Goonerholic

If you were watching the SWOL Google Hangout on Monday you will know that the subject of Olivier Giroud’s appeal, and his potential replacements for the next three matches, was the hot topic. Unfortunately today we have the not entirely unexpected news that the appeal has been rejected. Disappointing though that is I don’t feel there was sufficient doubt for the original decision to be overturned.

That gives us a real headache. My preferred option would be to play the experienced Lukas Podolski as a straight replacement, but he was clearly carrying an injury when we saw him for the last twenty minutes or so at the Cottage on Saturday. Earlier in the season we did play Gervinho there but do you see him being the key that unlocks the United defence? For me that is a big question mark.

That basically leaves us with the likeliest option. Theo Walcott went from being snubbed early on as his contract negotiations all but came to a halt, to a run as the central striker which seemed to convince him to stay. It may be, in fact probably is, just pure coincidence but he has not maintained either form or fitness since putting pen to paper. To accommodate him we will need to adjust the way we play, and somewhat ironically how we have been defending of late.

The evidence of earlier in the season is that Theo isn’t one to play with his back to goal and bring others into the game, whilst increasingly this season, particularly when protecting a narrow lead, we have looked to pass long in the direction of Giroud, knowing there would be a fair chance it wouldn’t come straight back at us. Theo’s great strength lies in attacking the space behind defenders attempting to compress the game, but that is not a likely United tactic on Sunday. They like to sit deep, leave little or no space in behind, and attack at pace on the counter.

That is not to say that Theo won’t be able to play his part however. If he can play on the shoulders of the centre-backs and occupy them then the opportunities may well come to the attacking midfielders around the edge of the box. Obviously there is no injury update this early, but regardless of whether Tomas Rosicky or Jack Wilshere is playing in behind Theo, it is one of them who may hold the key to the outcome of this match.

So We Are Better Than Barca Then?

Well, we did beat Bayern 2-0  in their own back yard, so we must be, no? I wouldn’t mind a pound for every time I will read something to the effect of that on Twitter in the coming days. It has to be said that the Bayern side that beat us hollow at the Grove was the one that turned up tonight. The side we beat in the second leg may be the Bayern that goes to the Nou Camp, seemingly comfortable, but unsure of whether to stick or twist. I hope for their sake they get the away goal that will remove that tiny shred of doubt that must exist, and if they get to the Final don’t make the same hash of their big opportunity as they did last year.

I may never forgive them for that.

Finding the right words to cover that performance is an impossible task. Every journo and blogger will be called out by half of their casual readership for being too negative or bottling it. So where do I begin.

“The three points are everything and how we get them doesn’t matter at this stage of the season.”

Only half true, for me. Certainly extending the gap to our closest rivals was a must today, and tonight we can take pleasure from a five point lead over our nearest and dearest. Points are worth much more than games in hand, particularly when those extra fixtures are against Manchester City and Chelsea. What we also needed was not to lose our only true central striker for a foolish challenge.

Andre Marriner set the standard as early as twelve minutes in when Steve Sidwell arrived late, high, and out of control on Mikel Arteta. It was a clear red and at that moment eleven professionals should have known instinctively not to give the man with the whistle an opportunity to level things up.

Fast forward to a nervous closing phase and Olivier Giroud’s ill-judged challenge on Manolev. Yes, I have seen the arguments that it was harsh, that Giroud had played the ball first before his foot rolled over the top. I understand it was a debatable call, so people are debating. At the end of the day though this was a risky challenge that didn’t need to be made in that area of the pitch. Giroud did catch the Fulham lad on the follow through, and I’m pretty sure most referees would have accepted the same invitation to appease the locals.

It was I’m sure no more than misplaced eagerness from the big man, but of all the positions for us to lose a player for three matches, that was probably the worst. We have nobody else who can do the job that Giroud does, and so we will have to adjust our shape for some vital matches ahead. Theo Walcott into the middle would make some sense if he were playing the way he was before he got his new deal. That would create an opportunity for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right. Lukas Podolski up top is the other option we have tried rarely this season, but his experience might just swing it his way.

