Penalty!

I know they are only human, but I am amazed how many times top players not only have their penalty kicks saved, but also miss the goal completely.

Lets face it, its a bloody big target to miss after all!

You wouldn't expect a professional darts player to miss the dart board would you?

Thank goodness Gilberto's and Baptista's misses didn't cost us the game against Bolton, but it really is unforgivable not to even work the goalkeeper when it should really be a nailed-on goal. I don't know about you but for me the best way to take a penalty is to simply run up and blast the ball straight at the keepers head. There is no way he is going to stay in the same position as before the kick - he is almost certainly going to dive one way or the other. I don't think I have ever seen such a penalty saved - have you?

There are dozens of different ways of taking a penalty and you see variations every week, but usually the taker tries to place the ball in one of the corners, and if the keeper guesses correctly he has a fair chance of saving it. Whack the ball with lots of power straight at him however, - preferably at head height or above - and he hasn't got a chance.

Lets change the subject back to the future, and next up midday on Saturday is Blackburn at the Emirates - and a difficult team selection for Arsene. I suspect it's all down to who is fit and least knackered after that gruelling 120 minutes up at the Reebok.

Thank goodness Willie Gallas is back at last and Arsene has also named Thierry and Cesc in the squad - along with most of Wednesday's team except Hleb (cold), Djourou (knee), Gilberto, Jens, Baptista and Diaby (all rested). It's not very many hours between half past ten on a Wednesday night and midday on a Saturday and, with the much more important game on Tuesday away to PSV coming up, we certainly can't afford any injuries. Kolo, Gael Clichy, Denilson and Adey surely won't be able to play both Saturday and Tuesday after their efforts the other night, and we are bound to see another new partnership up front with Thierry and Jeremie - I look forward to that. So, with the return of Swiss Tony, will Gallas play left back or in the middle? Can Tommy gunner play tomorrow and Tuesday?

I'm more than happy to leave the decisions to Arsene - whatever team he chooses I am sure it will be the right one.

(PS - Please Lord don't let Blackburn score first!)

Anorak Arsenal Trivia - Did you know that 15 years ago we were crashing out of the FA cup in the third round at Wrexham? No reserves that day either, with Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, O'Leary, Adams, Rocky Rocastle, Alan Smith and the Merse all playing. We finished 4th in the league that season incidently, but only 10 points behind title winners Leeds United.