We eat Hamburgers for breakfast

I don't actually eat Hamburgers for breakfast, if I did I would look like Fat Frank, but our boys finally munched their way through the Hamburg defence last night to take a deserved 3-1 victory, and leave us top of the group (on results between us and Porto) on 10 points. Goals from my boy RvP, the rather poor on the night Eboue, and la Bestia saw us overcome Rafa van der Vaart's early strike, which was quite simply a magnificent effort.

It was a massive game, and really a must win with Porto having won at CSKA earlier in the day to leave them, temporarily at least, sitting pretty atop the group. Anything other than a win would have left us needing to win at Porto in order to guarantee our progression. As it is we can get through with just a draw now, important to note considering our next match after the Porto game is away at Chavski.

A game which Thierry at least will be fresh for. His third booking of the competition (for absolutely fuck all) means he sits out that trip. Considering his form recently, and his poor performance last night, I'm not that bothered to be honest, but to be fair he's been stitched up by the refs in this year's competition.

Van der Vaart's opener was a majestic strike, making room for himself before wrapping his foot round the ball and sending it past a helpless Lehmann by way of the bar. We actually responded quite well, with Hleb inparticular looking more direct than usual, and after a nice interchange with Fabregas he took a touch, steadied himself and crashed a shot into the bar. Unfortunately, unlike van der Vaart, his effort did not find its way into the net.

We continued through the half in a positive style but we were lacking a penetrative edge, and I was begging for Arsene to do away with the 4-5-1 and let RvP plough his furrow up front as God intended. After the half time break I got my wish as we came out 4-4-2 with Freddie (who worked really hard all match but still looks a yard short) on the left and van Persie up front. After looking lively all match Fabregas span on the ball five yards outside the area, looked left, played the ball the other way to Robin with the outside of his right foot, and van Persie took the ball in his stride before lining up a strike to the far post, only to nonchalantly slide the ball near post on his weaker foot. 1-1 and despite Hamburg defending well, it was no more than we deserved.

Then, of course, with 25 minutes left to play Arsene took off van Persie and replaced him with Adebayor. I make no apologies for the fact, and my Dad will confirm this, that I went absolutely mental. Even more so when it became apparent that Henry was going to remain central and Adebayor was going to drift into wide positions. Why why why? Surely the whole point of playing Adebayor is for him to stay central and make a nuisance of himself (whilst trying not to fall over his own feet) to allow Henry to move into the wing positions that he can cause so much damage from, dragging centre halves across with him in the process. Alas no. Then with 15 minutes to play, the chant went up.

THEO! THEO! THEO!

Starting on the left in a swap for the knackered Freddie, he didn't get into the game much until Hleb came off for Baptista and YTW switched to the right wing. His first touch there was a ridiculous first time turn on the volley from a cross field pass that travelled 40 yards before beating his man only to have his cross cut out. He went on to supply the pass for Eboue's burst into the box and powerful strike which beat the keeper (and really shouldn't have) and the cross for la Bestia's first Arsenal goal, a thumping header from just behind the penalty spot. 15 minutes, two assists and some lovely flashes of what a player he's going to be.

I don't want to spend time on talking about what was poor last night, but both Clichy and Eboue, his goal aside (how the Sun gave him 8 out of ten and man of the match I'll never know) had a bit of a mare, and Thierry still doesn't look happy as a lone striker.

Man of the match? Cesc. At some points he was running round like a nutter and I was worried what this card-happy, and frankly bit of a twat ref might do, but he worked so hard, and taking aside a few occasions when he got caught in posession, he really drove the team on and showed a passion and fighting spirit that I really wish our captain would when things aren't going for us. He hit the bar with a cracking effort too. He was also responsible for my favourite moment in the match when he blew a kiss at a Hamburg defender who had just fouled him when we were 3-1 up, and for my second favourite moment when, after putting in a crunching challenge on van der Vaart, Fabregas got up and turned straight into the Dutchman. Cesc thought the hapless van der Vaart was squaring up to him and went absolutely loco, eyes bulging, knocking into him. Rafael looked like he was going to lose control of his bowels. Splendid.