Wenger's Christmas Conundrum: Stick or Twist?

So, is the title race wide open again? In a near perfect reverse of Arsenal's loss to Manchester United earlier in the season - the better side took an early lead, had a stonewall penalty turned down, and then proceeded to concede an own goal and an unlucky second - the win against Liverpool now puts Arsenal firmly back in touch with Chelsea and Manchester United. It took a freak weekend of results, but the striker-less and apparently dwarf-like Arsenal side have limped into third with the revolving door of the physio's room still going round. But can they stay in the race?

Now that Van Persie has been ruled out for the rest of the season, and Bendtner for another few weeks, Arsène Wenger has a decision to make in January - stick or twist? Eduardo and Vela have so far failed to make any impression in the Premiership, and one suspects that Wenger's stubbornness will mean that he will continue with both of the diminutive lefties until they succeed.

But might he just take a gamble? Talk around the stadium is that in Gazidis, the new MD, Arsenal finally have someone to push Wenger and ask him to rethink, much as Dein did in the past when Arsenal were winning titles. And maybe Wenger might indeed take a gamble on someone such as Edin Dzeko. You can imagine the excitement at the Emirates to have a giant to cause a bit of chaos in the opposition penalty area.

Or will Wenger stick? In a strange way, most Gunners are all dreading the announcement of the signing of Chamakh on a free transfer for the summer - not that it wouldn't be good business - but that it would tell them all they need to know: like the last few seasons Wenger is sticking, and looking to the future again...