Eight changes but one made all the difference

This was back to the Rolls Royce performance that we saw against Chelsea, after the Trotters’ Reliant broke down ten minutes before the end at Wigan. This was back to premium service, who says team changes don’t matter; surely there is a difference between rotation and decapitation?

This was an excellent performance at Fortress St Andrews a place where Chelsea lost, and Man U did an Arsenal impression, throwing away two points in the final minute.

Indeed this was the best Arsenal performance at Birmingham in a very long time, and the fact that Wenger played what is clearly his best eleven had lots to do with it.

Of course he had to rest players, but of the 8 he changed at WiganI would argue that the absence of Djourou was the key reason for the defeat. Wenger may well have no choice but to rest him; if that is the case we need a new centre back as soon as possible.

Koscielny clearly cannot play effectively with Squillaci, but he can play with Djourou or Vermaelen.

Wenger should not gamble on Vermaelen returning at the end of January, even if he does return then, after such a long way off, it is likely he will have more niggling injuries.

Djourou was excellent against Chelsea, and he had another great game at Birmingham, he was a major reason that Drogba failed to score, and he kept the defence solid at Birmingham. I would argue he was key to our keeping a clean sheet between the first goal after 13 minutes and the second on 57 minutes.

He is wonderfully mobile, and uses his midfielder skills to get the ball out of defence. If he is fit enough he has to play every major key game, if he isn’t then please buy now Arsene.

Birmingham fans make me laugh

They must think Arsenal fans suffer from amnesia, all their bleating about RVPs alleged dive. Only a few years back they dived and conned a penalty of the hapless Clichy. MOTD replays showed that RvP was touched by the defender and Shearer suggested that at that speed a striker will go over. Good for MOTD, unlike the pathetic wretches of Talk Manure Radio and ESPN.

ESPN also failed to notice that the tackle on Fabregas deserved a red, but did eventually catch up with Bowyer’s stamp on Sagna, hopefully the FA will be giving the man, who  I must point out was not convicted of thuggery against an innocent Asian man in Leeds, a lengthy suspension.

Arsenal’s win against Birmingham was so overwhelming that even the pundits of ESPN had to finally give up moaning and admit that this was a victory for fine football. They could also have added that it was defeat for thuggish behaviour and dangerous tackles. But that would have been against their principles, that’s if they have any.

Three in the net and no reply that’s how real footballers get their revenge. “Eduardo”, sang the Gooner faithful, plus the usual favourite “same old Arsenal always extracting the urine”, to the tune of “same old Arsenal always cheating”.

As the citizen militia of Fortress St Andrews sloped off early the Gooners sang, “Is there a fire drill”. Eight changes and normal service resumed.

Congratulations to Howard Webb on the award of his Manchester Bias Everytime, or MBE for short (Thanks to nojh14 for that one).