I am wondering…with Shava’s recent admission that he hasn’t yet played to his top gear abilities this season, if our over abundance of attacking options early in the season saw him somewhat marginalized. Not in a bad way, mind you. But more along the lines that so many of our players, when healthy, can have a go at goal and score. Shava becomes just one more option in a sea of options when we’ve got the bulk of the squad available and I think he gets bored easily. But now, being down to bare bones in the attack, we might just see Shava’s engine light go on and get his best football. The team needs his best and I think his shoulders are big enough to carry us til January and beyond if need be.

With what can only be described as a “patchwork” squad, one must be enthused by the whole team display against Stoke. They can be a very physical side, and while our normal flow wasn’t on too evident, we handled the frequent (and unpenalized) clatterings offered by Tony Pulis’ lads. The best part of the match, aside from the well taken goals by Shava and Ramsey, was our ability to close down the forward progress by Stoke. Verm and Gallas were on form, Denilson did, as you say jammathon, put in the very hard yards and Traore had his moments as well. It wasn’t pretty, but it was very much a team win.

2nd I agree on Arshavin and Eboue ratings as Eboue did a very good job and could have done the same had he been playing againts the chavs (could have at least given Terry a scare). Arshavin was getting into the correct places and has a better body strength than Vela and Eduardo ( No other arsenal player could have scored the 1st goal).