So a fortnight after our last away game brought three points and an overwhelming sense of injustice, we are off to face a side who are fighting for Premiership survival and will not be afraid to ‘leave a foot in’. Throw into the mix that they are managed and coached by footballs equivalent of the Krankies and you have the makings of a tense early evening at the KC.

It looked as if Captain Tango might be steering his sloop to safety when Hull took four points off Chelsea and Manchester City, but they have since been holed right on the waterline by three successive defeats culminating in last weeks five goal demolition at Everton. It is starting to look likely that Brown’s solo performance on the last day of the season will be a rendition of Brenda Lee’s classic

“I’m sorry, so sorry, that I was such a fool”

It’s good to see that Brown and Horton have developed a fighting spirit in the ranks as a way of attempting to survive the inevitable drop. Still, anybody who gives Barmby a slap is alright with me. Well done Jimmy Bullard. I hope he didn’t mess up your handsome boat!

Bullard’s return to the side is one bright spot for Hull, who will make a late decision on the homicidal maniac that is Stephen Hunt. Craig Fagan also returns after suspension.

Arsenal once again have barely any choices to make. Cesc Fabregas, missing against Porto, is unlikely to be fit for this one, and since Tuesday the extension on the treatment room has been filled by Sol Campbell, Bacary Sagna, and Tomas Rosicky. Alexandre Song completes his two match suspension for having his shirt pulled by Rory Delap.

Assuming they all miss out then surely only Emmanuel Eboue and Mikael Silvestre can plug the gaps in the back four. If Samir Nasri’s hamstring holds up he should feature with Abou Diaby and probably Denilson in midfield. Theo Walcott will come in for Rosicky up front, one would imagine.

The ‘holic pound, on an unlikely hat-trick, is very tentatively poised. Tentative I say because that side looks like they will take time to win the battle that will surely face them from the off. Song and Campbell will both be big misses for such a contest. We had to come from a goal down. at Stoke, and I can see a repeat here. So my pound is with Paddy Power at 15/2 that we win after going behind.

So, there we are then. All ready for another nail-biting clash. As usual, if you are going, give it loud and give it proud. I know you will, because you always do. At least those of us in the UK with ESPN will get a decent view instead of chasing streams for a nice change.

Thank You ‘Holics

Can I just take this opportunity to thank those of you who have purchased your Armoury stone via the advert on this site, and remind anybody who hasn’t yet purchased one that they are quickly running out. The only option remaining at under a hundred pounds is the white double stone, so act fast if you have yet to purchase yours.

Have a good one, ‘holics.

Twenty-four hours on, and I’m still buzzing after the Porto game. That was excellent and compulsive viewing, made even better by the fact I had a lie-in this morning and a day off. Life is good!

Now the preview was originally intended to incorporate another film by a fan (well they are all the rage at the moment!) of the weekend defeat of Burnley. Sadly it wasn’t quite ready by the time I hit the publish button, so a little late it is here.

Daryl was creating the piece around the banners of support for Aaron Ramsey, which was a good idea. For those yet to get to the Grove it is another sample of the matchday experience, this time in the upper tier at what is set to become the new Clock End.

A word of warning is in order. If you are watching this at work, turn the sound off. If you are a mother or father make sure your parental block will catch this. If Mum and Dad are in the next room, turn the sound right down. Daryl, you are a bad lad!

OK, now don’t forget to turn the sound up again, or they will wonder what you were up to…

Armoury Square Stones Selling Fast

Armoury Square is the new landmark at the Grove made up of personalised granite stones set in to the ground around benches dedicated to the Club’s greatest players. It’s a place where Arsenal fans will be side by side with the legends, and leave their message for others to share.

Over 10,000 Arsenal fans have already made their mark with their own personalised stones. I’m told, also, that there are now only a limited amount of stones available for Arsenal fans to purchase. The first stones will be laid in May 2010, and all profits from Armoury Square will go towards the Arsenalisation of the Grove.

So if you have been waiting until the last minute to purchase yours (so have I!) then can I ask, nay beg, you to do so by clicking on the ad under the Goonerholic title, or in the sidebar, to get yours before the chance slips away. I’m not averse to a bit of grovelling, as you can see.

UPDATE. I just got something of a surprise when I went to buy mine. The single stones are SOLD OUT. The red double stones are SOLD OUT. There are still some white double stones remaining, and of course the larger, and more expensive, stones. Whether or not you buy via my link, do it quickly if you were intending to buy these and thought, like me, you had all the time in the world.

First things first. Thank you Porto for coming to the Grove determined to attack at every opportunity. I can think of a few occasions when your positive approach would probably have earned more reward. Tonight however was not one of them, and with that, if you will forgive me, I have to start gushing about some of those who wore the red and white.

