10 things we learnt from Arsenal's performance against Liverpool on Monday night.

1. A new striker is still top on the agenda - So with only a few days of the transfer window left, Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have still not addressed the striker situation at the Emirates, and are quickly running out of time. It was evident once more on Monday night that a world class striker is needed, as Olivier Giroud failed to impress once more, being hauled off with 20 minutes left for Theo Walcott. Make no mistake, Giroud is a very good striker, but he is not world class, and until this is addressed Arsenal will not win the title.

2. Ramsey needs to play central - Aaron Ramsey has failed tor recapture his form from the 2013-14 season, and I feel that this is hugely down to the fact that Wenger keeps on putting him on the right wing. It is evident that he is not the quickest player, and he becomes very isolated in games. This then leads to him trying to get involved in games by coming central, like last night, which then led to there being no width at all, until Oxlade Chamberlain came on in the last ten minutes.

3. Sanchez is still not match fit - Though his work levels and passion is still there, I still feel that Alexis Sanchez is still a few weeks off from being 100% match fit. Personally, Wenger has rushed him back too soon. He hit the post, when he should of scored in the second half, if he has that chance in a few weeks time he scores, simple as that.

4. Cech has arrived - The veteran keeper well and truly announced his arrival on Monday night in spectacular fashion. After a disastrous start to his Arsenal career on his first appearance at the Emirates on the opening weekend against West Ham, he well and truly atoned for those errors made. He single handily kept Liverpool at bay throughout the first half, including two astonishing saves, firstly from Christian Benteke and then from Phillipe Coutinho.

5. Gabriel can do a job when needs to - The Brazilian really impressed last night in which was a mixed night for the Arsenal defence. He was quick, strong and showed during the 90 minutes that he can push to get into the team this season.

6. Chambers on the other hand... - It was a complete different story Calum Chambers at the heart of the defence yesterday, who had a bit of a nightmare. I can understand it slightly though, given the circumstances, with Mertesacker and Koscielny both being ruled out. So it meant there was a complete new partnership at the back, and for large parts of the game it was catastrophic. Lets hope this was largely down to nerves, because I still feel that he is developing and can be one for the future.

7. Coquelin once again solid - The Frenchman is getting better and better by the game in my opinion and is really making the central defensive midfield role his own. His hunger, fight and passion is incredible and was notable once again on Monday night, at times holding together that ropey defence.

8. Ozil much more influential in a big game - It was built up on Monday night to be the battle between Ozil and Coutinho. Personally I feel they are two complete different players, both brilliant in their own different ways, and you cant really compare them. Each player dictated each half, it was Coutinho in the first half, he pulled the strings and had Arsenal running ragged. But in the second half, when Arsenal did decide to turn up, everything came through Ozil and his brilliant start to the season continues.

9. The Ox needs to start - It baffled me firstly to why Oxlade Chamberlain did not start in the first place, but then as to why Wenger brought him on with 10 minutes to go. The game was calling out for his drive and pace. For me he is our most direct player in the team, he just wants to run at defences, and the build up of play was too lethargic on Monday. Soon as Chamberlain came on it was a different story. He has to start on Saturday at Newcastle.

10. Start to the season has been average - Arsene Wenger even said after the game that the start to the season that Arsenal have made has been 'average'. They cannot afford to drop any more points, with Manchester City already breaking clear at the top and Chelsea bound to get back to full strength in weeks to come. The performances have been too casual and sloppy so far.        

50 up...How Olivier Giroud is quickly becoming one of the most consistent players in the league.

He may not be the most technical, gifted player in the league but Olivier Giroud is turning into Arsenal's and the Premier League's most prolific strikers. Giroud has played 117 games for the Gunners, and on Saturday he netted his 50th goal for the club in the 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace. Giroud has beaten the likes of Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba and Robin Van Persie with the amount of games taken to reach the 50 mark. The Frenchman has been heavily criticised by media and experts, with many questioning if he is good enough to be Arsenal's first choice striker, but Arsene Wenger has stayed loyal to Giroud and how that has paid off.

I believe that Giroud deserves more praise and he is one of the most underrated players in the league, consistently delivering on a regular basis and getting the goals that critics claimed he would never get. He doesn't just get goals, his all round play is crucial to the way that Arsenal operate and engine as a team. Whether it is his defensive work or his overall hold up play when playing as the lone striker, he is becoming one of Arsenal's most important players, and one of the first you expect to see on the team sheet each week.

