jens, you made a fantastic double save from one of their free kicks to keep us in the game.

eboue, you were a threat in attack, as always.

philippe, you made a few interceptions to stop their long balls.

kolo, you showed the hunger by going up to support the attack.

gael, your runs gave them trouble.

gilberto, your goal lifted the team and came when we needed it most.

cesc, your touch is, as usual, sublime. you had a wonderful attempt which just clipped the woodwork.

freddie, you were aggressive, and your header was very close as well, hitting the post.

theo, your pace and ball control, absolutely wonderful. they couldn't cope with you.

mathieu, you worked hard, tracked back for the ball.

adebayor, you showed some neat touches and nice movement. and you hit the cross bar. it was a good attempt.

julio, you were very strong in midfield and helped to move the ball along.

aliaksander, you may stumble a bit, but they still can't get the ball off you even as you were slipping.

credit to bolton and nicolas anelka, but we lost to ourselves. we started brightly, having two good chances early on. then we played their game. we went to play their game. we fell right into their ploy. we conceded. and we forgot how to play football after that. they scored again. gilberto's goal gave us hope and woke us up.

in the second half, i saw the arsenal i knew. we woke up and went to play football. our passing was crisp, movement fluid, touches steady, we were aggressive, fouling them, hurting them. we were arsenal again. untouchable arsenal.

i don't know why we were afraid of them, of the reebok. we might not have won there for a while, but in the second half, when i looked in their eyes, i saw fear.

they were afraid of us.

the reason why they resorted to the physical approach was that they were afraid of us. and in the second half, they were reminded of their fear. that fear in them was awoken.

because they couldn't get the ball at all. they were being dominated, hammered and whacked. they knew if we play football, they were going to get thrashed. they were afraid of that. and when it all materialised, their fear resurfaced. they were afraid of an arsenal without thierry henry and robin van persie.

why are we afraid of a team that's afraid of us?

and i ask myself: do i have to ask if you want it enough every fortnight? if i have to, we would have lost the title already, because we would have dropped too many points, if we haven't already done so.

what's the point of beating manchester united and liverpool if we lose to west ham, bolton, and get held to draws by everton and newcastle? and why aren't we winning in the first place? they aren't better than man utd, liverpool or hamburg, are they?

the gap might become 15 points by the end of today. no team has ever came back from such a large margin. but there's always a first. i still believe we can win. my question is: do you?

we are in a crisis. during the game, i felt as though the gods of football have abandoned us. they seemed as though they have never been with us. we played very well but don't win. others play crap but win. others play well and win, never going through our agony.

and it's during this time, when i think that, much as i still believe in it, maybe it's ok to forget about trophies and money for a while. as long as we stay together, and believe in our football, then everything else can be put on hold for this season.

there are many different ways to heaven. we have chosen this path. but it doesn't mean others were wrong. but if we have chosen this path, let us take it all the way.

make the emirates stadium our cathedral to stylish, attacking football. even as we travel, to spread our brand of football to others, in their own monuments to football.

let us be inspired. let us inspire.

may the gods of football be with us.