I'm sure most Arsenal fans and indeed fans of the Tiny Totts were fully aware of the superficial range of ramifications that could have potentially arisen by the time Monday's game was over. But as a priority, I find it hard to believe that any Gooner or Spud would, at any time in the season, place ANY set of ramifications over and above the prospect of beating each other.
That is what makes the North London derby what it is and I think that Sky, having chosen to broadcast this match live to the nation, had a duty to at least base their coverage primarily around that no matter what effect a result may have on any other parties. The fact that they effectively went on to trivialise what has always been a showpiece fixture in the way that they did purely to indulge the whims of another "club" that had no more than a superficial interest does them absolutely no credit.
Still for all that I did enjoy the game itself. I was due to actually be at the game in person but the combination of a flawed postal system and the onset of flu conspired against me. But, being confined to my living room armed with LemSip's rather than my usual six pack of lager to get me through the game didn't seem such a hardship by the time the game was over.
That's because I saw the Arsenal put on the kind of show that effectively blew away at least two myths that have been circling around us in one go. Outside of Highbury, there has been a sizeable school of thought that Arsenal are a one man team that cannot function without Henry in the team. And there is also this rumour going round that Arsenal as a club are in some sort of decline. Well, I'd love to see someone try telling Martin Jol that for a start.
Jol was being a little economical with the truth after the game when he said that his team could have nicked a point if they had shown a little more conviction because (like virtually any other observer) he knew, deep down, that his team had been overrun for long periods of the game and it was only the grace of God prevented his team being on the wrong end of a right hammering in the end.
And, whilst a solitary strike from Jose Antonio Reyes proved to enough for the Arsenal on the night it meant that we had beaten the Tiny Totts home and away in the league for the first time since 1989. Now, people can argue all they like as to whether we are in decline or not, but that little statistic definitely makes a mockery of the assertions that the Tiny Totts are on the way up as some of their fans would have us all believe.
What would the Tiny Totts give to have a 17-year old midfielder with the perception and guile of Cesc Fabregas? What would they give to have a 20-year old centre back with the potential that Phillipe Senderos has? What would they give to have the nimble feet of Robin Van Persie to call upon? And what would they give to have the raw but at times mercurial talent of young Reyes on their books? I refer to the latter in a poignant sense though, because I think that young Reyes will be on his way in the summer. Real Madrid have already apparently come in with a cheeky bid for him and it's sure fire bet that they will be back with a more serious offer.
Reyes has made no secret of his desire to play for Real or indeed the fact that he is homesick. And if he goes in the summer then I will just say one thing - thanks for the memories boy. No Gooner will forget the two goals he scored in last years FA Cup against the Russians from West London, the goal he got against Middlesbrough on the day Arsenal staged that dramatic fight back that not only helped us to win that game but eclipse Forest's 42-match unbeaten record.
And, although he should have really had a hat trick on Monday night, I for one will not forget how he scuttled away from a static and helpless Spurs backline to smash that low drive past England's number one keeper to secure victory over the old enemy. That's the sort of thing that great players invariably do - they provide you with memorable moments from significant occasions and I defy any Arsenal fan to say that Reyes hasn't done that in his short time over here.
Still Reyes' time as an Arsenal player is far from over yet and with Henry very much out of commission for the foreseeable future, the young Spaniard has as big a part to play as anyone else in how the rest of the season pans out for Arsenal. And the next assignment for the Gunners is a trip to the Hawthorns where we will be entertained by West Brom.
Ever heard the story of the prodigal son that finally came home and wasn't made welcome? That's what happened to Bryan Robson returned to the Hawthorns after an absence of some 23 years earlier on this season. It would be an understatement to suggest that his return to the club he served with such distinction as a young player was met with scorn by the Baggies faithful.
Perhaps he received the backlash of the acrimony the departure of Gary Megson caused. The vibe I got from the outside looking in was that the Baggies were not happy with the way Megson was treated and they were sceptical as to what Robson could do for them that Megson couldn't.
Time appears to have been a healer in so far as Robson appears to have been accepted by the majority of Baggies fans now but despite the fact that the Baggies and a lot of their players are enjoying their second season in the top flight in three, things haven't been any easier for them or indeed Robson this time round.
I have to admit that when I have seen the Baggies play this season in live matches over the course of the season, the one thing that has struck me is that they do make chances in no small amount. I remember watching them play Middlesbrough in Robson's first game in charge at the Hawthorns for example earlier on in the season. How they failed to beat them that day will mystify me till the day I die.
It was a match that will be forever remember for the miss by Arsenal old boy Kanu who somehow contrived to scoop the ball over the bar from a yard but whilst it may have been funny to a lot of neutrals it was a moment that has summed up the Baggies fortunes this season in a lot of ways.
And when they went up to the Riverside the other day for the return fixture with Middlesbrough they were involved in yet another surreal encounter. They may have lost 4-0 but the final scoreline didn't even begin to tell you the real story of the game because without exaggeration, the Baggies could have been three up before Boro got their first goal.
What I'm really driving at here is that I'm thankful that we are going into Monday's game in a rich vein of form because believe me, this game is going to be a lot tougher than most people, Gooners or otherwise, will think.
Why? Well let me tell you all right now that the fact that the Baggies happen to be fighting for their lives doesn't even tell half of the story.
Because I can guarantee any Gooner out there one thing- they will not have seen the Arsenal play in front of a more fervent crowd than that lot at the Hawthorns. I will never forget what the atmosphere was like when we nicked a 2-1 win there two years ago. It was the most fervent atmosphere I could remember seeing an Arsenal side play in front of in this country for quite some time.
And consider this. The Baggies fans do not normally need an excuse to whip up a cup-tie atmosphere the Hawthorns when they want to - but in order to give their team the best chance of survival they will all know, going into this game, that they HAVE to play their part in proceedings right from the off.
Don't believe that atmospheres do not get to the most experienced players. Alessandro Del Piero is a man who has played in his fair share of hostile environments as a player particularly with Juve. But he came out on record and said that he had never, ever played in atmosphere like the one he was confronted with at Anfield when Juve played Liverpool the other day.
Pound for pound, the Hawthorns can be just as passionate a place to visit as Anfield. This is one of the grounds where the mythical 12th. man truly does exist. It's on nights such as these from which upsets are borne. And the Arsenal will do well to bear that in mind on Monday night.