Arsenal are up against it in their pursuit of a miraculous league title (miraculous given the club’s transfer outlay in recent seasons compared with the others of the ‘big four’).

But the consequences are that, in spite of currently being first in the Premier League, the squad is starting to look a little thin. Let’s face it, Arsenal are up against it now. Teams trying to hack our lads off the pitch in an attempt to stop them playing – an approach wholeheartedly backed by the game and the media given the lack of condemnation of what occurred at St Andrews. Tough away trips to our two principal rivals await. Any sign of weakness is taken as a surefire indication that the team have lost it and are in freefall. The world is waiting for the Gunners to fall. It’s backs against the wall time.

And that is when Arsenal traditionally come out fighting, and it’s time for the crowd to become a part of that. Think about your anger last Saturday afternoon. At the thuggery that put one of our players’ career on the line, at the rank officiating stupidity that allowed a clearance at our end to be given as a foul and a blatant shirt pull at the other to be ignored. Channel that anger into 90 minutes of backing the boys starting from 3pm this Saturday.

Let’s turn our home stadium into a fortress. Stop eating bloody food while a football match is in progress and use your mouths to get behind the team you supposedly want to win the league. And if you are only coming for the ‘matchday experience’ p*ss off and give your ticket to someone that gives a damn about the team.

At times of doubt, the players need the supporters to create an atmosphere that encourages them and intimidates the opposition. Sorry Villa, it’s nothing personal. Could have been any team, but merely by being the opposition on Saturday, I hope you are chastened by the experience and will not look forward to coming back next season.

Let’s hear some singing, some chanting and some genuine encouragement for Arsenal football Club at high volume. Hell, you can even slag the ref or Villa off if you’ll make some noise doing it. Let’s see our home stadium buzzing for a change, and keep it going for every subsequent match. If the crowd can’t be bothered to pick themselves up and expend a bit of energy, the players – who in theory should care less than a lifelong supporter – can hardly be blamed for throwing the towel in.

Let’s be loud and become one with the team and get a hatful of goals to really get the season rolling again after a tricky couple of weeks.

This is Arsenal. Take pride in your club, believe in the players that pull on the red and whit and make your presence known on Saturday. Sing up for the boys! Think how good it would be if we can win that title and know that we have all played our part. We can do this! If Arsenal matter to you, now is the time to show it. Don’t wait for a trophy to be paraded by the players before showing some enthusiasm. Do it now and help the boys to land some silverware against all the odds.

Imagine how wonderful and moving it would be if Eduardo could take the pitch on May 3rd for the players’ lap of honour at the end of the season, knowing his contribution will not have been in vain. Let’s make sure we have either wrapped the title up by then or given ourselves every chance of doing so at Sunderland. If we can’t make some serious noise between now and then to make that happen, we might as well give up.

So let’s have a wall of sound on Saturday and make sure you are a part of that.