Well, well, well. Since last writing on the eve of Arsenal's away win to Birmingham, a real team performance and transition has been in evidence. No pun intended, the tabloids have exhausted them to the point of desiccation

The Birmingham win epitomised a new spirit of working together, finding space, supporting each other so, naturally, it was a shame to see some of the old inconsistencies in our performances coming back into the game, none more so, perhaps, than away to Liverpool. Having been informed that the Blackburn away match was being shown at 7 in the evening as a re-run, I was fed up to discover it had actually been shown as a re-run in the afternoon. However, sources reliably informed me that Arsenal started off very much as they had against Fulham except that Blackburn's early-ish goal, about their only true attempt all 90 minutes, transformed events from a football match to the usual quagmire but without the soaked pitch.

Again, it has shown that we have not really been outplayed on many occasions and Liverpool, in creating so many more chances at Anfield, have probably been the closest. How refreshing it was to outplay them at Highbury, although how profligate was our finishing? What should have been a 5-0 thumping nearly became a 1-1 draw and, one can quite understand Henry's peeved look when Adebayor skied an opportunity a milkman carrying two crates of milk would probably have converted. This all goes to show how the inconsistent form of our team in the League has made us drift so far off the top as, so frequently, we have not played to our potential. It has not been a question of sloppy defending, our record is second best in the Premiership, but of the inability to find our flowing passing game by not supporting and running into space and failing to be in position to break down the opposition to create our own rhythmic counter-attacks.

So, shades of 1980? On our day we can maul anyone. Réal Madrid were quite fortunate to have escaped so lightly over two legs. Moreover, Arsenal did the Castilian club a favour, forcing the resignation of Perez in his consistent endeavours to buy success rather than build a club worthy of their history. Like 1980, however, our League performance is indifferent while we excel in other competitions, this year the Champions League, then the FA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup.

So, like 1980, are we likely to triumph over Juventus? No Paul Vaessen headers in the dying minutes of the game this year in the away second leg to take us through before, a tired team, playing their 80th match of the season, lost on penalties to the Valencia of Kempes and Bonhoff. This time around, we need a clear-cut victory at home in the first-leg to avoid ending up with a re-run of the 2002 Champions League away leg in Turin when we seemed as likely to score as Tottenham are of winning a trophy. Sorry, Patrick, but your homecoming will only be to say a fond farewell. A very fond farewell indeed. Already it is amazing that pretty much every newspaper, two weeks before the Highbury leg, are talking up this supposed return of the prodigal son with more excitement than if the Queen were suddenly to abdicate. Unlike the prodigal son, the only fatted calf to be slain will be Juventus. Where we may have missed you early part of the season, quite simply, we've gotten over it. Quite simply, it was only poor luck in about three fixtures, our first away defeat of the season, followed by that one up at Middlesborough - when we should have been 2-0 up in fifteen minutes and, more bizarrely again, at the Hawthorns that allowed any sense of rot to set in, combined with a few crazy injuries. Once more, profligate early finishing cost us three points.

Yet, how this team has come together since the away win at Birmingham has amazed me. Hleb out on the right wing, as witnessed against Madrid at Highbury, against Fulham, against Liverpool at Highbury, is proving majestic. Where Ljungberg seems to have lost his pace there, Hleb has replenished the power of the right wing while Ljungberg's strength and intelligence of his game benefits a more central or supporting position. Gilberto also seems more comfortable this way. Combined with our other options of Diaby, Reyes, Pires and, when he may return again, Van Persie, our matrix options are appetite whetting.

Flamini at left-back is really putting in a head-down, committed set of displays. Unlike Cole in the same role, he does not really drift out of position in the same way. Senderos too has learned his lessons; Touré is masterful and, as for Eboué, will we ever see Lauren back? Of course, while all plaudits will, predictably, continue to go to Henry who is beginning to enjoy his football again, Cesc is becoming simply outstanding. If anyone thinks that Rooney will be the best player in the world in a couple of years' time just needs to look at the amazing passes Cesc is beginning to weave now, from the long ball to the diagonal defence-splitters.

So, shades of 1980? Not at all. Where Brady left, followed by Stapleton the following year, to put us in obscurity until George Graham arrived, this season's supposed transition has been very short-lived and 'lucky Arsenal' have been far from that. Having been forced to learn the hard way, the return karma will descend on other clubs in the near and medium-term future as their gloating at our temporary demise comes back to haunt them, leaving their fans weeping in their beer at the ineluctability of it all.

I have been supporting Arsenal for thirty years (I know, you never thought I looked old enough) in which time we have won 14 trophies and been runners-up in seven other finals, not to mention League runners-up 5 times. As I said in my second article of this season, I remain convinced that we will win significant silverware this season, and I meant more than the FA Cup. Trophy number 15 at the end of this season would be the sweetest, especially after all we have been through. To do so, we have to concentrate, heads down, continue enjoying our football but dispense with the profligate finishing and win the remaining 14 matches ahead of us this season to put a smile on our faces and despair among the Haringey Hopefuls to make 93 years at Highbury appear the mere dawn of a great era.

It is a shame to think that I may be in Montréal for all this time, most probably never to visit those hallowed halls ever again. Unlike Mary Tudor who died with Calais engraved on her heart, when I die – it will be with a Highbury smile on my lips. All of which tempts me to ask, has the Spurs trophy cabinet really gone dusty in an Islington antique shop? One can imagine Alan Sugar deciding to sell it as more cost effective than paying the wages of whoever cleans it, being able to buy another midfielder with the proceeds.