Let’s face it, Manuel Almunia apart (and even he was partly culpable for the first Doncaster goal) no-one in an Arsenal shirt covered themselves in glory last Wednesday night in requiring a penalty shoot-out to eliminate a League One side from the Carling Cup. And yet, football can create moments that can make a fan forgive a lot. And that last minute extra time equaliser was just one such moment. Eboue tearing down the flank, Gilberto racing into the danger area like the attacking midfield player we are crying out for and making a sweet enough connection to carry the ball past the Doncaster keeper and into the net. What a moment. Maybe a little short of Anfield in May 1989, but frankly, just what this Gooner’s Christmas build-up needed.

Arsene Wenger’s men (and boys) were seconds from humiliation. Maybe the likes of Henry, Sol Campbell and Dennis Bergkamp weren’t there, but enough first team contenders were. This wasn’t purely a youth side, and the cameras would have closed in on the likes of Gilberto, Senderos and Cygan if the final whistle had been blown without that equalising goal. Once it went to penalties, you felt that it was most likely to be the Gunners progressing, if only because since the triple Cup exits of 2000 (all on pens), I’m sure that a mass of shoot outs are a regular part of training build up in Cup weeks.

Wenger’s decision now is whether to stay true to the kids and first teamers in need of a game or start treating the Carling Cup a little more seriously. I suspect he will send out the usual type of Carling Cup side for the first leg at Wigan and assess the situation ahead of the second leg. Personally, I’d have no qualms about sending the first team out for both legs - there’s hardly any European involvement in January to worry about and a trophy’s a trophy.

As for the Premiership, Arsenal have to turn the corner after the disappointment of losing at home to Chelsea, a game that they really had to score first in. Sadly, luck doesn’t seem to be falling the Gunners’ way at the moment with disallowed goals, although Manchester City could rightly claim that it’s gone for Wenger’s team on occasion this season too. There seems to be a pattern of Arsenal generally doing well after the turn of the year – partly explaining Wenger’s remarkable record in the FA Cup and constant top two Premiership finishes. At the moment, a repeat of the latter might look unlikely, but it’s something for the team to aim for. Of course Chelsea are out of reach, but nobody else above Arsenal is and playing both United and Liverpool twice gives every chance of making the second automatic Champions League spot.

There’s little question though that the squad must be strengthened in January, and the funds seem to be in place to purchase a couple of significant signings. Since Wenger has been at Highbury, on only two occasions has he signed a player that has immediately made this viewer think – wow – Marc Overmars and Sol Campbell. How I would like to be saying wow a couple of times in the first month of 2006. The wow factor. I think that’s what Arsenal need now.

Here’s hoping all Gooners have an enjoyable festive break including a quartet of wins before the twelfth night! Hmmm…. Maybe I should be more realistic and go for a pair of socks!