Arsenal’s goals yesterday came about after Adebayor knockdowns. Big fella, the number 25. His colleagues played it to him in the air a lot. And on this performance, with Robin van Persie wearing his shooting boots, you can see why the is the one area of the team that does not look to need addressing in the transfer market – on the assumption the strikers can remain fit and Eduardo’s return is successful.

The pretty stuff was largely abandoned at Stamford Bridge. After the dismal attempts at possession football seen at Eastlands, that was no bad thing. When it fails so abysmally, confidence is obviously going to take a knock. Better to play the percentages. It was replaced with something seen a bit too infrequently this season. A will to win and an attendant work ethic. I’ll exclude Alex Song from that last statement, but that is a debate for another time. Arsenal largely decided to abandon their midfield as a way of getting the ball forward – almost certainly due to being outnumbered in that department, but it meant that the full backs could get forward more and they, with Fabregas, were key players in ensuring a supply to the front men. Denilson and Nasri had mixed games, but in fairness, neither side will reflect on the technical side of their game as being of the standards they are capable of. It was a huge contrast to the recent match between the Gunners and Manchester United.

Johan Djourou looks like he will benefit from a run in the team, and it’s something many have been calling for all season. The own goal was bad luck and he showed character afterwards. It could have happened to anyone, and was the result of the quality of the ball he had to defend. Obviously it was caused by Manuel Almunia’s poor judgment as to the potential for a quick breakaway attack, and the keeper’s decision making is another area that I’ll save for another day, suffice to say the team are unlikely to ever win the Premier League without a keeper good enough to represent his country.

Undoubtedly there was fortune with the offside decisions, but if linesmen always called these correct, Arsenal might have won the title last season. It’s swings and roundabouts with these things, and it’s a pleasure to benefit from Lady Luck on this occasion. I’m not convinced either side deserved a win yesterday, but the sign of a good team is being able to achieve the maximum when you are off the boil. And Chelsea have enough good players to ensure that Arsenal are unlikely ever to be able to play to their full potential against them.

The pundits on Sky had written Arsenal off at half-time, and in fairness, up until the equaliser, they only really impressed for the opening minutes. Ian Tanner texted me after fifteen minutes with his in-play betting recommendation. ‘We can win’. Mind you, he said the same about Dynamo Kiev during the second half last Tuesday, so I have yet to set up an account with a bookmaker to take advantage of his judgment. As time wore on though, Chelsea seemed a lot more in control of things, even if they were having trouble getting attempts on target, until Robin van Persie popped up.

Goals can do strange things. They can turn seasons around, and that is certainly what happened at Birmingham last February. The hope is that what happened at the Bridge yesterday can have the reverse effect. Confidence is everything. A win for the youths at Burnley tomorrow night is not integral but were they to do it, the feelgood factor produced by the Champions League qualification, the appointment of a new CEO and the victory at Chelsea would only be enhanced.

Now it is about the bread and butter of Wigan and Middlesbrough before entertaining Liverpool. Three matches that could galvanise the side going into the crucial Christmas period. It’s about confidence now. Results. The quality is lacking, but a confident team can carry a couple of players if those men are prepared to work their socks off to compensate for their lack of technical ability. So what Arsenal need is a Ray Parlour to help out Cesc in the middle. Then, they might have a chance of competing.