Arsenal's World Cup XI just about sums up us and the World Cup for me. An interesting enough event but not all the best players get to go and yet many do who wouldn't even make their club side. National sides are often unbalanced because not even the best have quality players in every position. Mind you, you can say the same about Arsenal right now, and many do.

Here's our eleven that are on their way to South Africa: Eboue, Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Bendtner, Vela and Van Persie - like I said unbalanced and a fair way off from being our best team.

I'll put Eboue in goal because I can't fit him into the theoretical Arsenal National World Cup Team anywhere else and because obviously we don't have a keeper worthy enough to be going to South Africa. Plus of course Eboue gets to go in goal because he's the best we have at diving about. ;0)

Our defenders look reasonably solid but still have an obvious weakness: Sagna, Senderos (like you'd really want him in the team rather than Vermaelen), Gallas & Clichy. Two at least of whom are on their way out of the club.

Song, Diaby & Fabregas in midfield is decent enough, but they are by no means all guaranteed to be there for Arsenal at the start of next season and certainly wouldn't be everyone's choice for midfield starters, or even formation.

This team has three decent enough forwards in Bendtner, Vela and Van Persie but they're not our first choice by any means and just as with most national sides the formations tend to have to fit around those players available. Either that or the managers hammer round pegs into square holes, as seen with England down the left flank.

Just as significant however are those not going to South Africa: Vermaelen, Arshavin, Nasri, Rosicky, Eduardo, Walcott, Djourou, Ramsey, Gibbs & Campbell are, it could be argued, just as worthy of a place at the finals as any that are actually going. But injuries, mad national team managers or non-qualifying countries plus Blatter's preference for useless minnows can all reduce the quality of the event. It'll be interesting and enlightening, but let’s not pretend all the best players in the world will be gracing the South African stage.