Positives and negatives

Well, it was a less than auspicious start to our Premiership campaign, but unlike some doomsayers I'm not overly concerned. Any side with Martin O'Neill at the helm was never going to be a pushover, they were well organised, had a game plan and stuck to it. That said I think we were the better team and deserved all three points, but that's football.

I think it was clear from the game that we're still lacking a yard and our finishing still isn't what it should be. The defence looked decent other than the corner cock up for Olaf Thor Odin Valhalla big beard Mellberg's goal, although Eboue's final ball coming forward is still wank and Hoyte let people past the outside a little too easily. Considering he spent half of last season playing left back for Sunders it's a little disappointing, and I think that Kerrea Gilbert is now looking the better bet out of our young English fullbacks. Henry looked shattered after playing 90 minutes midweek for France and quite frankly Raymond Domenech is a Paul O'Grady likalike cunt, added to the fact that TH14 reckons he's not even 60 per cent fit yet. Freddie also looked like he was dying on his feet.

Of course much of the media attention has been on young Theo making his full debut for Arsenal, and actually doing rather well thank you very much. He looked sharp and tricky down the left and had a big part to play in Gilberto's equaliser. Thierry's showered him with praise and Master Walcott has spoken out himself about his first game and being drug tested afterwards.

So we dropped two points on Saturday but it could have been a lot worse, and as Wenger has been at pains to point out, it could take us a while to settle into the new stadium.

In the YAMA-patented "players who are still Arsenal players but are currently playing on loan for other teams" watch, Bendtner and Larsson continued to impress at Birmingham City, both getting on the scoresheet to see the Blues to a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. In my opinion both, Bendtner inparticular, have futures at AFC. Lupoli played the second half for Derby but failed to stick any in the onion bag.

In Ashley Cole news, well, he still hasn't fucked off. There are rumours of a final £19m bid, and also some more nonsense about Gallas. Real Madrid have confirmed that they are complete bastards and seemingly have no intention of putting in a reasonable offer for Reyes, so he's just been completely unsettled and made a public fool for nothing. I hate them.

And that's pretty much it. It'll be interesting to see the line up for Wednesday's game against Zagreb, considering the injuries we already have, added to the fact that the players that played on Saturday aren't fit. Thank God we're taking a three goal lead into the game.