Since returning from the ankle injury that he suffered in early August that ruled him out till November, Giroud has come back a stronger and better player. He has netted nine times since returning back to the first team, taking his overall tally for the season to 11, and there should be no doubts that he will hit 20+ by the end of the season. The addition of Danny Welbeck has also helped his overall game massively aswell. When both Giroud and Welbeck start, they both work together brilliantly, Welbeck's pace and energy combined with Giroud's strength and aerial threat has improved and made Arsenal's strike force a lot more deadly this season. Not to even forget about the addition of Alexis Sanchez aswell...

This season was meant to be the break through season for the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere, but it is Olivier Giroud who is pleasantly surprising all Arsenal fans and pundits and long may it continue!

 

It's 2015, so let's ban these racist thugs for life.

Chelsea Football Club, one of the most prestigious teams English football will ever witness. But the club is slowly being branded as racist. They have boasted possibly some of the best black players the Premier League has seen, with the likes of Marcel Desailly, Claude Makelele, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole.

Tuesday nights events in Paris on the metro before Chelsea's 1-1 draw against PSG, were quite simply unacceptable, ugly and disgraceful. And it is not the first time their fans have been caught in a racism storm. Back in 2012, during an encounter against Manchester United, one Chelsea fan was pictured doing a 'monkey' gesture towards Danny Welbeck, then of Manchester United. Three years on it continues to happen, and the FA, UEFA and even the police have to step up to the mark now and put down a real marker.

We are living in 2015, not the 1980's. For a group of football fans to not allow a man to board a train because he's black leaves me quite frankly speechless. And for these fans to then follow up their actions by chanting "we're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it" was almost the final nail in this embarrassing and shambolic act. Now of course not all Chelsea fans behave in this manner, and I guarantee that the majority of them who saw this story first break out would of been shaking their heads in embarrassment for their fellow fans.

This whole shameful act has landed Chelsea in very deep water with all associations, and they also need to make a decisive decision quickly, as the last thing they want is to be labelled 'racists' because at this current moment that is what they are being labelled.

The minority of those Chelsea fans who were involved on that metro will be watching the news and seeing their actions feeling pretty ashamed, and they should be. Their actions were cowardly, shallow and spineless and they have no place in sport, let alone football.

It may be only 8 games into the new season - but here is my team of the season so far

GOALKEEPER:
THIBAUT COURTOIS - No wonder the young Belgium has pushed favourite Petr Cech out of the team, and has became Mourinho's number one keeper at the Premier League leaders. Courtois has needed no time to settle at all after previous loan spells away from Stamford Bridge, his size and overall ability is slowly making him into being one of the top keepers in world football. Though with games against Manchester United and Liverpool away coming up for the leaders, is Courtois going to continue to impress on the big stage?


LEFT BACK:

AARON CRESSWELL - The 24 year-old was signed by Sam Allardyce from Ipswich back in the summer, and has been exceptional since the start of the season. His crossing ability when coming forward is up there with fellow English left back Leighton Baines. Cresswell has been key to West Ham's brilliant start to the season and if he can keep up his current form, surely an England call up will be around the corner.

CENTRE BACKS:

WINSTON REID - Again, another West Ham player, Reid, like Cresswell has been a major factor to the start to the season that West Ham have had, finding themselves in the top four. In previous seasons, Reid has struggled a lot through injuries, but hopefully for him and for West Ham he can keep fit for the rest of the season as he has so far been solid at the back in an ever improving West Ham side.

JOHN TERRY - It was tough because both Terry and Cahill have been brilliant at the back for Chelsea so far this season. But for me Terry just edges it. He is the heart of that Chelsea defence, and when he does inevitably leave that defence in years to come, Chelsea will never be able to find a player of his calibre ever again. If anything, retiring from international football has done Terry the world of good. He has been able to concentrate 100% on his club and this is shining through, as the Premier League leaders defence still has the reputation of being the meanest defence in the league.

RIGHT BACK:

NATHANIEL CLYNE - What a season this young man is having! Two sensational goals, one brilliant finish at Anfield on the opening weekend, and one absolute belter at the Emirates in the Capital One Cup victory against Arsenal. Clyne really promised to break through last season, but injury continued to shorten his season and give Calum Chambers (now of Arsenal) the chance to shine instead. But this season was his break through season, and boy is he showing his class and potential. His blistering pace and ability to get forward is one of the main reasons of Southampton's wonderful start to the season, and he deservedly got an England call up earlier this month, now can he continue this fantastic form and nail down that right back place that England have needed for years.

