Bendtner key to Arsenal's fortunes

A year ago, Nicklas Bendtner was being derided for some lacklustre performances in an Arsenal shirt, he even admitted himself that he played like a "schoolboy."

Now, though, Bendtner will face the burden of carrying an Arsenal team, replacing it's most potent weapon, Robin Van Persie. It was confirmed this week that the Dutchman will be out for around five months with ankle-ligament damage.

Eduardo and Carlos Vela, both undoubtedly top-quality finishers have been given the chance to fill Van Persie's boots, but with neither hitting the target since Van Persie's injury, doubts remain as to their ability to play as a lone-striker - a position where physical presence is needed, something which is sadly lacking in these two alternatives. Didier Drogba's match-winning performance against Arsenal on Sunday just highlighted this fact even more.

The truth is, only Nicklas Bendtner can be an adequate alternative to Van Persie.

Often thought of as just an old-fashioned target-man, the Dane is actually more than just height and strength. His performances in World Cup qualifying for Denmark, in which he scored three goals, prove he can keep calm in front of goal. The Copenhagen-born striker has also improved markedly on his link-up play after being played in wide areas by Arsene Wenger.

Bendtner is, however, currently sidelined with a groin injury, and expected back in around four weeks time.

The responsibility will therefore fall on Eduardo and Vela for the time being, but Van Persie's absence will be the opportunity Bendtner has been waiting for, and one he has to make the most of if he is to make a career at the club, and ultimately if Arsenal are to end their five-year wait for silverware.

Traore will soon know where his future lies

Armand Traore has long been earmarked as a first team regular at Arsenal, but he has slipped down the pecking order in recent months. The injury to Kieran Gibbs - and Arsene Wenger's reaction to it, will however, give the young Frenchman an indication of where his future lies.

Before his loan spell at Portsmouth last season, Traore was Arsenal's second choice left-back, but while he was on the south coast another young contender emerged to take his crown. Gibbs' performances for Arsenal last season, bar an unfortunate slip in the Champions League semi-final, were extremely impressive and with his stock risen dramatically, some even suggested that he should be included in the World Cup squad.

The young Englishman took his club form into the international arena during the summer helping England Under-21s to the final of the European Championship in Sweden.

Clichy's recent injury - a fractured vertebrae in his lower back - had given Gibbs a chance to impress further and maybe even give Wenger a dilemma as to who the first choice left-back would be upon Clichy's return. The 19 year-old, however, has now succumbed to injury and Arsenal have a number of options for his replacement.

Traore would be the obvious replacement given his youth and exuberance in defence and attack, something Wenger values in his full-backs. His performances for struggling Portsmouth last season were solid, but he was often deployed further forward, but he has shown in the past he is capable of performing well in the full-back position.

Traore has competition from fellow Frenchman, Mikael Silvestre who can also cover the problem spot. His lack of pace and advancing years led some Arsenal fans to dub him "gereatric" in last season AGM, and although he is a solid defender he may struggle with pacey and tricky wingers, in particular the likes of Joe Cole who could be linking up against him when Arsenal face Chelsea in a couple of weeks.

Another possibility includes shifting Thomas Vermaelen to left-back, a familiar position to the Belgian, having played there for Ajax, but Wenger would be reluctant to split up the relatively successful central defensive partnership. Emmanuel Eboue could also step in, but a right-footed left-back is not ideal.

It therefore looks to be a choice between Traore and Silvestre for the starting berth and if the young frenchman is not included then it looks increasingly likely that he has no future at the club.

Going for another Song?

Alex Song has not always been as well-loved at the Emirates, many fans condemning him to the scrapheap before his Arsenal career had even started, but now he is proving his doubters wrong and has become a key element of Arsenal's play.

His burgeoning ability to control midfield from deep allows his teammates to push further forward in the knowledge that he will cover. Last night with two very attacking full-backs Song's job was even harder than usual. When Kieran Gibbs joined the attack from the left, Song moved to left-back to cover, when Eboue joined the attack he moved to right-back and when Gallas or Vermaelen went on marauding runs forwards he dropped back.

