Last night turned out to be the worst day of the season so far, for many reasons. Most obviously, we have lost for the first time since West Ham’s mini-miracle at Ashburton Grove in April so ending our impressive unbeaten run since the start of the 2007/2008 season. With three away games – and away games up north at that – in eight days coming up this is no time to lose momentum.

Just as disappointing was that we took the lead after some great work from Eboue and a delicious cross from Nicklas Bendtner, who was arguably our best player on the evening, which was finished off in true goal-poacher’s fashion by Eduardo – and then fell apart. Up until the equalising goal we looked comfortable and Sevilla looked like a mid-table team struggling for form. Senderos was badly at fault for what is starting to feel like a characteristic blunder, although Gilberto also had a chance to clear up before an unerring finish from Keita.

Make no mistake, Arsene gambled tonight and lost badly. Leaving Gallas at home was understandable, but less so than his decision to omit Clichy and Adebayor from the squad, as we have adequate cover at left back and up front. You do worry about our central defence come African Nations Cup time, as without Kolo we are left with Gallas, who is excellent but fragile, the ponderous Senderos and Djourou, who hasn’t exactly set the world alight at St Andrews. Their second goal was also disappointing, as Fabiano showed us what you’re supposed to do at corners by meeting a well-flighted dwlivery with an emphatic header.

The third disappointment, after the result and the fact we started so well, was our inability to mount a decent comeback in the second half. From an Arsenal point of view the game could have ended very differently if the referee, who was the worst type of homer, had awarded us a penalty when Eboue was taken down by Poulsen, but he didn’t and that was our last real chance. Bizarrely, the Dutch official then awarded a penalty against Senderos for handball, despite the linesman – who had a far clearer view – not budging, before changing his mind and giving a drop-ball. Such was the derision from the home fans that it was inevitable he was going to give them a pen were he given even a smidgeon of a chance. And so it was that Kanoute stroked home from the spot in the last minute of normal time.

So much for the match facts, but the major story we could be reading in the morning is Arsene’s petulant refusal to leave the technical area completely after being told to by the fourth official. He will almost inevitably be banned now, and while that is probably academic for the final game against Steaua Bucharest it may well prove costly once the knock out stuff begins.

It is difficult to criticise Arsene too heavily, as given the ten games we face next month he needs to rest key players whenever he can. Slightly worrying was Cesc’s substitution on the hour as a “precaution” after a somewhat anaemic performance, and this underscores Arsene’s dilemma: he cannot field his strongest team in every game, but has to juggle priorities to guard against a loss of momentum and potential injuries to key players. Ultimately Sevilla deserved the three points and having seemingly sewn up the group after three games we are now reliant on Sparta Prague to do us a favour if we are to avoid drawing one of the group winners in the last 16, where Barcelona lurk ominously. Arsene has echoed Mourinho’s comments from two seasons back that qualifying from the group is all that matters and they know far more than me about such things, but Chelsea lost out to Barcelona that season and it would be tragic for that to happen to us. In retrospect it may have made more sense to have fielded a stronger side in Prague, as we would still be top of the group had we won that game, but that’s academic now.

Lots of people have speculated how this young team will respond to a setback and now we have a chance to find out. Villa are a real handful at home and we will need to be at our very best on Saturday to ensure we take three points; I would say this is where Gallas’s much vaunted leadership skills will come in to play, (or not, as the case may be). If we can get back on track then I would be confident of taking six points from our sojourn in the north east, but another result like tonight’s could make it a long old December.