It's always nice to finally beat a hangover. As hangovers go, our Italian one was just nasty: the aftermath of an emotional win at the San Siro was two draws, one loss. Two points from three league games, and the tables turned—literally, in our title chase. But all that coffee, greasy breakfasts and cold showers finally paid off as we rediscovered our winning ways with an emotional and hard-fought win at Bolton, of all places.

That bit of crazy luck was finally on our side too, with Cesc's late winner, as it'd be fair to call him the pinball wizard after that goal. But of course the script had been written all wrong for much of the 90 minutes leading up to the winner: good possession, chances created, decent football. But going down by two awfully conceded goals and having Diaby sent off for a moment of utter stupidity had us reeling. It was the invigoration of our substitutes that finally gave us the push we needed. RVP looked good and is slowly shaking off the rust. Let's hope his penalty brings back his confidence, and that Vik Akers' polishes his scoring boots extra shiny for Wednesday.

Which brings us to the Champions League and Liverpool, whose style is definitely best described (not by me) as "constipated." Torres and the occasional Gerrard performance aside, they are dreadful to watch. Although our earlier encounter with them at Anfield in the fall was a feisty, tense one, over two legs this could be a turgid affair. Bet on Rafa to play this first leg cautiously, rest his big guns for the league match on the weekend and go for the kill at home next week. Gooners seem to be divided on this, but I say let's go for the points while we're at home. Winning outright at Anfield is no easy task, and I'd rather not leave it until then—my fingernails just aren't long enough. While the league is not gone but is now looking like a big
ask, if I had to choose I'd throw our resources at the Champions League at this point. Sevilla aside, our performances in Europe have been superb this season—although Liverpool is no pushover in this competition. But whatever happens, expect much whining from Rafa about
the resources made available to him—those same resources that wrote checks for his Jermaine Pennant, Marco Gonzalez, Dirk Kuyt etc. spending sprees. I still laugh at his comments last year about not having Arsenal's buying power following our Carling Cup win at Anfield in which Baptista and Aliadiere looked like Pele and Platini!

And while it looks as if Eboue will be starting at right back now in the Champions League, I have no choice but to give him my full support, through gritted teeth. I hope he can do the business and keep the clown theatrics to a minimum. We need this one…

By Adam Elder

Buy Arsenal Tickets with

World Ticket Shop