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Manchester City were minutes away from losing at home to Sunderland but for Vito Mannone error but a draw will do City no good after losing to Liverpool. But that is the Premier League, every team is capable of dropping points which is why it is great news for us that we are getting some more quality fit and ready for the final push. Had this have been a month or so earlier then we may even be rubbing our hands at the prospect of a title fight but there is little point crying over what might have been. Even with those players fit we may have still dropped the same amount of points, I doubt it but we will never know. Arsène Wenger has told us in his press conference that Mesut Özil and Nacho Monreal will be back for the weekend, that boost on top of the freshness of

20 goals in 46 games this year is a very good return for a 23 year old left winger. Given that he only has 3 assists in that time, I think calling him a wide striker would be more appropriate which is just what we need. Unlike the current incumbent of that position, Antoine Griezmann has pace to burn and pace was badly missing when Theo Walcott was stretchered off when we beat Spurs one of the three times this season. The trouble is, like Bender, there will be other eyes on the player so Arsène will have to get busy now and put in the hard graft if he is to secure this target

Minutes later that enigma that is Lukas Podolski was lurking in that left side pocket in the penalty box that he enjoys so much and Santi Cazorla's excellent eye of the needle pass found him, Lukas got the ball out of his feet and lashed it underneath a closing West Ham player and into the far corner. That goal was scored a minute before half time. It totally changed the mood and perhaps the narrative post match. Had we not found that equaliser then you can be sure that the Emirates would have rained down with boos. As it was we went into the second half with our tails up. In the first half Oliver Giroud cocked up an excellent chance when he was through on goal against the keeper but instead of taking the chance with his right he decided to use his left and try and scoop it

Arsenal’s first and third goals on the night were scored by Lukas Podolski who went some way to showing that the doubts about his overall play can be put to one side when he can finish in such style. His first came as he drifted into the area, latched on to a pass from Santi Cazorla and then fired the ball into the bottom corner. In the second half, Podolski was the quickest thinking man in the Emirates as he sprung the West Ham offside trap to receive Aaron Ramsey’s header before slamming into the roof of the net. It seems to have become the fashionable thing to slate our German international forward with people almost instinctively throwing around criticisms like “lack of movement” and “lazy” even when it isn’t the case. Podolski has had something of a difficult time of it this campaign. An explosive start was curtailed by a three-month injury set-back. He then struggled to find his place in what was a winning team before being shoehorned onto the left wing when the side went into freefall. While stats don’t tell the full story

The controlling of one’s emotions requires a certain level of emotional intelligence (intrapersonal intelligence), which is a subject I have written about before. This also helps one identify and assess the emotions of others too (interpersonal intelligence), thus giving a clearer and wider view of the general feelings regarding a certain situation. It may then seem obvious (as it did to me) that building one’s emotional intelligence is conducive to a much more contained and controlled approach to all aspects of life, but especially those which are dictated by emotion, such as supporting a football club. But emotional intelligence doesn’t come easy to everyone and some people really struggle with conscious emotional understanding. We’re all different human beings after all. At the same time, it’s clear to see which fans do have a higher level of emotional ‘understanding’ (which actually sounds better to me than ‘intelligence’) in the way they approach issues and debate, even simply when they are having a laugh or taking the piss.

The man Podolski once again against West Ham coming up with the goods. The second half was a lot better and the intensity of the game rose. We remained solid at the back without them really threatening and created a few decent chances. Both Giroud and Podolski's second half goals were excellent. Giroud's a touch of class and finish. Podolski's second a brilliant blend of team play and once again a power shot into the roof of the net

I think it might be roll the dice time, wherever the dice lands there will be plenty of opportunity to rage at the manager for said decision. Rest Ramsey and Chamberlain while failing to get a result could lead to fingers pointed at taking the opposition lightly. I mean 'They are professional footballers, they should be able to handle a game twice a week'

In Arsène's press conference he kept talking about how we didn't come up with the right performance at Goodison Park last weekend and that we need a proper performance to get through. It is difficult to disagree with that but what is a proper performance? What do we have to do to achieve this? I don't know but I do know what I would like to see. Some aggression both with and without the ball. I want to see us fighting hard to get the ball back when we do not have it. How many times have you seen an Arsenal team play that way against a lower placed side and lose? When we are fully up for it? Yeah I can't think of any either. I also want us to be aggressive when we are in possession. I've spoken many times about our patience in our approach being the one thing that kills us just as much as it helps us. We have to pass at a high tempo and create chances.

A few seasons back one could sympathize with Arsene, he had to build squads with a meagre budget thanks to the debts incurred on building the Emirates which he did with aplomb. Key players left at regular intervals and yet he plodded on building his squads and bringing Arsenal to the brink of greatness only to have it seized due to a combination of injuries, bad luck and lack of mental strength. This while Chelsea and Man United continued to dominate the landscape of English football, a period that also heralded the rising of the blue moon in the shape of Manchester City.

Even if Arsene never spends a penny again, we will always be able to show off our resources to a potential Wenger replacement whenever that time comes. Our club is in fantastic shape, the squad has a very good average age with plenty of scope for player improvements. This is not an 'accident' this is something our manager has worked very hard towards. So while Arsene Wenger has his faults some of those perhaps self defeating at times I am fully aware of his strengths and unlike some,