At this stage of the season, it’s all about results. The performance is an irrelevance. Three points were what mattered yesterday, although as soon as Arsenal had beaten Porto in the Champions League last 16 round, I had concerns about this fixture.

The manager’s priority is unquestionably the glaring absence on his CV – the Champions League trophy. He is not able to consider himself a great manager until he has won this trophy. Perhaps he is being harsh on himself. What it exposes him as is a poor tactician, but Wenger has still built great teams that play football that will always be remembered.

The teams picked for the matches against Barcelona did and will feature the best available players. A better policy would have been to play the best possible teams against Birmingham and Wolves. Yesterday, the manager got away with it. A week earlier, he did not. Arsenal might be a point behind Chelsea now if the manager prioritized the bread and butter rather than the vagaries of what is ultimately a knockout cup competition, albeit a glamorous one. If it were down to me, I’d have played the best possible team in all four games, and sod rotation. If the players aren’t capable of playing two matches a week, buy some who can! Momentum can prevent the notion of fatigue from entering the mentality of players. Ever had a really busy hard day of work and only felt the fatigue once it’s finished? You don’t feel it while you are actually working.

The starting line-up gave us a solid indication of who will play centre-back on Tuesday evening. Alex Song did not play the holding role in midfield, indicating he will partner Vermaelen in the Nou Camp whilst Denilson holds in front of them. The Brazilian brought some bite into the Gunners’ midfield in the first leg, although only once the opposition started to tire after the hour. One suspects that the front five players will be Nasri, Diaby, Eboue, Walcott and Bendtner. Three of these players were on the bench against Wolves, as well as Gael Clichy.

Arsenal unquestionably dominated, but were simply not clinical enough in front of goal. With better finishing, this could have been a result to match Chelsea’s demolition of Aston Villa. This Arsenal team’s failure to score many early goals has meant that they certainly won’t be winning the title on goal difference. There isn’t much to analyse about the match. The team did everything but score. Credit to them for continuing to plug away and win it at the death. After the Birmingham travesty, perhaps it’s better this way. Wolves only had time to mount two attacks to respond before the final whistle.

Five games to go for all the title contenders. What’s required now is for Arsenal to win the thing is, in the first instance, for them to win every one of their fixutures…
Spurs (a), Wigan (a), Man City (h), Blackburn (a), Fulham (h)

Chelsea to fail to win two of theirs…
Bolton (h), Tottenham (a), Stoke (h), Liverpool (a), Wigan (h)

And Man Utd to fail to win one of theirs…
Blackburn (a), Man City (a), Spurs (h), Sunderland (a), Stoke (h)

Although in some senses, it’s entirely predictable that Chelsea will win the title – United are without Rooney and surely, the only match Chelsea can drop any points in is at Anfield, this season has shown us that you can’t be certain of anything. Can Arsenal win their all of their own matches, for one thing?

After yesterday’s experience, I think the answer to that question is found in my thanks to Tony ‘Smooth’ of the RedSection, for his proposal of the title of today’s editorial. And maybe there’s a case for the ‘Wonder of You’ to be replaced by that particular ditty for the rest of the season.

I’ll be heading off to Barcelona on Tuesday morning and won’t be back in the UK until gone midnight on Thursday. Really don’t know what the internet situation will be although I’ve just bought a cheap notebook. Hopefully will be able to post some thoughts on Tuesday night on Wednesday morning, but if not, bear with me and hang on till Friday for those foolish enough to give two hoots about my opinion on Arsenal matters

The new issue of The Gooner, featuring an exclusive interview with Cesc Fabregas, can still be bought online here