I’ve been trying to be optimistic about this season, especially as it’s the 20th anniversary of the Scousers, for once, being the ones who had something nicked from their backyard instead of the other way round. I was serene after defeats against Hull and Fulham, as these freak results do happen - I remember Charlton winning 4-2 at Highbury in the last double-winning season. And there’s been comparisons to that team - the youth, etc. But last night against Spurs was DIABOLICAL.

This lot have got NO pride, NO defensive organisation and love to faff about in ways that cost the team as we saw last night. If Wenger didn’t give them a huge bollocking, then he needs to as they need a big boot up the bum after last night. I thought when Hleb was sold then that would mean less faffing around and being wasteful but no, the spirit of Dribbly McNogoals (copyright Arseblog) lives on and it possessed Clichy for Spurs third goal. After the West Ham game, I thought the team had turned a corner - we won ugly, the defence looked pretty solid and we coped well with any physical stuff. Wenger needs to address some issues and he needs to address them ASAP.

Almunia will only ever be an OK keeper, he will never be world class - he’s 31 and hasn’t been capped by his country once. Now why do you think that is? I’m sure Darren Bent has a fair idea after last night. The keeper has improved since his disastrous first season but is still a liability at set pieces and I find myself praying to God every time the opposition get a corner or dangerous looking free-kick. Well done to him for his improved consistency but the bottom line is he’s not good enough for a team like Arsenal. Both Lukic and Seaman at that age p*ss all over Almunia and when compared to Cech, Reina or Van der Sar I think we all know who is the weakest, even if he may well be a nice man.

As for the defence, something needs to be done URGENTLY. Toure and Gallas do not work together as a CB pairing and although Gallas and Silvestre looked solid against Spammers, they were suspect last night and Silvestre still looks a tad rusty. Arsenal can’t keep the same dodgy defence all season as teams know how to exploit it and we all know too well about Gallas’ lack of leadership qualities.

We hear Le Prof claiming he has plenty of money to spend if he needs it and boy, does he need to spend it. He can’t keep turning a blind eye to the team’s defensive frailties and hopes it will go away as it won’t. Come January he should put his money where his mouth is and by another CB (not a short-arse one, either) who can defend properly, as he has never properly replaced Sol. What we don’t need is yet another promising 17 year old from France or some random village in France/Tanzania/Democratic Republic of Congo.

The same could be said in terms of a defensive midfielder - Song played well in that position against West Ham but Denilson is clearly not an anchorman. Wenger needs to stop trying to pull a smokescreen over these issues and prove he’s not bullsh*tting us about the money. People say signing big names is not Wenger’s thing but the likes of Overmars, Campbell, Gilberto and Rosicky were hardly unpolished diamonds were they? This policy of bringing youngsters through is great and everything but there needs to be a balance and Mr Wenger needs less faffing around and more action. The problem is here NOW and he needs to sort that problem out.