I watched the Man City v Arsenal match in a pub in Birmingham. The Bear Tavern in Bearwood. Except the bit from the 83rd minute until the final whistle. I’d seen enough by that point and left the pub, unable to bring myself to sit through any more.

You want the glass half full? Lots of chances created, Arsenal would have won this match comfortably had fortune been kinder to them in front of goal during the first half.

However, there is little optimism here. Even Wenger acknowledges his charges are guilty of over-elaborating the ball in the final third, the perfect goal syndrome. The possession and pretty stuff is all well and good where there is room to play it – but the opposition’s penalty area is never that free of bodies. There comes a time when you have to play the percentages and just have a strike in a goalbound direction. Works fine for Fat Frank Lampard in a Chavski shirt.

What dismayed me the longer the second half went on was that there didn’t seem to be anyone on the pitch taking the bull by the horns in the way that Tony Adams used to. There was a lack of leadership, and it seemed to me a lack of both passion and commitment. I hate to say this, but on the evidence of last Saturday, I’d even say this Arsenal side lacks character.

Yes, we are only five points off the leaders if we win the game in hand, but I fear that this is not the last performance of this type we will witness this season, and frankly we cannot afford anymore. What Wenger needs is a couple of experienced pros that are already familiar with the rigours of the Premiership. Okay, Gallas could be one, if he comes, but is Arsene likely to sign anybody else who does not need at least half a season bedding in time? Part of me thinks we are already looking at the Champions League for salvation of our season, which in August is ridiculous.

The Mascherano rumours are the kind I like to hear – at least he is a battler. But it would be asking too much for him to take this team by the balls in his opening season should he arrive after all. Lehmann, Toure, Gilberto and Henry all played on Saturday – the team’s supposed leaders. But the problem is that players like Pires and Vieira leaving has meant a change in the way Arsenal play. Pires use to thrive on the type of cutbacks currently being played into space to say nothing of his understanding with Henry. Rosciky and Hleb have been drafted in to replace Pires and Ljungberg but they don’t look the part yet. It could happen, but the clock is ticking whilst they settle in a young side. With opposition boxes packing their own area even at home, I think it’s time Arsenal played 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 – whatever you want to call it. More width. Less players in the middle and thus less options to pass for the players that do attack centrally – hopefully meaning a few more potshots. You don’t buy a ticket, you don’t win the lottery.

And finally. Ashley Cole. I can see the sense in not playing him in the Champions League, but after watching Justin Hoyte struggle on Saturday, the thought occurred. So what if he gets booed? So what if he’s going to Chavski? He is being paid a sh*tload of money by Arsenal, so play the brainless wonder in his position and let him demonstrate he has no beef with the manager or the supporters by putting on a decent display. Of course this will probably prove academic by the time of our next match, but one thing is for sure. Cole would not have conceded that penalty. Clichy – a retirement waiting to happen. Hoyte – left back for Sunderland last campaign. Traore – surely too young. Pascal Cygan? If Cole goes, boy do we need a left back.