City v Arsenal & Newcastle v Arsenal round up...

City:

To be fair, it's hard to draw any real conclusions from the game as to whether we've progressed (or matured) from last season on Saturday's game. Like it or not a red card so early in the game did change it. However, much as everyone's been saying he now fantastic, I feel that Fabianski's goalkeeping was still suspect in the areas he always used to have problems in. He has always had really good reactions, pulling of some fantastic saves, as he did against City, however my problem with him is that he's not decisive enough when a ball is put into the box, it's always 'do I go, or do I stay on my line?' and in the end, he never really does either - and was lucky not to concede from it against City. 

I don't feel that it's possible not to be disappointed at Fabregas not scoring the penalty - you just can't not from 12 yards. Like every other one he's taken this season, it wasn't great, they've all gone to the goalie's left, at the middle of the post (heightwise). A good penalty is taken into one of the corners of the goal, and Fabregas just isn't doing that. In terms of the goals though, they were fantastic. It was a great bit of build up play, and 1-2 for Nasri's and Song's really was a screamer - even if it was from inside the box. As for Bendtner's it was great to see him back and scoring; and not a bad goal to boot!!!

Newcastle:

Again it's hard to judge the performance, because Newcastle really weren't up to much. Not because they're a bad team, just the side they fielded was somewhat understrength. The first goal was hilarious and merited, the second was just a teeny bit offside (Bendtner was interfering & Walcott looked like he was off) but a technically brilliant finish from Walcott nonetheless. The third from Bendtner was brilliant, the #52 of old would have put that miles over the bar, so his game has certainly progressed. From a similar position, it was even better than his one at City, with even more that he had to do. Walcott's fourth was, I think, Thierry Henry - esque. The burst of pace and quality finish, just stroking it into the net...

In summary:

It seems that the pressure is really on Wenger to win a trophy this season, and - no matter what he says - our strategy has changed, and we really are going for it. If you believe an old Sky Sports news report though, we won it (when we actually lost to Chelsea) in 2007. Wenger really is going to have a nice headache now though, with Szczesy & Fabianski impressing, who does he go with. Bendtner's only just back and already in the goals, Vela still looks quality & Walcott's back too. He really is going to have trouble finding a strongest first XI.