Well, the anti-Arsenal media finally should have shut up. We've been hearing forever that Arsene's team doesn't have the bottle to play poorly and win.

But that certainly happened at Fulham -- a 1-0 victory sealed by a moment of offensive brilliance and an unbeatable backup goalkeeper. Come to think of it, we were fairly awful in Belgium and got away unharmed, as well.

Two oddly poor performances in a three-match span, and we won both times. So did the geniuses of the press hail "gritty Arsenal" for rallying in one case and keeping a remarkable clean sheet in the other?

Of course not.

All we've heard and read is how these latest efforts merely unerline Arsenal's weaknesses. Most newspaper accounts were almost tearful in describing Fulham as desperately unlucky not to have given us a proper hiding -- which is a bit of a laugh, no matter how well Mannone played.

The fact is that the xenophobic British media -- with a few notable exceptions -- simply can't stand the notion that Arsene Wenger brought a flashy, foreign style of play to the UK and recruited plenty of gifted foreign athletes to implement it.

So be it. We have to live with the bias and there's no use whinging. They're not going to change.

It's far more important that Arsenal simply shut up the critics by winning, and right now I see two huge question marks -- issues that must be addressed if we're going to become a talented team that wins consistently in a brutally tough league, or simply a group with some talented individuals but cursed by collective inconsistency.

The first matter is the much-discussed 4-3-3 formation -- and not only whether it suits our personnel (I think it does) but if we can play it properly.

What you saw at Fulham was the 4-3-3 played poorly. Everything about this formation, about this whole approach to the game, revolves around pace, committment and -- most of all -- a willingness to press the ball all over the pitch.

One reason Barcelona always seems to have the ball while playing the 4-3-3 is that when opponents get possession, Barca rushes and harries with all 11 players to get it right back.

And then, of course, you need the skill to pass and move, to maintain possession and create scoring threats -- which we already are doing just fine. We're good at that part of things and will only get better.

But at Fulham, you saw what happens when the will to chase -- and I mean everybody -- drops a level here and there. Once an opponent breaks past midfield, you can be overrun and danger lurks everywhere -- especially if one or both fullbacks have committed themselves to an attack that breaks down.

Quite simply, we didn't press Fulham from the front as we did, say, at Man United. Think back to that game, and really, did United really pose any threat at all until the final minutes when we had to chase the game?

Both goals were flukes, and United seemed incapable of holding the ball long enough to get organized, let alone create a scoring chance.

Obviously, Fulham -- no matter how disciplined and enthusiastic -- does not have the talent all across the pitch that we faced at Old Trafford. The only reason Mannone had to play a blinder and win it with a clean sheet -- despite Fulham's whopping 11 shots on target -- is that we didn't press, chase and compete for 50-50s as we have in most other games.

Look at the other side of the coin: A week earlier, we hounded Wigan to the point that you wondered if they'd ever produce a shot. The media wrote off that 4-0 drubbing to Wigan's lack of ability, but then those same players turned around to thump Chelsea.

With the 4-3-3, you're really making an announcement that you've got more talent than your opponent, that you're going to create an open game and that you're going to force errors, create goals and win it.

But there's no room, as Fulham taught us, for playing the 4-3-3 half-heartedly. You can't survive in that formation if ANYONE wanders around like a passenger.

Let's hope that's a lesson learned.

Oh, yes, the second issue -- and this one really is part of the first...

Can we possibly be consistently successful with Abou Diaby in the lineup? Wenger sees something in the lad that I'm obviously missing, because his lack of application, poor positioning and lack of passing skill had a LOT to do with the way Fulham opened us up.

For me, Diaby clearly offers nothing defensively -- and the 4-3-3 starts and survives with defence across every blade of grass. Diaby can't tackle, doesn't anticipate trouble, and occasionally gets in the way of teammates who ARE in the proper place to snuff out problems.

At the other end, I think Diaby actually hinders Cesc's game by wandering around the middle of the pitch and drawing extra defenders into the skipper's path at critical times.

I'll concede that Diaby has some amazing physical tools, and he's capable of that odd moment of magic -- like creating Bendtner's goal just before the half in Belgium.

On balance, though, he wrecks the team's shape -- leaving sudden, unexplained gaps -- and doesn't play with the passion and commitment necessary for an all-out, full-scale assault in a 4-3-3.

