We know that United and Chelsea are miles ahead of us this season but I like many Gooners still had that faint hope of maybe lifting the title come May. Call it blind faith but that’s what supporters are all about.

But unfortunately a poor result against Pompy at the weekend dashed even the most optimistic supporters hopes of success in the league this season.

The fact was that Arsenal were poor until Adebayor made his introduction 10 minutes into the second half but at this point Arsenal were 2-0 down and had a mountain to climb.

Why must we insist on giving teams the lead at home?

In the end Arsenal could have won it but it was clear that only playing well for 30 minutes is pushing your luck when you’re trying to win games.

And it was quite confusing seeing Aliadiere starting a game for us since he hasn’t even been on the bench recently. Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t his last start for us in the league against Liverpool at Anfield in November 2003?

Anyway, Saturday saw Arsenal drop another 2 points and Liverpool even pipped us to 3rd place in the table. Arsenal usually have a poor Xmas period and can you see us winning our next few games?

The fact was Portsmouth had a striker crisis but they still managed to score 2 goals and get a draw against us. Yet again, an opposing keeper had a ‘great game’ at the Emirates and you have to ask yourself if these great performances by goalkeepers is just a co-incidence or simply poor finishing on our part.

Another question that has been raised is the rotation policy Wenger has employed over the last few weeks despite the fact that Arsenal have needed to win games to stop slipping down in the table. I know Henry and others are out but the key to consistency is to play your strongest side and win games. This rotation almost cost us against Wigan and cost us at the weekend against Pompy.

And why wasn’t Baptista even in the squad?

In other news, Cesc has basically told Cole to f*ck himself. Which in all fairness I couldn’t agree with more!

We travel to Liverpool to play in the Carling Cup on Tuesday which now seems to be a must-win game as it presents possibly the best chance of winning a trophy this season.

Good result for us last night in a game we really needed to win after the performance against Chelsea on Sunday, and although we left it late Adebayor managed to seal all 3 points in a game that could have in all honesty gone either way.

The first half was dire but Arsenal improved in the second, creating a number of chances but failing to take them. Arsenal made 4 changes from Sunday, replacing Senderos, Van Persie, Fabregas and Hleb for Toure, Freddie, Baptista and Walcott. The first half display showed that Arsene may have made too many changes but things did improve into the second period and the introduction of Van Persie and Fabregas on 74 minutes did the trick.

Adebayor was guilty of missing a few chances but when Fabregas sent a through-ball over the top with only 2 minutes left Ade calmly slotted the ball past Kirland and to finally get the opening goal. Adebayor seems to finish better when he has less time to think about it and is just instinctive – it’s when he has too much time on the ball when he sometimes struggles.

Now a note on the so called Sky ‘Experts’ commentating on the game. Martin Tyler is a great commentator so I have no problems with him (after all, he’s a Gooner like the rest of us) but his co-commentator Gary McAllister it has to be said is a complete muppet!

In the build up to the goal, Fabregas tackled Henri Camera in what I thought was a great challenge. But Gary kept going on about how the tackle was a foul, despite the clear fact Cesc won the ball cleanly and didn’t even touch Camera!

Can someone explain how the hell that was a foul?

And to be even more annoying the interviewer questioned Arsene and Paul Jewell after the game about the so called ‘foul’ – in an obvious attempt to create controversy and headlines.

Arsene rightly said that it was a clean foul and added that Fabregas told him that he won the ball and didn’t even make contact with Camera.

So onto Paul Jewell to answer the question about the ‘foul’ on his player. Surely he would be annoyed since this ‘foul’ lead to the goal that cost Wigan the game?

“No it was a good tackle, no complaints at all, he got the ball”

I had to laugh when Paul Jewell said that. Sky were looking to cause a stir but the fact is there wasn’t anything even remotely controversial about the game! They must be having a slow news week or something…

Anyway, Arsenal rode their luck at times to win the game but you’ll agree that the number of times that we’ve been unlucky with results and matches this season that we deserved a bit of luck against Wigan. And the lads deserve a lot of credit for fighting right until the last minute.

