As I lay awake in bed late on Thursday night thinking about all the permutations between now and the end of the season and what might be at Anfield on Sunday, it dawned on me - this can't be healthy! For Arsenal fans of a certain generation, this will be the first title race they've experienced. I've been there, seen it, done it, got the t-shirt but it's been a while.
The truth is, I'd forgotten how intense it gets once you reach the final stretch. Let alone when you're being chased by one of the greatest sides this league has ever seen in Manchester City - who you wouldn't bet against winning all of their remaining games. The tension is unbearable but stating the obvious, you'd rather be in this position than not - so how do we cope?
Assuming this is the start of a special time at Arsenal and that this could (fingers crossed) turn into a regular thing, I figured that while I was laying awake stressing about what may or may not happen I'd try to come up with five rules to help me and you cope with the emotional rollercoaster we're going to be riding in the coming weeks. So here goes...
1. Don't dwell on past traumas
Arsenal are no longer a side with a 'soft underbelly'. Mikel Arteta's worked incredibly hard to change the culture in north London and the club's current league position is no fluke. We're a bloody good team & we won't go down without a fight.
The combination of having assembled a hungry group of players, elite level coaches and the incredible spirit and camaraderie within the camp has changed the dynamic completely.
Going into Sunday's game it would be easy to get caught up on the fact we've lost 5-1, 3-1, 3-1 & 4-0 on our last four visits to Anfield but we're not that team anymore (and neither are they) therefore those results that will undoubtedly be on your mind are... I'd say irrelevant.
2. Don't obsess over Man City's results
We're top, not them and at the time of writing this, we've got an eight point lead. If anybody should be obsessing over somebody else's results, it's them! Our destiny is in our own hands so that's where our sole focus should be.
I turned up at Emirates Stadium last weekend not expecting much from Liverpool when they travelled to City in the early game but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little bit excited when Mohamed Salah opened the scoring. I allowed myself to get suckered in, got my hopes up for nothing and when Pep Guardiola's side came back to thrash the Reds, I found myself having to mentally reset before we kicked off against Leeds.
Don't do it to yourself, it's not worth it.
3. Remind yourself of how far we've come...
I know rule number one was don't dwell on past traumas and I stick by that. But sometimes it's important to look back, albeit briefly, in order to remind yourself of just how far this team have come in the space of 18 months.
That will ground you, remind you that we have no divine right to win the Premier League this season and that if anything, we're ahead of schedule. In doing so, you'd be kind of preparing yourself for the disappointment we might face come the end of May.
'Failing to prepare is preparing to fail' - Benjamin Franklin
This might sound a little pessimistic but I said I'd come up with some rules to help us cope - not press a magic button and erase everything we've been through in the past decade.
4. Support the team with every fibre of your being
I've been a season ticket holder at Emirates Stadium since the day it opened and the atmosphere around the place has never been better. We've got the best away support in the land and do not underestimate the impact we've had on the team this season.
Arteta often talks about the crowd's energy being transmitted onto the pitch and how much of a difference that can make. He highlights it at pretty much every opportunity he gets and that's 100% deliberate. He's constantly planting seeds that are growing in our subconscious and those who moan and groan rather than encourage are now the minority - that wasn't always the case!
Going into this nine games, they need us more than ever.
5. Enjoy the ride
I've left this one until last because it's probably the hardest one of the lot to adhere to. We can only enjoy the ride if we end up as Premier League champions right? Incorrect!
Every three points is another step towards achieving what was unthinkable at the start of the season so when we win, have that beer, celebrate it with your friends, family and fellow Gooners. That's what football is all about!