For Arsenal conceding a goal away without reply, in reality it meant they had little chance in the return match at the Grove. Yes they couldn’t score, but once PSV kindly scored for Arsenal the Gunners should have kept a clean sheet. Yet they conceded a stupid free kick, and then failed to defend the kick. Yes Arsenal had lots of chances, and the blame could be put on the strikers, but credit also has to be given to PSV defenders.

Last year it was not Arsenals attack that got them to the final, it was the defence. They did not concede a goal against Real or Juve, and broke the CL record for going the most games without conceding. They knocked out Real with only one goal in total. They scored no goals in Turin. Try and imagine Arsenal's defence doing that this season, go on try. The whole stadium had a premonition, with 7 minutes to go, 60,000 people saw a goal coming from a PSV free kick that the Gunner’s defence could not

For some reason, this season, Arsenal cannot keep a clean sheet in any game. That’s ok against Premiership teams, you can recover the situation, in Europe it just won’t do.

Maybe the best thing that happened to Liverpool was going out of two cups in a few days, and maybe winning in two cups in the same time was the worst thing that happened to the Gunners. Not because of fatigue, but because it undermined the squad, costing Henry, Adebayor, Eboue and Kolo. It has taken its toll.

Nonetheless it is no time for joining in the caterwauling that the season is over, it is clearly not, third, or even second place can be won, that is very important. It is important not because of the CL place, although that is a serious matter, but because it is a launching pad for winning the league next season.

A team that finishes 4^th will not win the league the next season, a team that finishes 3^rd or second is a real contender. That’s what Arsenal have to do this season finish as high as possible. Going out of the CL may prove to be a silver lining, as our competitors will have extra games of CL and FA Cup.

However it won’t be easy, with Henry out for 3 weeks, at least, RvP still injured, and Adebayor out of action thanks to those bastards at the FA, what could have been far easier will be very difficult.

The next three matches are Villa, Everton and Liverpool away, a tough programme. If the Gunners can get at least 5 or 6 points out of these games, then once the cavalry return it could be game on and a very exciting finish to the season.