It's also true that so far the billionaires at Villa and Arsenal have not been that generous in splashing the cash, and maybe that's a good thing as it hasn't done Citeh much good. Teams should grow organically.

 

I had anticipated that Wenger would rest players in advance of the real business on Tuesday night, although I underestimated the extent of the changes he would make - eight in total. Some of the changes were quite novel - including Eboue at left back and Song at centre half.

Wake up Lawro and Pay Attention

Hamster in the teapot, at the Mad Hatter of the Day Party, Mark Lawrenson rubbed his eyes and commented that there were only foreigners on the Arsenal bench. I suppose he didn't notice that Randall came on as a sub, and that Frimpong was also available. He had also predicted that Arsenal would lose 2-1, which is fair enough as you never can quite predict what an unfamiliar line up will achieve.

Surprisingly both teams went for it, an open game with lots of chances. Pompey were probably lulled into a false sense of security at the weakness of the eleven in front of them, and the Arsenal eleven needing to earn a place in the big one midweek did their damdest. Hungry players often play better than bloated, sometimes overpaid, self-satisfied ones.

 Both teams had plenty of chances, and Arsenal's clean sheet often owed more to good luck than brilliant defending. The main difference between the two teams was the goal keeping. James let in a not too difficult header by Super Nik, and Fabianski scrambled everything out that his defence failed to block.

Arsenal were also more incisive, and Vela scored a difficult chance through a crowded penalty area, and Nik put a great penalty past England's number two.

Ref with all these penalties you are spoiling us

Aye Aye Capan

Captain Arshavin was not lulled by the sunshine into holiday mood, fortunately his body clock is attuned to Russia and it won't be spring there for another month yet. He was at the centre of everything the Gunners did. It was his lob/cross that Nik put away for one - nil; it was he who tried to win the Robbie Fowler Memorial Sporting Footballer of the Year Award by denying he had been tripped over. I don't care whether it was a penalty or not, two other perfectly good claims had been denied. It certainly didn't bother Nik who proved to have nerves of steel when facing last year's best Premiership keeper.

Finally Arshavin produced another move that put Vela on target for the third. True the ball bounced off a defender, but it was (probably not)intended for Vela. A nice easy stroll in the park and three points in the bag; fourth place and 21 unbeaten in the Premiership.

Any Problems?

Err sort of. Quite a few players looked better than some considered first choice. Yes it was only Pompey, but Nik and Denilson looked far livelier than a few I could mention in the game against Manchester Utd. Also Vela is becoming more impressive by the day. Maybe all this isn't a problem at all as competition for places is a good thing, and undoubtedly we will see Arshavin in Europe next season - roll on.

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