The end of Black November

The month of November brought the biggest low of the season, undoubtedly. And bought three consecutive away wins in the league, at hard places, Aston Villa, Wolves and Everton. The Champions League bought two defeats away to Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk. Arsenal went top of the league at the weekend, and can go top again, with Man United’s game being postponed and Chelsea at home against Everton, who are always tricky to play against.

Arsenal have also progressed into the Semi finals in the Carling Cup. I cannot believe the luck of the draw, but will welcome a bit of that! Without being arrogant, I think Arsenal will make it to Wembley, and dishing Roy Keane another defeat, certainly a nice cake topper.

Arsenal are back at home in the league after that fateful day when we handed, handed a win to the world’s most noisiest neighbours. The first half was like a symphony, each attack built up into a crescendo of happiness, as oles rang out as the half drew to a close at two nil up. And then, despair. All of our own doing. In my mind we had arrogance, and the team need to fix themselves up, and go on and win a trophy. No excuses now. That should serve as a bad memory, never to be emulated again and become a motivation for a better stab at the title and cup competitions. It was a shambolic, utterly humiliating defeat at home from a seemingly untouchable position. Almost unforgivable.

The home record has to improve. In contrast to the away form, at Villa Park, the fans were amazing, the players looked well up for it, and the passion was there. I have had to question whether they really care, but after the game, it was there for all to see, even as they boarded the team bus after. If there is no win against Fulham, there will be no point in rushing the captain back for the trip at Old Trafford. It is time to make The Emirates a fortress. It is time for the players to be brave and play with the shackles off (as the boss would say!). It is time to put a league campaign together, and remind everyone, Arsenal are still there and fighting.

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