The pitch was bumpy, the performance flat. Arsenal have still only lost one Premier League game all season, but I get the feeling they will have to win at Old Trafford if they are to hang on to top spot come May. Sadly, the league campaign has all the hallmarks of 2002-03. Great football, but too many draws. And Kolo Toure playing wide midfield yesterday to boot. Three points from three games is the equivalent of a win and two defeats. Is that title-winning form?

Arsenal were able to raise their game in Milan, but it was back down to earth with a bump at the JJB, in more ways than one given the joint use of the playing surface with the Wigan Warriors rugby league team. Adebayor had the two best chances. I can forgive him not putting away the first, but the second simply required a simple lob over the keeper. The player operates on a mix of power, speed and raw skill, but composure isn’t really a strength. It’s been lacking for all the players if front of goal of late, and even in Milan a lot of chances went begging before the last few minutes. And there are times the team need more. Whether it’s down to mental fatigue, inexperience or simple lack of ability I do not know, but it’s a bit too prevalent at the moment. What is required to correct that may be a bit of luck, it may be a new signing in the summer.

What concerns me at the moment, given the relative youth of the side, is how many psychological hammer blows the team can take before whatever confidence remains is knocked out of them. Having put themselves in such a great position, to lose their lead now could have repercussions beyond this season.

Wigan played determinedly and did what was required to secure a precious point. Given the state of the pitch, Arsenal needed to exploit the unpredictability of the bounce by working it wide and pinging in crosses from near the by-line. Havoc in the area could result from such balls. Unfortunately, neither Clichy nor Sagna covered themselves in glory going forward and Wenger’s team fashioned few decent chances apart from Adebayor’s. Wigan’s keeper had a good match to keep out Cesc, who was the only other player I can recall coming close.

Arsenal can still win the title, and if they do complete the campaign without any further defeats, I believe they will. On current form, that is not necessarily something I’d place a huge amount of money on, and strangely enough, the Champions League suddenly looks to present a more likely avenue to success, if only because they won’t have to play as many teams who are content to simply deny them as their major motivation in those matches. Frankly, the best thing that could happen for Arsenal in Friday’s draw would be to get paired with Barcelona.

Middlesbrough lost 2-0 at home to Cardiff earlier today. So when they come to Arsenal next Saturday, they should, by rights, be cannon fodder. Why does it feel like it isn’t going to be like that? The only team to beat the Gunners in the Prem this season, what odds them doing the double? What kind of sport is football, when you fear Middlesbrough at home but fancy your chances more against Barcelona? Next up from the Twilight Zone… Watch out for Spurs in next season’s title race!