Wigan (2-1) - 24th January 2006

Up until the 119th minute when Jason Roberts scored the goal(thanks to some defending that schoolboys would have been ashamed of) that ensured we lost on Away Goals - this had been a most enjoyable evening. The losing of a Carling Cup tie (even with the "big guns" playing) is not particularly galling (hoping not to sound arrogant here) it did take the shine off a bit. Last night I sat in the luxury of the West Upper. I had never been here before (only being in the West Lower once - my first ever game!) and despite the poorly designed corridors and access it was a delight to visit this part of the ground. The old signs look as though they would have seen many years of service, the bars were small and badly located but the toilets are still a mile better than the Lower East Stand! We even had the privilege of a near empty pub before the game. Some positives - Gilbert looks a fine ENGLISH prospect and Robin Van Persie is a class act. I never liked Cardiff in February anyway

Middlesbrough (7-0) - 14th January 2006

Strange how you approach a game thinking it could be tough - looking at 2 experienced centre forwards against our two teenagers - and coming away wondering how you could be so wrong. Perhaps that is why I'm not managing a premiership club! This won't mask our poor away form (a tricky Bolton(A) cup tie awaits after Everton) but it was a pure joy to watch and no football fan can not appreciate the way we played and the goals we scored today!

Cardiff City FA Cup (2-1) - 7th January 2006

After the excitement of TH saying "I'm Staying (Ts&Cs TBC of course)", we had the joys of a 1.00 K.O. (due the reputaion of the Welsh fans no doubt) and a 3rd round tie with a number of plyers rested, injured or unavailable at the last minute thanks to the Cot D'Ivoire FA! With pubs seeming to be varied in their opening times and the avoidance of hardcore Cardiff fans a priority we ended up in the Lil Red on Holloway Rd - I've never seen it so quiet but it still is a horrible pub. Although Cardiff could have scored with their first attack - 2 superb moves and finishes from Bob effectively settled the game. I've read reports saying, "Arsenal weathered the Storm after the Cardiff goal" - well can I just say that they scored with roughly 5 minutes to play. For the first 3 of those minutes we played keep ball, only being interrupted by a pitch invader from Wales.

p.s. Anyone know the name of the player pictured on the pub sign here?

Highbury Legends - Thierry Henry

I had been expecting to add Thierry at the end of the season, partly because I feel he now deserves to be adorned with the title of "Greatest Ever Arsenal Player". But with rumours of his departure to Barca the news this morning of him committing to Arsenal (though no signatures have yet been put to paper) was the best late Christmas present that any gooner could wish for. There have been a lot of debates on who is the greatest modern player and Ronaldhino deservedly gets that title in many cases BUT I wouldn't swap TH for any other player. Yes he sulks, yes he harrangues a poor young fellow player who did not spot his run or play the perfect pass and yes he over-complicates (don't they all some days) moves with tricks and flicks.....

However, he has scored more great goals, made more great runs and passes and excited the highbury crowd than any other player (sorry Dennis) in history. Its that which gets my juices flowing (oo-errr missus) and not the fact he has become our greatest ever goalscorer, because that record coul dbe huge by the time (I hope) his career ends with Arsenal. There could be only one picture to sum him up, having scored one of the greatest solo goals seen in England (let alone Highbury) he then added to it by sprinting the length of the pitch to celebrate it in front of the scum fans - Well Played that man!

Manchester United (0-0) - 3rd January 2006

So as the Russians march away with the league, the two once-mighty armies meet for a near meaningless battle. When the central midfield of United is Fletcher and O'Shea you realise how times have changed and with neither a Vieira nor a Keane to be found we sat down and watched the most timid of all Arsenal vs Man Utd games. Even the attempts at controversy were light, a dive by Reyes?, a possible handball & sending off for Rooney and a possible penalty on Cesc were all rather pathetic attempts compared to games of yore. Transition is an oft-used word this season and this game pretty much summed it all up.

Things I'll Miss #2 - "Avenell Road"

I've spent most of the 30 odd years that I've been coming to Highbury approaching the ground from the "wrong end". I did initially see some games from the North Bank but the kids that I knew who came to see the Arsenal stood on the Clockend - and so I did. Graduating to a season ticket in 1983/4 for the clockend and generally drinking on that side of the ground has meant I've always approached the ground from the top of Highbury Hill and walked down Avenell Road. It's always been a crowded scene as you look down to the East Stand. There has always been the smell of the burger van at the top of the hill and the sound of taxis dropping off late arrivals. Now ensconsed in the East Stand the approach is the same - the queues are often awful but I'll miss it all. Finally, anyone who remembers the queue for the European CWC final tickets in 1995 will know that it can be a very long wait on Avenell Road...