Of course you should never bitch about your team’s performance after scoring six goals away from home. To do so would be to label yourself a ‘typical bloody Arsenal supporter’, and who would want that levelled at them? When all is said and done, though, even in the middle of what looks like an emphatic win, you don’t have to look too hard to still see the same problems that have been with the team all season. Much as I hate to p*ss on everyone’s parade, the only way we’re ever going to become a truly great side is to address them.

Firstly, we still can’t hold on to a lead. How long was it this time? Six minutes? This is Derby we’re talking about, not Milan or Madrid. It’s actually starting to look like a mental problem, almost as if we don’t really believe we can hold on. I certainly don’t. As soon as we put a chance away and get in front, I find myself looking at my watch. Plenty of entertainment value of course, which you shouldn’t moan about, but really good teams don’t allow the opposition to get back into it. We want to be a great team, right?

And the equalising goal itself. A simple set piece. If you can bear to watch it again, just take a look at what Gallas and Song are doing, or rather not doing. Neither of them even get off the floor. Yes, I suppose you could argue that Fabianski should have come and claimed it, but come on, can you honestly imagine any centre half worth his salt, standing around and waiting? How can you look to clear the ball, when you’re not even turning to face away from your own goal? The PFA have just recently announced that Clichy and Sagna have been the best full backs in the division. Can’t disagree with that, but bearing in mind how flakey our defending has been all season, what does that say about the centre of our defence? Exactly. It’s complete and utter crap.

With a little bit of spare parts surgery, you might just be able to put together one decent centre back out of our entire collection. They’ve all got something wrong with them. The problem with winning the Premiership is that centre half is the one position you have to get right before all else. George Graham knew it only too well. Do you remember how he used to stockpile them? Bould, Adams, Keown, O’Leary & Linighan. It breaks your heart when you look at our current shower, doesn’t it?

One other thing that needs to be addressed is the chronic lack of left footed players. In the second half, for reasons known best to himself, the Derby right back went total walkabout. Very nice of him, but the only problem was that when the ball was played out to that side of the field, whoever got on the end of it, immediately looked to cut inside. If you’re the covering defender and you’ve got even half a brain, you know which way our bloke is always going to go. I know Arsenal have got a history of employing right footed left wingers, but wouldn’t it be a bit less predictable to see someone not drag it back on to their strong foot and actually hit it first time or even, god forbid, go round the outside? The light at the end of the tunnel is the reserve team, who seem to have a few left footed boys who can do just that, so perhaps we should wait and see.

Yes, I know we played great football in the second half. Yes, I know Adebayor was majestic. Of course I’m an ungrateful git who really shouldn’t complain, but having come this far as a team, wouldn’t it be just great to get right to the very top? Who knows, we might never get another chance.