Arsenal’s previous European tie last April saw the dice roll against them when it came to moments that did not go their way – specifically decisions over penalty awards. Last night in Holland they were favoured not so much by the officials (there seemed some questionable offside calls that favoured the home side), but by FC Twente’s lack of ability to convert some excellent opportunities to score.

Wenger’s team could easily have been a couple down at the break and facing the very real prospect of elimination from one of the two competitions the manager has any serious aspirations to win. As it was, on paper things look positive for progress to the vital group stage and its attendant income. And there is even a school of thought that suggests Arsenal will only invest in the transfer market again before the window closes is qualification is guaranteed. It will take a huge reverse in the second leg in a fortnight’s time, when hopefully Cesc Fabregas will be playing again. But here’s a prediction. He will not start at Fulham the weekend before (might be on the bench) and will be a substitute for the visit of FC Twente.

I’m not even convinced either Cesc or Kolo Toure was genuinely injured last night. My belief is that such is Wenger’s obsession with pre-season preparation that he simply made a very bold decision that the team could survive without them – the view being that they will benefit from a more gradual return to the team after the approved period of exercises designed to bring them to a peak before competitive football becomes the two times a week routine.

I’m not sure if the defence missed Toure. The same errors would probably have occurred whether he or Djourou were playing, as it is presumably Gallas who calls the back line. Its positioning allowed the Dutch team their best effort in the first half when Almunia did well to prevent what looked like a certain goal. If the back four did not cover themselves in glory, the keeper had a good game, and it’s possible that now Lehmann has departed he will grow in confidence knowing he has an almost guaranteed extended run between the sticks.

Arsenal’s lack of solidity and generosity to the opposition is not a new story. It’s one that everyone is aware of and that the manager has to address in the transfer market. Fabregas’ importance to the team going forward is also well known, but last night, it really struck me that if the number four became injured, the team would really struggle and drop a level. There seemed little going forward in the way of rhythm and composure. Most of the time, the players were gaining some territory without really knowing what to do with it. There seemed a real lack of vision.

Denilson and Ramsey were busy but largely uninspiring. They covered territory, but the combination’s lack of ability to thread Arsenal’s game together quickly put more onus on Walcott and Eboue to do creative things that could open up the opposition. I hardly noticed either was on the pitch. Wenger will hopefully buy a defensive central midfielder to help out the defence, but the back up for Fabregas is an issue he needs to start addressing after last night. I actually think the next best player to Cesc in the squad – in terms of ability to read the game and play the killer pass – is 16-year-old Jack Wilshere.

Everyone is raving about this kid, and rightly so. And realistically, he can only be used sporadically. But if I were the Arsenal manager, I would have a serious look at him in central midfield in training, with a view to putting him on for Fabregas for the last the last ten minutes of matches that are already won. And if it came to it, he could start him for the odd game if the unthinkable happened and Cesc were out for a period of time. Yes, I know he’s not 17 until New Year’s Day 2009, but Pele played in a World Cup Final at 17 and Ronaldo was in the Brazil squad in 1994. Wilshere can play in the Premiership at this age because he has the talent. Remember the impact Ryan Giggs had as a 17-year-old? It’s a cliché, but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. And the award of the number 19 shirt to the lad surely means the manager believes it too. So let’s explore the options when games are safe.

As for the first leg against FC Twente, maybe it was just a bad day at the office, but the team looked fairly pedestrian to me in a game that really mattered. Possibly a sense of caution in their play inhibited them creatively. Who knows. In cup football, in fact in any football, the result is what counts and Arsenal achieved it through a mixture of experience (specifically Gallas’ run to score) and good fortune.

We’d have all settled for a 2-0 win at the start of the match, so let’s learn from the performance but take heart from the result.

Kevin Whitcher has co-written a new book with Alex Fynn. Published by Vision Sports Publishing, ‘Arsènal: The Making of a Modern Superclub’ is available in bookstores and online from the publishers. Type in the word gooner in the promotion code box to receive an extra deduction of over £2 from the publishers’ online offer price of £12.99. It can also be bought on matchdays from the memorabilia stall outside 170 Drayton Park for £12.99.