Some luck and 3 points

I really hate these mid-week games, since the match time is so inconvenient for us fans here in GMT+8 time zones (a.k.a as Singapore). So folks, please pardon me for the odd lapse in this article - the match got over at 5 am or something like that and I am still groggy now even though its merenda time in some countries in the region.

The only thing that prevented me from sleeping earlier was Arsenal's inability to score the second and seal the match. Instead, the men in red-and-white wisely chose to keep me awake by deciding to defend a 1-0 lead, resulting in me continually splashing water on my face, tape on the eyelids to keep them open and the odd minor stroke as 2 potentially crucial hand-balls were not given against the Gunners.

Walcott was consigned to the bench for this match, and Bendtner started, with AA-23 on the left and SN-8 on the right, which I guess is probably our best formation currently. Denilson's frailties in the last few matches resulted in him as a substitute too, with Diaby preferred alongside Song.

And I was quite happy to see Eboue start at RB. In my view, following his horror show last year, the man has really redeemed himself and is a perfect example of the all-round footballer that Wenger desires in his squad. The Ivorian has now played in mid-field, in defence and in attack. Also, his start possibly gave Sagna not just some rest, but also food for thought that he shouldn't take his place for granted.

For Liverpool, since Torres & Aquilani were unavailable, it really was going to be comfortable for Arsenal. I mean, after the Drogba-led terrorism on the weekend, keeping Ngog surely would have been training ground stuff. In fact, I would think Benitez did a favour to us as Ngog surely was a confidence booster for WG/TV since their last 2 games when 6 goals were conceded. With no Benayoun either, Liverpool didn't really seem to have the quality to bother Arsenal much - the only danger man being Kuyt.

So you might wonder why no concern on Gerrard. Frankly, I don't think Gerrard turns up consistently in big matches. Plus, he has only one strength - driving at the defence and trying to shoot from range. His defensive skills are mediocre at best, and with Song/Diaby/Cest attacking at every opportunity, its quite easy to keep Gerrard out of the game.

All in all then, it was a match there to be won. Of course, we made heavy weather of it, and that once more highlighted our lack of striking quality. Since we are no longer top scorers in the league any more, Wenger's recent comments of "everyone tells me to buy a striker but we are top scorers" should be looked at more carefully, particularly by Le Boss himself.

Anyway, it seems someone in the Arsenal team read my previous posts on futility of our crosses, and wonder of wonders, we managed to get a goal off Diaby's head from a cross by Rosicky. More power to the Internet!

And how at the death did the referee miss Cesc's handball is beyond me - surely it was not 5 am in London, was it? The man was sleeping, thankfully for us I may add. I guess that's the way it goes some times, so I am going to take it and smile.

In the end, it was a scrappy win no doubt, but 3 points are 3 points, and Almunia has one more of that rarest of rare clean sheets for him. With Chelsea losing, and Man Utd to just about rescuing a point, this win definitely has helped us. It just shows that the league is not yet done and dusted.

And contrary to what others think, its not easy-peasy from here either. We have 2 big games coming up. Sunderland at home (we lost to them at the Stadium of Light, remember?), and away to Delap-long-throw-goal Stoke. Those are going to be tough too, especially the Stoke game since that's again at ungodly hours. Bring on the red-eyes...