I'm a great believer in that a mistake is a life lesson unless you don't learn from it the first time. So when we fielded a weakened side in the Ukraine it occurred to me that this is a pattern that has repeated itself in virtually every season in recent years. It is usually in the League Cup that we lose with an under strength team and then the first eleven follow suit and have negative results for the next 3 or 4 games. And this always seems to happen in November. After our defeat midweek I feared the worst and I was very sad to be proven right against Newcastle.

In the early Wenger years we managed to get away with these wobbles, we'd drop points but would then right the ship before Christmas and go on a long unbeaten run that often led to silverware in May. But with the amount of loses the winners of the Premier League can afford now (last year withstanding) you cannot go missing in November and expect to still be competing come May.

I don't want to sound like a cracked record but Fabianski is flawed and is always going to be found out when the going gets tough. Other teams know how dodgy he is at coming for crosses and they bombard our goal until his customary cock up happens. Hopefully we'll now either give Chesney a go or buy in January, Schwarzer is not a long-term solution but I'd take him instead of having to shut my eyes for every corner and free kick.

We have also been targeted through the full back channels ever since Clichy and Sagna became first choices in their respective positions. once again we were exposed on Sunday with Sagna having a torrid time in the first half. I understand that this also has to do with the midfield helping out by covering them but their lack of tactical awareness is frightening. I know we all think we can manage better than Arsene but generally I bow to his superior knowledge. Yet when even I can predict with almost certainty that these things will happen you have to start to question how he does not see it?

I'd like to think that if Kieran Gibbs were fit he'd be first choice but I'm not sure that's true as it doesn't seem to matter how many bad games certain players have, they still don't get dropped. As I have previously stated I'd rather have Eboue than Sagna even when he makes mistakes like the one he made against Shakhtar. I feel you at least get an honest shift out of him. The only top class defenders we have at the club are TV and Gibbs, without them we have been found wanting time and again this season.

There also seems to be a lack of heart and determination with Cesc being one of the main culprits. Our home domestic performances have been well below par this season, we have given far too many chances to the opposition even in the big wins against Blackpool and Bolton. Our last four have seen us sneak past West Ham and Birmingham but lose to West Brom and Newcastle, which has cost us top spot in the league. Despite the fact that we are only five points behind I can only see another season as also-rans if we do not address fundamental flaws that are obvious for everyone to see - except the main decision maker within the club.