With Christmas approaching, mathematically we are still in with a shout of the Premiership title even though we are currently eight points behind. I would like to think that the teams above us will drop points between now and the beginning of January - as we’ve seen of late, it is possible. So if we grind out a couple of results against Liverpool, Villa and Pompey, our position will be a lot healthier than it is now.

But, there’s the extra worry of the teams below us like Hull and Villa (who we must beat) starting to creep up. I fear that if things don’t go our way over Xmas and Villa open up a gap of points it’s going to be more difficult. This is what the players must remember before they take to the field.

Of the current crop, I would like to see Gallas, Eboue and Bendtner moved on in January but it’s imperative that the boss signs adequate replacements beforehand. I think Gallas has his mind elsewhere now, he’s not the player he was and when it comes down to it, like Flamini, he came in controversial circumstances so he was always going to leave that way.

With Nicklas, he’s been around the first team for nearly three years now and if he can’t get in the team and do well now, he never will. He’s a good player and but not for the Premiership and I can’t see him staying to just play in the Champions League. If Bayern Munich want to offer mega-bucks for him as they’ve been touted then I think we should cash in and put the money towards someone worthy.

As for Eboue, ‘nuff said. Eduardo is back in the frame, although very limited and why not give Vela a run in the side while Theo's out - who we need to tie down with a mega-contract. In the midfield area, why oh why doesn’t Wenger play Diaby next to Cesc? He’s wasted out on the flanks and he always drifts into the centre. When he played there against Fenerbahce away and United at home, he destroyed them so why not try it more often and give Denillson a break. I think it would get us out of a hole until the summer and he may realise his full potential and save the boss a bit of money.

Some Premiership players who the boss could go for in January and wouldn’t cost the earth:

Wheater, Distin, Alex, Micah Richards, Downing (to replace Rosicky), Zaki, Tuncay, Olofinjana, Diagne Faye, Samba, Ooijer, Hangeland, Bassong, Martins, Babel, Fellaini.

Others:

Chielini, Van Bommel, Demichelis, Naldo, Van Buyten, Henrik Larsson, Appiah, Defour, Witsel, Trezeguet, Wagner Love, Adriano

Even two or three of the players listed would be beneficial both in the long and short term.