He who hesitates is lost. That proverb sprang to mind watching the half-time lowlights on Sunday. Only then did I realise how poorly had the recently improved Fabianski dealt with the charmless Joey Barton’s delivery from a free-kick that should not have been awarded. Ghosts from Arsenal’s recent past came back to haunt us. One chance, one goal. Same old same old. Arsene’s weekly email to supporters has just hit my inbox; he says of Fabianski: “… I don’t think he was expecting the challenge when Andy Carroll scored”. This unbelievable defence of our last line of defence begs the question: then what the f*ck was he expecting? As Americans are apt to observe, second is nowhere; Fabianski was in No Man’s Land.

In sport, as in life, one should always do what one’s opponents least want. A straw poll of Barcodes to the following question should tell Arsene who to make his new Number 1: when Arsenal visit St. James’ Park on 5th February, which Pole do you want in goal? They’ve had the unique advantage of seeing also Szczesny recently and surely, to a bare-torsoed man, would prefer the current incumbent when The Gooners are next in Toon. In the latest Gooner, Issue 209, Mike Hennessy introduces yet another acronym for Arsene’s doubters: DADs, Despairing at Arsene’s Decisions. How about: AKBEWICTG, Arsene Knows Best Except When it Comes to Goalkeepers? Just a thought.

It was more than a surprise to see RVP among the substitutes after the recent, seemingly justified moaning about Robin’s call-up for Holland’s imminent, irrelevant friendly. He only began full-time training on Friday. What does his selection say about the absent Vela? What does his introduction to the fray ahead of Bendtner and Rosicky say about Arsene’s faith in that pair? Perhaps all is not well in the state of Denmark, as Billy Shakespeare once wrote, nor the Czech Republic.

And to round off a miserable day, the Chavs lost at Liverpool. As Esteemed Ed reminded us recently, the worst thing you can give a man is hope.