With arsenal still just taking the first few steps on the road to recovery after
suffering the worst period the team has had to endure for many a year and setting a few unwanted records for the Arsene Wenger era, we could probably have done without this midweek game against a side that is not only the reigning Premier
League champions but who are quite a bit further down their own road to redemption while still needing some points to make their
survival in the top flight completely secure.