FourFourTwo's resident Gooner Ben Welch looks ahead to ArsenalâÂÂs visit to Villa Park on Saturday....
This week has left me questioning why I do it to myself. I feel like IâÂÂve been going through a rough patch with a girlfriend and IâÂÂm questioning the relationship.
Emotionally drained, saddened with how things have turned out and tempted by something new and exciting I want to part company with my long term commitment.
My head is telling me itâÂÂs time to cut my ties and move on, but my heart and deep seeded love have convinced me to listen to the words of Stevie Wonder â âÂÂWe can work it out.âÂÂ
Sadly no girlfriend, but thereâÂÂs a marriage I just canâÂÂt take to the divorce courts â my one with Arsenal Football Club.
ItâÂÂs been a miserable week. Last SaturdayâÂÂs demoralising defeat to North London rivals Tottenham was like finding out your wife has been cheating on you with your best mate.
The misery continued with a mid-week defeat to Braga in the Champions League, compounded by Spursâ qualification for the next round following a 3-0 victory at home to Werder Bremen.
At lunchtime on Saturday we have a chance to bounce back away to Aston Villa. Owing to an unforgiving work schedule I havenâÂÂt been able to keep up-to-date with the latest team news coming out of Emirates Stadium, but I have been dipping in and out of the ESPN Goals app on my X10 android phone.
One of the news stories revealed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted thereâÂÂs a mental weakness about his team, but insists he will âÂÂgive every drop of bloodâ to turn them into winners. I hope the players are generous donors because I feel like Dracula coming off a vegetarian diet.
IâÂÂm not going to be able to wait to watch Match of the Day â but if the ball hits the net at Villa Park IâÂÂm going be watching it within minutes of it happening with the ESPN Goals app.
This app enables fans to see all the goals and highlights from the Barclays Premier League over the next three seasons â moments after theyâÂÂve happened.
And having purchased the X10 before November 26 IâÂÂm in with a shot to spend it like Beckham. By trying to pick talkSPORT's winning goal of the week IâÂÂve registered my phone into the draw for a ã100,000 winfall.
The festive period might just define our season â every fist punching, teeth clenching moment of joy wonâÂÂt be missed because I downloaded the app this month and have it free for the next three months.
Sadly, so will every lip quivering moment of despair, but IâÂÂm a glutton for punishment and this is life IâÂÂve chosen â this is the life of a football fan.
