West Brom 1 Arsenal 2: Another Day In Paradise

Vieira - The Master in action

After our win over Middlesborough and Liverpool and Manure slipping up, it was left to Chelsea who were kicking off two hours before us to put the pressure on us and show their true title credentials with a comfortable home win over Southampton, they drew 0-0, never mind Chelsea, there will surely be another chance to overtake us?

West Brom away, Boxing Day 2pm and of course a whole plethora of Arsenal players missing with various ailments. No, Shabaan who cruelly broke his leg in two places, which thwarts a promising start at AFC and lets hope he recovers quickly and fully. Also out for the trip to the Hawthorns were Luzhny, Cygan, Parlour, Taylor, Bergkamp and Ljungberg, thankfully we welcomed back our captain Paddy Vieira and a first start in the Prem since September 2001 a certain Franny Jeffers.

So West Brom away a comfortable 3-0 win and we can saunter off to finish off the Xmas pud safe in the knowledge we are top of the table and clear of the chasing pack. Three minutes gone and we are 1-0 down to a Dichio header from the third corner won in as many minutes.

Great start boys, great start. Roberts and Dichio are playing strong-arm tactics on Keown and Campbell, the ref a certain Graham Poll though is up to all the theatrics and reacts thankfully our way. The first half passes in a blur as Arsenal huff and puff without creating any clear cut chances, Pires is sitting on the bench though and every time he warms up the West Brom fans shuffle uncomfortably in their seats, knowing the great man can win the game on his own.

Half time comes and go, we are dominating possession and West Brom have laid their marker down with the early goal as since that early goal they have done nothing of note.

Arsenal come out renewed and rejuvenated, most probably after the biggest bollocking by Arsene Wenger. Henry feeds Gio who with his weaker right foot smacks a glorious shot that Hoult deals with comfortably. A couple of minutes later and Henry jinked inside the right back and delivers a ball across the area for a ball that Jeffers dispatches past Hoult and the travelling hordes go mental, more in relief than anything.

Game on now as West Brom have to either play for the draw or change their tactics and come at us. Pires and Kanu come on for Jeffers and Gio. Arsenal immediately up the gears and Pires as always looks comfortable in his surroundings. Roberts is still diving around and gets an earful from Campbell, which I don't think included Merry Xmas Jason. Roberts then twists and turns Keown before hitting a shot across Seaman that hits the base of the post.

We go straight up the other end and Pires finds his way into the area and passes to Henry, he slips the defender and then puts the ball into row Z from five yards out. A few minutes later though we get our deserved winner as Vieira charges down a clearance, it deflects off a defender straight into the path of Henry who goes round the keeper and slots home, runs to the travelling Gooners and blows them a few kisses.

So a 2-1 win, not the best of performances but we go four points clear of Chelsea, with them still to visit in less than a weeks time. Liverpool blow a lead at home to Blackburn to gain their third point in eight games, Newcastle lose 4-3 at Bolton, Everton draw at Birmingham, in a game that sees the teenage sensation Wayne Rooney sent off for a rather hard tackle, well it looked two footed and nearly decapitated the defender and the ball. Manure travelled to Middlesborough and put in the type of performance which suggests to me they will not win the Prem.

Boro won 3-1, but at 2-0 Boro were outplaying Manure, until they got nervous and looked to be holding on until a late late third goal condemned Ferguson to a miserable Christmas, Blanc and Keane were back and Veron was missing presumed absence in midfield, obviously saving himself for a bigger game as he let player after player go past him as though he was a statue

So 4 clear of Chelsea, 7 clear of Manure and 9 clear of Liverpool, not saying the next two games are important but wins against Chelsea and Liverpool will leave them chasing shadows and will leave a lot of Gooners enjoying the rest of the seasonal break and the months coming up. Also Houllier has admitted he is worried about Liverpool's form, always had him down for a perceptive sort, explains why he manages Liverpool and I don't.