If it weren't for some p*ss poor officiating and a United performance that was high on grit but embarrassingly low on actual quality, we might be looking forward to Chelsea on 29th November as an opportunity to edge in front of our rivals, rather than just keeping them in touching distance.

If the season has taught us anything it is that our destiny is in our hands more than ever. Previously, top of the table clashes have been tight enough affairs to practically guarantee that major rivals dropped points during the season. Not so this time round. Of course much can change, but right now Liverpool and United look shorn of the quality to mount a title challenge. If the club is to come out on top in May it will have done it under its own steam. The team is bearing all but one of the hallmarks of a genuine title winner, all it needs to do now is stop conceding.

The self-inflicted defeats in Manchester – I class the City result as such because we were, frankly, suicidal in our defence that day – did not augur well, nor did the draws in Alkmaar or Upton Park. I for one am far less concerned by the spectre of breaking one record – most goals scored in a season – than 'besting' one already – the most goals ever conceded under Wenger in the first eleven games of the season. Given the (lack of) quality of many Premiership teams, our peerless ability to keep the ball and two excellent centre backs, fifteen clean sheets should be more than possible yet Blackburn, Birmingham, Pompey, West Ham and Wolves have all managed at least a goal against us, and we're on target for about ten.

For all our glorious incision going forward, I cannot have been the only one whose heart sunk when Wolves scored late on Saturday. Judging by the reaction of those around me on Wednesday – and that was a crowd criminally watered down by prawn sandwich eaters – I know I wasn't the only one to be infuriated by Alkmaar's late strike. We all fear a time will come when the goals are not flowing and by then this sloppiness will have to be eradicated or count heavily against us again.

The corner looked to have been turned against Spurs, and maybe Wenger will ensure that whoever plays the Diaby role tempers his attacking instincts in the bigger games. But, in light of West Ham, is that enough? In almost all respects, the international break has come at the wrong time for us, but maybe it will give the boss time to think about how to tackle this potentially pivotal conundrum, especially with the loss of Song for much of January looming on the horizon.

It might seem strange to bemoan our defensive sloppiness then praise our defensive midfielder but Song is well on his way to hero status. If Wenger can give him more support in midfield – and I imagine plan A is drafting Denilson into the Diaby role when he's fit – and in goal – Almunia has conspired to dismantle much of the faith he built up last season – and effectively cover his absence at the turn of the year then we might have the defensive stability we need. Like I said, our destiny is in our hands.

This might seem like a negative rant in light of the form we find ourselves in, but something rather interesting was said this weekend: Chelsea are performing to their best, while there's certainly more to come from Arsenal. It's easy to see where the major improvements can be made, and more than possible that we possess the tools to bring that improvement about. If the club can come out of this international break intact – touch wood – and showing that it means business at the back then November 29th might be our first major move towards achieving the trophy that the rest of our game so far unquestionably warrants.