Nicklas Bendtner did more than put money in my wallet tonight. He justified the wonderful support afforded to him during and after his over-analysed performance on Saturday. The supporters who had applauded him so warmly then, and cheered him loudly tonight, will hopefully realise the effect they can have on these young players.

Young they may be, and with that youth come moments of rashness. The determination to play with Arsene’s ‘handbrake off’ tonight made for a nervous, yet still exhilarating hour. Twice Andrei Arshavin was instrumental in the big Dane hitting the target in the opening 25 minutes, and the Russian ripped the luckless Fucile to bits.

But what made that opening two-thirds of the contest such compulsive watching were the occasional mistakes that saw possession squandered and allowed the visitors to show their intentions. Strangely the odd gaffe was spread around virtually the whole side as we attempted to play at the limits of our capabilities. Not surprising really given the absence of steadying influences like Gallas, Fabregas, and van Persie.

Better football brains than mine were at work on the ITV panel, and Adams, Souness, and Gullit concentrated too long I thought on our perceived defensive frailties. When we made mistakes I felt that we rectified them. Manuel Almunia looked solid and we can only hope that he has finally exorcised the demons that have haunted him this season.

Ahead of him Sol Campbell used every ounce of his experience to get out of more than one spot of bother, and Thomas Vermaelen? Well, has there really been a better signing than him in the Premiership this season? I don’t believe so. He trotted forward to support the attack as often as the opportunity presented itself, but sprinted back every time and made a couple of outstanding blocks as we repelled the best efforts of the Portuguese.

Nerves though were not settled until the moment when the pick of the star performers on show, Samir Nasri, scored an astonishing solo goal. It was fitting that the man who ran the show should settle it decisively with an intricate dribble and emphatic finish.

Barely a couple of minutes elapsed before icing was applied to this particular cake. A Porto corner was cleared to Arshavin, Emmanuel Eboue made a lung-bursting run from box to box and was released with split-second precision to finish with style. The cherry on top arrived when the same galloping Eboue was felled in the box, and the man who couldn’t score on Saturday completed his first ever senior hat-trick from the spot. Well played Big Nick!

So the Porto fans will return home having lived in hope for an hour, but eventually extremely well beaten. They have a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle so I’m not so sorry for them. While they go back to their exotic seafood we plot a precarious course to Hull, the orange capital of the East Riding, and a couple of kippers, to boot.

On the evidence of Saturday and tonight Cesc can rest his suspect hamstring for another match. The now fully-restored Nasri is a natural replacement, and seems already to have a good understanding with Alex Song, so solid behind him most of the time tonight, and Abou Diaby, who did much of the labouring for his artistic partner.

Anyway, it’s time I toodled over to my virtual investment bank to collect my winnings. Cheers B52. I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Big props to the defence too, however. As any mother of teenage boys will tell you, a clean sheet is a rare delight to be savoured.

G’night ‘holics.

“We know it’s a tricky game, as it always is in the Champions League against an opponent of Porto’s quality, but we believe we can do it. We are confident and are in a good position, so let’s go for it.”

I have to say in just a month Arsene has gone from a man who looked as though the cares of the world were resting heavily on his shoulders, to one exuding determination. Not confidence. Sheer determination. It is as if he is willing his charges to over-achieve in the two months that remain of the 2009-2010 season.

Yes, on 9th March, we have the opportunity to overturn a first-leg deficit of a European tie for the first time in thirty-two years (Willie Young, where are you!), and on 9th May, the curtain will come down on the Premiership campaign at home to Fulham. A fortnight later the Champions League will be resolved in Madrid.

There seems to be a suggestion in some quarters that the longer we are involved in both competitions then that can only be to the detriment of our challenge for both. The last thing we need, say the pessimistic, is to progress and risk another bad beating from one of our two rivals for the Premiership crown. I have to disagree, although that will surprise nobody I suspect.

I will accept that we do not want to be on the receiving end of a bad defeat in the Champions League. That, however starts at the Grove this week. An exit to Porto was not envisaged when the draw was made and we quietly celebrated avoiding some of Europe’s bigger guns. Failure to progress is not a prospect anybody will view in anything other than the dimmest of lights.

The fact that we are not going to risk the over-burdened hamstring of Cesc Fabregas in the critical clash with Porto is not a sign that this competition is expendable. It is a calculated gamble by Arsene to maximise the skipper’s availability for as many of the remaining games as possible. It is a sign of the belief he has in the balance of the squad that he trusts them to progress without the talismanic leader.

