A win. We didn’t play particularly well, we didn’t play particularly badly but we won. We ground out a result despite injuries, lack of confidence and lack of form. We kept a very welcome clean sheet. The players worked for each other, some of them didn’t play well but that doesn’t matter. Ultimately, it was of vital importance that we stopped leaking goals, stopped losing and had some good news for a change.

The media dwells on our lingering problems this morning. Of course this result doesn’t solve all of our issues or paper over the cracks but it is a step in the right direction. A new captain, a clean sheet, a win, and a steely determination to get a result are all indicators that the feeble submissions we have witnessed of late may be consigned to the past. As I have said before, it wasn’t the losing that bothered me so much in recent weeks, it was the pathetic manner of those defeats. Anyway that is in the past.

Also in the past, albeit the recent past, is the William Gallas affair. Gallas played last night, largely due to a lack of any options, but he got his head down, shut up and worked hard for the team. The crowd were kind to him also, which was a surprise. I have changed my opinion on the way Gallas should be handled. In the spirit of moving on and looking to the future I have resolved to forgive Gallas for his idiocy. If he can stay with the team, work hard, not give any more interviews and not be a disruptive force in the dressing room then I will back him. The players have come out to support him, although notably RVP and Samir Nasri have been quiet. The manager has given him another chance, so I guess so should we. Make no mistake though, William Gallas is on parole. One more f*ck up and he should be shown the door as quickly as possible.

El Capitán had a great first game in the hotseat, not only was he all over the pitch and involved in everything, his quick thinking at the DROP BALL set up a great pass for confidence shorn Bendtner, who finished superbly. That moment threw me back to the glory days when Henry and Pires used to contrive similar rule bending opportunities at free kicks. It’s nice to have a player capable of thinking differently. I couldn’t care less about those people that claim bad sportsmanship, we needed to win that game. Anyway Aliiev was guilty of hideous gamesmanship with his rolling about as if struck by lightning quickly followed by sprinting antics. I was glad he got sent off, not only is he a cheat but he also got caught. I could probably just about stand a diver, but not a diver without the sense to do it properly.

El Capitán has said that he is keen to talk to Vieira and Henry to get advice on his new role. Vieira can certainly give him some pointers, he was a miraculous captain for us. It’s been said before, many times, by me and others, but why on God’s Green Earth did we ever sell Vieira? If we hadn’t, he’d still be captain and we’d have probably won the league a couple more times in the last few years. Sorry about that, I must remember that now we are looking forward, not dwelling on the past and what might have been. So what if we sold the world’s best midfielder, the world’s best winger and the world’s best striker in the space of two years and didn’t replace them. That isn’t important anymore. The future! Look to the future!

Going back to the Champions League, despite our problems this season we have qualified top of a difficult Champions League group. That is an achievement for any team, let alone a team comprising children and ‘utility players’ such as ours. The players and the manager can take great credit for this achievement. Last night it was great to see Vela start, I enjoy watching him play, he is good on the ball, runs at the defence fearlessly and always has a shot on goal. In a season or so he could be flippin’ excellent for us. Likewise Ramsey looks like a player of 23 rather than 17 or 18 or whatever he is. I know that they were there because of injuries etc, but even so, they acquitted themselves admirably. As did record breaker Wilshire and Johann Djourou. Most of these players are only ready for substitute roles at most, but it is good to have these players coming through, even if it doesn’t help us that much which our pressing problems.

Apologies for the lateness of the blog post today. Burgervan has been in a world without the Internet. I write this on the cusp of kick-off in today’s Aston Villa game at Emirates and we start with the same side that started against Manchester United in last weeks match. Adebayor is on the bench, along with some of our excellent performers from the Carling Cup – Ramsey; Vela; Fabianski; Djourou; and Song.

Burgervan prediction: Arsenal 4 – 1 Aston Villa

I know, that prediction is crazy but it’s a hunch and if TJ Hooker has taught me anything It’s that you must always trust your gut. Let’s face it, it’s never done William Shatner any harm has it?

Surprisingly for a match day there is very little news about the Arsenal. Fabianski is staying, is happy at the Arsenal and is targeting Manuel Almunia’s number one spot. Wilshere will be debuting for the England under 21s and could, according to Wenger, play some part in the 2010 World Cup – He’ll be 18

I can’t wait (even though I have to) until the Arsenal have five or six young English players in the first team. After all these years of seeing the cream of English talent playing at our main rivals – Man Utd; Chelsea; Liverpool, soon we’ll be the team with the Brits and even better we won’t have paid twenty or thirty million for them. Sweet.

Again today I was amazed by the early arrival of the Arsenal fans around the Finsbury Park area today. Again, I was at the paper shop, buying some milk and the newspaper, the time: 07:45. Yes yes I know it’s early but my sleep brain has been trained to get up at the crack of dawn for work and as hard as I try I can’t f*cking have a lay in. Anyway, at 07:45 this morning were a number of fans in the area for the game. What the hell?! The pubs wouldn’t open for over three hours, its cold, there is nobody about apart from idiots like me and the hard working shopkeepers in the area.  It’s ridiculous getting there that early.  These guys would be in Finsbury Park for a staggering 7 hours before the match starts. I live in Finsbury Park, I love it in this area, but you are stretching it if you want to be occupied for an hour, let alone 7. Ah Well, I guess it’s there choice. Its pretty stupid though!

Almunia has just saved a f*cking penalty. Hero!

Flash of Arsenal!