A Treatise on Arsenal's Defense's Ability to Drive Me to Insanity

As we quickly approach an absolutely critical point in the season, I have to ask: would we be having this conversation if Johan Djourou didn't destroy his knee on international duty in August?

Gooners, we're on the brink of a month of hell, starting a week from Sunday. Just two matches, both against Bolton, separate us from:

• Day 1: FA Cup tie at Stoke City
• Day 4: at Aston Villa
• Day 8: vs. Manchester United
• Day 15: at Chelsea
• Day 18: vs. Liverpool
• Day 21 or 22: Potential fifth round FA Cup tie
• Day 25: Champions League at FC Porto

Who scheduled that? Bastards!

Anyway, surviving that stretch with any chance of still winning the league will require a few things: a squad that's healthier than it is now AND remains healthy, a few dependable goal scoring options, and most importantly, a defense that can clamp down on some of the top offenses in the country.

Now, Arsenal might have drawn a break for one of those matches with a rash of injuries hitting Anfield yesterday, but with that match still around four weeks away, Steven Gerrard should be back by then as well as Yossi Benayoun (thankfully, Fernando Torres will not).

The team certainly is getting healthier: Cesc Fabregas is back this week, Gael Clichy is just about fit, and Nicklas Bendtner should be available soon as well. Alex Song would be back from the Africa Cup as late as the Chelsea match (is it wrong to root against Cameroon in the hopes that he'll return faster?) This leaves the defense as the wild card.

Sol Campbell is back! But what exactly does this mean? Are our title hopes hinging on a 35-year-old? Certainly he has the experience to carry the team through a stretch like this, but aside from making sure the rest of the team doesn't freak out with pressure, what else is that going to bring if he can't keep up? Of course, we don't know yet if he can't keep up, and Arsene Wenger has praised Campbell's fitness. So, here's what we do know:

• William Gallas isn't 100% fit. He's also not hurt enough to sit out yet, but the situation is a lot like playing with fire. Without a back-up plan, the team could get burned. I'm not exactly sure what a good back-up plan would be when playing with fire... maybe keep some extra fire extinguishers around. This is probably the worst extended metaphor I've ever written in my life... how am I gonna get around this one?
  
• Sol Campbell is, therefore, an extra fire extinguisher (there, I did it!)
• Bacary Sagna has been dependable on the right side, as has Tom Vermaelen in the middle.
• This has all led to Philippe Senderos to lean toward jumping ship. With Campbell likely out of the picture again at season's end, this means a desperately needed signing in the summer.
• Gael Clichy is on his way back and Armand Traore has been serviceable on the left side in the absence of Clichy and Kieran Gibbs (who is still out for a while with a hole in his foot).
• Johan Djorou is done for the year after knee surgery.
• I would not trust Mikael Silvestre against Man U, Chelsea, Villa, or Liverpool.
• Extended to goalkeeping, the defense at the present time, clearly no longer trusts Manuel Almunia, and I don't blame them. Any cross into the box... is he gonna catch it? Is he gonna punch it right to the other team (Kuyt's goal at Anfield in December)? Is he gonna collide with as many people as possible while the ball rolls away (post-Rosicky's equalizer against Everton on Saturday)? Every cross is a game of Russian Roulette now.
  

So, what does this mean? Best case scenario: Gallas stays fit, Clichy returns, and everyone magically stays healthy. And Almunia becomes suddenly decisive. Worst case? Another rash of injuries and a few reserve call-ups to stabilize?

It's going to be a nail biting month, isn't it?