Why do you think Per won’t be a regular starter for much longer? He’s played more for Arsenal than any other player, and while he does need a rest (there’s 1 game he hasn’t played this campaign right?) he’s still better quality than the other cb’s…

it's more of a personal fear than a factual fear, if I'm honest. The game against Monaco was tough to watch, because Per's only true flaw in his game was laid bare to see once again - when he pushes a high line, he gets caught out on the break. And my fear is that Gabriel is faster, a little more aggressive, and once the language barrier has been broken...well that kind of leaves the CB position open to competition. My fear is that Per just won't be able to compete because of that one thing.

So I don't say these things because I don't think Per has what it takes, I believe he does and I know he does. But the circumstances are that our squad aren't consistently disciplined, this means that the back four are more vulnerable - and it's usually Per the gets the brunt of the flack. Because he's the experienced one, the acting captain, he's tall....all of that stuff, the fans and the game itself demand that Per be imposing all the time and the way things are throughout the team, it doesn't always work out because Per is exposed.

I don't mean he'll lose his position this season, I don't think it will necessarily happen that quickly. But come next season, he's gonna have to go all out to keep his place. And believe me, I accept that competition is part of the game, I accept that if one player is better than the other then that player starts in games - simple as. But that doesn't make the thought of him not being a regular hurt any less. So I guess the reason I said what I said is more for the sake of my own emotions, I don't want it to hurt as bad as I know it will IF it happens. It's stupid, I shouldn't feel so connected but I do and yeah...

Statistically (I had a little look on a comparison matrix) Per is the second best centre back out of Cahill (Chelsea), Skrtel (Liverpool) and Kompany (Man City) - so I don't fear Per's individual capabilities, it's the circumstances within our entire team's game that makes his situation slightly unnerving to me. What does comfort me is that Wenger offered him a new deal lasting 4 years despite the fact that Per was 29 at the time and was older than most - he doesn't usually favour older players to stay for so long, only a select few - so there is trust and belief there, but this season has been tough, on all of them - sometimes that just pushes for change,