The end of January and start of February – a period in which we face Villa, United, Chelsea and Liverpool – will define Arsenal’s season. If we are to win the title then we will need to ensure we do not lose to Chelsea and United, and will want six points from the other two games. Daunting when you consider that we might not be able to call on two of our most influential players.

We didn’t need twenty-eight minutes on Sunday to realise that Cesc Fabregas is world-class. Nevertheless we got it, and it’s quite possible that we wouldn’t have taken the three points without him. That being said, our midfield spent almost the entire match in the ascendency and we have Alex Song to thank for that. Positionally he improves with every game, and he is already the best defensive midfielder in the country, at least until Essien returns and Mascherano finds his form.

International duty and potential injury – though we do not yet know the extent of it – could rule them both out til February, and possibly beyond (what condition will Song be in on his return?) and there must be huge question marks over the ability of our other midfielders to step up. How Wenger and his players negotiate this conundrum could possibly hold the key to the destination of the league title.

There’s something about this team that, this season, inspires optimism. Genuinely, no team has improved as much as Arsenal. Abou Diaby has played his two best games for the club in the last week or so. Cesc will surely be rested against Bolton, West Ham and Pompey and much will be expected of the Frenchman. He has the talent to succeed and looks to have developed the drive. Assuming Cesc is out for an extended period, that expectation will remain, but there are other options. Nasri could move infield. With Denilson possibly injured again, Aaron Ramsey will step up and he has given every indication that he is capable. Beyond that, Jack Wilshere could see any loan move put on ice while the captain is out, and Andrey Arshavin could be pulled back. None will be a proper replacement for Fabregas but they could all do a fine job. The cover for Song is nowhere near as deep.

Craig Eastmond and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas are full of promise but we should not expect them to excel in big games. It has been suggested that Sagna be employed in the role but that opens our right flank up to exploitation as well as removing a good threat going forward. The solution looks to me to be to find a replacement outside the club. Experience is vital as there is no time for mistakes, but it would now be counterproductive to bring a player in who will stand in Song’s way once he returns, though competition is never a bad thing. With Senderos’ imminent departure and the paucity of cover for the centre backs, adaptability would also be extremely attractive.

Vieira is a name that is constantly floated and I would love him to be at the club if only to guide a callow side through a highly pressured five months. Gilberto would be another welcome return, especially as he has proved capable of playing at the back. Wenger has previously stated his reluctance to bring old players back though, and would they be tempted by the promise of one month’s first team football followed by a place on the bench thereafter. Who knows?

I do not know enough about continental or South American football to put my finger on the perfect replacement but I will put forward one name, and an odd one at that. Paul Scharner. Of course he’s not as good as his old team-mate Wilson Palacios but he’s proven himself to be a Premier League standard player who can be adaptable and present a goal threat. Not glitz or glamour but then maybe that’s not what is needed right now. With money always an issue and the absence of Van Persie an immovable cloud on our horizon, maybe an addition like this one will allow the club to land a goal-getter, thus further strengthening the club in its push for the title.

Issue 201 of The Gooner went on sale on Sunday at the Aston Villa game and included a free calendar featuring Arsenal’s defining moments of the last decade. Copies of the issue can be bought online here. Due to the Royal Mail not working between Friday and today, subscription copies are being despatched today and should be received tomorrow or Thursday.