I was wrong...barely

I did something Saturday morning that I haven't done for a long time. I stopped watching the Arsenal game at half-time because I couldn't bare to watch the humiliating collapse that was occuring on that rain-soaked pitch at the Reebok. Reduced to 10 men after Diaby's idotic tackle and playing like a gang of school boys, I decided I'd best walk away from the television and went to our gym to get rid of some frustration (where a decidely entertaining Fulham-Derby match was on the television). Upon my return, I was pleasantly surprised to see Arsenal had fought back 2-2 and then was even more delighted when we scored in the 90th to win!! A comeback for the ages! My mood changed and it turned out to be a nice day.

However, lets look at this game for what it was - another average effort from Arsenal and quite frankly, a result they were very fortunate to get. Bolton are headed for the Championship next season and were on a run of form that was making Derby look good. In short, Arsenal caught them at a great time. But, on two chances and some horrific defending, Arsenal was down 2-0 and a man after Diaby's brain-cramp. Playing uninspired football and once again missing opportunities that most good teams take (I'm talking to you Van Persie), it was a very bleak view by the half-time whistle. Had Arsenal been playing a team with any sort of quality, this would not have been a close game.

So where does this leave the Gunner's going into this week's massive CL and league fixtures with Liverpool? Well, in the league, we lost ground as United predictably hammered Villa 4-0 keeping their lead in points and growing the goal differential while continuing to play the best football in England. Chelsea also won, narrowly, and perhaps undeservadly, beating an in-form Middlesborough 1-0 after the tee-siders missed many good chances and hit 3-4 posts. Chelsea, like Arsenal, dodged a bullet. Arsenal did good to come back and keep pace with the leaders but I'm not so sure what this means for their form.

Coming back on the road like this has the makings of inspiring the team to greater heights and re-instilling their confidence by just getting the three points they had not gotten in so long. Secondly, RVP also scored (albeit from the spot) and for him this could get him rolling for the upcoming fixtures. Gallas and Fabregas each contributed with goals that should help them-particularly Gallas whose leadership has been under fire (personally, I'm more concerned about his heading ability on defense). Overall, though, the win and the nature of it, can build much needed character coming into the Liverpool games. The team clearly has the ability to beat anyone on their day but ,as happens with young teams, consistency has been a problem. Perhaps getting that winning feeling again can lead the team to positive results this week.

However, the performance Saturday is also full of many negatives. The team once again conceded first, and conceded easily against an offensively challenged team. Diaby took a flagrant red that highlights the lack of discipline evident in the team. In the first half, no one looked good and Fabregas was virtually invisible. Confidence gained from this victory can only go so far. Their form as a whole is still sub-par and Liverpool are playing quite well lately (although narrowly escaped with 3 points in the Merseyside derby). I don't feel any better about Arsenal's prospects now then I did before the Bolton match but I do feel better then I did at half-time at Bolton.

As for predictions, it's difficult to know what Arsenal team will show up. They have been quite good in Europe this year but will the tie against Liverpool feel more like Europe or EPL? Liverpool also seems to find a way in Europe as we've seen over the past few years and Gerrard and Torres are really heating it up. Torres was hurt the last time the teams met so my confidence in our defenders in shutting him down is not exactly solid. Juding by history, I see us pulling out a win in the league game on Sunday (2-1) but dropping the CL tie unfortunately (lets say 2-1 on aggregate). Coming through on all three matches is just too unrealistic at this juncture for this young and wounded Arsenal team.