MIDFIELDERS:

GYLFI SIGURDSSON - Many eyes were raised when the Iceland international returned to Swansea following a short and frustrating spell at Tottenham. But the move back to South Wales has brought the best back out of Sigurdsson. Chipping in with 6 assists so far this season, and of course scoring his only goal of the season on the opening weekend of the season in the shock 2-1 victory at Manchester United. Sigurdsson has been reformed since his return to Swansea, and he is now the star of the midfield, where at Spurs he was a bit-part player. In the role just behind either Bony or Gomis, he is shining week in, week out as Swansea continue their strong start to the season.

MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN - Firstly, who would of thought that we would be talking about Schneiderlin still playing in a Southampton shirt baring in mind the drama that happened in the summer. But the Frenchman has completely turned himself around and has had an exceptional start to the season, being pivotal to Southampton's amazing start. So far Schneiderlin has three premier league goals this season, but it has been his professionalism and performances each week which have been excellent, and surely Southampton will have another challenge on their hands to try and keep hold of him in January.

CESC FABREGAS - As an Arsenal fan, this really hurts me to say this, but what a signing this man has been for Chelsea, and why on earth didn't Arsene Wenger re-sign him?! The Spaniard was the missing piece in Jose Mourinho's puzzle, and he has been a revelation for the blues. For £27 million, sorry but that is an absolute steal. With seven assists already this season, he is slowly turning into the signing of the season. Along with his relationship with fellow Spaniard Diego Costa, Chelsea are looking unstoppable going forward and it is going to take something special to stop them this season from getting their hands on that title.

FORWARDS:

ALEXIS SANCHEZ - This man is pure class. Being a Gooner, every time I watch him he excites me so much! His work rate is phenomenal and he just has so much passion, hunger and desire that I have seen no other Arsenal player possess in a long, long time. Sanchez currently has six goals in all competitions this season, including three in the Premier League, and I don't see why he cannot reach around the twenty mark by the end of the season. Along with Fabregas, Sanchez is easily the signing of the summer, if only Arsenal had ten more Alexis Sanchez's in our ranks...

SAIDO BERAHINO - Another unbelievably exciting talent that is coming through the ranks in this country. What a season this young lad he is having, and surely an England senior call up is waiting around the corner. Berahino has netted six goals so far this season and is the shining light in this current West Brom side. His pace is proving to be a nightmare for most defences in the league and his composure when in front of goal is up there in the world class category. The next question is can Berahino continue this form for the rest of the season? If he can, he is going to have one hell of a season.

DIEGO COSTA - And last but not least, probably one of the best and most clinical strikers in the world right now. Chelsea had been crying out for a world class striker for years, and now they finally have one and boy is he class. This man is warrior and he scares the living daylight out of every defence in the league. His partnership with fellow Spaniard Cesc Fabregas is one of the best partnerships around, and whenever Costa plays it's more when than if he is going to score. With nine goals already, he is the top scorer in the league at the moment, and will no doubt end up being the top scorer come May.

  

   

Lay off Ozil.

Mesut Ozil cannot do much right at the moment without being criticised by the media. The German international was ruled out until the new year last week, and it absolutely disgusts me that a minority of fellow Arsenal fans are relieved and happy that he is going to be absent from the team for the next three months. Hold your heads in shame. We had been searching for a trophy for nine years. Mesut Ozil comes in, and in his first season he wins the FA Cup.
In the Premier League last season, with Ozil playing Arsenal won 17 and lost only 3. Without Ozil in the Premier League last season Arsenal won 7 and lost 4. When he was signed on Deadline Day in Summer 2013, he lifted the whole team, and that is what his critics are forgetting. His arrival bought the best out of certain players, such as Aaron Ramsey who had an phenomenal first half of the season before he got injured. Mesut Ozil was feeding the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema. In his first season at Arsenal he was supplying Olivier Giroud and Yaya Sanogo. Enough said.
Another huge factor for why Ozil is not performing, and this is one that frustrates every single Gooner on the planet, is that Wenger for some reason plays him out on the left wing. Mesut Ozil is a CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDER. He should be playing the 'number 10' role behind the striker, that is his best and only position on a football pitch, not the left wing where he is isolated, invisible and never makes an impact. The arrival of Danny Welbeck this summer meant that finally Ozil had a quick, energetic striker who has great movement to assist week in, week out. We have rarely seen this partnership. Once, against Aston Villa away. He scores one, and sets one up for Welbeck. The following weekend against Tottenham, he puts him back on the left wing. Baffling.
We all know his quality and class that he possesses and on his day he is easily one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, that is why Arsenal paid the £42.5 million for him. He WILL come back after his injury stronger and better, and I so believe that he will prove his critics wrong. As for the stories from the likes of the Daily Mail saying that he wants a transfer, well that is just a prime example of lazy journalism for you. All the fellow Arsenal fans must get behind him week after week, don't give up on him. Remember that he chose us on Monday 2nd September 2013, when we were in a dark period. Lets just hope now that when he does return that Wenger finally plays him in the position where he prefers and ultimately will shine.

