Andy Gray was still talking about the goal and the Tottenham marking when the screen flashed back to the play showing Cesc Fabregas bearing down on goal and place the ball wide of Gomes

Arsenal 3 Tottenham 0 – Premier League

I did not intend on putting a post match thoughts article up on Monday, in fact I was well on my way to writing a pretty in depth review of the wonderful derby result on the weekend. After the game I went out to run a few errands and celebrate our victory. I got back in time to watch the extended highlights again on Sky Sports. I was still somewhat buzzing from the game and wanted to spill my thoughts onto paper computer even though I was in desperate need of sleep.

Well time ticked away and I was putting the finishing touches on the article, correcting a whole host of grammatical errors that I made until the dreaded blue screen struck, unannounced, unprovoked. For those lucky enough not to know what the blue screen is, it is when the computer you are using suddenly shuts down, erasing anything that you previously had on screen. Unfortunately for me I didn’t save my thoughts at any point upon opening textpad.

I couldn’t find a slot on Sunday to write anything so I thought I would say a few words today, although clearly I have missed the train on what could be our most exciting result of the season, at least from the view of the supporters.

I must admit that before the game I was a little worried about the game, I had a slight bad feeling about the upcoming clash. Not because of the super strong bench that Tottenham have but because of the possible knock on effect from the West Ham game. I was praying that the negativity from conceding two late goals wouldn’t be carried over into yet another derby, especially with those exact problems happening in this fixture last year. Possibly my worst ever draw as a Gooner. That result felt worse than many Arsenal defeats over the years.

The team needed a convincing result to wipe away last weeks West Ham result and certainly the 4-4 draw at the Emirates last season.

Tottenham were extremely disappointing, I lost even more disrespect for a team that I didn’t feel that I could lose any more for. After all the talk of squad comparison from their captain and the negative comments from their manager I was expecting them to have a go at us, to have a bit of belief in their ability to play football. Surely a team that have aspirations of joining the big boys would have enough quality to impose their game.

Hoofing the ball high to Peter Crouch, sometimes not even supporting him is not good enough at our level. Tottenham can continue to remain in the same bracket as Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City etc.

After half an hour our possession stats were into the sixties but we were not creating as much as we should have as the inferiors were camped inside their own half, playing to stop Arsenal playing but as all teams that have attempted this trick at the Emirates have found, they got their comeuppance in the end.

After a few missed chances Robin Van Persie with pure penalty box predatory instincts ran across his marker to poke the ball in from close range. A difficult finish made to look easy. The kind of finish that would have pundits purring had it been Wayne Rooney. In fact it was very much a Gary Liniker type of finish from all those years ago.

Andy Gray was still talking about the goal and the Tottenham marking when the screen flashed back to the play showing Cesc Fabregas bearing down on goal and place the ball wide of Gomes.

I didn’t know what had happened, did it go wide?, how can Cesc have the ball in that area already? will the referee call the ball back for some reason? I stood crouched for a few seconds until my mind confirmed to the rest of my body that it was actually a second Arsenal goal. I leapt up punching the air still bemused as to what had happened.

The replay told me all that I needed to know. Horrific Tottenham defending and wonderful play from Cesc. We saw it at Everton on the opening day and we have seen it a few times this season from our captain. He now has the power to do a Vieira, run through the opposition as apposed to just finding the pass. If Cesc can develop this then it will make him a much better play than he already is. Cesc Fabregas is no longer a kid, he is a man doing what top quality midfielders do. He gave Gomes the eyes and expertly place the ball into the corner of the net.

I smelt blood. Was it going to be the time when we finally stuffed the scummers? For years and years we have had a far superior squad to them and we have not managed to hammer them they way we have done to the likes of Everton, Middlesbrough and many others in the same boat as Tottenham.

Bacary Sagna continued his David Beckham impression, assisting Van Persie’s last three goals with a cross that squeezed in between Ledley King and Gomes for the ball to bounce of Hen-kamp and into the back of the net. I hope Van Persie and Sagna have been speaking because whatever may have been said is clearly working.

Bendtner looked fantastic in the time he had on the pitch, head and shoulders above his midweek Carling Cup performance and it is such a shame that he went off injured. Eduardo replaced him and played very well. If I could choose a player to be in the position he found himself in twice in our next match I would opt for Eduardo once again. It is not normal that he missed once chance like he did and it is almost a freak that he missed two. His finishing ability is never in question and with games I see that correcting itself pretty sharpish.

Many of our players played very well. Sagna, Gallas, Alex Song and Van Persie were all class on the day but the one players I want to pick out once again is Thomas Vermaelen. Playing against a striker seven times his size he repeatedly won headers against Peter Crouch. Was superb on the floor and was a big reason as to why the wannabies did not look like scoring.

The clean sheet was very important, Wenger would have rather won the game 3-0 that 4-1. Hopefully it is a start of a very important trend for the team.

The victory put us second in the table until Manchester United narrowly beat a Blackburn Rovers side who were demolished at the Emirates a few weeks back.

At the end of the day, I had nothing to fear, the Gooners showed their class once more and we can all look forward to a reshuffled team in the Champions League.