I write this barely an hour after the game so it’s very easy to be irrational and overcome by emotion. My opinion may change when I have a chance to digest everything.

I write this barely an hour after the game so it’s very easy to be irrational and overcome by emotion. My opinion may change when I have a chance to digest everything.

Before the game I predicted a comfortable 3-1 win for the boys. Looking through the Birmingham side, I didn’t believe they had anything that would realistically trouble and we would go some way to proving the draw at the Emirates was a one-off.

Barely 3 minutes in and we were to witness a moment that might shape the rest of our season. Some nonentity of a footballer in Martin Taylor went flying in with a high, reckless and dangerous challenge and caught our man Eduardo. The referee rightly sent Taylor off but that was the least of anyone’s worries. The reactions of every other player on the pitch indicated that something was seriously wrong with the young Croatian.

The fact that it took almost 10 minutes to remove him from the pitch and Sky tastefully (for once) felt it best not show any replays of the incident tells you exactly how bad the injury was. Anyone who has since seen images of the injury online might, like myself, fear the worst about the prospect of Eduardo ever playing again let alone this season. I hope that this is not the case.

Arsene was rightly furious in his post-match condemnation of the tackle. While I may not be an advocate of a lifetime ban, three games is not enough for a dangerous and reckless tackle. Taylor showed no regard for his fellow professional. He went over the ball and his studs were showing. If there is any justice in the world, he will be looking at a lengthy ban. But there isn’t and he wont.

Sky were pathetic in their pandering to Taylor “the victim”. David Platt went some way to make me forget his winner against Man Utd way back when as he said he didn’t even think it was a booking. Slimey Richard Keys didn’t miss the opportunity to stick the knife in by suggesting Arsenal FC should make an apology for Gallas’ hissy fit rather than focus on the fact that a player may have just had his career ended.

The incident clearly had an effect on the players. The Arsenal team seemed afraid to get stuck in from the point. Not a single player put in a convincing challenge for the duration of the first half and the amount of times the boys turned there backs and pulled out of challenges was frankly embarrassing. Every 50-50 was won by the home side. Liam Ridgewell was allowed to run almost from box to box as not one single Arsenal player was brave enough to stick a foot in. This proved costly as midway through the half, THREE players surrounded James McFadden and a half-hearted challenge on the edge of the box by Flamini led to the free kick that ultimately led to the first goal (which Almunia should have saved!).

This was another example of the much talked about ‘lack of heart’ in the team. There were no leaders out there in the first half. While it was understandable after the Eduardo incident, it was a test of character which, in the opening 45 minutes, we failed.

Thankfully half time came. Wenger must have given one of his best team talks ever because the second half was a completely different affair. From the kick off Arsenal piled on the pressure forcing Maik Taylor into a number of saves. But goals were inevitable and 2 strikes from Theo Walcott put the gunners on their way to an 8-point lead at the top of the premiership. After a shocking first half from the 19 year old, it nice to see him persist and get his reward. His second goal was particularly well taken and showed a directness which isn’t often seen at Arsenal.

Unfortunately, at this point it was a case of back to the future as all last season’s deficiencies crept back in. For all their possession, Arsenal were wasteful. Adebayor was having a stinker and at the end of the season, I hope we aren’t looking back on his moment of selfishness when he should have killed off the game with too much regret. He should have squared to Bendtner. No questions asked. The Dane was better placed and would have almost certainly put us 3-1 up. The rest of the half consisted of Arsenal playing a lot of sideways passes and not really creating chances. Hleb was 1 on 1 at one stage but inexplicably decided to pass it to a MARKED Adebayor. I try not to hark back to players who are no longer here but I defy any Arsenal fan to tell me they wouldn’t have preferred to see Bobby Pires in that position.

It was a very arrogant display in the second half. Every cliché about wanting to walk the ball into the net was there for all to see. Once they went 2-1 up, everyone seemed to think the game was over and started playing like it was a training session. It pains me to think that a Man Utd side playing against 10 men with half an hour to go would have killed the game off without much trouble. We failed to do this and paid the price.

Clichy’s second lapse of concentration in under a month cost us two points at the end. Replays suggest he won the ball but he should never have been in the position to make the challenge. The ball should have been cleared long before Parnaby got there. McFadden struck confidently from the spot to make it 2-all.

Much has been said about Arsenal being petulant over the last week. Gallas did very little to dispel this accusation by acting like a 5 year old girl denied her first Barbie. Gallas has been a massive player for us this season but as skipper, his behaviour was unacceptable. What kind of example is he setting for the youngsters??? GROW UP MAN! YOU’RE THE CAPTAIN!

All in all, a disappointing week for the gunners and certainly evidence that cracks are beginning to appear. Churlish to say when we’re 6 points clear at the top of the premiership but we’re not performing like champions right now. Today was a chance to set down a marker and pile the pressure on the chasing pack but we didn’t take it. It’s very easy to blame Clichy for his challenge but for me, had the game been put to bed then it would not have mattered. You can’t rest on your laurels when you are only one goal ahead which is exactly what we did.

That said, the lack of goals from midfield is becoming a concern. Yes, Theo grabbed a brace but the fact that they were his first two of the season show how reliant we are on the strikers. Fabregas has unquestionably gone off the boil and Hleb is not performing like he did at the start of the campaign. In recent years, winning the premiership has required having midfielders who can provide a massive input of the scoring charts. Pires, Lampard and Ronaldo are a testament to this.

Hopefully Arsene can put the last 8 days behind him and rally the troops because we’re in for a nail-biting end of the season.

Get well soon Eduardo. Our thoughts are with you at this time.