So we’re linked to Yaya Toure once more after the player said he wouldn’t join brother Kolo at Moneybags FC. His agent has said he’s only willing to join a team that plays in the Champions League already, and Arsenal have cropped up as a name once more alongside Man United.

Where do I start. We need someone to step in for Alex Song, we all know this. When Alex departs for Angola in January, Arsenal will need someone to step into that authoritive role he has in front of the back line. Will it come from within the club? Will players like Denilson, Coquelin, Eastmond or even Jay Emmanuel Thomas step up?

Or will the club seek someone from abroad? Someone like Blaise Matuidi, or Patrick Vieira, or even (fantasizing here) Jeremy Toulalan. But instead, we’re linked to the eventually expensive Yaya Toure, who, while world class, suffers from a similar affliction that Alex Song does. His commitments to his country which happen to be in the continent of Africa.

So the papers reckon our way to replace a great player who will be absent in January and February will be to buy another great player who will be absent in January and February. For seasons to come, too.

As accomplished as Yaya is, his chance to come to Arsenal is long gone. As skilled and powerful as he is, I would rather we raise from within the club. Even if those players never quite reach the Ivorian’s level.

Defensive issues

Another issue constantly dogging the side is, despite winning handsomely in most of our fixtures this season, we seem to have a few springs in the hull.

Often conceding late consolation goals (like against Celtic, Alkmaar – twice – and Wolves), we’ve racked up 14 in the ‘goals against’ collumn, compared to Man United (12, having played a game more) and Chelsea (8).

What’s to be made of it? Arsenal play the most attacking football in the league and by nature, they play far further up the field than most and are exposed as a result.

The interesting thing to remember is that in the 2001/02 season, with Sol Campbell, Martin Keown and Tony Adams rotating at the back, we also used to defend from the half-way line. The defence was very solid back then and could be relied on for clean sheets.

Of course, they had the afformentioned great defenders, but Gallas and Vermaelen are quickly developing a ferocious partnership. The old team did have David Seaman in his last truly-consistent season, whereas Almunia is below David’s level (many are).

And yet, we really aren’t that far behind other sides. It’s early days yet, our players are learning the ropes of the new formation, and some of the late goals can be seen either as not that important, or a casuality given our four-goal leads.

By November’s end, perhaps we’ll have a better picture of things. However, this season doesn’t seem like other seasons where traditionally, having conceded this many goals already would see us languishing badly in the title race. But so would Man United’s tally, for that matter.

All three of the leading sides (ourselves, Chelsea, the Mancs) have major flaws that just overshadow their strengths this year.

So even if we are conceding by the bucketload at December’s end, if we’ve won the majority of our games and racked up the three-pointers, what does it matter?

Finally, the last steps in putting in a workover of the blog’s design and look are in the pipeline and could be going live pretty soon. So if funny things are happening to the site, it’s probably to be expected.

Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments – do you want to see Yaya Toure at Arsenal? And are you worried by our defensive record so far this season?

Filed under: Arsenal, Blogging