Arsenal in Win Rubbish Armageddon, but It's Not Yet Uhuru

It requires no burden of proof to state—if rather categorically—that the emotions of football fans are as fickle as the weather. To be sure, their bold outlines are not unclear, but to pin down, with certainty, their fine details is akin to the futility of pinning down a cloud, pointless as running after one's shadow (pardon the reference to a popular song).

So Arsenal fans, including this one, are euphoric. It'll be abnormal for them (for us) not to be—Chelsea fans, after all, are languishing in Cocytus, Manchester United’s somewhere not far.

Great stories even now are being told of the fantastic Arsenal eleven, of the team's unconquerable spirit (and who would have thought!), of the outstanding Walcott (!), and, of course, of captain America, himself...excuse me, captain Arsenal, the irrepressible Robin Van Persie.

One line has André Santos sprinting clear of the entire Chelsea back four and slotting the ball through poor Petr Cech’s legs and into the Chelsea goal!  Another tells of Theo Walcott waltzing through half of Chelsea's defense—no, the entire defense—falling down and getting up like a true warrior, and smashing his shot past the helpless Cech.

Yet another tells of the sorry John Terry kissing his own turf in humiliation,  as the greater superman outwits him, does a ring around—who else?—the pathetic Petr Cech, and tapping home. One final one, has four Gunners sprinting towards the Chelsea goal, like the Four Musketeers, while the entire back line of Chelsea retreat in terror;  it tells how the Captain himself blasts home a fierce bullet to incapacitate, once and for all, Arsenal's erstwhile tormentor.

Underlying all these euphoric feelings, and the inevitable stories that accompany them, is the question, why do human beings value entertainment as much as they do? Why do they identify with a particular cause, in this case team, and then give their whole persons to it? It’s all psychological, of course, but this is not the point of this article.

The reference to emotions at the beginning and here is not an attempt to indict, but a simple observation. It seeks to remind fellow Arsenalites—a little change from the usual Gooners!—of the ephemerality of emotions. Sure, we cannot be complete or normal without them, quite often, though, they are no different than a drug, which affords momentary escape from reality.

Case in point: Walcott last week and Walcott this week pari passu fans' reaction to the one and same person. (I couldn't help but bring it up, could I?) The whole thing is like Jesus and the triumphant entry one moment and Jesus exchanged for Barabbas the next, which is why I warned about giving in to the spur of the moment emotions and making rash pronouncements and judgments.

But here is the real point of the article. Contrary to popular opinion, Arsenal have not turned the corner. This seems to be the cliché on everyone's lips (including yours truly) in the wake of the benumbing victory over Chelsea. "Arsenal have turned the corner!" No, they've not.

A sober look at the Premiership table says differently. Let me state it as clearly and as directly as I can: Arsenal would have truly turned the corner when they can afford to lose a match, or two, without this having an adverse effect on their standing on the table.

As it is currently, they can ill-afford to lose any match if they hope to still challenge for fourth place come May, or if they hope to remain in sight of their challengers for fourth place.

Here is what I mean by affording to lose a match. Chelsea have lost two in a row, yet it hasn't adversely affected their standing on the table. Note that by adversely, I mean it hasn't injured their chance at finishing among the top four come May, nor of their chance of still challenging for the title.

Notice that as of this week, only Newcastle could leapfrog them, but again they may not. Compare this with Arsenal. Had Arsenal lost last week and this week, they'd be languishing somewhere at 14th or 15th, even 16th position on the table.

Had they lost this week (having won last week) they'd wallow somewhere around 10th or 11th position, far from where you want to be if you want to challenge for fourth place at the end of the season.

And even with this week's victory, Arsenal still cannot afford to lose the next match if they want to continue to challenge Newcastle, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

When you build a three to six point lead over your nearest neighbor, or more, with the same number of games played, then you could afford to lose a game, or two, and not be too seriously damaged. This is why Manchester United are still up there, Chelsea also.

Chelsea, of course, cannot afford to lose the next game if they hope to continue challenging for the title or for top spot on the table.

Arsenal are still well behind their three rivals, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Spurs. Arsenal may just be two points behind Liverpool, it still means they can't lose if they want to maintain the gap or narrow it further.

Spurs have two games in hand—going into today’s match—and could be six points ahead of Arsenal, which means, again, Arsenal cannot afford to drop any match.

In sum, Arsenal are yet to turn the corner, if by turning the corner it is meant being in a solid position on the table relative to their nearest rivals. A single loss could send Arsenal plummeting down the table. Furthermore, a single loss could sent the team's still fragile confidence nose-diving.

As a result of the foregoing therefore, fellow Arsenalites, enjoy the euphoria while it lasts. Funny thing is, it may last barely three days.

Arsenal, remember, host Marseille on Tuesday. Marseille are a wounded lion; there's no telling what the outcome of this match could be. I hope for a win, but I need to be prepared for any untoward outcome.

As far as the Premier League is concerned, let's hope for four more straight wins. Perhaps after then we could re-assess the situation to determine whether Arsenal have truly turned the corner and could afford to lose some matches when or if adversity calls for it.