A couple of weeks ago I had reason to exchange correspondence (on a non-football matter) with the new Arsenal CEO, Ivan Gazidis. At the end of his email he entreated me to “enjoy the sharp end of the season”.

Since then, we have witnessed the ridiculous team selection against and defeat to Chelsea, the absurd and chronic ineptitude of the “defence” at Liverpool, and then the defeat at Manure this week. While we were undoubtedly lucky to escape with just a 1-0 defeat, I am not especially optimistic for next Tuesday, especially with the news that Eduardo has injured his groin, again.

I don’t know what will happen next Tuesday, any more than anyone else does. Suffice to say we will need to play a whole lot better than the other night, with substantially more purpose, passion and resolve than on show in Manchester. But in many ways, next Tuesday is a defining moment for Arsene Wenger and this team.

Forget the injuries; all teams suffer them. A top manager at a top team makes sure he has enough players to cover inevitable injuries through the season. On Tuesday night, whoever plays, the whole team has to play the veritable game of their lives. Tuesday night is the night for the justification of the Wenger way.

Throughout the season, Arsene Wenger has repeated his mantra, how he believes in this team, in this group of players. He is beginning to sound like Bob Dylan in his Evangelical-Christian period: in “I Believe in You”, Dylan sings:

I believe in you even through the tears and the laughter, I believe in you even on the morning after
I believe in you when winter turns to summer, I believe in you even though I be outnumbered

So Ade, Diaby (if you play, but I hope you don’t) and whoever is fit enough to play, Tuesday night is your night to show us that the faith and belief your manager has shown in you is justified. I want you to win, of course I do, but more than anything on Tuesday night I want a performance from all of you that shows you care, that you want it as badly as we do. I really do want to be able to write to tell Ivan Gazidis that I have indeed enjoyed the very sharp end of the season.

If not, I can see it now, Arsene on stage with Dylan, singing “I Threw It All Away”:

For one thing that's certain
You will surely be a-hurtin'
If you throw it all away …