There is no point in repeating what dozens of others have said this morning and will continue to say all week and beyond. My take is this: quite simply, we threw it away, but not because Clichy fell over, and not because we don’t close down people when they are about to take pot shots, but because the players who think they are so good are not as good as they think they are, nor as good as Arsene likes to think. If they were so good, they would not have conceded any of the three goals they did in the second half and probably not have allowed the arrogant little turncoat that Bentley is to shoot from long distance for “that” goal.

A few thoughts for the boys:

*Adebayor, you may score a lot of goals, but you are a lazy, clumsy and overpaid oaf.
*Theo, you may have improved a lot, but you must remember to take the ball with you when you go on a mazy run.
*Sagna, you were brilliant last season, but you are suffering second-season-itis just now.
*Gallas, you are not a leader – we know that, but when will it sink in with you? Please, swallow your pride, resign as captain and concentrate on defending.
*Clichy, if in doubt, boot it out or kick it long but don’t dilly dally on the half way line.
*Cesc, you can’t do it all alone, we know that, but have a few more shots, don’t always look for the killer pass. Against keepers like Gomes, there will be plenty of rebounds which even Adebayor might not miss.

And for the boss, Arsene please, please, please:

*Get in a proper defensive coach – and before Saturday at Stoke plan for how you will deal with the long throws from Delap!
*Tell the stupid boys to get in some blocking tackles, from the first minute to the last
*And above all, tell them to shoot more and earlier in the game; we might score first on occasion and may be even second and third that way.

A few years ago, in the Invincibles season I think, we played Sunderland at Highbury and went 3-0 up inside 15 minutes. The rest of the game was so boring I read the paper at one point. We have the players to beat most teams but we don’t kill them off; they need to get that killer instinct to the front of their brains sooner rather than later.

And, finally, as our esteemed editor said the other week, we won’t win the Premiership this season or another as long as we play this way. We may win a Cup or two, may be; what I can predict with some certainty is that we will see a heck of a lot more goals this season. Prepare for more of the same, like last night. It may not be football as would we would like, but it is what we are going to get this season.