For all of the frustration at the late card and our inability to convert superior possession (62% according to the BBC) into control of the match, there were some real plus points. One would most definitely be the clean sheet, for few would doubt Fulham looked the more dangerous when attacking, ten men or not. Wojciech Szczesny may have had Sian Massey to thank for an offside flag when he parried a free-kick straight into the path of Manolev. He also produced some fine saves and none better than when our old friend Berbatov was put clear in the twentieth minute.

In front of him Per Mertesacker was outstanding. He may have secured the points when applying the finishing touch to Laurent Koscielny’s goal-bound header as the opening half limped to a finish, but his defensive qualities were to the fore as we escaped a tricky away game with those all important points. There is no doubt in my mind that he was the man of the match by some distance.

For all that we can see that one or two key players are not currently at their best we must also acknowledge a run of six unbeaten Premiership encounters that have yielded sixteen out of a possible eighteen points. We are the form team in the battle for those top four places even if the last two games have shown we are having problems opening up well drilled and combative defences. With Manchester United up next that is something we will be working on at Shenley this week.

For now I think I will just have a quiet tipple and thank our lucky stars. Lady Luck appears to have taken a bit of a shine to us.

Fulham away. It is a game I like to be at, although it is one that has become something of a banana skin for us in recent years. I have always fancied doing one of the boat trips to the game, but haven’t because Putney offers distractions I find hard to resist. Good food and ale is readily available. Sadly this season I will miss the game so once again I’ll be at the mercy of a stream of variable quality.

Variable quality is a phrase that sums up our record at the Cottage. Just one win in the last four trips, although over the longer term we have won 12 out of 25 by the river. The history books will also tell you that Fulham and the Arsenal could have been one club had Sir Henry Norris had his way, but that is for another time.

In the present we have some injury concerns and rumours but no hard news. Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Oxlade-Chamberlain were due to have further tests after an early press conference given by Le Boss on Thursday evening. The eagle-eyed will have spotted all four in the training snapshots on the official site, as well as Robert Pires. Hey Bobby, what is French for deja vu?

The important thing is that we have options available and the team that starts should be our strongest available based on a combination of form and fitness. Ask twenty Arsenal supporters what our best eleven is right now and you will probably get a dozen different answers. Whoever it is will surely have been encouraged by Fulham’s lacklustre display against Chelsea on Wednesday. However I’m sure you will recall their battling performance against us in the 3-3 draw at the Grove in November and their 1-0 win at White Hart Lane just a month ago. Throw into the mix Dick and Cock’s brother Martin, Berbatov, a couple of ex-Gunners, and you have a match that could be fiercely contested.

The ‘holic pound has been cast on a topical punt. Those who remember the game at the Grove will be aware that Mikel Arteta missed a chance to secure all three points from the penalty spot. I normally avoid the first goalscorer bet like the plague, but the 14/1 offer against he of the immaculate tonsorial opening the scoring is too good to resist. Get Theo running at either of Fulham’s centre-backs early on and who doesn’t fancy a spot-kick?

For those travelling over land and sea, er, I mean Thames, I hope you have an absolute blast. A match at Fulham really is like stepping back in time to a far more innocent age. There is no underlying menace in a springtime stroll through the park to the Cottage. We will make all the noise, and hopefully the team will respond with the precious points.

Comedy Night? You’re Having A Laugh

The Comedy Store provides a cracking night out at any time, but on May 13th., a Monday evening, it plays host to a very Arsenal-centric show being put on in aid of the excellent Homeless FA. You will find all of the details in this link. I make that a value night out for those who live within easy reach of London on a school night. If Mikel Arteta scores first at the Cottage I may even be there myself.

Please support a great cause and have a proper laugh at the same time. You know it makes sense.

Have a great one, ‘holics.

It is the emotions that make football the spectacle it is. The best games usually have goals involved, but every now and again a goal-less draw wraps a strong hand around your intestines and squeezes. Two massively committed sides served up a raw feast for a huge audience tonight.

