One of the reasons that Manchester United could afford to lose twice to Arsenal and still win the Premiership last season was that they didn't drop many cheap points against the type of teams that they would be expected to beat without too much difficulty. But Arsenal, ever a side to do it the hard way, will probably have to get results at both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge this season to be able to win the title for the first time since 2004. And in addition stop dropping cheap points against anyone, especially at home.

An article last week on this website stated that the team could probably afford to drop a further 11 points and still finish top of the tree. Well, two have already gone. Nine to spare. What went wrong against Birmingham? Something that could have happened at many other matches this season. The Arsenal defence was too lax and allowed the opposition a chance to score. This often happens from corners, but the team have been getting away with it much of the time, leading a charmed life. But one on one, too often Arsenal players are beaten when the ball is in the air, and that was certainly the case with Flamini against Birmingham's Gary O'Connor on Saturday.

It is a side of the Gunners' game which does not appear to be worked on greatly. When players arrive at the club, they either have the attributes to deal with this or they don't. Arsene Wenger emphasizes what happens when the team are in possession. As for negating the opposition, it really seems that he pins his hopes on individual ability in the challenge and superior fitness. Notice how often Arsenal do not even compete for the first ball when a long one is played from the opposition half to a target man. The emphasis is on winning the second ball. It's a price Gunners fans pay for all the other benefits Arsene Wenger brings, but it is unquestionably an Achilles heel.

The defensive line is fairly well drilled, but I suspect this is simply down to decent communication from William Gallas or whoever is leading the defence when Gallas is injured. A good offside trap is simply down to experience, clear communication and decent understanding. And the midfield pressuring the man on the ball at the appropriate moment. This side of Arsenal's game does look good enough to this observer, but offside traps are little use at a corner.

The failure to respond with a goal was partially down to Birmingham's own defensive ability, some very predictable corners from Cesc Fabregas (the team might as well play those short 50% of the time as crosses so often pose little danger), and Arsenal looking a little below their best. There were some who felt the team looked unmotivated, as if at 1-0 they thought the game was won and could coast to victory. Might you put that down to inexperience? Maybe not, as I can remember past Wenger teams approaching certain matches in this way. Maybe it's just something that is inevitable sometimes. Let's just hope it's a wake up call if that is the case. Fortunately, the team have a week without a match until the visit to Fulham and with the fixtures ahead, have the opportunity to regain some momentum and confidence which could make Saturday's game a blip in the way that early December was with the haul of a point from two matches in the north east.

The team will dip again before the season's out, but on those occasions must grind out a result, something they failed to do against Birmingham, but quite obviously something a title winning side does more than once in any successful season.

To conclude, a couple of emails on different aspects of the match, the first from regular contributor Adrian Wagenaar:

"Once your boss always your boss" seems to be apt for "Sir's" new friend Alex McLeish. Apparently Ferguson rang him to give him some encouragement before his big game on Saturday. Well Sir has lost his best mate Sam Araldite so he needs a new recruit to his little army of tactile managers who he can get to stick it up "Johnny Foreigner" whenever they play the Arsenal.

Thankfully our manager prefers the direct "one to one" approach when confronting his competition, the 2002 season, the 2005 attack vs. defence final which produce the greatest photograph ever in football - no not Paddy's winning penalty, but Keane and Ferguson together in joint disbelieve at the end of the game, a priceless piece of art.

So Alex the Younger, now you are sitting firmly at Alex the Elder's side, just a little word of warning. Firstly look what happened to his old best mate Sam and if you must keep such company the next time you need a crop of young talent to get you out of the championship or keep you in the Premiership would you please cross Arsenal off your list of compliant clubs as I would be surprised if AW will be quite so generous in the future.

And this one received from James in Reading:

I'd just like to tell the four idiots leaving the upper tier of Block 124 at the end of the Birmingham match that they should just stay at home in future. There was a bloke effing and blinding about our performance who then started a slanging match with two other supporters. It ended with a tirade of swearing and threats of "I'm gonna f**kin' come down there and sort you out you c**t!" etc etc

a) We were all disppointed with the result; even more so after Manure hammering Newcastle

b) There's nothing as fans we can do, we have to accept we dropped two points and believe that we'll make amends at the next game against Fulham

c) There were kids present! Some obviously looked scared and their parents were shocked by the language and actions of four "adults".

I hope that these four idiots realise how stupid they looked, grow up and maybe give their tickets away in future to someone who'd appreciate going to a game? They should be ashamed of themselves.