Assuming no one else gets seriously injured and everyone begins to feel more comfortable offensively, I think perhaps we're just one player away from a serious title challenge.

Better yet, the guy who can put Diaby on the bench -- and perhaps make us something truly special -- is already on the roster.

Please heal quickly, Samir Nasri.

Thanks very much to BT, who only took two weeks to fix our phone line. Which means I've been off the computer, and bursting to share all sorts of Gooner stuff.

But now that we're all back together, it strikes me that the best way to touch on everything that's been whirring through my wacky mind might be to address some important questions.

Let's say, 10 of them.

Ready?

1. If UEFA can charge and ban Eduardo, did any of Platini's suits -- or the mucky-mucks from FIFA -- watch the Champions Cup match between Barcelona and Shaktar Donetsk?

The game went into extra time with no goals, and then Barca's Pedro Rodriguez took a blatant dive in the box. Far worse than Eduardo. And Pedro got a yellow card for his trouble.

And THEN the guy goes on to score the winning goal in the 115th minute, which brings me to the next question...

2. Will Pedro Rodriguez face a two-match ban for attenmpting to deceive the referee?

Paging Michel Platini...paging Michel Platini...spineless little shite.

3. Can somebody talk me out of losing faith in Almunia?

I've tried and tried and tried to believe that he could be a big-time, big-game goalkeeper, but the truth is that he handed Man U a game we dominated so badly that Fergie was turning purple and the midfielders were cryin' for their mamas.

Almunia never should have gone near Rooney -- Gallas was arriving, bad angle to shoot, Rooney on his left foot, no danger -- and on the other hand, Manuel SHOULD have hollered at poor Diaby that he'd take that pitiful floater from Giggs that turned into an own goal.

I'm convinced that about 80 percent of goalkeeping is about judgment and decisions.

4. For four or five years now, I've wanted to believe that other teams get as many crucial, untimely injuries as we do, but now -- finally -- I want to know what the HELL goes on with Arsenal players that they're always crocked?

Nasri, Rosicky, Walcott, Vela, Cesc, now Arshavin. Before that it's been RVP, and of course Diaby. Now we learn Andrey pulled a groin. Hope it was his own! (That's a line stolen from an American TV guy...sorry...)

But really...moving on to the next question...

5. How many players will we lose during this international week?

By the way, can you believe Rosicky's been called up by the Czech Republic? The guy's played two halves of football in two years and they'll probably stick him out there for 90 minutes.

Same with Cesc, recovering from the hamstring. At least Russia intends to rest Arshavin, which leads me to ask...

6. Has any football club EVER come up with a better nickname than the Gunners all calling Andrey "The Meerkat"?

Seriously, check out the Meerkat on that TV advert. Cute little critter, and I'll be damned if he doesn't look exactly like the Russian Rocket. Or maybe it's the other way around. It's frightening.

Anyhow, from now on, Arshavin is "The Meerkat" to me!

7. Are you running around, jinxing us by telling all your pals what an easy group we drew for the Champions League?

Be honest!

I'll be you phoned or texted every Tiny Tot you know -- and then just began ringing numbers at random. Maybe ordering takeaway pizza just so you could talk about our group draw.

Just remember that all three of these teams are league champions. Don't laugh. They're sitting on current silverware and we're not, so until we've qualified on schedule -- just like Celtic, now -- be humble but confident.

8. Speaking of Celtic, after the SFA put in that idiotic complaint about Eduardo -- no, I'll never forgive ANYONE for that -- how badly did you want to draw Rangers in our group?

By the way, it was kind of funny to see that Celtic had Aiden McGeady booked for diving, too. Whinging bastards.

9. Would you pay 100 quid -- right now -- to be leading Man City 2-1 in the 90th minute next weekend and have Adebayor miss a stone-cold sitter right at the final whistle?

I would.

My only fear is that I might even bid higher if the football gods would promise me that the big goof would blow one and let us get out of there with the three points we deserved at Old Trafford.

10. Have you already figured out that only Chelsea can keep us from winning the league?

If not, you haven't been paying attention.

United would struggle to stay in the top four if it weren't for Rooney and the championship pedigree. Without Ronaldo and Tevez, Giggs and Scholes both long in the tooth, hey, there were NOTHING to fear. Forget the score. Total fluke.

