Arsenal ended a disappointing week on a positive note with a 1-0 victory over bottom of the table QPR, lifting them to fourth in the table.

Jack’s back!

Yes! After 14 months on the sidelines, Arsenal’s new number ten started a first team game. He managed to complete just over an hour playing alongside Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla and it has to be said, it looked like he’d never been away. The way he drives forward with the ball is something that the side has massively missed and almost reminds of (get ready for the abuse), one Lionel Messi.

Bacary Sagna/Carl Jenkinson

It wasn’t just Jack back today. The ever reliable Bacary Sagna also made his first team return after recovering from a broken leg earlier this year. However, his return has sparked up a debate as to who should start at right back.

Carl Jenkinson has been superb this season in the absence of Sagna and has even earned himself an England call up. I’m a big fan but in recent weeks he hasn’t got as far forward as we know he can – perhaps a little jaded.

Sagna got the call today and it looked like he’d never been away. He was excellent in the air and crunching in the tackle. He lasted the full 90 minutes which is a massive credit to his athleticism.

It will give Wenger selection headaches but at least they’re good ones to have.

Lack of chances

One of Arsenal’s main problems this season has been that they’ve had lots of the ball but haven’t done enough with it. I remember in the first half today, we had close to 70% possession and I don’t remember us having a clear cut chance.

We improved in the second half and our best chance fell to the person who 99% of fans would want in the position, but he (Cazorla) somehow managed to fire over.

What a keeper!

Despite the lack of chances created, it could have 4-0 if QPR didn’t have Julio Cesar between the sticks. Although his handling was poor in the first half, I can think of numerous occasions where he pulled off a spectacular save to keep the ball out of the net.

It was a world class performance from a world class keeper who was unlucky to be on the losing side today.

Aaron Ramsey

I’m a fan of the Welshman, but I don’t understand why he is deployed on the right wing. When Wilshere went off and he came into the middle, he looked like a completely different player. His passing and dribbling were good and his excellent athleticism keeps him going when others faded. He was unlucky not to score when he saw his volley saved by Cesar, but a good performance from Aaron.

January transfer window

I think what has been evident in recent weeks is the lack of options we have up front. I like Giroud and I think he offers a lot to the team, however, who do we have if he gets injured?

Gervinho? Picked up an injury today and could be out for 3 weeks. He also goes to African Cup of Nations in January. Walcott? He hasn’t proven himself as a striker yet and there are still contract issues but I think he deserves a chance. Chamakh? Not good enough and is likely to move on in January.

There you have it. Three other “strikers”, two of which may or not still be at the club by the end of January. We’ve been made aware that there are funds in the region of £50-70million available to strengthen so I think going into the market in January for a forward is necessary. Certainly if we want to think about challenging this season.

Capital One Cup

So now we move on to Tuesday and a trip to Reading in the Capital One Cup. I expect to see emerging talents such as, Gnabry, Eisfield, Miquel and Martinez, as well as first team squad players such as Koscielny, Arshavin, Jenkinson and Coquelin.

Then after that, is a tricky trip to Old Trafford, in an attempt to avenger... that result.

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