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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
27 Mar	5:45 PM	P	Birmingham City (A)	1	1	Draw

I don't want to talk about the Birmingham game. Needless to say, it hurt me about as much as that 2-2 draw back in '08. I might talk about it in depth tomorrow, but for now I'm still too emotional, and my article could end up being as x-rated as Wenger's press conference yesterday.

What is there to say about it anyway? It might not even be that important with United and Chelsea playing next week, but it's just devastating. It's a harsh reminder that we can't finish teams off and our goalkeeper has plenty more mistakes in him this season. Lots to look forward to.

We got a bit over excited about our title credentials, myself included, even though I desperately try to remind myself that it's an achievement even to challenge. Let's keep that in mind for the rest of the season, rather than setting ourselves up for a greater fall. No matter what they say, and there's been a lot this week, these players have never won anything, and don't know what they're talking about when they say they're good enough to do it. Sol Campbell has won more trophies than the rest of our squad put together.

Same goes to Wenger. Don't insult us fans by telling us Almunia's improved. We're not blind. There are mistakes in him, and there will probably be more as the season goes on.

Let's just forget it ever happened. Barcelona next. That's the big one on everyone's minds, and there's been a lot of talk about it already.

Wenger insists he won't 'man-mark' Lionel Messi. He told Arsenal.com: "Once you start to man-mark one, it can work but in exceptional teams you have two or three you have to man-mark and then you have to go to a system where you could create your own problems just by following somebody everywhere."

That's probably wise. Messi, with his amazing ability to find space inbetween crowds of defenders, is hardly someone you can mark anyway. The best thing to do would be to stop the players who give him the ball. Make life difficult for Xavi and co, close them down quickly and make them rush their passes. One thing that might work in our favour is that we're faster than them. They rip teams apart in La Liga, but if we actually play in quite an English way, the pace of the game might be too much for them. It's a long shot, but it's one advantage we might actually hold over them.

That, and their dodgy goalkeeper Valdes. He's no Almunia, but he's a weakness in their side, and although it's not our style, again the more English approach of shooting from range and testing him with crosses might be an idea.

Wenger also mentioned Henry, and says that despite his legendary status for the club, he's just another opponent when the game kicks off: "I think it will be very emotional for him to come back to the Emirates. He will get the great reception that he deserves as one of the historical players of the Club. But when the game starts don't forget that we play for the Quarter-Final of the Champions League. We will forget that he played for us."

Meanwhile, the man himself admits that playing at the Emirates will be like coming home: "I'm very emotional, but also staying calm. It will be a strange game for me. Before the draw I said that I did not want to face Arsenal. That was my wish. But now that's the game we've got and we'll have to give everything.

"It's very special. To return home is strange and even more so in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It will be different because I spent seven years at Highbury and only one at the Emirates, but to see the people, the fans and the other employees at the club again will be very strange."

When Henry left the club, it seemed like the best thing for everyone involved at the time, and even more so when the team performed so well after he left, so in many ways I never found the time to get that emotional about it, so this match will be a real reminder for me that he's gone. Seeing him playing against us will just be so strange. I admit I'd never really imagined it before.

Still, let's hope there'll be more to talk about than Henry once the game's over. I'm strangely confident and really looking forward to this, mostly because it's a welcome escape from the emotional rollercoaster ride that is the title race.

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