Champions League qualification is, for the first time under Wenger, looking as though it could be beyond us for next season. Following the visit of the perms to Ashburton, we sit a win behind Villa, and our Boxing Day outing in Brum is now looking even more daunting. I find myself thinking that a point will be a bloody good result. A few years back a point would have been a disappointment. How times have changed.

Not qualifying for next season’s money-go-round would be a financial disaster for the club, no question, but would it be a disaster for the team? Tough to find positives in not being in Europe’s elite competition, but it could help ground some of younger players who think they are better than they really are.

The real problem for me, will be keeping them together. We only missed the title by a few points last year, yet once again we had to endure a summer of outgoings and non-stop rumors surrounding Cesc, Adebayor and a few others. Can you imagine it if we don’t even get into Europe!

I still believe we will qualify, because I believe we can win the thing this year. And I think the biggest threat to England’s domination of the Champions League this year will come from Italy. Chelsea are still pants at home, Liverpool are drawing too many, and 2-2 at home in Europe wont cut it. Man Ure are not good enough on the road at the moment, and I don’t think that we should fear anyone over two legs except Barca. If we can avoid them until the final, we have as good a chance as the rest.

A decent stab at the FA Cup would go down nicely too. That’s if Wenger takes it seriously this year, which I really hope he does. We are well over due a trip to the new Wembley!