As a supporter, you find that there are things you can learn to stomach because of lack of available options. Then there are the other things that no amount of rationalisation will assist you with. Like throwing away games against the Spuds.

Last year's results against the Spuds didn't make it the worst year ever for results in our most local of all local derbies, but it's too recent and too raw and quite unbelievable the way the games turned out. Particularly the home game. Really this kind of thing has to stop if we are to compete. It's time to prove we can put games to bed or we'll never have the fear factor that gets you to championships. If the opponents don't worry about going two down because they expect to be able to peg us back then we will continue to be vulnerable. After last week the players have to look at themselves and decide as to whether they were complicit in losing a two goal lead. Arsene said it wasn't complacency but it looked a heck of a lot like it to me.

I'm not expecting a goal-fest because as much as it pains me to admit it, Spuds are getting better. Not good, just better. What I am expecting is that the team comes out and plays from the start and doesn't stop playing until the 94th minute or however long it takes. What I am expecting is that the team feels the need to rub the Spuds faces in it as much as any Gooner in the stands. What I am expecting is that come the end of the match we will still be above the Spuds in the table and the universe can continue in it's natural order. Nothing else is acceptable.

Ade having 'moved on' and getting the love he craves, is still talking about the club he left with no more intelligence than when he was here. He really ought to actually move on and stop trying to justify why he moved and how it wasn't his fault, it was somebody else's idea, blah, blah, blah.

For some reason because a seemingly bitter ex-player says so, Cesc is out of Arsenal if we don't get into the CL next year. Perlease, neither of those are gonna happen as Cesc yet again said recently. Funnily enough he also said that he thought we could win stuff still playing nice footy. Wasn't aware it was an either/or situation, but part of his motivation is to make the fans happy about how we are winning. Well, as previously mentioned, the players have a chance to prove him right tomorrow.

I think Arsene mentioned the astonishing statistic that nearly one in three shots against us have found the net this season. What are we to make of that? Frankly I have no idea. Maybe since some goals against us have been break-aways it's all down to the instinct of the opposition player taking over and burying the ball with the sort of accuracy they wouldn't have had if they stopped to think. Whilst there may be some of that, doesn't it also suggest that our goalies are not doing so great a job?

Which of course leads us to the current debate. I honestly thought Manuel was becoming a good goalie as last season went on, but he seems to have gone backward this season. Assuming that Arsene gives extended contracts to those he sees as good players, then Fabianski looks to be the most likely first choice were he not to be veering towards being a little too Tomas recently. Funny thing is that I am gaining confidence in our defensive capabilities but not out current crop of goalies. I am hoping that they do a Song and suddenly become what Arsene sees in them because it doesn't look like January will bring anyone new.

In passing I have to mention Fran Merida. What a prospect. He had only been on the edge of my radar until midweek, but he is definitely someone we have to tie down to a long term contract. Like many I am also very impressed by Rambo who has filled out and cut out a lot of his unthinking play. Our current mid-fielders are going to have to watch there performances and that gives me a very warm feeling.

Of course this all has to be kept in context. A couple of silly draws does not signal the end of our season. We're still in everything and looking like scoring isn't a problem. It's hardly a crisis but with our traditionally bad month of November looming we have to stop any sense of there being even a possibility of a crisis. Confidence good, over confidence bad, no confidence disastrous.