With 9 days left of the transfer window, what clubs need to add to their squad and who? (A-E Teams)

It's that time of year again where clubs will be frantically rushing around in order to add and complete their squads ahead of what is already proving to be another breath-taking Premier League season. Here is who I believe need to spend and strengthen their side ahead of that 11pm deadline on Monday 1st September, starting from Arsenal to Everton.


ARSENAL
IN: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United), David Ospina (Nice), Calum Chambers (Southampton)
OUT: Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Chuks Aneke (Zuite Waregem), Nicklas Bendtner, Chu Young Park, Wellington Silva (UD Almeria), Thomas Eisfeld (Fulham), Carl Jenkinson (West Ham United), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona)
One of the busiest summers in recent years at the Emirates has seen real optimism and belief flow round the team and fans that more success is to follow this season, following last years FA Cup. The recruitment of Alexis Sanchez is by far the biggest coup of the summer so far and he will add pace, flair and class within the ranks. Whilst Calum Chambers has impressed hugely since signing for the club from Southampton. Still though if Arsenal are to be genuine title contenders for this season then they are a couple of signings off being that. A defensive midfielder is still required to tighten up the midfield and stop them from being so vulnerable in the big games. Real Madrid's Sami Khedira and Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho are the most likely candidates to fill that void. Whilst the Gunners have sold their captain Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona, so a centre back is much needed. Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny are going to be certain starters for the season, so Olympiakos' Kostas Manolas or Schalke's Benedikt Howedes are perfect replacements to give the squad more depth to get through a testing Champions League and Premier League campaign.


ASTON VILLA
IN: Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Joe Cole (West Ham), Kieran Richardson (Fulham), Aly Cissokho (Valencia)
OUT: Marc Albrighton (Leicester City), Nathan Delfouneso, Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg),
Yacouba Scylla (Kayseri Erciyesspor), Antonio Luna (Verona)
Aston Villa could argue that their biggest signing of the summer is making Roy Keane assistant manager at the club, his influential figure and experience could have a huge impact on whether the club avoid relegation this season. Apart from that it has been fairly quiet from the Midlands club, which will rather worry the fans. Philippe Senderos will add experience from his time at Arsenal and Fulham, likewise will Joe Cole and Kieran Richardson. But Villa will have to keep hold of their captain Ron Vlaar if they are going to stay up, as he was immense at this Summers World Cup. They also need an experienced central midfielder, as even though Fabian Delph is coming on leaps and bounds, he needs an experienced, wise head beside him. Fulham's Scott Parker, would do a brilliant job in the middle of the park for Villa.


