Back in the UK - spuds for lunch anyone?

I am back on English soil. I am a bit of a strange person, despite it being far colder, far greyer and far gloomier than where I have come from, it feels good to be home. And what better way than to get over one's post holiday blues than the North London Derby.

This game needs no hyping, although I'm sure the TV will do their best. The spuds will not be easy opponents, but they are also very beatable if we get things right. Their defense looks dodgy with Gallas at the centre of it, as always it will be key to keep things tight, that first goal is always key as we saw in the same fixture last season. The team looks likely to be:

Fabianski
Sagna Squillaci Djourou Clichy
Denilson Song Cesc
Nasri Chamakh Arshavin

It's a big one for Fabianski, if the beanpole Crouch plays it will be a big test for him aerially. Maybe Arsene will be tempted to stick RVP in from the start, I suspect he'll be our secret weapon from the bench though. Sagna is on good form and will need to stick to Bale like glue, no easy job. Wilshere will also be a useful weapon from the bench, assuming he doesn't start that is. I'd be tempted to play Theo on the right to give us a bit more width, maybe Arsene will and then slot Nasri in elsewhere.

Gallas. He won't get a great reception, and he doesn't deserve a good reception, that's for sure, but I suspect a lot of people are just rather apathetic towards him, he never delivered for us on a footballing level, despite behaving like a twat at times, it is his defensive mediocrity which stood out for me. Bendtner, whatever the truth here, the lad needs to knuckle down and improve his game, his performance against Shakhtar was woeful, I feel someone's head has outgrown it's place in reality. With the likes of Afobe sniffing around, if players aren't fully committed they must be moved on, there simply is no room for passengers.

Let the football do the talking and let's hope Phil Dowd has a decent match. Come on you Gunners, come on! Ooh to, ooh to, ooh to be a Gooner!