By Mark Deeks
February 11 2003

ARSENAL HOME, FEBRUARY 9TH. Sorry for the delay, but both the Spurs away and Arsenal home columns are now online. A game we should have won. ARSENAL HOME, FEBRUARY 9TH.

OK, I admit it. I let myself get carried away. I started to believe the hype, and I had almost started to believe we could win this one. Well wait a minute, we nearly did, and maybe should have. But more of that in a mo.

First up, could I please take a moment of your time to give you a word on Middlesborough and our postponed match of last Saturday.

That word is "Scandalous".

Thankyou.

Actually no, I've got another one.

"Disgrace".

No wait a minute, a third:

"Joke".

You get the picture.

Back to the gunners.

You see Man U had only managed a point against rivals City a couple of hours previously, so the chance was really there for us to put the cat amongst the pigeons, or equally for Arsenal to start to put the title race to bed.

I have to say that I reckon this was comfortably the best atmosphere of the season, and that includes the Mackems. That one was too easy in the end, and we spent most of the game laughing.

With this one, you could tell the crowd knew from the outset that we were going to have to play our part. Mind you, me, Dougie and Scud and his mates always play our parts (unlike some members of our section) but that is by the by....

From word go, the action on the park matched the white hot noise of the crowd. This was full throttle stuff, with action in both penalty areas early on. In particular Robert's 50 yrd run and cross for Shearer to force a good save from Seaman, and Nobby's unorthodox goal line clearance from Viera's header which ricocheted off his knee onto the underside of the bar, only to fall to Pires who somehow managed to miss from two yards.

Then there was the incident which one papr described today as the "save of the century"!!! A cross into the centre of our box had Bramble turned and as he stuck out a leg and deflected it towards goal, it looked like another candidate for our defenders' seemingly in-house "own goal of the season" competition! (So far the candidates being Dabizas' diving header against Spurs and Andy O Brien's unlucky effort which hit the bar at St Mary's). But then Super Shay, whose indifferent form this season has been something of a concern, and who was already in mid-air, managed to tip the ball over the bar.

With his head.

Unbelieveable.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to discuss briefly Ashley Cole.

Ashley, I realise the chance of you reading this is about as remote as Sunderland getting as many points as Shearer gets goals this season, but really sunshine, you are shocking. The way you went down and stayed down, and rolled around for good measure after Super Al tackled you was unbelieveable. According to the radio pundits, the replays show he barely touched you. Why therefore did we get an impersonation of a swan?

That was dying?

After being hit over the head?

With a shovel?

Really. Sort yourself out. It's becoming a running story with constant updates. "Who did Ashley Cole try to get sent off this week?" You're a disgrace to the game, and thoroughly warrant your reuptation.

Cheat.

Back to the game. I felt we were playing well in the main. Jenas and Dyer were once again excellent, and although Arsenal were undoubtedly playing the better football, our workrate and effort really did seem to have the champions rattled at times. This was particularly evident when we had corners as they repeatedly brought everyone back. And that includes the mercurial Henry.

Just when it seemed that we were really starting to get into the game, a slight miscontrol of a throw by the otherwise excellent Jenas, let in a quick couple of Arsenal passes, and before you could say "I bet you don't miss this one Wenger" Henry had rounded Given and slotted home.

Curses.

Half time came, and I have to say I was gutted. Had our chance gone to really get one over on the champions?

Within 15 minutes of the second half, we had seen it all. First off there was Robert's fabulous equaliser. From my view in the Leazes, I didn't realise how far out he was when he struck it. I had seen the jinky run and the skipping past two or three tackles, but I really did think he probably only had about 10 yrds to go when he curled it into the bottom corner so beautifully. Not a bit of it. He was at least twenty, and it really was a majestic goal and easily Robert's moment of the season by far.

But then came the down side. To start off with our wandering Frenchman hacked down Lauren. It was the stereotypical forwards' tackle. Yellow card, fair enough. The adrenaline of his efforts two minutes previously must surely still have been pumping, these things happen. And to be fair, I thought that he was having one of his better games this season with regards to his workrate.

But two minutes later again, as we seemd to be getting the upper hand, came the incident that covered this morning's back pages, and was the topic for Sir Bobby's post match rant.

Robert slightly fouled Bergkamp, who let's face it hardly has the reputation of an angel. Bergkamp feigned to take the kick quickly like so many players do, and seeing as the original foul had happened only a split second previously, Robert was stood right in front of him protesting, like so many players do. Bergkamp seemed to feign to take it again, but really didn't have a ball on, and before we knew it had rattled the ball of our slightly naive Frenchman, and the ref had duely applied the "letter of the law". Obstruction, second yellow, off.

I have read many opinions of this incident today and am left with the following thoughts. Had Robert done the sensible thing and backed a little off then Bergkamp would either have tried this imaginary ball to Henry he claims he was attempting and failed, or the ref would surely only have had a word. But no, Robert stood there a moment too long and Bergkamp with his nasty caniving sidestreak did nothing to discourage the tension of the situation and rattled the ball of wor Laurent.

At that moment, depending on who you believe, the affect was a ruining of our chances for the game or for the season. I tend to veer slightly towards the first. I certainly think we were starting to look the better team and may have gone on to win it and therefore improve our title hopes hugely. But lets face it, you know something else would have happened to spoil it, don't ya? It always does. Or could it really have been our year? We'll never know.

Mind you, saying that. If we beat Man U and Chelsea, but Man U beat Arsenal.......well. Keep the faith. I'll say this. We'll finish higher than fourth this year.