Fabregas had this to say about their excuses.  “As a team, we need to be stronger, We can’t hide behind people saying we are too young or we have injuries. We just have to compete.

“People say you must learn from your mistakes, but you learn how to play football when you are 12, 13, 14, 15. You don’t learn these things when you are 25.

“Of course, you can still improve, always improve, but the basics must be there.

“If you play for Arsenal, it is because you have to have these attributes. That is why I do not believe age is an excuse.

In the past few years, we have been doing very well, but whenever it comes to important moments, maybe we haven’t been up where we need to be,

We have always tried to play our football, but the goals we have conceded lately have come from defensive mistakes.

We can keep playing the same style of football, but it is the mentality that will determine whether you win trophies or not. We need an extra edge in these big games.

We want to do well and get better and better, that is for sure. But, remember, these are teams that have won things recently and, in terms of winning trophies, are more advanced than we are.”

Thomas Vermaelen scored for the Gunners. The Londoners will have to work harder if they want to take this English Premier League from Chelsea or Manchester.

Personally, I’m rooting for Chelsea or Arsenal.

Saturday’s encounter between Manchester City and Chelsea saw the debut of Robinho, the most expensive player the Premier League has ever seen. The thirty three million pound signing played out a brilliant game, including scoring a stunning free kick, although despite his efforts City were still outclassed by Chelsea who ended up winning by three goals to one.

In other games, Liverpool beat Manchester United with a victory that ensured that they stayed second in the Premier League table. The score line (2-1 to Liverpool) was fair, with Rafa Benitez stating that “Liverpool were the better side in the second half, and the fans and players deserved the win”.

Arsenal also carried on their fantastic streak, beating Blackburn 4-0 at Ewood Park, meaning that they are in third place in the Premier League. The game was a thrilling encounter, with Emmanuel Adebayor scoring three goals to complete his hat trick, which was a wonderful achievement considering all of the transfer talk that has been centred around his future.

West Brom beat West Ham by three goals to two in a thrilling match, with the final score replicated on Sunday by Everton as they beat Stoke City. Fulham also played well this week, winning against Bolton (2-1) with goals from Gera and Zamora in the first half. Other games on Saturday included a draw between Wigan and Sunderland as well as a win for Portsmouth at home to Middlesborough, with Aston Villa beating Tottenham away on Monday.

There have been some huge problems for the Newcastle board this week, with “King” Kevin Keegan quitting as the manager after he stated that “he didn’t have the freedom to decide which players were bought and sold”. Fans have been getting increasingly annoyed with the club after Mike Ashley bought the club and former footballing legend Dennis Wise was appointed as ‘Director of Football’ at the club, forming to protest outside St. James’ Park almost every evening. Tempers were not cooled after the shock defeat to Hull City this week, which means that the club are trailing behind the rest, currently standing in sixteenth place on the Premier League table.

Mike Ashley has, however, given the fans something to cheer about after putting the club up for sale this week. The billionaire stated that “I am no longer prepared to subsidise Newcastle United”, adding that he finds it ridiculous that he can’t even take his own children to football games from the fear that they might get assaulted, although he did claim that he was very proud to have owned the club.

It has also been a very good time for English teams in the Champions League this week, primarily for Liverpool who beat Marseille by two goals to one in France. Steven Gerrard scored both of the goals for Liverpool, who now have the upper hand in Group D. Chelsea also enjoyed emphatic success against a French team, beating Bordeaux 4-0. Arsenal and Manchester United both drew in their games, meaning that they will have their work cut out to really get off the starting blocks.