And as we gallop down the home straight, our task is very easy .... to outline.

All we have to do is win all our last games and by as many goals as possible. Simples.

Having stated the bleeding obvious, can we do it? Despite what many have said, we don't have that easy a run-in, we've just played the other big four (insert current tabloid number of choice here). There is a realistic chance of actually dropping points, but to be honest the thing that concerns me more is that we continue to manage to miss a large number of goal opportunities per game. Some of them sitters. Now this is what intelligent people call a 'concern'. It's not a moan because the fact we are in with a good shout at this moment in the season is nothing short of remarkable and I'm loving it. Just wish our strikers would strike more.

As long as we have a defence which plays together, we shouldn't have a problem next game, and there are a number of ghosts that need well and truly sorting to boot. Kinda help if Bendtner was available because it's obvious to anyone that Eduardo hasn't been the same since that tackle and the effects seem to be lingering. All that utter nonsense about the dive in the Champions League certainly didn't help the poor guy. There are some players who have had to work damn hard to get where they are and have put up with a lot. There are other players who you suspect would have developed better character if they had needed to overcome a few difficulties. You know, the one's who don't drive their cars too well? Make up your own list.

Anyways, Eduardo has come through a lot and is currently a shadow of the striker he was, and I for one want him to triumph more than any other player. If Bendtner is out then maybe this game is the one, but it's easy to underestimate how much mental toughness it's going to take. The only player I maybe want to succeed as much would be Theo, who's main impairment seems to be that he was the Chosen One of whom so much was expected. His scoring achievements in that game were over-shadowed by Eduardo's injury, so maybe he has something extra he would want to prove.

Regarding Theo, and for that matter a lot of our kindergarten, it is unutterably dumb to compare their development to Cesc. As in "He may be young, but think what Cesc had achieved by his age". Errant nonsense. Cesc is a very special player and almost uniquely precocious talent. Comparing almost anyone to him will make them look bad. Let's try and judge each player on their own abilities and capabilities and not try to insist that they should be where Cesc is/was at their current age.

So Barca. Hmm. Don't know whether to cheer or cry, would have loved it to be the final. So I'll take my cue from thems what knows. Cesc says the boys are all excited about it and will look forward to it when it comes around. So there you are. Club sanctioned excitement that we have such a simple run to the CL final. Have to big up Thierry for stating he doesn't want to play against us. Although you suspect he isn't what you would call a long term fixture at Barca, you also have to conclude that he may as well book his passage to New York now. But well played sir anyway.

It's always been thought that there was no obvious pretender to Arsène's throne when he comes to retire. Not so. Our very own Stuart Little seems to be making a concerted bid for the gig judging be the amount of advice he has been proffering recently. I'm not averse to players offering the benefit of their wisdom, as long as they perform on the field. Injuries not withstanding, Arshavin may still have a little way to go in that direction.