Tonight will likely be a tense evening. As anyone who follows the Premiership already knows, Arsenal have been streaky at best in their magnificent new stadium. In a recent interview Thierry Henry admitted that the difference in space between Highbury and the Emirates Stadium has been quite an adjustment and that there are many situations when he has his back to goal where he would attempt a shot at Highbury but can't get his bearings yet at the Emirates. Unfortunately, Arsenal's precarious position in the Premiership and Champions League is not down to a lack of the spectacular. There have been magnificent blasts from Thomas Rosicky (vs. Hamburg) and Robin Van Persie (vs. Charlton) and Thierry Henry himself seems to be regaining form after the strains of the World Cup: after being subbed in in the second half of the latest fixture with Newcastle, Henry slammed in a free kick off the crossbar and had a later shot denied by the sidepost. Though Arsenal have had problems capitalizing on the myriads of chances their smart passing and pace usually tend to create for them (case in point, the home tie with CSKA Moscow), the biggest problem is not a lack of chances, whether spectacular or clinical, but the worrying trend of early defensive lapses that has been developing. In many of Arsenal's home matches, the players have started brightly enough but succumbed to one, lethal counter-attack which allows the opponent to sit back and defend, letting the Gunner's mounting frustration work against them.

With the loss of the experienced William Gallas who has been an invaluable addition this season, Arsenal have all the more reason to re-focus defensively. Obviously Wenger and Lehmann have to say things like "we're still in the thick of the title race" in interviews, but isn't it a bit more realistic, what with the form of Man U and Chelsea these days, to set some more realistic initial goals? I want Arsenal to win the league as much as anyone, but I'd like to start by obtaining solid wins at home against teams dwindling at the bottom of table. I'd also like to win against Hamburg tonight. I mean, if Peter and I are going to scream our lungs out in the freezing cold, we want some results.