I’ve just about got all my breath back after Tuesday night.

A brilliant advert for the Premiership. But despite being dominated for much of the game, our defence, and Silvestre especially, were non-existent and I think this will cost us dearly against United. We are clearly missing the experience of Gallas and the physical presence of Djourou - and Toure can’t do it on his own. Even the ever-reliable Bacary Sagna made a costly error, which happens in football but it seems that right now we seem to get punished for it big time.

The idiot of a ref Howard Webb (who shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a football pitch) didn’t help matters either, where he got six minutes injury time is beyond me and this muppet is in charge of the FA Cup final. Ok, we may not have deserved to win last night but it would have been nice.

Besides Arshavin, the other good thing to come out of the game was the performance of young Kieran Gibbs. For me, he's been excellent. He's 100% committed, if he loses the ball, he will do his best to get it back. The boy has become a man since Clichy has been out. He’s had a lot to learn in a short space of time and he can only get better. He reminds me of a previous number 3 when he managed to dislodge Silvinho - remember him? I see Gibbs as Clichy's long-term replacement if he is patient enough.

What we need is adequate cover at centre back. Silvestre has looked like a combination of Cygan and Stepanovs. His pace has gone and his reading of the game is not what it was. He makes Senderos look world-class. But Wenger obviously sees something good in him apart from the fact that he’s experienced. In midfield, we still haven’t replaced Flamini or Gilberto or even the great PV4. Song, Denilson and Diaby have done well in patches but you need consistency at this level. If we defend like we did at Anfield against United then it will be a massacre. They’ve stuffed us 6-1 up there in the league before and it will happen again if this continues.

Hopefully, we will have Djourou back soon so we can give Silvestre a breather and now that Ade and RVP are carrying niggling injuries, why not give Eduardo another run in the side as Bendtner has had his chance, certainly as a starter. I think he’s far more effective from the bench. It’s a real shame Arshavin can’t play in Europe, as he’s what we need against United, he makes us tick and as you all saw v Liverpool he can make something out of nothing.

We have Boro on Sunday when we must be careful we don’t lose anybody else. Then the big one at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. Our season rests on the next fortnight or so, it would be a shame to waste it all.