BURNLEY
IN: Michael Kightly (Stoke City), Matt Gilks, Marvin Sordell (Bolton Wanderers), Matt Taylor (West Ham United), Steven Reid (West Bromwich Albion), Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough), Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
OUT: David Edgar Released, Brian Stock Released, Keith Treacy Released, Nick Liversedge Released, Junior Stanislas Released, Chris Baird (West Bromwich Albion)
It is always hard for newly promoted teams when it comes to the transfer window as they are under the pressure to spend and bring in lots of new players to help them survive in the Premier League. And especially at Burnley where Sean Dyche has performed miracles to get his side up with the most limited resources in the Championship last season is just amazing. He is going to find it hard again to invest with the resources that they have, but they have bought in Premier League experience in Matt Taylor and Steven Reid, plus they also have the strike partnership up front of Danny Ings and Sam Vokes, who will be expected to deliver. Though I personally feel that Burnley are short in the midfield and defence department and they need some more quality and experience if they are to survive. A possible defender they could look into is Norwich's Michael Turner, who has bags of experience of playing in the Premier League. Whilst an ideal midfielder that Burnley should bring in is Crystal Palace's Barry Bannan, he is not getting much playing time at Palace and has proved that he has creativity quality in his game, which Burnley are lacking.
CHELSEA
IN: Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray)
OUT: Ashley Cole (Roma), Samuel Eto'o Released, Henrique Hilario Released, Frank Lampard (New York City), Demba Ba (Besiktas), Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) £28m, Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) Loan
Out of all the teams in this transfer window, I have been most impressed with Chelsea and they way they have gone about their business. They have bought in the midfield, creative quality they have been lacking for many years in Cesc Fabregas and that was evident on Monday night at Burnley where he shined in that role. Whilst Diego Costa is also again the signing and striker that all Chelsea fans were crying out for and he for me will be the top goal scorer this season, there is no two ways about it, he will get them goals week in, week out. I really personally believe that Chelsea are sorted for the season ahead and they don't need to strengthen any more as they have so much depth in their squad now it is untrue. Though there still maybe a few departures before the end of the window, so they might just have to dip back into the market to fill those voids.
CRYSTAL PALACE
IN: Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff), Brede Hangeland (Fulham), Martin Kelly (Liverpool)
OUT: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Cardiff City), Daniel Gabbidon Released, Dean Moxey Released, Jonathan Parr (Ipswich Town), Aaron Wilbraham Released, Jose Campana (Sampdoria)
What a turbulent summer and last few weeks it has been at Crystal Palace, the departure of Tony Pulis has completely rocked the club and has left it in a bit of a mess. One of the main factors behind the departure of Pulis was the lack of transfer activity and funds given to him. Though the three signings that they have made, I believe are very good ones. Fraizer Campbell will add more firepower and pace upfront, whilst the defensive recruitments of Brede Hangeland and Martin Kelly will only help improve an already strong Palace backbone. Though they still need to bring in more players if they are to survive another season in the Premier League. I think that they need another winger and striker to really bolster their squad. An ideal winger that they could go for is Manchester City's Scott Sinclair, almost a forgotten player now and a move to Palace would only resurrect a once promising and exciting career. Whilst up front, possible candidates could be Newcastle's Pappiss Cisse or possibly the loan signing of young Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
EVERTON
IN: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea), Christian Atsu (Chelsea)
OUT: Mason Springthorpe Released, Apostolos Vellios Released
A productive summer so far for Everton, which has seen them sign two of their main loan stars from last season with Gareth Barry arriving from Manchester City for free, which was an excellent piece of business, whilst Romelu Lukaku arrived from Chelsea with a rather hefty price tag of £28 million, still Everton have got their man that they believe will finally fire them to Champions League football. Everton still possibly need to strengthen their team just a bit more so that they can handle the requirements of both the Europa League and the Premier League. Daley Blind from Ajax would be an ideal signing for the club as his versatility around the defensive and midfield areas would be key for Everton when it comes to rotating the team. Whilst also other Dutch international Jordy Clasie would be another good signing as he offers creativity in the midfield department and with him playing alongside Ross Barkley would excite Evertonians hugely.

2014 Commonwealth Games, sadly hiding in the shadows of London 2012

Cast your minds back two years ago, where there was jubilation, pride and excitement filling the whole of the country as we were full swing into hosting the 2012 Olympic Games in our country, Britain. Two years on, the Commonwealth Games are now very much under away up in Scotland, with our stars from 2012 again shining and doing us proud. But I can't help but feel that these games are very much being overseen by the rest of the nation and also by the rest of the world.




The publicity surrounding the Commonwealth Games is subdue, low key and has a general non-existing feel to it. Whether that is because the 2014 World Cup in Brazil has just finished, and fellow Brits are not feeling very patriotic anymore due to England's dismal and embarrassing exit from the group stage, or purely because this current hot weather is keeping us well away from our TV screens. Truth be told I would imagine that 50% of the country and possibly more does not even know that we, Team England (currently) have won a staggering 113 medals, including 41 gold, 37 silver and 35 bronze which surpasses and beats the amount that we won back in 2012, which was 65.




New stars are emerging left, right and centre which we as a nation will very much expect to see excel in two years time at Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games. One of the brightest prospects for English athletics is Adam Gemili, aged 20 who claimed silver in the men's 100m on Monday, highlighting at just 20 years of age, the sheer talent that is coming through the ranks ready for Rio in two years time. Adam stated after his success "This is just a stepping-stone for the European Championships and then the Olympics in Rio".


The famous names from 2012 such as Greg Rutherford and Louis Smith are continuing to emulate their success from two years ago by both picking up gold medals in their respected sport, Long Jump and Gymnastics.


The most exciting prospect of this Commonwealth Games is that we as a nation get to witness new stars rise and at the same time watch heroes from 2012 prove to the country that they have come back stronger and even better ahead of Rio in two years time. Though, unfortunately this years Commonwealth Games is getting brushed aside by the rest of the country. Just because it isn't the 'official' Olympics, people are not taking an interest in what has been so far a hugely successful event for our country. It is the same stars that millions of people were glued to their screens to support and jubilantly celebrate when they won gold, silver and bronze back in 2012, so what is the difference this time round?