"We've changed ... have you?" was once the slogan from the manufacturers of my first (second-hand) car, a Skoda. I've heard all the jokes. Reading Arsenal.com on Friday, one was asked by a journo from the Wigan Observer to believe that the town's soccer team had changed their tactics, which had previously resembled those employed in rugby league, the local sporting delicacy.

More than thirty years ago, when I were a lad, someone described football's 13-man version to me as "non-stop stoppages", a definition I doubt will ever be bettered. Yet with Roberto Maritnez watching constantly from his technical area, the persistent not-quite-enough-for-a-booking fouls were still evident - 18 in all. We conceded six yet got the only two first-half bookings. Eboue's handball got what it deserved, of course, but Song was not shown the leniency bestowed time and again on our visitors. It's not only when playing Manchester United Anti-Football Club at Old Trafford that we suffer incompetent and weak refereeing displays. Deja vu, all over again.

Talking of which, it's impossible to feel any sympathy for "Sparky" Hughes after Sunday's injury time fiasco, the latest Old Trafford controversy. He and Tevez had the benefit of officialdom in their previous playing days so it's pointless carping now. MOTD excelled themselves in defending their beloved Mancs, though, ridiculously suggesting that every second between Bellamy's second (and Citeh's third) equaliser and the restart should be added on. 5Live had speculated that, with United leading 3-2, two or three minutes would be added. Four were shown; more than six were played. Deja vu, all over again.

Of the 56 Premier League games played this season, only four have been drawn. Not a lot of people know that. In eight matches, we've scored 25 goals and shipped 11. Our number of goalscorers (12, excluding Celtic's unwitting Gary Caldwell), may rise when the Baggies come to town this evening. That should be a real test for our second string / even younger youngsters, especially after the 5-0 demolition of Boro.

I wonder whom Arsene will select? Have Ramsey and Wilshere graduated beyond such callings, or is this the ideal game to monitor their progress? Bendtner was apparently aggrieved to play at Burnley last season in the Carling Cup - is that why he missed three one-on-ones? Another huge factor affecting selections is the first-team bodycount. T'would be folly to risk adding needlessly to the long injury list with important games arriving thick and fast (just one more international break to endure).

It's ironic that our August Player of the Month and runner-up are our two centre backs yet we are even more profligate than last season.

Arsenal's Charity of the Season is Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. The aim is to raise £500,000. With the NHS devouring well over £100,000,000,000 each year of taxpayers' money, with the shortfall made up by unprecedented levels of government borrowing, there is still a huge deficit in public services. Chucking money at a problem is not always the answer, as Arsene knows.