I couldn’t believe my eyes sitting at Upton Park.

That was the worst capitulation since last season's 4-4 with the Spuds. At half time we should have been at least three or four up but we paid for not taking our chances. Apart from the two soft goals we conceded, West Ham offered little or no threat whatsoever. Then we take the foot off the gas and pay for it.

Although I believe both goals were gifts from the ref. The free kick that was awarded against Diaby should have gone to us as Hines ran in to Diaby and the penalty was softer than an over-ripe tomato. How someone the size of Carlton Cole can go down so easily is beyond me. He had his back to goal and was surrounded by two more players as well as Song and if you look closely, Song kicks the ball away. In my view the ref gave in to crowd pressure, which didn’t help our cause. RVP was unlucky not to restore the lead and would have if it hadn’t been for Rob Green’s legs but that was the story of the game in general.

Our next two home games are now crucial, more so the Spurs game as we daren’t lose or draw that one, but the Liverpool game will show how far the ‘kids’ have really come. You would think Rafa would put a fairly strong side out but he has so many injuries and key players carrying knocks that he may play some of his reserves. If he plays, it will be good to see Nasri again as we have really missed his creativity. Also, this will be a big test for the likes of Vela, Ramsey, Wilshire and the other youngsters. If we were at Anfield then I think Wenger would put out all youngsters but as we are at home I think you may see a couple first team players on the bench just in case it goes Pete Tong.

The same scenario as late 2008, plus early elimination from the Carling Cup, lies in prospect this week if Wenger’s bright, young team slip up again in two important home fixtures. A year ago, in the same final week of October, we won 2-0 at West Ham and then drew 4-4 at home to Tottenham in a wild and rain-swept melodrama at the E******s. Defeats by Stoke City, Aston Villa and Manchester City then followed before a long unbeaten run, peppered extravagantly with draws, began with a victory at Chelsea and rescued the league season, partly thanks to Villa’s collapse.

The same two fixtures are scheduled this time around, but with a visit from Rafael Bentiez's Liverpool, resurgent conquerors of Manchester United on Sunday, sandwiched in between on Wednesday evening. If Sunday's 2-2 draw at Upton Park was a "very sickening" experience for Wenger, it will seem as nothing to how we fans will be feeling if the upcoming duo of home games go wrong.

Liverpool, of course, are quite suddenly cock-a-hoop again after banishing their doubters and re-affirming their bruised potential by beating United. And, like us, they need to make Carling Cup progress as insurance against disappointment in the marathon Premier League battle with Chelsea and Manchester United; and the possibility they will be eliminated from the Champions League.