't seen the game and so look forward (sort of) to seeing the highlights on Match of the Day tonight. But I flicked on BBC Radio 5 Live's Sports Report to hear we "did not look like title contenders", while Alan Hansen called it a "lethargic performance".

Reports give me the impression we were sloppy, lacking in creativity, and allowed Stoke every opportunity to get stuck in. Stoke City are a side who you know what to expect with players like Charlie Adam and Ryan Shawcross who love to get stuck in.

Flamini was benched today but for me he is a certain starter while Arteta and Wilshere sat in the holding midfield roles. I have argued before that Podolski needs playing up front but he was again out on the left and later subbed for Yaya Sanogo. The young French forward might have potential but he is not who you bring on when you desperately need a goal at the Britannia. Having said that, Giroud hadn't found the back of the net and Bendtner is our only other 'safest' option up front. This could well be something which contributes to a potentially disappointing end to the season.

I'm hearing Charlie Adam should have received his marching orders for standing on Giroud but a losing side will always look for excuses. I guess we will have to see it on Match of the Day for those who haven't seen today's match, but we didn't play this week and should have been all up for this one. I would be furious if I were Wenger!

We're not out of the title race but every defeat now puts a damper on our title chasing chances. When you consider Chelsea played in the week in the UEFA Champions League, they had won today's game against Fulham in a fifteen minute brace; something we couldn't do, or even look like doing apparently.

It really is frustrating news seeing the result as we lose ground on the title race. Liverpool have a chance to overtake us if they win at Southampton which is under way being this afternoon's late kick off (Suarez has put them 1-0 up as I write this), while Manchester City, who are two points behind us in third, have two games in hand.

Oldie: Stoke v Arsenal in the 2009-10 season.

Lost: Mesut Ozil. £42.5m reward if found.

Last week's UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich was a game of what ifs. What if Szczesny wasn't sent off? What if Ozil had scored our early penalty? We responded well following the 2-0 defeat, albeit against a weak looking Sunderland, but one player who sat out for the league game, Ozil, becomes centre of attention for my latest blog post.

I think the criticism of the midfielder is a fair one, especially as you know the quality he has. I wrote about the media's criticism of him only last month and so it seems not much has changed. Wenger said he missed last weekend's Premier League action due to injury but perhaps some time out to consider his performances and all the abilities needed in English football would be a good thing for Mesut.

We know he settled in immediately following his £42.5m summer transfer deadline day move from Real Madrid but he is a shadow of the player we saw at the beginning of the season, and he certainly looks missing when he features in the big games.

Today Arsene Wenger has revealed Ozil is struggling to stay settled at the Emirates Stadium according to the London Evening Standard. However Wenger quite rightly will not allow Ozil to 'shoulder the burden' of our Premier League title drive.

The players were given a two-day break at the start of this week which they are fully deserving following all the football they have played over the previous two weeks. Ozil is fit to play against Stoke tomorrow but I think the 25-year-old might need a little more than a couple of days rest to evaluate himself.

He needs to work a lot harder on his defensive game which is something he was less accustomed to doing in Spanish football. This is a good argument as to why the Premier League is much harder, and a player who fits Ozil's price tag must be equipped for all areas of play. Perhaps though he is missing the lack of really big names ahead and around him. When you consider his time at Madrid he had the likes of Benzema and Ronaldo to play with and set-up for fun. Going forward is his forte but with us his only option is often Giroud.

Ozil is recognised globally as one of the best playmakers in the world and so he should be in with a shout of a place in Germany's World Cup squad, but poor his form speaks a lot. Draxler, Kroos and Muller can play his position and they aren't bad names to call upon as replacements.

If I was in Wenger's position, I would sit Ozil out for a week or two and take it from there. What he doesn't need is the fans getting on his back. The Ozil we knew is lost but he will be found.

Arsenal play Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow at 3pm GMT.

Ozil: going through a difficult time (courtesy of London Evening Standard).