I was actually pretty optimistic when I got up in the morning on Sunday. I mean we had Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres fit again, not to mention a healthy looking Aquilani who to my surprise started from the bench. We were also playing at Anfield.

We started off really well, repelling anything that came forward, keeping Arsenal on their heels each time we advanced. The players looked up for it, pressuring and snapping at anyone not in red whenever thay had the ball. This is it I thought! This is the way we should be playing! It was proven last season that when we took the game to other sides, even the great European teams cringe with fear.

Alas, our second half performances reinforced the stereotype that while we play good football after going behind, we often fall back into a false sense of security after going ahead. Forget that we have a stonewall penalty disallowed by a certain Howard Webb who like our players, seems to be off the pace this season. Forget that we had the lion's share of possession in the first half. In reality, our over reliance on Fernando Torres stood out like a sore thumb again. Our no.9 has clearly not regained his match fitness and sharpness. Arsenal came back with aplomb in the 2nd half, despite no change in personal. In fact, they ended the game with more possession than us. What happened? In the postmatch interview, both Fabregas and Vermaelen attributed it to the hair dryer treatment they received from Wenger at halftime. If this is true, it just comes to show how tactical know-how isn't what gives you the edge over relatively similar astute opponent. Drive and determination gives you that little bit extra you need, as we clearly lacked that in the 2nd half. Perhaps Rafa should start throwing his shoe about the dressing room more. What I find most distressing is that Almunia was a relative spectator the entire 2nd half as he didn't have a single save to make.

Yes, Howard Webb had a really poor game but I urge everyone to look beyond that, and at the bigger picture. I don't pretend to know what the solution is but something has to be done if we are to finish in the top four. The way we are playing, I don't see us finishing in the top 6 even, considering the likes of City, Villa and Spurs seemed to have improved over last season. This to me is a very real and big concern. Something that blind faith alone will not mend. Do we need more players? Do we need new owners? A new manager? I don't know. All I know is that we aren't playing with a positive vibe and this needs to be addressed.