From the off it was clear that the visitors had twin objectives. David Moyes had promised they would have a go, and so they did, in every respect. They looked to get bodies in support of Anichebe when attacking, but were equally determined to break up play when we had the ball. I don’t blame them for that, but Neil Swarbrick’s leniency encouraged them in the destructive side of the game. The match frankly was too big for him. Mercifully Arsenal have  been much better at looking after themselves this season, and did so again through necessity.

It was no surprise that chances were few and far between in the opening half, but fair play to both back fours who were outstanding throughout. Everton’s best chance came early and fortunately for us Pienaar was sufficiently distracted by the recalled Wojciech Szczesny and lifted his effort over the bar. We responded in kind. Set up by the industrious Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud at full stretch was unable to make the correct contact with the net gaping.

I try not to mention the officials when we lose, and feel a little uncomfortable about it when we draw, but even St Francis of Assisi would surely have shown Gibson a second yellow for a blatant professional foul to deny Theo Walcott a break. That Mr Swarbrick had already shown a reluctance to wave a yellow at Fellaini and Barkley, persistent offenders both, had already raised the temperature in the crowd. Everton did what they felt they needed to do. This was as huge a game for them as it was for us.

The inevitable result of their lung-bursting efforts was that the visitors would tire as the second-half progressed. An even contest swung the way of a home side who have so often conjured up late wins. A string of corners were repelled but another great opportunity fell to the luckless Giroud. Pushed into a tight angle he looked to hit the top corner at the near post but cleared the bar. He has had a decent return in his first season but hopefully next campaign, more settled, he will add the composure that will take him to the next level.

If I had one surprise it was that we did not see Tomas Rosicky in the second-half at least. On Twitter some suggested that he was not fit to play, and if that is so then why was he on the bench? I am nit-picking, I know, but he has been so important to our better performances of late.

So the nerves remain but with our fourth and fifth place neighbours still to play each other tonight was not a disaster. It does remove any margin for error however. There are yet more intense, gut-churning games to endure.

Isn’t that a big chunk of what football is all about?

“If we’ve got any small chance of getting in the Champions League we need to get something out of this game and try and peg Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea back. For the last month or so we’ve been the big underdogs to be anywhere close to the Champions League but with the way we’ve been playing and the results we’ve been getting it keeps us hoping that there is a real chance.”

Everton have been known to err on the side of caution on visits to the Grove, but as David Moyes has made clear ahead of Tuesday’s match they need to catch the trio of London clubs ahead of them, and fast. That suggests at some stage they have to come and have a go, thus opening themselves up to our counter-attacks. That’s the theory, anyway. An away win would put the blue half of Merseyside on level points with Chelsea and Tottenham, just a point behind us.

We appear to have a decision to make about who plays in goal with Lukasz Fabianski rated as doubtful with a rib injury. Under normal circumstances you would think this was a great opportunity for Wojciech Szczesny to regain the position that he seemed to have nailed down at the start of the season. Normal circumstances, however, would not have seen Vito Mannone on the bench on Saturday.

At the back Per Mertesacker is available again after suspension, and may be a wise pick given Everton’s strong aerial presence. Tomas Rosicky is back in the squad and it will be interesting to see if he gets the start ahead of a recovering Jack Wilshere. Little Jack is definitely the future, but this game is all about the now. Rosicky would be perfect to exploit any gaps Everton may leave if they are adventurous.

Given the effect that both Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had as substitutes against Norwich it is the front three that provides Arsene Wenger with his biggest puzzle. If they are fully recovered from Saturday then I would imagine that Santi Cazorla will retain the left-sided berth and Olivier Giroud will be retained as much for his defensive attributes as his attacking ones. That means the place on the right is up for grabs with Theo Walcott possibly getting the nod.

