Few things can be more depressing than the erratic Arsenal form this season. Climate change is one of them or, moreover, the reluctance of North American federal governments to do anything about it in Washington and Ottawa.

However, not managing to see one Arsenal match since losing away at Sheffield has to rank quite highly for any Gooner. Two-minute (ha ha!) text updates on BBC and Sky websites just doesn't make it, especially when you miss the 6-3 mauling by the Beast up at Anfield.

As I last wrote, Arsenal didn't have a natural goal-scorer and I longed for Aliadière and the Beast to be upfront together. Well, against Portsmouth and Sheffield I was beginning to eat my words but they were outstanding that night… or so I read. The other pleasing feature of our game is how (it seems!) we have been sitting back rather than dictating the flow of the game, to use our counter-attacking skill. Shades of 2004 returning?

What a shame, though, that our 2007 form is so recent. After winning at Old Trafford, I thought we had found our game but we slipped up all too frequently thereafter. Now our big test arrives on Sunday.

Frankly, Sir Alex and Man Utd have a little bit too much class to be mauled too readily. Of one thing, we can be sure. Already, he's rubbing his hands with relish and practising how he can hide a smirk should ManU be the first team to win at the Emirates.

Arsenal's task must be to totally trounce them, as they did to us some seasons ago, totally dent their pride and confidence and then win all our following matches with such style and scorelines that, when they look over their shoulder, they start to think: "Hey, that might be a 12 point gap but, boy, we can't afford to throw too many away at this rate."

When they start to think like that, the nerves will wobble, the mistakes will be made and then, in the midst of FA Cup and Champions League, maybe an injury or suspension or two, those points will drop away which we must be ready to devour.

And that's pretty much how we missed doing a back-to-back double in 2003.

Yet, Sir Alex and Man Utd have a little bit too much class to slip up like that, don't they?

Not really. In the 1990's one Frenchman saved them for three or four seasons, and they had no consistent opposition for much of that period; Newcastle were too flaky, Blackburn lasted one season and it was only Mr Wenger who started to put the pressure on. 2000 and 2001's Premiership titles came when we could not find consistency after losing Overmars and Petit while Pires, and arguably Henry, had not quite settled in.

Otherwise, ManU have only ever mugged us: 1999 and 2004 FA Cup semi-finals; 2003 league title; the 49 unbeaten run.

To stop them doing so again, we must set out, even without Gilberto, with total concentration, endeavour and will to play them off the park.

Once we have done so, we need to be ruthless in every match for the rest of the season so that, come May, we can think: "Now, that was an interesting season, wasn't it?"

In the meantime, I just hope that I have the money to go down to Champs Bar on St.Laurent to watch the match at 11a.m. I'm sure they will charge entry and a pint or two of the exquisite and compulsive Boréale Rousse is essential. The erratic payment of freelance journalism is another of those depressing things!