Flamini’s arrival has helped stabilise defence

As details of the draw for the next round were announced on the radio during extra-time at West Brom in midweek, and the terrace tom-toms transmitted the news of the prize home draw against Chelsea that was awaiting the victors, it was the thought of the ensuing familial flashpoint that immediately weighed most heavy on my mind and a clash with my Mum’s 80th birthday bash.

In truth, when extra-time had elapsed and we discovered that the spot-kicks were taking place at the wrong end of the pitch, I really didn’t fancy our chances.

Still if we’d bottled it, the bitter disappointment of a miserable drive back from the Black Country, would’ve been tempered by the knowledge of having dodged this potentially nuclear bullet.

I’ve heard Gooners grumbling that we could now be five points clear at the top, if it wasn’t for our curtain-raiser cock-up against Villa. Yet it could be argued that this opening day defeat and the resulting churlish “sky is falling in” hubbub from all the media Chicken Lickens, was the essential catalyst required for the unstinting run of success that’s transpired.

It seems as if it’s been so long since we’ve enjoyed the glow of a titanium ring of confidence that encircles the entire club with an impenetrable aura of that genuine “winning feeling”, that I’d entirely forgotten the pure unadulterated hedonism of its associated snowball momentum.

While I had my head in my hands, expecting each of our penalties to end up high, wide and not so handsome, our second string displayed a “what’s good for the goose, is good for the gander” determination, as they stepped up with the same god-given braggadocio that’s increasingly evident with each successive triumph of their first-team colleagues.

Having loudly celebrated news of Spurs and Chelsea dropping points in the draw at White Hart Lane, as we barreled along the motorway to Wales on Saturday, we couldn’t believe our ears as we bowled up to the turnstiles at the Liberty to discover City and United had both blown three-point bankers.

However, we all sensed that capitalising on such an unexpected opportunity was likely to prove far easier said than done.

Who knows if the Gunners had one eye on Tuesday night’s encounter with the fat Spanish waiter’s high-flying Neapolitans, but truth be told, there was a frustrating lack of focus in the tentative, first-half chess match with Laudrup’s Swans.

It was only thanks to a more energetic and inventive spell immediately after the break that the Gunners managed to slice and dice a home defence which wasn’t quite so stalwart without Williams at its heart. We could and really should have put this match to bed while our gander was up. Yet despite finding ourselves on the back foot, instead of the unbearably neurotic rearguard action we’ve grown accustomed to when the Gunners have attempted to close out matches in the recent past, there was a pleasingly composed air to the way in which nailed down our two-point lead at the top.

On the radio on route back to civilisation, they were debating whether the return of Flamini could prove equally significant as the addition of Mezut Ozil. On Saturday the graceful German midfielder contributed a couple of sublime moments of skill of the sort guaranteed to put bums on seats. &

By contrast, Flamini’s input might be more industrial ! in nature, but the Frenchman offers such a self-assured screen in front of our defence that his arrival appears to have breathed a long-awaited aura of unflappable poise into our much-maligned back four.

Szczesny is always likely to be guilty of the sort of mad-hatter aberration that are the calling card of every bonkers keeper, but even he’s begun plucking balls out of the air, dominating his six-yard domain like a genuine class act goalie.

Although I continue to retain the disconcerting fear that this first flush invincibility is all a bit of an illusion, there’s no denying the optimistic thrill as we savour the self-perpetuating nature of this burgeoning winning spirit. Meanwhile, to my massive relief, the cup game against Chelsea has been fixed for Tuesday night.

Having been mercifully let off this particular hook, I can truly enjoy the moment, without enduring a month’s worth of guilt over whether I could’ve actually put my adoration of the Arsenal before my mother’s love.