If history is any sort of guide then Everton are facing an uphill task. They haven’t beaten us for over six years, a single goal triumph at Goodison. For a blues win in front of the Arsenal faithful you have to go back to the Bruce Rioch days. 1996 to be precise. Their form this season suggests this will be a real test for us. Funnily enough their last away match was in North London, and to our combined delight they went home with a share of the spoils from the brown and sticky end of Seven Sisters Road.

The ‘holic pound is punted on the result we need, of course. The scoreline I have opted for assumes we have a Pole in the goal, and the combination of Mertesacker and Giroud negating the threat from set pieces. I’m on a 2-0 win at 10/1, but you will need to shop around as odds vary wildly.

To those of you going, especially those still recovering from Saturday’s session, I hope we put on a show for you. For those of us stuck with a mixture of networks or streams I just wish for three points, anyway, anyhow. That really is all that matters in the weeks that remain.

Have a good one, ‘holics.

It is the stage of the season where the points are far more important than the performance. That is just as well. This victory was highly amusing for a number of reasons, but Norwich came close to doing what other sides with limited ability and ambition have sometimes achieved at the Grove since we moved just down the road.

For the thick end of an hour this game was all about Norwich shutting up shop and us playing crab football ahead of them. From side to side we moved the ball, seemingly with a lack of urgency. The considered opinion around the halfway line was that we were missing the directness of Tomas Rosicky. Injured he was and it is pointless reflecting on his absence.

Midway through the opening half it looked as though our patience would be rewarded, but Olivier Giroud’s flick missed the target. Shortly afterwards Gervinho got clear but having been forced wide he was unable to give us the lead we craved.

The second half was barely ten minutes old when the visitors won a dubious free-kick. What happened next was not open to doubt or interpretation. Turner escaped the infamous zonal marking to head home a cross from former Stirling Albion loanee Robert Snodgrass. Arsenal were facing an unacceptable reverse.

Now karma can be quite the beast, As the match had progressed so Mark Bunn, in the Norwich goal, had taken longer and longer over his clearances and goal-kicks. At one point he even turned to the Arsenal supporters behind his goal and engaged in what one might generously term as banter. It would be returned, and how.

The equaliser arrived when the referee’s assistant did the job of his boss, and a penalty was awarded for Giroud being hauled to earth. Mikel Arteta put us level with just seven minutes remaining. We had momentum. In all honesty it was not a surprise when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crossed for Giroud to add a second just a couple of minutes later, and a similar gap elapsed before Lukas Podolski lashed home a third.

Now I don’t pretend that we were worth a 3-1 win, but equally I don’t believe that Norwich were worth more than the nothing that they took home. We have played better and come a cropper this season. Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. The big game is now the home match with Everton on Tuesday evening. We are up to third place in the table after today’s result, and Everton would like to achieve something similar.

Not that long ago I don’t mind admitting I doubted our chances of snatching that top four berth, but now it is ours to lose. There will be twists yet to come, I have no doubt, but credit to this team for lifting themselves in recent weeks. The last couple of wins have been nervous affairs, but we are displaying great determination. Let’s hope we can maintain it in the closing weeks.

Oh, and can I just add, having narrowly failed to land the ‘holic pound yesterday, come on Angel Cabrera. This could yet be a very profitable weekend.

So Norwich at home it is. I suppose it is fair to say it is not one of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures in any football calendar, but strangely three home games with the East Anglians have stayed in the forefront of the memory, or rather one didn’t!

Four days before Christmas in 1979 was a bitterly cold Friday night. Some bright spark decided it would be a good idea to play on the Friday as the attendance would surely be hit by Christmas shopping the following day. They got that wrong. On a raw and snowy night I remember taking plenty of warming fluids on board at the Hen & Chickens prior to the game. The following morning I recall phoning the ‘holicDad to inform him a miserable night was made worse by our 0-1 defeat.

“My paper says we drew son.”

Sure enough we had. I did not miss a minute of the game, I remain convinced to this day, but I completely missed a Frank Stapleton goal, possibly because the roar of just 18,869 supporters didn’t shake me from a daydream of watching in sunnier climes!

