Back from the Xmas and New Year break and plenty of challenges lying ahead for AFC in the months ahead.

Christmas was good to the Gooners, slaying Chelsea and Birmingham along with some psychological demons definitely helped the squad. The draw to Wigan should not be disregarded as the DW is a tough place to go. Time will tell how vital that point was or whether it was two dropped.

Has Wenger stumbled upon his best team? Nasri and Walcott provide flair and pace on the flanks, Song and Ickle Jack in the middle have formed a fine partnership allowing Fabregas freedom to go forward. RVP seems to be first choice up front but with Chamakh and Bendtner on the bench we have three quality strikers capable of allowing Wenger to shift tactics if the game isn't going to plan. Koscielny and Djourou are for now the first choice central defensive pair, especially since Squillaci's form has taken a dip. Clichy will continue to retain his place until Gibbs can play 10 games without injury while Sagna arguably is the best right back in the country at the moment (headbutts aside). Fabianski has ironed out his mistakes while Szczesny may have to wait until he can stake his first choice claim.

The demotion of Arshavin to the bench indicates Wenger has finally noticed his overall contribution is below par even if statistics show he is performing. Hopefully Arshavin will regain some form and help us push on in the second half of the season.

Not too upset with the point on Wednesday night. Nice to see that Man City spend £1 billion on a very, very expensive bus that they decided to park in front of their goal for 90 minutes. The performance was very good. In the past this is the type of game we would have lost to a sloppy goal and while United are four points clear, nothing is won in January. United still have to play Chelsea home and away (which at the moment isn't at all daunting so let’s hope the Chaves can regain some form by the time they play the Mancs), along with trips to Anfield, White H**t La*e and Arsenal. This isn't a vintage United side by any means.

Something that can be won in February is the Carling Cup. Next Wednesday sees a trip to Ipswich and hopefully it will be a good opportunity to play those such as Bendtner, Rosicky and Gibbs. While I am not advocating a weakened side, whomever we put out at Portman Road should have enough in the locker to beat Ipswich comfortably thus ensuring the return leg at the E******s is a formality. That is not being cocky by the way.

Nice to see some deadwood is finally being shipped out, Almunia looks set on a return to Spain, while encouragingly Denilson and Vela are names that have occupied the "gossip" section of the sports pages. Releasing players who have had opportunities will allow new younger players to have a chance and stake their claim such as Jay Emmanuel Thomas, Henri Lansbury and the returning Aaron Ramsey (who had a very useful spell at Notts Forest). Importantly this includes the new wave of British players with hopefully those such as Afobe, Aneke and Frimpong to follow.

Leeds this weekend in the Cup, and with a trip to East Anglia on Wednesday it will be interesting to see who Wenger puts out, I foresee a comfortable win, perhaps with a young fringe player making a name for himself on Saturday?