To try and take an impartial view of yesterday’s match, Arsenal didn’t actually do a great deal wrong except manage to stick the ball in the net. Ultimately though, football games are won through taking chances and it’s a reason I believe that Arsene Wenger should prioritise the league rather than Europe. Against top teams, the Gunners will not enjoy so many opportunites and their defensive susceptibility will be far more exposed than it was against Burnley.

On that basis, any fanciful notion of risking Cesc Fabregas’ hamstring against Porto should be thrown out of the window immediately. I’d venture it may even be wise to rest him against Hull and West Ham to ensure a full recovery. The latter two are matches the team should be able to win without him. Anything could happen against Porto, but results over two legs against better opposition are cloud cuckoo land until the team’s defensive capabilities are addressed. It isn’t worth the risk when there is a genuine chance of landing the Premier League.

The poor finishing against Burnley, with Nicklas Bendtner the main culprit, made the game tenser than in should have been. The home side’s dominance was such that they were always likely to win even after conceding a somewhat flukish equaliser. However, I’ll confess the sight of the players dribbling the ball into the corner flag to eat up injury time was a welcome one. As with playing Cesc on Tuesday, why take an unnecessary chance?

Aside from the Aaron Ramsey banners and the chants, last week’s events at Stoke might as well not have happened. I didn’t get the feeling of any real drive or indeed bite from the team, with the welcome exception of Theo Walcott’s anger at getting a sliding tackle, which in fairness to the opposition player, never saw his foot leave the floor. Good to see some attitude from the number 14 though. He had the typically frustrating first half, but improved dramatically after the break. Why can’t we see the second half Walcott more often? He has the skill, but too often there is no end product to show for it. Let’s hope the prospect of not making the plane for South Africa has given him a much needed shot up the backside and that he plays as well for the rest of the season. His goal, a left foot effort no less, was the stuff of dreams.

Also an honourable mention for Emmanuel Eboue, who had a great game. I think this was helped by Burnley’s lack of ambition as he was free to foray forward with little fear of exposure in defence. Ultimately, yesterday will only matter if the team lose out on top spot through goal difference. With the opposition having taken one point from 14 away matches before the visit to Arsenal, it was fill your boots time and the opportunities were there to make a serious impression on the ‘goals for’ tally. As Pete Mountford texted me, let’s just hope the number 52’s goals to shots ration improves somewhat for the last two months of the season! Bendtner actually played quite well aside from his accuracy, but then again, the job of a centre forward is primarily to score goals. Maybe he’s saving them for Porto.

The chase for the title is simply down to winning matches and notching the points. It doesn’t really matter how it’s done. However, one thing yesterday proved is that – for the supporters – it’s going to be far from plain sailing, and that there really are no easy games. Man Utd struggled to take three points at Wolves, supposedly another banker before kick off. There are plenty of twists and turns between now and May. Arsenal just have to remain focussed on the next game, and winning it, although elimination on Tuesday might not actually be the worst thing that could happen if the Gunners do actually end up top of the domestic tree after May 9th. Obviously as a fan, I hope they progress, but if the captain’s armband is being worn by Cesc Fabregas when Tuesday’s game begins, I fear the consequences for the rest of the campaign. It would indicate mistaken priorities on the manager’s part.