A lovely overhead shot of the Emirates on what looked like a beautiful London afternoon greeted me when I turned on the telecast at 8:30 am local time this morning. Finally, after three games away from home on shoddy pitches we were back on the immaculate green track of our home ground.

Our line-up set out pretty much as was hoped with as close to our top choice 11 starting together for the first time in awhile. The only difference was Yossi Benayoun coming in after a lively performance for the Reserves mid-week. But I imagine his inclusion was more for his experience and defensive work rate instead of any magisterial footwork. His inclusion also meant we had some difference makers on our bench  - Ox and Gervinho along with Park who scored mid-week for the reserves - for the first time in awhile.

Everything was primed for the most significant North Derby in quite some time.

Defence an easy target?

If there was anything I was going to harp on was the defence and after the first two goals it looked like they were going to be easy targets. But anticipating the potential of an unwanted back page headline, the defence battened down the hatches and barely put a foot wrong the rest of the way.

Amazing what can happen when you have four defenders playing in their proper positions. Seriously, I can’t remember one cross in the second half not being met first by an Arsenal head and when we stepped up for offsides we did so as a unit.

Kieran Gibbs did come off so hopefully that is just a precautionary and he is alright because some stability in the back would be a beautiful thing right now.

Go-go Gibbs

Speaking of Gibbs I really hope he is able to get a good run in the side. He is so dynamic, runs like a gazelle out there and gives us an attacking verve from the left fullback position that may be unmatched in the Premier League.

Take Sagna’s goal. The ball comes off the post from Van Persie’s shot and runs along the end touchline. Gibbs picks it up and with a simple head fake creates space and touches it back to Arteta whose inch perfect cross finds Bac and we’re back in it. Gibbs’ subtle play was the catalyst and was something I never remember seeing from Clichy.

Rosicky Renewal

The plaudits are raining if for Tomas Rosicky’s performance and deservedly so. The Czech international has put in some impressive shifts of late which was capped by his winning goal and MOTM performance today.

Could this be a player finally getting a run and playing with some confidence or just someone playing for a contract? What I have seen of Rosicky I believe it is the former and if he keeps playing like this we need to resign him. Going forward he can provide us with the experience and depth we’ve been lacking in recent years and provide cover for the younger, developing players. Let’s just make sure we don’t overpay him.

Theo’s tirade

Speaking of confidence was there a player who needed a boost of it more than Theo Walcott. Good on him for his two goals and when he is on I don’t think there is a better layer one-on-one with the goalkeeper than him. Let’s just hope he can use this as a platform for the run in as we’re going to need him.

It’d be interesting to see his numbers playing on good pitches versus playing on poor pitches but in any case let’s hope the 22-year old can keep it going.

Harry for Spurs!

Maybe we don’t want Harry to take the English job after all. In a game which may have been as equally big for his squad, the Spurs’ boss seemed catatonic and devoid of ideas to get the game back in his team’s favour after they let the two-goal lead slip away. If this is what he is going to show every big game than let him stick around.

Further to this, in a season so bereft of joy isn’t it a good feeling to essentially put to bed Spurs’ title hopes? Not only that but their lead over us is only seven points with a game against Manchester United (sans Scott Parker) on the horizon third place may not be out of reach, With all that has happened this season that’d certainly be incredible. There are still plenty of games left so let’s take this win, enjoy for the day and then get back to work tomorrow.

Enjoy everyone.

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