A decade later football recommenced after the Hillsbrough disaster with a televised match from Highbury between sides lying first and third in the top flight. That Arsenal won 5-0 and took a giant stride towards the title was overshadowed by a feisty encounter which saw both sides brought up before a disciplinary hearing after a 21 man brawl.

Then came the most recent meeting of the sides in North London which remains imprinted after Bradley Johnson’s stamp on Bacary Sagna left the Frenchman with his second broken leg of last season. I think it is fair to say he has not been the same player since.

Forgive me if I say I hope for a less controversial encounter at the Grove this time around. That one sour note apart Norwich impressed last season as we stumbled to a 3-3 draw in pursuit of a top four berth. Strange it is that this season the fixture gives us an opportunity to leapfrog the neighbours and the bus stop in Fulham to claim third place in the Premier League once more.

With the crucial visit of Everton coming up there seems to be a groundswell of opinion that we will rotate a little for this one. There is danger in that approach for me. I would sooner see our strongest fit eleven starting every match with so much at stake. Having said that we have Jack Wilshere coming back from injury and Tomas Rosicky feeling a hamstring at the moment so there would be some sense in starting the younger man tomorrow and the in-form Czech in the week.

The main concern for Norwich is between the sticks. Third choice Lee Camp is in line to start with Mark Bunn a doubt. Visiting goalkeepers tend to be inspired by the surroundings at our place so I won’t hold my breath waiting for a mistake or two there. The ‘holic pound seeks another open encounter with a marginally better outcome for us than last season. Shop around to find 30/1 against a 3-2 home win.

Quite a selection of you will be at the ‘juicer of choice’ tomorrow, so have a good journey and do say hello before and/or after the match. Let’s hope we are celebrating a profitable triumph and that third place afterwards.

Have a good one, ‘holics.

Another piece reproduced from my days writing for Arsenal-Land with thanks again to Darren. I was tempted to keep this piece back for another occasion, but with the benefit of hindsight it is not one to hold back for any reason. I have to confess I would rewrite it, and probably will at some future point. It barely captures the range of emotions we went through in our second double season. It is hard to believe it was so long ago that no current Junior Gunners would have seen any of it live. Anyway, let me have your memories in the drinks. Thanks.

At the dawning of the 1997-1998 season Arsenal had gone three years without a trophy, and six without a championship. George Graham and his successor, Bruce Rioch, had moved on. Arsene Wenger had overseen much of the previous season in which Arsenal had missed out on the second Champions League berth on goal difference to Newcastle.

New blood was expected to bolster the Gunners challenge in the new season, and duly arrived, in some quantity! Marc Overmars, the flying Dutch winger, was the biggest name. Three players, with whom Wenger had worked at Monaco, Emmanuel Petit, Gilles Grimandi, and Christopher Wreh, were also unveiled. Four younger prospects were added to the squad in the shape of goalkeeper Alex Manninger, plus Luis Boa Morte, Matthew Upson and Alberto Mendez. Paul Merson and, perhaps not surprisingly, John Hartson were among those who made way.

The first Premiership encounter gave little indication of the glories that were to follow as Ian Wright secured a meagre point in a draw at Leeds, but without a doubt the most exciting encounter of the opening month came at Leicester. Dennis Bergkamp showed the full range of his abilities with a spellbinding treble. To emphasise their quality the three goals took first, second, and third places in Match of the Day’s goal of the month contest. The pick of the bunch was announced as goal of the season on FA Cup Final day. Bergkamp’s third goal gave Arsenal the lead two minutes into injury time but amazingly Leicester shared the spoils when Steve Walsh pounced two minutes later.

Saturday, September 13^th, will live long in the memory of those who witnessed Ian Wright grab the trio of goals that made him Arsenal’s record goalscorer, surpassing Cliff Bastin’s tally of 178. The euphoria did not last long. Just three days later Arsenal fell to the only goal of their UEFA Cup first leg against PAOK Thessaloniki, and on the last day of the month a 1-1 draw in the return at Highbury ended the European dream at the first hurdle. The exit was made all the more surprising by the emphatic victories against Chelsea, West Ham, and Everton that took the Gunners to the top of the Premiership in the intervening fortnight.

