I’ve had the odd email recently informing me that I’ve become too negative and that any criticism I have for Arsenal is unconstructive. And one of these since yesterday’s game. In truth, I am not convinced I am any more negative nor positive in tone than I ever have been, and in fact have written both positive and negative write-ups of matches this year. Some knocked the Gunners’ football at Celtic Park as careless for example, noting passes were going frequently astray. I thought it was a giant of a performance given the context and crucial nature of the game. Anyway, all I can say to people who wish to avoid anything negative about Arsenal is to stick to the club’s website and the official programme and magazine. I only state things I am unhappy about because I care and want to see the team improve. Every time I write something suggesting that there are areas which need attention, I hope to God I end up eating my words with egg on face. There is no joy in criticizing your own team, but to write on the subject and ignore things which strike you as plain wrong or not good enough would strike me as a dereliction of duty.

Anyway, onto events yesterday at a freezing Ashburton Grove. At the end of the day, the Premier League table offers hope. So for all the rose tinters out there, I think the club are in a great position, points-wise, relative to the title favourites. The point gained at the conclusion of the game might prove vital. Maybe the two points lost from a home fixture against a team most would hope to beat will prove equally vital, but hey, let’s look on the bright side.

Three points behind the leaders, a point where none looked most likely from a performance that deserved nothing. Maybe it was just a duff display. All teams have them. I’m sure Arsenal’s title winning sides sneaked in the odd one over the course of a triumphant season. In isolation, they don’t matter if you can manage to get something from them. Yes, Arsenal were without Song, Fabregas, Van Persie – three players who undoubtedly improve the team’s chances. However, I remember a game against Palace in 1998 with even more first choicers missing. If the memory serves me, the display was equally poverty stricken, but a 1-0 win did no harm at all to the club’s title chances. The back-up boys stepped up to the plate and contrived to get the required result.

Sorry to slip back into reality mode here, but one team is going to put together a run of results, show some form and pull away from the pack before too long. I am not convinced by the notion this title will go to the wire. Are Arsenal that team? Recent results (and I am sure the manager will emphasize the achievement of remaining undefeated since the Chelsea game) might give the indication that they are already enjoying a purple patch, although even the most dedicated Wenger lover would have to admit the performances have varied in quality between poor and excellent. Maybe that’s the mark of a title-winning team in waiting.

There’s no point in me repeating concerns about the defensive weaknesses of the team in any detail. All I will say is that none were disproved by yesterday’s events. The 6-1 away win that this fixture produced at Goodison might have been repeated had Everton been more accurate in front of goal.

Here’s a list of players that started in front of the defence. Denilson, Diaby, Ramsey, Eduardo, Arshavin and Nasri. Individually, they are all capable players. I accept that certain of them may not be quite good enough for some (and there are doubts about all of them for a variety of reasons) but my fear is that the team is lesser than the sum of its parts. And that is what is most worrying about the current squad. The spirit seems to be lacking somehow. Diaby battled yesterday, and fair play to him for that, but for the most part, Everton simply seemed to be more hungry. Certainly their desire to close down Arsenal prevented the creation of many chances. On this score, it was like the Goodison game from last August in reverse.

However, the table doesn’t lie. What it is telling us is that a lot of unexpected points have been dropped by the favourites for the title, and this trend continued with the Birmingham v Man Utd game. Arsene Wenger was keen to play against Bolton in midweek and equally keen to ensure the Everton game went ahead. With hindsight, he might have been better exploiting the situation and delaying these fixtures until Fabregas, Song and Nicklas Bendtner had returned to active duty. There are a good number of free midweeks still available even if the side progresses in the Champions League and the FA Cup (although I am struggling to see anything but an exit in the 4th Round of the latter). However, Wenger wanted the matches played because he obviously believed that the players available were good enough to secure six points.

I wonder if what he witnessed yesterday might persuade him that the £30 million burning a hole in his pocket might serve the club better by improving their chances of winning a trophy this season. Doesn’t it seem logical to strengthen your hand if you have the opportunity? Arsenal are in a great position at the moment, in spite of some patchy displays. Why jeopardize that when you have the opportunity to capitalize on it?

Maybe the manager will keep the money until the summer and the players at the club now will develop enough consistency and just enough defensive resilience to land an honour in May. If he takes that course, I hope he is proved right. I really do. However, in my heart of hearts, I am afraid that I just don’t believe it. And if people don’t want to read about my lack of faith in the existing group of players, I hope you enjoyed your afternoon at the match yesterday and that what you saw gave you no reason to doubt.