After Tuesday’s debacle, terms such as disappointing; frustrating; embarrassing; second rate were aimed at Arsenal which made a change as Sp*rs have long since been the team described in such colourful language. The tabloids have gone way over the top as usual, having a good old chuckle at our expense and Arsenal fans have let their collective feelings be known on various blogs and websites. Having sat through the dog’s dinner that was served up, I too felt badly let down by the club.

BUT - in a perverse sort of way, Tuesday night might actually be to the long-term benefit of Arsenal FC. This may sound stupid but I say it because Arsène will have learnt a hell of a lot about his players after such a mauling. The last time we were thrashed so badly (6-1 at Old Trafford in Feb 2001) we won the Double 15 months later, so we can trust him to learn from the mistakes and sort out any internal problems.

Quite a few of the younger players were hopelessly out of sorts and this defeat should serve as a wake up call to Messrs Walcott, Bendtner, Traore, Diaby, Hoyte and Fabianski. Those young lads might have all the talent in the world but they have won nothing yet and the arrogance creeping into their game is badly misplaced.

After yet another poor performance, stories are circulating that Walcott will be going out on loan and I wouldn’t be surprised (or disappointed) if we don’t see him in an Arsenal shirt again. Likewise Traore and Bendtner; both talented, yet both keep putting in poor performances and the latter seems to have a big attitude problem. Arsène certainly has some decisions to make.

Two things are for sure though - the manager won’t panic and he will put the needs of Arsenal FC above the needs of any individual player. However bad the performance (and it was bloody awful) we mustn’t forget that we are joint top of the Premier League, have a double header coming up against AC Milan in the Champions League and have a squad of players that is the envy of every top European club. One defeat doesn’t suddenly turn us into a crap club.

Over the years, Arsenal have developed a great habit of bouncing back from adversity. The 1991 Championship followed a similar mauling by Sp*rs and the docking of two points after the Old Trafford 21 man brawl. The 1998 Double followed an abject defeat at home to Blackburn, after which the players (led by Adams and Vieira) sat down and identified where things weren’t working. The 2002 Double followed the 6-1 thrashing by Man U and the 2004 Invincibles followed the capitulation at the end of the 2003 season.

I’m looking forward to Saturday when the return of several key players should see Arsenal prove that Tuesday was a one-off. If at the end of this season, Arsène has once again come up trumps and we have landed either of the two important trophies, Tuesday night will have become a distant memory.