Gunners, Gunners, Gunners!

A huge victory for Arsenal today! After taking a 1-0 lead, they gave one back and then their play started to look negative and discombobulated. But for all the talk of how far they've fallen (and they have fallen pretty far to be fair), the club is back in 6th or 7th place I think (still have some games to get through before I check the table). We have now won six of seven and are clearly on the rise. Next week is obviously a tough fixture, but it should show us if we really are on the ascendancy, or will be pushing really hard for that 4th spot all campaign. I must say that Liverpool looks shaky of late. Now to the report card ...

Gervinho: today looked like his coming out party, with a goal and two assists, but I have noticed a real upping of his form game by game. I think the commentators will shut up soon and admit that he was a good signing. He is fast, creative and appears to link up really nicely with Van Persie.

Van Persie: what can you say except that he is probably the best striker in the Premiership today. The winter transfer window is key to bring in some reinforcements to hopefully convince him to stay. But pure quality and beauty in his footballing skill and finishing touch. He now has 25 goals in his last 26 games, I believe. Incredible!

Ramsey: pretty good game for him, including a beautiful chip to assist on the first, Gervinho goal. I think he is slowly evolving into the midfielder we hoped we would be. Should be noted that he just missed an early goal as well.

Walcott: terrible, terrible, lemon terrible. When is Wenger going to give Chamberlain a chance to start again? Walcott too often loses the ball, his crosses are terrible, his finishing touch suspect and his general demeanor on the pitch largely negative (and often clueless). I would love to see a sale to Juve in January, but if Wenger is dedicated to making this kid decent, I suggest he bench him for a game or two to at least make him think (something he rarely does on the pitch, one should note).

Arshavin: I am probably one of the few Arsenal fans that likes the little Russian, but if we ignore the pathetic midweek form in Marseille, I'd say he's had two good showings in a row. He can get around defenders quite easily when he's in good form, and pushed forward to start the setup of the second goal. It will be interesting to see if he can score some goals and get back to the quality he once appeared to promise. 

Djourou: Not a stellar performance, but pretty good. I like how he pushes forward, there were no attacks that started on his side and he appears to me to be a better right back then centre back by several degrees. Did almost cost us a goal with a silly back pass, but it was really Szez's fault.

Koscielny: A second great start for him in a row. A couple little errors here and there, but he is really growing into the centre back position and had a couple key clearances. 

Mertesacker: I keep going back and forth on him, but I am really worried he is too slow for the Premiership. I have seen him beat on the right several times and that was true at least twice today. Also had some really stupid passes out that were almost costly and the promise of his height in the box has not materialized yet (except in the crucial miss that could have leveled us late at Blackburn).

Szczesny: not his best performance, as he really does need to work on his positioning sometimes, but continues to grow. He needs to watch when he sneaks forward out of the box though, as two of the last three games he almost got caught out.

Arteta: He is solid in the middle, but I think it's time to admit that he has been a disappointment for the club. He doesn't lose the ball that often, but his passing forward is average at best, his corners not much above average and his goal scoring threat essentially non-existent for well over a month now. My main issue with him is he appears to want (or need) to take three to four touches before he passes. This is often costly, as openings are closed while he dances around. This is one critique I have of Ramsey as well, but his overall quality at putting balls in dangerous spots is much better at present.

Song: steady as ever, but as I've mentioned all season, I do think he needs to work on his play in the final third, as he too often tries to slide tight passes through in the middle that aren't completed when there might be the opportunity to slot sideways or push to one of the wings. I'd also like to see him shoot a little more, after seeing that lovely goal he did score.

Chamakh: time to say adieu to this striker, that actually looked promising upon his arrival last Fall. Rumors are abound of his departure and I really hope it happens. He should have scored at least one, if not two and just can't seem to find the finishing touch.

Santos: not a terribly impressive performance. I'm starting to worry that he was another average signing for the club. He needs to think more in his decision-making and stop with the stupid plays and fouls. 

Refereeing: I don't know if being an Arsenal fan means paying too much attention to the calls, but ugh. The ghost free kick to Crouchy actually led to Stoke's goal and if pulling a player down right as the ball approaches him isn't a penalty, I guess I don't know what one is. There were also a host of other baffling calls and no-calls, but can't complain too much in a 3-1 win.

Now, where do we go from here? After Chelsea, we have a series of very winnable games (forgoing the probable loss to Man City). We are in good shape to win our group in the Champions and will hopefully field quality line-ups for the Carling. I have to reiterate that something must be done about Walcott. He is essentially useless on the pitch and that means that one third of our attacking three are actually a negative force. Yes he can reap havoc with his speed, but how often does it amount to anything? Please, please, please give Chamberlain a chance. As to Chamakh, I really hope we unload him in the winter. Park needs to get on the pitch so we see what he's about and I'd like to see Ryo get a shot some time soon (in the Carling if nothing else). I also wonder what will happen when Vermaelen comes back? It's hard to see Koscielny sitting on the bench, so do we push him to the right back spot until Sagna returns? Or can he play on the left? We will have to see, as that eventually is almost upon us.

Last point for today, and it's a rather obvious one. We need to work on set pieces on both ends of the pitch. We rarely score on corners or free kicks (forgoing the essential Van Persie scorcher last weekend) and too often give up goals on opponents dead ball opportunities. This needs to be a main focus moving forward. I don't know how much work is done on this, but we need to step up and grab some clean sheets in the Barclay's. We need to stop the dead ball leakages (which were prevalent last year as well, when we led the league in that ignominious category) and find a way to be more dangerous ourselves in these situations.