Now onto the Arsenal old boys on Saturday…

Flamini Has The Va-Va-Voom!

What a game!

Whatever the pre-match hype might have been about, the game itself was all about the players still in an Arsenal shirt and they proved once again that if you write them off they will produce.

And just like against Manchester United we scored a late goal which would usually win the game, but this time Chelsea still found time to get the equaliser – and maybe could have had a bit more!

But Arsenal without Toure, Henry, Gallas, Rosicky and Lauren – essentially the senior members of the squad – the young guns did us proud. The character the players showed against Chelsea was fantastic – and the defence consisting of under 21’s did brilliantly, despite showing signs of inexperience.

Arsene decided to leave out Freddie which was the right decision based on his recent performances, so it was Mathieu Flamini would fill the 5th midfield spot along with Gilberto, Fabregas, Van Persie and Hleb.

The game was frenetic and both sides had decent chances – with Alexander Hleb missing a big, big chance to steal the match. But as it stood Arsenal would probably be happy with a point, although 3 would have been a fantastic result.

The last 15 minutes were so high tempo and Chelsea could have nicked the winner, after replacing the lacklustre Schevchenko with Robben and SWP. The final act of the game was Frank Lampard’s shot that Flamini deflected onto the post after Lehmann spilled from a Robben shot – at the end Arsenal were holding on.

But like Arsene, I was more than proud of the players for their character and the perfomance against Chelsea. That feeling is something no amount of money can buy.

Below are my player ratings for the Chelsea game:

Jens Lehmann – 6/10
Did not have much to do at all until the last 10 minutes, when Chelsea piled forward in numbers. Could have cost Arsenal with dodgy goalkeeping from a corner which luckily Fabregas cleared off the line, and spilled Robben’s shot at the end for Lampard to shoot against the post. Also got involved in stupid antics with Didier Dog Bra.

Emmanuel Eboue – 6/10
Lost the ball in important positions which could have cost Arsenal. Did bomb forward to support Hleb and made some good runs on the right hand side. Struggled with Robben when he came on late in the game.

Philippe Senderos – 7/10
Like Eboue lost the ball carelessly at times which put Arsenal under pressure. Coped with Drogba reasonably well and restricted him to half chances.

Johan Djourou – 8/10
Fantastic at the back keeping Schevchenko quiet and recovered well with his pace and positioning. Didn’t make a mistake and more than capable cover for Gallas and Toure.

Gael Clichy – 8/10
Brilliant on the left – supporting well and confident at the back. Played in Freddie for the cross that Hleb should have scored from for the winner.

Robin Van Persie – 6/10
Played well early on in the match when Arsenal kept possession but once we were on the back foot couldn’t really contribute to the game and was isolated in attack.

Gilberto Silva – 10/10
Man of the Match. Protected the inexperienced backline well and made some vital interceptions and tackles – the most vital stopping Drogba tapping into an empty net after Lehmann saved from Robbens shot. Showed real maturity when things got heated and calmed everything down. A real captains performance, simply outstanding.

Cesc Fabregas – 7/10
Worked hard in midfield and helped Gilberto out well but found it hard to impose himself in an attacking role with only Adebayor upfront. Had a shot in the second half which should have tested the keeper much better. Never stopped running.

Mathieu Flamini – 8/10
Gave 110% as he always does and scored the important opening goal. Fantastic link up play with Hleb for the goal and great positioning to take his chance. Defended well and made that hugely important deflection from Lampard’s shot onto the post in the last minute of the game.

Alexander Hleb – 7/10
Gave the ball away cheaply at times but generally kept the ball well. Never afraid to take on players and looked like the man to make something happen in the final third. Created the goal for Flamini and defended well with Eboue but missed a huge chance to steal all 3 points.

Emmanuel Adebayor – 8/10
Found it hard to play up on his own but never stopped making runs and looked a threat when he had the ball. Took on Terry and Carvalho and showed some decent skills and pace.

Freddie Ljungberg – n/a
Only played the last 10 minutes and made a great chance for Hleb to score.