Arsenal Pared to the Bone

Lauren, Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy, Pascal Cygan, Kerrea Gilbert, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Sol Campbell.

Eight talented back four players but the snag is that five of them are injured, two are away at the African Cup of Nations and one has been given leave of absence in consideration of serious personal problems.

So barring a miracle none of the above will be available to Arsene Wenger when he sits down to pick a side to beat Birmingham City at St Andrews.

Something which seems to have been forgotten in all the clamour to criticise Arsenal.

And if any of the self-styled ‘experts’ continue to question the difficulty involved in trying to win football matches without several of your best players, perhaps they should ask Graeme Souness.