It's Monday evening, which must mean that members of the British media have sat down and decided which team they'll predict to win the league. Until next Monday, that is when they'll meet to decide on a new team.

It's testament to the unpredictable nature of the title chase this season that no one seems happy to back a side, or stick by the one they chose last week. The Guardian sports writers especially must be nervously wondering if people have started to forget that they picked Liverpool to finish first, and Arsenal to finish fifth. Good call by the way guys. Journalists must be cursing Arsenal's resilience though, as their dogged efforts to stay in the hunt means the whole things is much harder to call. Well I'm going to draw a line under the whole thing and say that I think Manchester United will win the league this season. Not because I think they're the best team, mind, but because United crawling their way to another title while their competitors are busy imploding seems like a horrible inevitability. Like death. At least in death I wouldn't have to look at Gary Neville dancing around the trophy like a goblin around a toadstool.

Anyway, on Saturday Arsenal squared off against the team with the worst away record in the football league. Burnley had taken one point from a possible forty two going into this game, conceding forty three and scoring just ten. The form book suggested that this would be the easiest game the Gunners would play all season. Well the form book could not have anticipated Nicklas Bendtner mistaking his shooting boots for his clown shoes. The big Dane missed a host of chances. Instead of scoring the perfect hat-trick (left foot, right foot, header) he managed to miss with all three instead. It took an inspired display from Walcott and Nasri (I don't think anyone saw that coming) to bag all three points.

Arsenal started brightly and Bendtner was soon played in behind the visitor's defence, but a good tackle and a good save took the ball away from him and behind the goal. An impudent flick from Eboué allowed Fàbregas the room to hit a shot across the keeper but wide of the goal. It wasn't long before the breakthrough however, as Nasri deftly chipped the ball over a static defence, and Cesc was on hand to roll it through the goalie's legs. He has now equalled Robert Pirès's record of 14 goals from midfield. He also has 15 assists. He turns 23 in May.

The Spaniard tweaked a hamstring and was withdrawn before half time, but not before his pinpoint pass allowed Eboué to run beyond his defender and square for Bendtner, who succeeded only in stabbing the ball wide from close range. The afternoon would not get much better for him: shortly after the restart he headed an excellent Walcott cross wide from six yards. It was the sort of chance that I could have finished, and I close my eyes when the ball is coming at me. It seemed as though the home side would be made to pay for Bendtner's wastefulness in front of goal when a clearance was headed straight back towards the Arsenal box, bypassing both central defender, which allowed David Nugent to shin the ball over Almunia for an unlikely equaliser.

Bendtner made a hash of another chance when Walcott cut the ball back to him in the box, only for the Dane's touch to take the ball away from goal, and his eventual shot was easily blocked by a defender. Theo clearly decided to take matters into his own hands, and after his driven effort was successfully saved by Brian Jensen, he went for placement with his next one. Despite striking the ball from the edge of the area and with his left foot, he saw it curl into the far corner to restore Arsenal's lead.

Burnley came close to equalising for a second time but their player shot wildly over the bar after Almunia spilled a corner. The miss paled in comparison to another Bendtner special however, as he contrived to miss an absolute sitter at the other end; Walcott's first time cross was played right to his feet, but from only five yards out the Danish striker managed only to roll the ball wide. He was withdrawn soon after to applause from the crowd, who are still collectively feeling guilty about the awful treatment of Emmanuel Eboué last season. Eventually the points were made safe by Arshavin, who had started the game on the bench after a spell on the treatment table, as he smashed in a left footed shot from inside the box. Three points and smiles all round, but talk about making heavy weather of it.

I think we can chalk up Bendtner's performance as a one off; every striker will have a game like that at some point, and before Saturday he had three goals in three games for club and country. The really pleasing performances came from Nasri and Walcott, two players who have been mired in mediocrity of late. Little Samir has looked extremely lightweight this season, scoring just once and often looking extremely anonymous. The same had been said of Walcott, but both players bossed their respective positions. Walcott's crossing was top notch, and he should have had a handful of assists to compliment his finely taken goal. Nasri's ball in to Fàbregas to set up the first goal was sublime, and after the captain had gone off, he assumed the bulk of the creative responsibilities in midfield, a task which he accomplished with great success. Eboué continues to impress at right back, providing Walcott with the kind of support he needs to be effective, and Sagna will struggle to dislodge the Ivorian after a run of good performances. All in all, a trying afternoon, but we'll take the three points thankyouverymuch.

The Ramsey saga rumbles on meanwhile, as the media are determined to milk every last drop out of it. I've already said what I wanted to say, but I think this article hits the nail on the head, and more than covers any further comments I'd care to make:

www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/35100/Ramsey_reaction_Written_press_deafened_by_shrill_chorus_of_ex-players.aspx