Song's stamina is impressive and his distribution is improving at an alarming rate, no wonder Wenger was reluctant to splash the cash on a defensive midfielder in the summer.

As always though, there is a problem, one which has hit Arsenal hard in the past- the African Nations Cup.

The decision to offload Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure would seem to be a wise move given the start to the season, but even more shrewd given the two players will be missing for most of January while they take part in the competition. Eboue and Song will also travel to the competition in January to represent the Ivory Coast and Cameroon respectively.

Eboue will be a loss, but one for which Wenger has adequate cover, Song's absence meanwhile will have more of an impact.

Alternatives include Denilson, Abou Diaby and youngsters Francis Coquelin, Craig Eastmond and Emmanuel Frimpong.

Denilson has been injured for much of the season, but would remain the prime candidate to cover Song. The Brazilian started last season as Cesc Fabregas' defensive foil but his lack of strength allowed teams to dominate us at times. The former Brazil under-19 captain is undoubtedly a good player but not in the key defensive midfield role.

Abou Diaby has the strength Denilson lacks, but his lack of discipline - dallying on the ball - would be suicide on the edge of our own box. His bursts forward would expose our defence and also increase the defensive responsibilities of Fabreags, curbing the Spaniard's effectiveness in attack.

Craig Eastmond surprised many starting ahead of Francis Coquelin in the Caring Cup, but his assured performance against Liverpool could be enough to give him a chance. Eastmond keeps things simple and has the intelligence, stamina and strength to play in the position, but some may suggest he would lack the experience to play in such crucial games at this stage.

Francis Coquelin has been earning rave reviews from Steve Bould, the under-18, and Nick Banfield, the reserve team, coaches in recent months. Coquelin has incredible stamina and surprising strength for his size. He is a tough-tackling all-round midfielder and has shown he is capable in the reserves, but the step-up to the first team is always a more daunting task.

Emmanuel Frimpong was hailed as the key holding midfielder for years to come last season, but niggling injuries and a slight loss of form have seen his reserve team opportunities limited so far this season, he would be the outsider.

Samir Nasri has also been mentioned as a possibility but like Denilson, he may lack the strength to play the position.

If Wenger does sign anyone in January it would probably be a straight replacement for Song, but someone who, when Song returns would be willing to move aside. A loan-deal may be the best option but possible candidates include Marcos Senna, who is currently playing for a Villarreal side languishing in the bottom half of La Liga, while Arsenal legend, Patrick Vieria has also been mentioned.

Midfield key to Arsenal's success

Following the derby-day mauling of Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend fans and players alike could be forgiven for a rather lifeless match against AZ Alkmaar.

Despite the 4-1 scoreline, Arsenal's players never really moved out of second gear putting Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar to the sword in what was a completely one-sided encounter. The fans also seemed content to sit quietly, in stark contrast to Saturday's atmosphere.

AZ are undoubtedly a weaker team this season following their surprising title triumph in May, having lost a number of key personnel during the summer transfer window, but the gulf in class was enormous. To think Arsenal didn't even have the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy and Theo Walcott available for the match shows why many are opposed to Michel Platini's policy to favour the inclusion of smaller clubs in the competition.

The fluidity of Arsenal's midfield was too much for Alkmaar to handle, as it has been for most of the teams who have faced the Gunners so far this season. It was again the midfield who weighed in with the goals with Cesc Fabreags scoring twice, Samir Nasri netting on his Champions League return and Abou Diaby weighing in with a goal of his own.


It was so comprehensive that Wenger was able to rest his three-key players, Robin van Persie, Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin midway through the second half, bringing on Eduardo, Aaron Ramsey and Thomas Rosicky, three equally-able players. The trio showed their worth causing a dejected AZ all sorts of problems in the dying embers of the match, Eduardo sublimely backheeling to help set-up Diaby's goal and Ramsey making a number of bursts into the penalty area.