October started in similar fashion with nine goals scored against Barnsley and Birmingham (in the League Cup) before the frustration of consecutive blank draws against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa cost Arsenal the top spot.

November brought with it the first Premiership defeat, in match thirteen, at Derby. The Gunners bounced back admirably, beating Manchester United by the odd goal in five with David Platt heading a deserved winner. Coventry succumbed to a Dennis Bergkamp strike in the League Cup before a second Premiership defeat, in controversial circumstances, at Sheffield Wednesday. The month closed with a single goal reverse at Anfield. Arsenal were on the slide, and worse was to follow.

Spirits were temporarily lifted in December, with Ian Wright scoring the only goal at Newcastle. The first home defeat was just around the corner as Blackburn inflicted a 3-1 scoreline on their lacklustre hosts that left Arsenal thirteen points adrift of Manchester United. Tony Adams, clearly not one hundred percent fit, took a large slice of the blame for that performance. He met with Wenger and the two agreed that Adams should seek professional help for his injuries, including a trip to a specialist in Nice. At that low point of the season nobody could have dreamed what lay in store for ‘Mr. Arsenal’.

Without their talismanic skipper the Gunners were then subjected to an astonishing abandonment against Wimbledon. It later transpired that the floodlight ‘failure’ at Selhurst Park was the work of dark forces. Arsenal closed the year by beating Leicester 2-1, and drawing 1-1 at White Hart Lane courtesy of a rare Ray Parlour strike. The side had now slipped to fifth place, fifteen points behind Manchester United.

1998 did not start well, as Port Vale earned a replay in a 0-0 draw at Highbury in the third round of the FA Cup. The League Cup quarter-final, however, saw a confidence boosting 2-1 win at Upton Park which, little did we know at the time, featured Ian Wright’s 185^th and last goal for the club. After Leeds were toppled 2-1 at Highbury Arsenal travelled to Vale Park and navigated their way through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, but only courtesy of a penalty shoot-out. More significantly that night Ian Wright pulled a hamstring. There would be few more appearances for the record scorer.

A busy January continued with a tense 2-2 draw at Coventry and injury woes struck again as David Seaman broke a finger. He would miss thirteen games as a result. Ray Parlour secured victory by the odd goal in three at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. That triumph also coincided with the return of the skipper, Tony Adams. It was the same score in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final just four days later at home to Chelsea, with young Stephen Hughes grabbing the decider. A busy month closed with a three-goal drubbing of Southampton at Highbury.

Stephen Hughes mini purple patch continued as he grabbed both goals in a 2-0 defeat of Chelsea, but it was a brief spell in the spotlight for the midfielder. The fifth round of the FA Cup brought a goal-less draw at Crystal Palace. It was anti-climax time at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. Dennis Bergkamp’s finish was not enough to prevent a 3-1 win for Chelsea. Giles Grimandi netted the only goal at home to Crystal Palace to strengthen the Premiership challenge and four days later the same visitors were despatched by a 2-1 margin in the FA Cup replay.

A goal-less draw at West Ham welcomed in March, and when the same opponents visited Highbury six days later for the FA Cup quarter-final the result was also the same. The replayed Premiership encounter at Wimbledon survived any mysterious electrical failure and Christopher Wreh lit up the occasion with the only goal.

Three days later came the defining moment of the league season as Marc Overmars skipped through the Manchester United defence to secure a one-goal triumph at Old Trafford. The Gunners were now just six Points behind leaders United, with three games in hand. Nicolas Anelka struck at Upton Park to send the FA Cup replay to another penalty shoot-out, and Alex Manninger was the hero as Arsenal won 4-3 from the spot. Six additional points were secured by 1-0 margins against Sheffield Wednesday, as David Seaman returned, and at Bolton.

