Well not quite, Arsenal aren't that bad, but I couldn't help but see the similarities between the England-Israel game and the Arsenal-'fill in your draw of choice' games this season. Israel did what many clubs have done to us, sat back and dared England to attack. With pretty much the same results.

The England midfield passed across the pitch at a pace which would have been slow for an over-80's side, let alone a supposedly top international team. If we have seen anything at Arsenal this year, it's that if you want to pass your way through a massed defence it ain't going to happen unless you do it real fast on the break or play around the defence. Neither really happened in Israel.

What does surprise me is how you can get so many players who rip it up for their clubs looking like they've never seen a football before in their lives when they pull on the England shirt. Some of that has to be down to the manager who to my mind has been put in an impossible suitation by the FA and is proof of the Peter Principle In a hierarchically structured administration, people tend to be promoted up to their "level of incompetence". Actually if it's possible, he's way past his level of incompetance and well on the way to being catatonic when faced with the challenge that is the current England squad. I also agree with some of the more honest players saying it was their failure to perform, and have to question where the pride in the three lions has gone. Where is the passion displayed by the likes of Pearson, Robson, and for all his other failings, Beckham?

Even with a couple of certain wins coming up, we face the very real chance of not qualifying, especially now that top pundit Hansen has said we will definately qualify. Talk about the kiss of death.

Back at Goonerville, Bobby Pires says he'd like one last year at Arsenal. Would I sign him? In a second. Even if he's lost pace, his experience would be immensely important to a team lacking in experience. Pity it took him this long to realise leaving was a mistake.