I see that game as a real chance to re-instil the confidence back in our game. If we could combine our fantastic interplay (which has not disappeared at all), a real high tempo from the start, and some clinical finishing then we could be in for a treat

Saturday’s sickener at Birmingham. Call it what you will – unfortunate, unlucky, unjust, undeserving – but it definitely wasn’t unexpected.

Why? Because we have had to rely on far too many late goals and close shaves recently. Whilst it has been incredible for fortifying belief and spirit amongst both players and fans, it has come at the expense of comfort. Simply put, the natural joie de vivre has gone from our game over the last few months as we have had to grind out last-ditch victories. The only exception being Porto in the Champions League home leg.

In theory, a late goal should be a killer blow to the opposition as it minimises their time to equalise. As has been the case for Stoke, Hull and West Ham in recent weeks. In fact, it’s not even the tardiness of our goals that is the key issue. But the fact that our leads have been too slender, meaning that any defensive cock-up or refereeing gaffe can be crucial.

The esteemed Goodplaya has mentioned recently that in 2010 we’ve only entered the final 10 minutes of a league game holding a two-goal lead once – Bolton away. And even that match only just makes the cut as Fran Merida’s “clincher” came in the 78th minute.

So when was the last time that we cruised to a domestic victory without the attendant nail-biting and drama that comes with a single-goal lead or late clincher? Off the top of my head I could not remember, so I looked up our results and saw the Pompey away fixture at the very end of 2009. Three whole months ago.

In the thirteen league fixtures since then, we’ve either lost convincingly (Man Utd and Chelsea), had to scrap for a draw (Everton, Villa, Birmingham), or made the game safe late on (the rest, except Liverpool which remained 1-0 from midway through the second period). That is thirteen games of hard slog. A third of the season. People may say such is the nature of this season’s ultra-competitive Premier League, but it hasn’t stopped our rivals from amassing convincing wins, has it?

Not only do these late shows give us supporters palpitations, but the players have to exert themselves massively. Although some would say that giving their all in the last portion of the game is a direct consequence of not doing so earlier in proceedings.

I’d love to know why we are no longer putting teams to the sword. Could it be a case of the players themselves putting too much stock in their much vaunted ability to grab a late goal? I certainly hope not, but the feeling does persist that the team can be casual at times – as evidenced by our lack of early goals this season. And even when we do get that precious early goal, we tend to rest on our laurels – the three earliest goals this campaign have been at Burnley and Hull away plus West Ham last week, and each time the opposition equalised (or in West Ham’s case, came mighty close) before we grabbed the crucial second.

I feel it is also to do with the tactical setup of the opposition these days as they seek to keep it tight before catching us cold on the counter or at set-pieces. In which case we have little option but to let our greater physical fitness shine through eventually and the players deserve huge credit for sticking to their guns.

The absence of RvP is surely a factor too – from being on course to amassing a 100 league goals whilst he was on the pitch, the current projection is a more lowly (but still impressive) 88. Those twelve “lost” goals could undoubtedly prove crucial come the season’s denouement.

As for the Birmingham result, I am torn. If you looked at the fixtures last summer and someone told you that St. Andrews would be a fortress with none of our rivals winning their and offered you a draw, you’d probably have taken it. But I have three issues with that:

1) if we are trying to win this league then we shouldn’t be satisfied with simply matching our rivals’ results at certain grounds – we should be trying to outdo them. Especially this year as our games against “the rest” have taken greater significance given our failings against “the best”;

2) any occasion where we enter injury time in the lead but don’t end up winning is a cause for great grievance and broken furniture; and

3) Birmingham have now assumed the role of our “bogey” team and will relish living up to that moniker in forthcoming seasons.

Allied with the other results and scorelines this weekend, the draw takes on even greater significance. Let’s hope we can emulate our West London neighbours and show a prolific bouncebackability.

Looking ahead to Barca, I have to say I am eagerly anticipating it. Not due to over-confidence or anything like that, but because I see it as a shot-to-nothing. Not many expect us to do the bizzo against them over two-legs, but we Gooners know we can emerge triumphant if we play a near-perfect 180 minutes. An underdog with a genuine chance is a role that I am happy to adopt and can bring the best out of the players, much like it did against Real and Juve in 2006 and Milan in 2008.

However, my thoughts are already straying towards Wolves at home on Saturday. Ironic, eh? Whilst almost the entire Arsenal blogosphere had one eye on the Barca game before Saturday, I have one eye on Wolves before the Barca game.

No disrespect whatsoever to Wolves, but I see that game as a real chance to re-instil the confidence back in our game. If we could combine our fantastic interplay (which has not disappeared at all), a real high tempo from the start, and some clinical finishing then we could be in for a treat. And it wouldn’t just be good for our goal difference either as ideally the players would rediscover that not all games have to be as physically and mentally demanding as our last thirteen.

But given the roller-coaster ride that is Arsenal’s 2009/2010 season, I’d gladly accept another last-minute winner right now. Bring on Barca and roll on Wolves.