Writing after the recent drubbing at the hands of United, Arsenal’s season is in the balance. Having built a good platform in terms of Premier League points, despite that shocker on Sunday, I still retain hope that we are on the verge of something exciting.

There are 14 Premier League games remaining and (hopefully) seven more Champions League games to be played. The mid-season transfer window has come and gone and yet again the lack of activity has frustrated a large section of the Gooner nation who clamour for those elusive missing ‘ingredients’ that could make this current squad a success. (E.g. a ‘world class’ keeper; central defensive cover, a holding midfielder, a proven goal scorer, etc…)

Whilst signings can make a positive impact on the squad (Arshavin and Vermaelen have been quite outstanding) as many of our competitors (Liverpool, Man City and Spurs) regularly demonstrate, splashing the cash doesn’t necessarily allow you to close the gap on United and Chelsea any faster. The United result notwithstanding, below, I highlight a few of the things we’ve witnessed thus far this season that still provide me with some hope that we will indeed see silverware at Ashburton Grove come May 2010.

Wenger’s adoption of the ‘4-3-3’ formation has certainly suited the team’s style of play and attacking ethos. True it has often left our full-backs uncomfortably exposed and recently we’ve witnessed how the ‘4-3-3’ can become a dangerously square ‘2-8’ as we have been ruthlessly exploited on the counter attack by both Everton and United. However, the formation has seen us veritably banging-in the goals from all parts of the field. Two of our ‘star’ players, Van Persie (until his injury) and Cesc have not only adapted to the roles assigned to them in the new formation, but have actually been ‘on fire’ as the system allows them to totally focus on influencing Arsenal’s play in the final third. The Vermaelen and Gallas partnership has been very positive and given us a solid central platform at the back. Rarely now do we struggle with the high ball down the centre of the field. Adopting the 4-3-3 has allowed our key established players to shine brightly.

Another encouraging thing about the first part of the season has been the emergence of three players that have become true leitmotifs of the team; Song has emerged from the ranks of the ‘debutants’ to become the anchoring ‘pivot’ around which the team’s pattern of play is based. Diaby has shaken off the ‘fragility’ of previous seasons and has started to emerge as a strong running midfielder to offer a contrasting threat to our ‘fast passing’ game. Aaron Ramsey has emerged from the ranks of ‘youngsters’ to provide a strong ‘engine’ to the centre of our midfield.

We have also discovered the ‘jewel in the crown’ that is needed to differentiate a ‘team of champions’ from a good ‘top-four’ side. Andrey Arshavin continues to be a unique spark that can inspire the team. His willingness to take on the lead central striker role after the cruel injury to Robin van Persie speaks volumes for his single-minded determination to ‘win-for-the-team’. Often a peripheral figure for large parts of many games he has demonstrated he can make some pivotal contributions when needed. His influence on the ‘must-win’ game with Stoke at home and the psychologically important win at Anfield, both in early December, should not be underestimated.

Furthermore, I have been greatly encouraged by the combative attitude on display this season. A few small examples, highlighted below, betray a collective determination not to be intimidated by the opposition. Earlier in the season against West Brom in the Carling Cup, in the corner of the field near the ‘Red Section’, young Jack Wilshere made an impetuous lunge at his opponent and soon found himself surrounded by an angry array of ‘Baggies’; Denilson ran 15-yards to deliver some shoving and provide some ‘in-your-face’ verbals of his own. It was very protective of his younger colleague and a very demonstrative action of the attitude “…you take on one of us, you take on us all”.

Similarly in the recent game at Bolton, as the tackles started to fly and Diaby was felled by a couple of late hacks by Klasnic, Rosicky almost found himself taking an early bath for making a reckless lunge on the aforementioned offender in an off-the-ball incident. Such a collective attitude was also particularly prevalent in the game at home to Hull. After Nasri was roughed-up for his little ‘toe-tap’ on Hunt, the whole team swarmed en masse to show they were not going to be intimidated.

I reflected that the ‘melee’ against Hull (like Denilson’s protection of Wilshere against West Brom) was probably not a bad thing; it reminded me a little how George Graham’s young team had learned to stand-up for itself at Old Trafford in 1987 and demonstrated it again a few seasons later against Norwich (Highbury) and at Man Utd (Old Trafford) in 1990. Such collective resolve proved significant in melding a team of winners that won the title in 1989 and 1991.

The final thing that gives me confidence for the immediate future has been the attitude and determination of the manager himself. In the recent past he has admitted that you have to take a more gentle approach to coaxing performance out of a young team. However, I have seen signs that Wenger is making extra demands this season. Cast your minds back to half-time at Anfield; that ‘fit to wear the shirt’ speech signalled a change in his expectations, he is not waiting for them to grow-up any longer. He also chose not to deflect criticism from the team after Sunday’s defeat. He called it as it was; a very poor performance. It is clear that he expects this squad to start delivering the silverware we all crave.

The United game will certainly have had a devastating impact on the confidence of the squad, and that of many fans, including eternal optimists like myself! Yet, we must still recognise that with just under half the season remaining we are still relatively well placed to challenge for the honours. Chelsea unexpectedly dropped two points at Hull the other night, their game-in-hand, and we will travel to the Bridge looking down the barrel of a nine-point ‘chasm’ should we lose. Hence, if this Arsenal side are to make that breakthrough we all desire, it will not be via a smooth pageant to the winning line as in 2004. We will have to come from behind as we have done in the past in similar breakthrough seasons (seven points behind Leeds in 1971 when it was two points for a win; twelve points behind Man Utd in 1998; the late-season wobbles of 1989 also come to mind).

To build on the positive foundation we’ve established in the first half of the season we need both Rosicky and Eduardo to come to the party. They need to shake off those niggling injuries and provide that competitive ‘nous’ that will be needed from our experienced players for the closing months of the season; we also need one of our young forwards, Nasri, Bendtner, (or indeed the much maligned Walcott) to assert themselves and take the opportunity to ‘star’ in the run-in by providing a clutch of goals (as did Kevin Campbell in 1991 and as Freddie did so gloriously in 2002).

Whilst the prospects may look a little bleak in the aftermath of that recent defeat, I would like to ask all my fellow Gooners to ride with the ‘ups and downs’ (and odd reversals). Once through this current crop of headline making clashes, many tough games still have to be played; especially if we remain (as hoped) involved in the Champions League. On current form Chelsea and United may look unassailable, but three months is enough time for them too, to suffer ‘lapses of concentration’ and ‘dips in form’. The title will be won (or lost) against the likes of Sunderland, Stoke, Birmingham, Blackburn and Wigan. We’ve built a good platform for this campaign and one bad result (and an awful performance) should be taken in the context of where we are. We are third, six-points adrift of top spot, with 14 games to play!

I sense we enter the final stretch of the 2009/10 season with a support divided. I, for one, believe that with a little luck we can turn the recent wobbles around and still bring silverware to the table in May 2010. I am certainly not for throwing in the towel and giving-up on a squad that has grown so much already this season. Like many other Gooners, I can see all too clearly many of the squad’s weaknesses, but then I know there are United and Chelsea fans who are equally critical of their own teams.

Hence, I would urge all my fellow Gooners (even those who prefer to express their frustration and dwell on our undeniable weakness) to hold their nerve and get behind the whole squad. Players all have fragile egos and the likes of Denilson, Bendtner, Walcott, Almunia, Clichy, Eduardo, Nasri and Rosicky would all be better served by our collective tolerance and encouragement rather than howls of frustration and annoyance. The season is not ‘done and dusted’ and “we can still win the title!” Let’s continue to believe it is possible and cheer on the team.