Casting aside the obvious questions about how we can end up with a harder Champions league group than ManUre when we finished top in our group, it is evident that our form has dipped since the 'meaningless' game in Donetsk a few weeks back.
This is not due to injuries or amount of games but solely because of a marked shift in attitude.
Prior to that game our mental strength and resilience were as good as I've seen for two seasons. This didn't have to be the case for that game and clearly wasn't. We have never recovered as the disasters against Derby, Everton (we should always beat them), Spartak (one of the best in the competition) and Leeds testify.
ManUre on the other hand had an important game against Kiev that week where they had to maintain their attitude. They did and have done ever since and that is why they will once again win the premier league this season; and deservedly so.
I only hope we are spared the usual platitudes at the end of the season, because a lack of professionalism will have cost us dearly. We should have played a reserve team against Donetsk that night as we do in the Littlewoods every season and spared our first teamers the long trip to the Ukraine and, more importantly, the potential for complacency in attitude which we are now seeing, and which is an insult to Arsenal fans everywhere.
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