This time he will have to make sure his team do not slip into freefall. Aston Villa away is not the type of game that you want to get back to winning ways.

Arsenal tasted defeat for the very first time in all competitions in season 2007-08 last night. Sevilla have done what others have failed. Without Sagna, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Rosicky, Flamini, Adebayor and Van Persie we would always struggle against a very capable and attack minded Sevilla side who have beaten Real Madrid already this season.

We all know what winning games can do for a team, it brings confidence, an assurance about your next pass, a knowledge that you will score the winner before the game finishes.

This is why Arsenal have been the best team of 2007-08 so far. Everybody is on a high, everything is currently second nature. The pressure hasn’t been there.

How will Arsenal cope with a defeat?

That is what all rivals have been saying this is ultimately what wins trophies William Gallas has showed tremendous character and will to win so far this season, he has dragged his teammates by the scruff of the neck and turned games around with goals against Manchester United and Wigan, he has also made match saving tackles (Gerrard at Anfield)

This time he will have to make sure his team do not slip into freefall. Aston Villa away is not the type of game that you want to get back to winning ways. They will be committed and hard to beat as all Martin O’Neill’s teams are.

Even though the team against Sevilla were totally different to the first team, it still can create doubts in the minds of the regular players.

The first 15 minutes of the Villa game will be vital. We will see if any players will try and hide and we will see others who will want to get on the ball and continue the Arsenal way.

This Arsenal team have never been in this position before, it is all a learning experience for the young players of the squad. William Gallas has been here before, he has helped Chelsea bounce back from defeats and he will have to do it again for Arsenal.