Burgers bite back as Gallas lifts the gloom

AFTER our dominant performance at Old Trafford the previous weekend, I arrived on Saturday optimistically hoping to see the Arsenal nip any new home hoodoo in the bud.

Although Sheffield United had the ball in the back of the net, Hulse’s ungainly efforts to extract a couple of Djourou’s gnashers with a flying foot ensured that, unlike Boro, at least the visitors didn’t end up taking a lead with their only significant attack of the half.

In fact it says much that the most anxious moment of the afternoon occurred as I stood in the food queue, watching the stock of burgers dwindle.

Mercifully, I managed to bag the very last one, though at over a fiver for a burger and a drink, I pity the poor father with a couple of baying bairns.

Much like the drab grey/green concrete fascias of the various levels of the stadium, that many of us would prefer to see decorated, instead of being dressed up in the designer speak of “architectural styling”, no matter the fancy culinary lingo, the Arsenal’s burgers remain the obligatory overcooked slab of mince between two halves of a decidedly unhealthy bun.

It would’ve probably been my first and last burger, since there are various other unappetising delights on the Arsenal menu for me to sample in future. However having wolfed it down, the Gunners went and scored three goals and so I guess superstition decrees that I must go and queue up for a repeat performance at all subsequent games. In which case I am not sure what will give up the ghost first, my patience, my pocket, or my poor colon.

Prior to Gallas’s goal it had begun to feel like one of those afternoons, where we might be thwarted by the feats of United’s reserve keeper, as Bennett produced a couple of stunning saves.

It’s obvious that Gallas doesn’t have the attacking instincts or perhaps the lightning pace of a natural wing-back, but he’s an experienced enough professional to be able to pull it off. Moreover a player of his pedigree has no need of a map to find the target, once he’s in or around the area, as he almost stole his sweet volley from the feet of Fabregas.

Naturally we weren’t going to pass up such a perfect opportunity to gloat; no sooner had our new arrival found the back of the net, than the Grove rocked to the refrain of “Are you watching Ashley Cole?”

The sense of relief at having finally taken the lead for the first time at our new home was almost tangible both on the terraces and the pitch. Up to now crucial lapses in concentration have cost us the four points dropped at home. However, with talented youngsters like Djourou and Eboué still learning their defensive trade, occasional mistakes are always likely.

Against teams who arrive with limited ambitions, our task looks all the more insurmountable the moment we concede the lead. By contrast, if we can maintain a clean sheet long enough for us to score first, our opponents are forced into being a little more adventurous, thereby allowing us room to do some real damage. Once the tension had evaporated with the first strike on Saturday, everyone began to relax on the ball and it couldn’t have been a more fitting celebration of Le Gaffer’s ten glorious seasons as his Gunners were back to their stylish best.

All but Henry who, despite his influential role in all three goals, is still some way short of his customary splendour. Gawd help everyone when Titi does find some form.

In light of our Arabic sponsors, there was a shemozzle some months back when the Arsenal announced a deal with the Israeli tourist board. In my eyes it will take a lot more than some flashing perimeter adverts to attract folks to the Holy Land to collect souvenir shrapnel. But prize of the week goes to the chucklehead who chose to introduce these ads on the one day of the year when most of the target audience were praying at a different temple, celebrating the Jewish New Year.

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