Alex Song, suspended domestically, is set to return to anchor the midfield. Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby gelled so well for an hour on Saturday that they will surely combine again. Behind them the most likely change is Sol Campbell for Silvestre, although Arsene faces an interesting choice between Emmanuel Eboue and Bacary Sagna.

The front three is the most difficult to predict. Ironically Nicklas Bendtner, so profligate against Burnley, is probably the only one guaranteed a start. Theo Walcott, fresh and at last showing signs of a return of confidence should hold down the right flank. That leaves a straight choice between Tomas Rosicky and Andrei Arshavin on the left. Either way there may be a lack of help for Gael Clichy in his contest with the infamous Hulk.

Do you believe in fate? The ‘holic pound seeks a topical return. Nicklas Bendtner is 11/2 at Coral to be the first goalscorer, and I am having some of that. Rumour has it he was seen emerging from a musical instrument emporium in Camden Passage clutching a new stringed instrument and looking for a bovine target to practice on.

I’m also having a few pence on 3-1 to the Arsenal which is an impressive 14/1 at Bet365. The oft-heralded ‘handbrake off’ is what I am confidently expecting from a side that may be short of a number of important players, but still looks balanced enough to rip the visitors apart having earned the right to play.

Only that left flank concerns me. (Plus the fact that we do not have a six foot two, ginger headed, Scots centre-half to volley the last minute winner as in 1978 against Hajduk Split while those of us on the Clock End that night prepared to spontaneously combust!)

Have a good one, ‘holics.

It had to happen, didn’t it? In the wake of small-minded criticism from penalty-king Chris Waddle we saw a man-of-the-match performance from Theo Walcott as Arsenal joined Chelsea on 61 points. This may not so far have been a season to remember for Theo, but if he can reproduce today’s form in the closing weeks then both Arsenal and England could reap the benefits.

That Arsenal didn’t finish the match temporarily top of the table owed everything to a woeful demonstration of finishing, and the failure to build on a solid opening half. After early efforts by Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas had just missed the target we finally had the lead when the skipper struck (at 9/2, thank you!).

A minute later came the first of a string of incredible misses by Nicklas Bendtner after good work down the right by Emanuel Eboue. Sadly, having grabbed the initiative for his team, Fabregas departed the action as a ‘precautionary measure’. He certainly wasn’t moving freely and we face an anxious couple of days before the Champions League squad to face Porto is announced.

Even at this point though Cesc had played second fiddle to the Eboue and Walcott act down the right flank. When he departed it was Theo who took on the mantle of most creative player with a surprising degree of confidence. How good it was to see.

In the opening minute of the second half he landed an inch-perfect cross on Bendtner’s head, six yards out, but the big Dane somehow glanced it wide. A couple of minutes later it was a shot over the bar from close range that had the commentators wondering if Arsenal would pay the ultimate price for Nick’s generosity.

They got their answer almost immediately. Vermaelen and Silvestre left Nugent free to lob Manuel Almunia when Eboue’s clearance was returned with interest, and at one each it was very definitely squeaky bum time. Bendtner again, Nasri, and Walcott spurned opportunities to restore the Gunners advantage as the missed chances racked up.

Thankfully Theo settled the nerves with a wonderful controlled left foot strike, and it should be pointed out that Bendtner provided the last pass. 2-1 to the Arsenal should have been more again when Arshavin spurned his first chance after coming on, and the luckless Bendy saw two more get away from him before he too was substituted.

Words of consolation, rather than condemnation, are due at this point. The pictures of Bendtner laughing at himself as he came off give the lie to the charge of arrogance often levelled at him. He knew he had had one of those days, and it was good to see the crowd giving him a good-humoured reception.  I know it would have been different perhaps if we had not reclaimed the lead, but after his injury nightmare this season he will come good soon enough, I’m sure.

In the last of the four added minutes the scoreline took on a more realistic hue when Andrey Arshavin finally found his range from the right flank and beat Jensen at his near post. With twenty attempts on goal, eleven of them on target, the four goal margin required to hit the top might well have been achieved. At this stage of the season though, the win is the vital statistic.

I should mention Burnley. They arrived with limited ambition, but stuck doggedly to their task for an hour when they could easily have conceded a hatful, and with the score at 2-1 they committed bodies to the attack in a commendable attempt to snatch only their second away point of the season. At one stage I counted seven of them in the Arsenal half. Not many are that ambitious, or naive some might say.

In closing I have to pay tribute to the home support. The tributes to Aaron Ramsey, and three fine banners were shown on television, were impressive. If we keep this winning run going there are nine cheek-pinching contests to live through, but the fabulous backing the side are enjoying could be a major contribution to the run-in.

Take a bow, Gunners and Gooners.