Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ringrazia La Serenissima

"It’s a great experience and just as good a feeling to play in a great stadium like that. It’s our Club and our stadium. Every single one of us wants to play at the Emirates regularly in the future so playing there against CSKA Moscow is a really positive thing for us and I think we can use it t our advantage. We’ll prepare well for the game.”

Those are the words of a young Serge Gnabry. Note the passion and conviction, maybe the future isn't as dark as some suggest. It's also worth mentioning that the under 21's can be seen for the princely sum of 4 Quid, so if you get withdrawal symptoms from no arsenal matches it might be money and time well spent watching the next gen indeed.

With hours to go till our NexGen clash vs the Russian Koni's and a possible Semi final on offer vs Chavski it was time to put down the bridle and don the white scarf and watch England take on the mighty football nation of San Marino.

Such nations as Tuvalu, Nauru, Monaco and the Vatican tremble at the prospect of matches here, given that no clubs in San Marino have a home ground and share 5 grounds in rotation it must be a right old game to find the right ground. It really is a marvel that they find themselves hosting a resurgent England side. I'm all for plucky little nations full of can do, as long as they don't base their football on the Pulis way. Thugball, not as nice as Wengerball, but thats what they call an opinion.

While San Marino is not exactly in the class of Brazil, this was still a competitive match and you can only play what's in front of you. Step up man of the match Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Industry, impact and a left footed goal to boot. I think our young lion likes playing La Serenissima, that's the second time he's bagged a goal against them in recent matches. At times the score made me feel like i had nodded off playing Football Manager, but it sure is nice to have a smile on my boat race.

Also in action was Aaron Ramsey for the Wales vs. Scotland game who's greatest contribution was forgetting he wasn't playing for Stoke or Newport Gwent Dragons and rugby tackling James McArthur to get himself sent off in the 94th minute. A delightful piece of cynicism that saw Wales ride out the last minute to win. I'm not sure given that there was cover that Scotland would have scored, but I am sure young Aaron knew what he was doing when he poleaxed McArthur and the following red card came as no surprise. It's hard to applaud such actions, but one man's hero is always another man's zero so I'll keep it to a sigh and a wince.. after all, it was against the Scots.

In other news everyone's favorite pinup scored for France, a fact causing me to smile as I had a bit of a flutter on Giroud doing so. On that note... night London and denizens of the night everywhere.