FA Cup semi-finals are often close, tense, affairs and the game with Wolverhampton Wanderers was no different. Christopher Wreh struck early for the Gunners, who proceeded to see out the remainder of the contest without too many scares.

There then followed six Premiership encounters that yielded nineteen goals and the first leg of the elusive double. Newcastle succumbed 3-1 at Highbury, and Blackburn were hit by a four-goal whirlwind at Ewood Park. The free-scoring Gunners then went one better with a 5-0 thumping of Wimbledon at Highbury, and in so doing reclaimed the top spot in the Premiership. At Barnsley the visitors were afforded a standing ovation after winning 2-0 with trademark strikes from Bergkamp and Overmars. The one hundred percent record in April was secured with a solitary Petit strike at home to Derby.

Sunday, May 3^rd. will be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to witness the visit of Everton. Arsenal now required three points to secure their eleventh title, yet the visitors were expected to provide tough opposition as they needed points in their own battle against relegation. Happily for the home supporters the nerves were eased by an early Bilic own goal when the giant defender was pressured by Tony Adams. Marc Overmars effectively wrapped up the title with wonderful solo goals either side of the interval, but the party piece was yet to arrive. Steve Bould chipped a delicate ball into the path of Tony Adams, who galloped half the length of the pitch before thumping home a fierce left-footer. The big man closed his eyes, raised his arms in triumph, and one of the biggest parties Highbury ever saw was launched.

The prelude to the FA Cup Final saw Liverpool (4-0) and Aston Villa (1-0) enjoy inflicting the first League defeats on the Gunners in 1998. All thoughts had clearly switched to Wembley, and the meeting with Newcastle United which could secure a second double for the club. The day before the Final brought bad news. Dennis Bergkamp, architect and scorer of so many goals had not recovered from a hamstring injury.

Christopher Wreh was selected to accompany Nicolas Anelka in attack, otherwise the team pretty much picked itself, with the famous five of Seaman, Dixon, Adams, Keown, and Winterburn behind a midfield quartet of Parlour, Vieira, Petit, and Overmars. It was one of those sunny May days at Wembley, and Newcastle were strangely subdued throughout. Marc Overmars gave Arsenal the advantage in the first period, and Nicolas Anelka completed an astonishing introductory season with the clincher after Alan Shearer had struck a post with the Geordies’ only worthwhile effort of the contest.

So in his first full season Arsene Wenger had cajoled his charges to the double. What we didn’t realise as we watched the winners celebrate with their trophy was that we were saying goodbye to a legend. Ian Wright had enjoyed a twenty-minute appearance as the title was secured. That was fitting because it was his first Championship medal. Wenger’s sentiment didn’t stretch to a cameo Cup Final appearance and Wright moved on to West Ham during the close season.

Perhaps the last words on the season belong to Wenger’s chief foe, Sir Alex Ferguson. ‘They (Arsenal) had notable quality in every department and Arsene Wenger deserves immense credit’.

What a three points that was. Seventy minutes of very impressive and controlled football gave way to twenty minutes of sheer torture on what could prove to be a big afternoon in our season. It is only right that we should focus firstly on that opening phase.

From the off it was the visitors who looked to get on the front foot, so it was somewhat unexpected when West Brom were the first to threaten an opening goal. Tomas Rosicky, so positive going forward, found himself heading off our line from Yacob. It was not his last significant contribution on the afternoon. Indeed it was he who put us ahead when Mikel Arteta and Gervinho superbly combined to set him up for a near post header.

Lukasz Fabianski, nervous on occasion, produced a fine save to deny Brunt although he was to get much busier after the break. Shortly before half-time the opportunity to double our advantage was lost when Aaron Ramsey prodded wide under pressure after a clever back-heeled set-up by Olivier Giroud. One nil to the Arsenal, the ‘holic pound was alive, but only survived four second half minutes.