Liverpool has big problems. Maybe Aquilani can help, but they miss Alonso big-time and there's no depth out wide because Babel's a flop. Arsene is a genius, by the way, for passing on Babel when everybody wanted him. These guys can't ride Stevie and Torres until their tongues fall out. Fifth place?

The Tots are riding high, but the back line is pathetic and they'll get found out. Forget 'em.

Man City? Interesting. Plenty of talent -- why wouldn't there be for that money? -- but Hughes made a big mistake buying Kolo and shipping out Richard Dunne. The skipper was a massive player and held the side together.

All-star teams just don't have a great track record -- but I could see City pipping Liverpool for fourth.

And that leaves Chelsea -- don't even want to talk about 'em because I can't find a damn weakness. Scary, scary, scary!

If we finish ahead of the Chavs, boys and girls, Cesc will be holding up the big trophy.

Go on and book that bet!

Right, so Ade's gone and the speculation starts on what to do with all that money.

Save your energy.

Only Arsene Wenger knows, and whatever he hints most likely isn't true, anyhow.

Surely most Gooners understand by now that everything Wenger offers for public consumption has some specific purpose -- and it's NOT to educate the world on his plans.

Frankly, I love this style. Sure, it drives supporters crazy as "News Now" gets a billion hits every five minutes, as supporters crave to read what the rumours have thrown up at any given moment.

But you're really not paying attention if -- after all these years -- you take Wenger's comments at face value. The boss has even admitted to secrecy, too, pointing out that any word Arsenal is tracking a player causes two reactions -- and they're both bad.

First, teams that don't have Wenger's eye for talent (or his canny scouts) might just follow along and join the hunt for a player who's under the radar. And second, admitting you're chasing a specific player automatically boosts the price you'll eventually pay if you buy him.

That's always been a danger, but now -- with Real Madrid and oil-drunk Arabs inflating the trasnfer market to the point it might explode -- every team is hoping to make a killing with each sale.

My advice?

Save your energy. Watch the pre-season games for signs of young talent -- Sanchez Watt looked slick setting up the Russian Rocket for that goal against Barnet, no? -- and to check on the fitness or quality of some veterans (Rosicky, Vermaelen, Eduardo, etc.).

Pay NO attention to what the papers say -- or what Wenger says, for that matter. Any connection between these "reports" and the truth will be strictly accidental.

The only time Wenger openly admires a player he intends to buy, the deal has already been agreed in principle. Think of Nasri last year and Vermaelen this time around. The so-called rumours turned out to be true, but hey, they were NOT rumours -- those agreements were long in place before word filtered out from Wenger's bunker.

If you're independently wealthy or living on a pension -- in other words, if you have lots of time on your hands -- feel free to read the scouting reports on our proposed "targets" and look up their numbers on Wikipedia. Heck, you might stumble over someone we actually sign -- but don't bet much on it.

I'll confess to looking at some of the names, and every once in awhile, I waste a little time watching one of those YouTube compilations. I did it today, in fact, when a story was published that Wenger's scouts were watching Gignac from Toulouse -- in a friendly against Bordeaux and Maroune Chamakh, of all things.

You know what I learned?

Well, that there are some clumsy defenders and bad goalkeepers in the French league.

Several of Gignac's goals were rebound tap-ins, and even on a few of the classier finishes, the play started with a pass into acres of empty space and the strikers ultimately exploited it. My very first thought was that defenders are a hell of a lot better in England.

Someone like Arsene Wenger actually KNOWS whether players can score difficult goals, choose when to employ their pace, display consistently good first touches, make correct decisions in the final third and so forth.

The rest of us, despite what we think, do not. And forget YouTube, which could make Francis Jeffers look like Kaka with a little creative editing. If you think you're learning something from those clips, well...

Consider the source.

Besides, everybody loves to look at strikers. Goals are cool. Now tell me in all honesty that you can watch a defensive midfielder on YouTube and produce the information that Arsenal REALLY needs this guy.

Sure, it's a giggle checking the blogs from time to time, and reading fierce arguments about whether we should buy Klass-Jan Huntelaar or save some money for a midfielder by replacing Adebayor with Oba Martins.

The hilarious part is that no one in these debates has the slightest clue who would help us the most, who Wenger rates...or even if Martins has recovered from his season-ending surgery.

That's why we're fans and Arsene gets paid to make the decisions.

