I have to give Arsene Wenger his due here, because his was one of the few voices of reason to be heard after Arsenal outplayed and beat the club that most in the football world see as the biggest obstacle to Arsenal winning the Premier League title this season.
So while most of fans and many former Gunners in the football media were getting very excited about our win over Man City and talking about it being a major stepping stone to the trophy in May, the manager was quick to play it down and see it as just one small step.
In fact, Wenger suggested in the build up to our defeat against Southampton that there was a danger of being too confident after a big win. As reported on the Arsenal website he also spoke about the players needing to keep in mind the painful feelings of disappointment that a defeat brings as well as the elation of winning.
The Frenchman said, “The confidence following a victory like the one against Manchester City increases dramatically. What you want to maintain is the urgency and remember how much a defeat hurts. That balance between confidence and urgency has to be right.”
I don’t know about you guys but to me that sounds as though the boss was half expecting us to come a cropper after the highs of beating Man City, if not as soon as Boxing Day then at some point. One thing is for sure, the players will not have to think hard to remember the pain of losing now, but will it ensure that we put this latest loss quickly to one side?