Take Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba out of the game yesterday and reinstate Van Persie, Diaby and Clichy to the line up with only Sagna missing from our team

The rainy weather pretty much reflects how most Gooners are feeling this Monday afternoon. Such an important game at least on a psychological level for the players but they have been sent crashing back to the ground. I cannot stand Chelsea, I hate what they stand for but today I will put that aside for a few seconds and just say well done, your team deserved the victory by producing a very professional performance at the Emirates.

At the same time we were under strength. Some may see that as an excuse and I would counter that by claming it is fact. Chelsea were missing one first team player, a right back. We were missing three, a left back and our most important striker and a powerful box to box midfielder.

Take Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba out of the game yesterday and reinstate Van Persie, Diaby and Clichy to the line up with only Sagna missing from our team, could the result have been different? Who is to say, but we would have had a much bigger and better chance.

At the end of the day all teams will suffer from injuries and I am sure we have had weeks where we were almost at full strength playing against teams with their big players being out for whatever reason and it is something that we have to deal with but it doesn’t stop it from being true and a possible big reason as to why we were thrown to one side yesterday.

Arsene has not ruled out the title and neither should or would he at this stage. It would be football management suicide to admit defeat at this stage when we have so many games in so many competitions to play in. Keeping his players hungry and determined will be his main objection.

Wenger said:

“I do not think it is over,” said Wenger. “We are fighters and we have to show that in the next game.

“The problem we have to face at the moment is people will not believe in us, so we have to make sure that lack of belief does not diminish our own belief.

“That is where we have to be mentally stronger than we were.

“Because until now, we had some credit which we earned at the start of the season from the specialists, then we a lose a game, so now it will be harder.”

“We are still in a very strong position. Chelsea can drop points, I am convinced of that.”

Stoke City at home is a good place to start on Saturday 5th December. The next big test will be the Sunday after at Anfield against Liverpool.

ok, well I am going to cry into my lunch and I think I shall continue to cry until we take out our frustrations on Manchester City and Stoke City.

P.S We have a crappy draw against West Ham in the FA Cup. blah blah blah, bye.