SOME defeats during a long season are gone and forgotten in an instant, others are quickly dismissed as ‘just one of those days’; but Arsenal’s set-back against Newcastle United yesterday is the kind of defeat that requires a complete and total reassessment of how the campaign is being approached.

DIDIER DROGBA finally found a way to eclipse John Terry in the headline stakes last night as he produced a powerful two-goal performance against Arsenal that not only sent Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League but re-focused attention away from off-field sexual intrigue and back to the more straightforward business of football.

THE cry went out ‘stand up if you want to win the Premier League’, and Arsenal stood up.

WHAT A difference a month makes in the most unpredictable title race the Premier League has ever seen and what a difference Cesc Fabregas makes in just 27 minutes on the pitch.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is planning to be without Robin van Persie for the rest of the season as he believes the striker could be ruled out until May.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.