Watching Arsenal

Oh, don't they just put you through it. This is the season when Arsenal should be triumpohant. Chelsea are imploding, Man U making very fitful progress, and Man City are much more vulnerable than in recent years. So Arsenal, with their stability, strong squad and established new stadium should be strolling out in front. But no. They contrive to lose to West Brom, and are always capable of giving away the silliest goals. And yet, and yet.... 

Their UEFA adventure wasn't much better. Giroud gets stupidly sent off in the first game, which they unexpectedly lose. He's missing for the second, which they also lose. It's all down hill from then on - except that it isn't. They perform the most outrageous escape since Houdini, and on Wednesday night they managed to beat Olympiakos 3-0 away, to establish their place in the final rounds for the sixteenth season running. They may blow it fairly soon, because they often do, but for the moment they've given their long-suffering fans a real treat to savour. We shan't get many nights like this.