The match has once-again shown Arsenal's strength in depth, particularly in midfield, something many pundits still refuse to acknowledge.

Playing with a lone striker particularly one of van Persie's technical calibre allows the midfielders to push forward in support - hence the likes of Fabregas, Nasri and Diaby getting on the scoresheet. With Alex Song increasingly looking like a world-beater in the holding role, and Thomas Vermaelen proving to be the buy of the summer, players can push forward in the knowledge there is ample and trustworthy cover behind them.

With the players constantly in a state of flux, swapping positions, it is immensely difficult to defend against.

This shows that Arsenal are on the verge of "total-football" something only the Invincibles have reached under Wenger and there are murmurs that this team, given time, can be just as good and then the pundits will surely change their minds.

Fabregas and Van Persie serve up a treat

As Club Level members tore themselves away from the a la carte selection on offer, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were serving up a treat of their own, and unlike last weekend there were no tricks in store for the Gunners who held on to their lead on what was ultimately a comfortable match at Halloween.

Van Persie's excellent touch and Fabregas' poise in midfield helped to light up what was a lacklustre and nervy first 40 minutes, but two goals in a minute towards the end of the half changed the game.

Just as the fans were contemplating the half-time rush for free beer, van Persie put Arsenal one up, a deft touch dispatching the ball past Heurelho Gomes from a pinpoint low-cross from Bacary Sagna. Cue delirium even among the most corporate of the corporate section.

There was hardly time for members to lift their coat-tails and de-crease their scarves than it was two. Van Persie stole the ball from Wilson Palacios and Fabregas raced onto it, first dancing around Tom Huddlestone then cheekily sliding it through the legs of Ledley King. As he raced towards goal Gomes came out to narrow the angle but the Catalan dispatched a delicious shot into the bottom corner. It was a treat even El Bulli, Catalonia and indeed the world's most acclaimed restaurant would be proud of.

There was much discussion at half-time as to whether Arsenal could hold onto their two-goal lead given last week's collapse against West Ham and famously having let a 4-2 lead slip in the same fixture last season.

What also struck me was the number of 'football tourists' at the match. Travelling to the match by tube I struck up conversation with a group of Norwegians just here for the match, there were also a number of German and Spanish-speaking guests obviously going to the Emirates for the first time. I also spoke to a Taiwanese gentleman who was also here just for the game. I was slightly worried that this would have a negative impact on the atmosphere, but it was better than it has been for a long time, even Arsene Wenger agreed, throwing his jacket down in frustration at his inability to converse with his players due to the noise of the fans, now that must be a first.

The Gunners came out in the second half to rapturous applause, shamefully however, as always with a swathe of red seats visible in Club Level. They were filled far quicker than usual though as members sensed a special victory over their closest rivals, not in squad quality Mr Keane, but in terms of distance.

Fabregas continued to control the tempo of the game from midfield and van Persie's control and strength upfront continued to cause problems. While at the back Thomas Vermaelen, commanding as ever, and the vastly improved Gallas stifled the threat of Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane which had threatened on occasions in the first period.

A comeback looked unlikely, and it was extinguished completely on the hour. Eduardo was fouled on the Arsenal right, Mark Clattenberg, the referee, waved play-on but the players all seemed to hesitate, Sagna was the quickest to realise and took one touch before sending a low cross into the box. Gomes seemed certain to take control but could only palm it away and van Persie tapped into an empty net. Game over.

Eduardo could and really should have scored two of his own soon afterwards. First he had an effort blocked by Gomes and then he was through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but opted to shoot low instead of lofting the ball over the Brazilian.

Ramsey also had a late chance, racing onto a long ball by Fabregas, Sebastien Bassong pulled up and the Welshman seemed unaware of the time he had and put in a tame cross instead of taking the ball closer to goal.

In the end though Arsenal fans would not complain at the scoreline and were left to savour the taste of another victory of Tottenham.