Meanwhile, I really do wish he'd phone me once in awhile -- just to let me know he's keen on a particular midfielder who will be our last puzzle piece.

Except...

If Arsene DID ring and bare his soul just to me, I'd hang up and wonder if he was telling the truth!

It's amazing.

No Gooner is wishy-washy about Emmanuel Adebayor. Some fans want him gone on the next bus, while others scream that the guy scored 30 goals just two years ago.

Who dumps a 30-goal scorer, for heaven's sake?

(We're not counting insane bids of 80 million quid from Real Madrid in this discussion, just so you know.)

Has ANY Arsenal player ever created so much division among the support? Think about it: One side of this argument contends that Ade is lazy, wastes scoring opportunities by the bucket load and carries no loyalty to the club whatsoever.

On the other side, you have those 30 goals, a unique combination of size, strength and agility, that critical wonder goal against Villareal and endorsements from superstar defenders John Terry and Rio Ferdinand -- each of whom claims Adebayor is the most dangerous forward they face.

And here's the craziest part: I can understand both sides of this debate. Particularly against inferior clubs that  "park the bus" and play everyone behind the ball, Ade's height and skills often give you the feeling he's our only chance at a breakthrough.

But then there are the days when the big guy seems to be out for a stroll in the sun. Players are busting up and down the pitch to win back the ball, switch the play, create chances, and then when something pops up...

Ade either screws a shot toward the corner flag or he's vanished entirely, having misread the play and wandered off away from the action.

I have a theory about why there doesn't seem to be anyone in the middle of the debate on Adebayor. Remember when everyone hollered for years that we didn't have a "Plan B" -- a way to score when all the pretty passes and back-heels couldn't breach a packed-in defence?

Well, Ade's arrival from Monaco suddenly produced a revelation. With Henry and RVP still hammering home gorgeous goals from all angles, Adebayor was free to lumber around the box -- heading home the odd cross or knocking in a few scrappy rebounds.

Hooray! We had a Plan B.

The problem now is that Adebayor -- somewhat by default -- has become Plan A. And in the aftermath of that ugly, I-love-Milan summer of 2008, he's now being paid like a bona fide, reliable 30-goal scorer.

Somewhat by accident, Arsene finds himself with a gangly, sometimes-gifted striker who is definitely a "Route 1" player as his first-choice attacker. Ade's 6-foot-4, for heaven's sake. Why WOULDN'T he want balls played in the air?

But Wenger's Arsenal, by definition, cannot be a "Route 1" team. Look at the rest of the squad -- Cesc, Arshavin, RVP, Theo, Nasri, Eduardo, Rosicky, Vela, etc. -- and it's obvious these are clever guys who MUST keep the ball on the floor most of the time to be at their best.

I wasn't really shocked when Wenger issued that odd statement that he wouldn't stand in the way if Ade wanted to leave. In fact, I think AW is damn near desperate for ANY kind of reasonable bid that would remove the "Adebayor Dilemma."

Wenger's pronouncement meant something else, too, and we should take serious note of it. The boss DOES realize that size, strength and the occasional headed goal comes in handy -- so when he mentions rather casually that Ade is free to leave, he's also saying he believes in the future of Nicklas Bendtner.

It strikes me that Wenger seeks a return to Plan A of the glory days -- he's certainly built a team for it -- while reserving Plan B for late stages of games when it's tough to scare up a goal. And that would be the cue for Bendtner.

What's more, I suspect Wenger sees a maturing Bendtner as a player who eventually might fit into the bing-bing-bing style of offence. AW may envision Nik as the middle man in an attack with magicians, rabbits and passing gurus all flitting around him.

As things stand now, however, we've got Ade in that spot -- making superstar wages but unable to perform with anything near the consistency required in that role. And on Adebayor's salary, it's crazy to imagine him as a bench player -- a lanky specialist waiting for a nod in the 75th minute of a scoreless draw.

The situation is a mess.

So forgive me if I'm not quite as concerned about the well-documented search for a holding midfielder. There are plenty of 'em out there and Arsene will find someone suitable.

Like the boss, I'm much more concerned with Adebayor. Despite some massive contributions the past few years -- and they really were -- I believe the big man from Togo must go.

It's the only way back to Arsenal football.

The ink on Thomas Vermaelen's new contract wasn't even dry before supporters began screaming that Arsenal was "stuck" with another centre back who's too short to defend balls in the air.

What bollocks!