Arsene wanted a striker and had his targets, he wanted certain players who he thought would fit into his system and unfortunately he wasn’t able to bring those players in

After two days of tears, anger and frustration have you guys all calmed down yet? It is amazing how football has such an emotional hold over all of us. There is no other sport like it, I don’t care what part of the world you are from and what sport is the leader, it just doesn’t mess with people like the beautiful game.

A big loss to one of our nearest rivals is always going to be something that will cause an uproar but some of what I have read has been utterly stupid. From some of the reaction it is like Wenger has been planted at Arsenal to destroy the club from the inside and should be thrown into a fire.

I said a couple of weeks that if we do not make the title then I will still applaud the players for being in the race this year, considering the amount we have spent on playing staff compared to our nearest rivals then our effort should be applauded but I can see that a large majority of readers will not agree with my thoughts and that is your prerogative.

Does this mean that I am content to lose to Manchester United? Absolutely not. Am I less hurt than some of the crazed fan out there, I seriously doubt it.

I happen to think that our manager has to take the largest share of blame for the defeat, which is usually the case as that ever so popular buck stops with him. Not because of a lack of attacking signing or goalkeeping problem, most of what is being spoken about isn’t the issue for me, at least not the main reason.

It is down to every manager to set up their team and execute the correct tactics. Alex Ferguson got his spot on and Wenger got his wrong. This talk of our players not wanting it isn’t correct for me, I thought we gave as good as we got for large periods of the game. I saw our attacking wide players covering the fullbacks, I watched Song appear in every area of the pitch. We wanted it but we were not disciplined.

Our lack of attempts on goal was not because we didn’t go and buy a shiny new forward, it was because Manchester United flooded the areas from Van der Sar’s goal and the midfield. We couldn’t break them down because they were well organised and it worked a treat. They had much more space to work in because we didn’t do the same. Ferguson isn’t the only manager to use this tactic against us with good results. Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea team played it superbly for years and we never beat his team, not once.

I would have rather watch a more cat and mouse type of game, playing a flexible 4-5-1, keeping our shape, and relying on the quality of Cesc, Arshavin and our wide players to create the difference. Keeping our full backs mainly in our own half and asking either Song or Denilson to sit and stay. Certainly not allowing Gallas, Vermaelen and Song to go forward at set pieces and staying there when the move breaks down, that is football suicide against a team as well tuned as Manchester United.

I am certainly not having it that Manchester United are head and shoulders above us talent wise because it simply isn’t true. We are certainly not all of a sudden a poor side who need a new manager and a whole new squad. That is the usual reactionary nonsense that comes after a loss in a big game.

I ask one question, why are we currently seven points ahead of the next club below us? The answer is because at present, based on the league tables we are the third best side in the division. Players who are being castigated have been a part of a team that has competed for the title this season.

We do not have a divine right to win the league, only one team can win the league every season and it is very competitive. Chelsea for example, with all their ridiculous wealth have missed out on the two big trophies for the last three years, in fact they, like ourselves have never won the Champions League. Can a club without a rich sugar daddy afford to take a Chelsea type of gamble and spend carelessly on players?

Arsene wanted a striker and had his targets, he wanted certain players who he thought would fit into his system and unfortunately he wasn’t able to bring those players in. Was Wenger supposed to go and bring any striker into the club regardless of if they could fit into our system? Even if they were good enough players would they be the right type of personality? Who knows. Well, only the scouting system know that information.

Besides a new striker wouldn’t have stopped Nani racing away to score and set up two of United’s goal.

I said a while back that it is a shame that our players returning from injury were not back a couple of weeks earlier. We all know that players need football to find their best form and unfortunately the likes of Denilson, Bendtner, Clichy and Nasri have just returned from injury and are still finding their match fitness. This is not an excuse, it is a fact. This run of difficult games has come too soon for them and Arsene has had to throw them in the deep end due to the importance of these games.

Manuel Almunia is struggling for form and consistency at the moment but is the answer really to throw in another inconsistent goalkeeper with even less experience? Perhaps, perhaps not.

Anyway we still have games to play, there are many points to be gained. Manchester United had an awful record against the other big three and they ended the season with the trophy lofted above their heads so lets concentrate on the remaining games. Beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is a must, a must not just because of the points but because of belief and momentum. We have to get into a winning run and take advantage of slip ups from our rivals because they will slip up. We have had all our difficult matches in one segment, both Chelsea and Manchester United have their tricky games spread out over the remainder of the season.

Am I being naive to our weaknesses? No. I know that the team have an uphill battle now and have problems that need addressing. But we have two choices. Throw in the towel, lie on the supermarket floor screaming and kicking or stand up and put our last energies into the run in. Arsenal did it in 1998, Manchester United did it to Newcastle (can’t remember the year) so it is possible.

Firstly we support Arsenal because they are Arsenal, just like Rotherham’s followers support Rotherham because that is their team. Secondly we want trophies. In my book that should our roles as fanatics, supporters, followers or whatever you want to call it.

One thing is for certain, we cannot approach the Chelsea game in the same way we approached the Manchester United game, lessons will have to be learnt and it is down to the management team to correct those wrongs.

Cesc Fabregas certainly believes that we should not throw in the towel and why should I disagree with our captain and fans favourite?

Cesc said:

“It’s very easy to say, ‘we lost to Manchester United’ and get down. That would be crazy. It’s up to us to show what we can do,”

“It’s never a good time to play Chelsea. We have to beat them to stay in the title race. We are still there definitely. I am always realistic – I’m not going to lie to myself. Chelsea were better than us, United have been better than us. It’s something we have to make sure doesn’t happen again.”

It could be seen as the most difficult game of the season, Chelsea are very strong at home and it will need an almighty controlled effort for us to win but I do believe that we have the players to beat them. A team that consists of Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Song, Cesc, Rosicky, Arshavin and Nasri is good enough to beat anyone in the world and I mean anyone. We do have players not on that list who are not playing at their best but that doesn’t mean that they cannot reach a high level consistently.

Moving away from that for a moment, it is no surprise that a defeat brings more Cesc to Barca crap. That story would not have come out if we had drawn the game. Some more rather not so clever journalists using our defeat to gain hits or sell newspapers. Not interested in giving that story anymore attention.

So the transfer window has slammed shut and it has been scarily quiet. Cash is clearly not flowing as freely as previous seasons. I am pretty surprised that the money bag Mancs didn’t waste more cash on more strikers, especially as they have a new manager at the helm.

Right, I am going to say goodbye for another day.

Back again tomorrow.