We may have been knocked (temporarily I hope) off the top of the Premier League after failing to beat lowly Birmingham but I can honestly say that I have never been happier to be an Arsenal fan. Not only because the team are currently playing some beautiful football but because a quick look around the other top clubs is quite amusing.

I recently wrote an article for the Gooner website, in which l had a good old laugh about the trials and tribulations of Fat Sam Allardyce. Less than 10 days later he was sacked and Newcastle are now looking for their ninth manager in 11 years. What a lesson in how not to run a football club. About 100 miles south lies Leeds United, Champions League semi-finalists in 2001, but now mired in huge debt and trying to climb out of the third tier of English football.

Heading south-west from Leeds, we arrive in Manchester. As yesterday’s article on this site shows, Moan Utd might be playing some cracking football but they are walking a perilous financial tightrope which, given the downturn in the money markets, could easily crumble around them. The Glazers didn’t buy Man U because they are closet fans; they bought it to make lots of money. That will either come from a re-sale or yet further increases in ticket prices.

Head further west and we arrive at Anfield, currently the home of Champions League winner Rafa Benitez - but for how much longer? The new American owners have been sounding out other managers (Jurgen Klinsmann) behind Benitez’s back, despite the club’s supporters being 100% behind Benitez. I would bet most of my money that if Rafa leaves, Gerrard would follow him and Liverpool would be so much worse off. How do they think that will improve Liverpool’s chances of stability and winning more trophies?

Head down the M6 / M1 to London and we arrive at Sh*te Hart Lane, where the directors leaked the news of Martin Jol’s sacking to the media, before telling Jol – pure class! Head west to Stamford Bridge and we’re still trying to work out why Abramovich sacked the annoying but highly effective Jose Mourinho, before replacing him with a totally unproven manager. Maybe one day Abramovich will have the decency to speak to the press, and thereby the supporters who pay to watch his plaything.

Our journey finishes down the M3 in Portsmouth, where Flash ‘Arry Redknapp has been arrested for fraud and false accounting charges.

I’ve moaned like mad about ticket prices at Arsenal but I’ve realised how lucky I am to have chosen the Gunners as my team back in the 70’s. Arsène is a genius, the board recognise this and they have let him get on with building a club for today, tomorrow and the foreseeable future. Hopefully they have seen off any predatory investors and we can look forward to more stability whilst those around us shoot themselves firmly in both feet.

Arsène certainly does know!