We’ve always been known to do things the hard way at times and Wednesday night in Kiev was another example. At half-time we should have been about three up but the old curse of trying to walk the ball in seems to be creeping up on us again and - but for Gallas - it probably would’ve cost us. Despite the second half performance, had the game gone on for another ten minutes after he scored we’d have won. At least we didn’t lose though. On the whole the ref was a disgrace. The linesman gives us a free-kick as the Kiev bloke had his hands all over Sagna but ‘El stupido’ gives them a penalty! Seems to me that Premiership refereeing is spreading to Europe.

Today we travel ‘oop north’ again to Bolton and I’m sure the boss will rotate the team a bit as a result of the amount of travelling the boys have done over the last week. I’d like to see Jack Wilshire at some point as he will be one of the certain starters on Tuesday night in the Can’t Care Less Cup. I’d also like to see Mikael Silvestre partner Gallas as he has experience and also Johan Djourou, Niklas Bendtner and young Carlos Vela, who could be a nightmare for an ageing Bolton defence. Alex Song has come on leaps and bounds this season and I think he should start today as Denilson needs a break. Song is strong, cool under pressure and fresh.

We could maybe afford to give Kolo a much-needed break as well because Bolton don’t have any pacey forwards any more. They were a bogey team for us for so long but our performances there in the last couple of years have been good. Being two down with ten men and coming back to win 3-2 when the chips were down last year and in the cup before that shows we can do the business up there if we put our mind to it.

Bolton weren’t really in the game against Fulham last week but they will still be dangerous so our defence has to be on top form. Last week at Blackburn we were a bit shaky and against Fulham we were dire. We just can’t afford to screw up as a resurgent Liverpool and Chavski seem to keep winning at the moment.

It’s also good to see Stan Kroenke join the board as he’s a better choice than the Russian. He’s made his money in sports and I think his involvement can only benefit the club commercially. If that means he’ll help bring in more money for us then hopefully the boss can spend. Whilst I know some Gooners and most of the board were opposed to him at first, you have to give the bloke a chance.