Bacary Sagna went close but was foiled by a brave Foster save. The reprieve was only temporary. Rosicky tried his luck from just inside the edge of the area and made ten yards to to knock in the rebound after Foster parried his first effort. The sides traded chances but Arsenal appeared to be still in control until the match turned on its head in the seventieth minute. Per Mertesacker had little option but to challenge Long, judged onside, and the resultant foul brought about a penalty and a red card. I know I am sometimes overly critical of officials but if the onside call was correct then Howard Webb had no option.

Fabianski looked to have got to Morrison’s spot-kick but the ball ended up in the net and so began possibly the longest twenty (plus six!) minutes of the season so far. Thomas Vermaelen replaced Gervinho and Arsenal resorted to the long ball out of defence, and rarely in the direction of the now lonely target man, Giroud. Any attempt at maintaining the passing game that had got us ahead was abandoned. I praised Lukaku and Long beforehand but both were thankfully guilty of glaring misses as the pressure mounted.

The arrival of Gibbs and Coquelin for Rosicky and Cazorla was a clear signal we were fighting a desperate rearguard action, but somehow we managed to hold on to those precious three points that have lifted us, albeit maybe temporarily, above Chelsea and into the top four.

I am hoping on the journey home the rest of the side were quick to fork out for some liquid refreshment for the outstanding Rosicky AND Fabianski. A couple of heart-stopping moments in the first-half aside the Pole found himself under immense pressure in the closing stages, and came up with a couple of huge saves. That is his job, I’m sure some will say, but there have been occasions in the past when his temperament has not survived a lesser test than he faced this afternoon. Credit where it is due.

Now this evening’s vindaloo will taste so much better for securing a huge win. It may not have been pretty for a while, but at the end of this particular day the three points is what mattered most. Arsene put that into context afterwards.

“We do not have to look at Tottenham or at Chelsea. If we lose our games, you have always to look at the results of the others… You have to focus on you, and you win the games… Our attitude is simple. We have to win the games.”

“Here’s a tenner mate, and thanks for making me a proud Grandad. If you change your mind about supporting the Arsenal I want it back.”

“I’m an Arsenal supporter Grandad.”

Number one converted I go to his younger brother.

“Same for you son. If you stop supporting Arsenal I want it back”

“I’m an Arsenal supporter Grandad…and Wolves…and Man City…”

He’s only seven. I can see I have a bit more work to do!

At least neither of them have been won over by West Brom, not a long way from where they live, and where we embark on the next of our tasks in order to achieve the dream of Champions League qualification for the sixteenth consecutive season.

I can cheat a little bit with this preview because I have already had the bare bones of it published by @Arsenal on the Talking Heads feature this week. The gist of it is that the Baggies have proved a match for anybody on their day this season, but frankly an Arsenal side with ambitions of climbing at least one place in the table should be able to fashion a result at the Hawthorns, even without Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, and Abou Diaby.

So impressive were we last weekend against Reading I really do feel an unchanged side might get an opportunity to repeat that form, albeit away from home against an opponent far stronger than the Royals. So impressed have I been with the hosts home form this season that I feel compelled to punt the ‘holic pound on that most iconic of scorelines. I’m even playing the Pet Shop Boys in the background. “One-niiiiil, to the Arsenal” Check the odds comparison sites and at the time of writing Bet Victor offer a stunning 19/2 against that. Good luck with whatever you fancy.

If you are following the Matchday Show live on Arsenal.com then you will also apparently see my latest six tweets live on screen. Don’t ask me how it works. I haven’t a clue. All I know is the broadcast gets a family audience so I will be under some pressure not to comment on any controversial incidents in the fashion that some of you may anticipate! Of course that won’t be an issue as I usually endeavour to avoid the social media sites during game time.  I will set the appropriate tone…I hope!

Continuing the media whore theme, if you haven’t yet listened to this weeks Arsecast then you really should while you still can. Kim Jong-un threatens your enjoyment of the podcast, but should you be alive to enjoy it the brilliant @Arseblog reviews the week and previews the weekend’s critical fixture with a little hindrance from yours truly. We had a chuckle recording it. I hope you do the same listening.

Have a great one, ‘holics. Carry on converting your little brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren and so on.

Cheers all.