Wow... Where did that come from?!

 Theo Walcott's relief was plain to see on Sunday after scoring his first home league goals since late 2010 against the old enemy. Often clinical, however even more often infuriating, the England winger was certainly the former yesterday.

Every season there is a stand out game separated from the others, one result symbolic of the entire campaign; an emblematic token that will forever define a certain year to every football fan. 
Who can forget Philippe Albert's impudent chip sailing over a helpless Peter Schmeichel in a resounding 5-0 Newcastle win? Or Stan Collymore's incredible last minute finish to win Liverpool a 4-3 thriller against Kevin Keegan's Toon army? A certain Russian's performance at Anfield in 2009 anyone? You get the idea, and the very fact that I could fill this whole blog with a host of classic encounters is only testament to the premiership's appeal, it has an aura about it that allows it to tower above any of its European rivals with yesterday only re-affirming this. 

Arsenal scored two league goals at Old Trafford for
the first time in over 7 years. Said Wenger. 

This however is not news to a lot of people, the majority agreeing that it is globally the greatest league around, the surprise is that this season alone there has been a deluge of spectacular results and frankly ridiculous scorelines in comparison to previous years gone by. This term fixtures between the top 6, so usually cagey and tactical if previous encounters are to go by, have produced incredible matches, exciting scores and incomparable entertainment. Spurs steamrollered King Kenny's reds 4-0 in September which got the ball rolling for City to stun the world of football with a remarkable performance at Old Trafford followed just a week later by a Van Persie inspired Arsenal team to romp to a 5-3 triumph at Stamford Bridge. Of course unforgettably the Gunners suffered at the hands of the 'Red Devils' in the fledgling season with a complete capitulation. This not including yesterday's match is 25 goals in 5 games and only Sepp Blatter would argue that this isn't entertaining to the fans.

David Luiz has had reason to hide after recent defensive displays

 It is almost certainly no co-incidence that the English team's poor performances in Europe this year have come at the same time as so many goals being conceded domestically, a full blown epidemic of comical defending that has clearly swept our nation and you evidently get punished for that at the very highest level. David Luiz is a fine example, although an extremely talented player he is to defending what N-Dubz are to music and Villas-Boas would be wise to re-evaluate the Brazilian's position, his fine goal this weekend evidence of his offensive capabilities. 


Back to yesterday's football though, Arsenal vs Spurs was a fantastic advert for the Premier league,  a topsy turvy rollercoaster of a game. Out of all the big match ups over the years, the North London derby has been the fixture for football purists in recent years with only one goalless draw in the past 32 league and cup encounters, including some memorable results along the way, most notably 4-5, 4-4, 3-3. They are frenzied, basketball style affairs, events in which the country sits down to take notice, occasions where the only thing moving at a faster rate than the ball itself is the heart rates of the fans involved. Yesterday was no different, it was a blur, when the final whistle was blown a brief pause for actually absorbing what had just happened occurred, a short moment to pinch yourselves perhaps if you reside from the red half of north  London. 

Van Persie netted his 23rd league goal of the season with this blistering equaliser.

Tottenham went into the derby as favourites for the first time in over ten years in away match against an Arsenal side fresh off the back of an FA cup exit and a more than probable Champions league exit, and after Saha opened the scoring in the 4th minute, the script seemed clear. Redknapp's men started much the brighter team and seemed happy to caress the ball harmlessly around the glorious Emirates turf, until Luka Modric pounced. The Croatian hit a wonderful first time pass to set Gareth Bale free until the Welshman chanced his luck with an 'optimistic tumble'.. ahem... to earn his side a penalty. The all so charming and ever so popular Emmanuel Adebayor slotted home with for once muted celebrations and with Spurs 2-0 up at the half hour mark surely Arsenal were set to lose again, their routine post January kamikaze like submission.This was different though. The home team reached well and were in dreamland to go in at the break at 2-2. Arsenal were dare to say it, like the Arsenal of old for 15 minutes, fluent, potent, direct and effective. Sagna's header was a great finish off of a good cross into the box, something the Gunners don't do enough of. Van Persie's equaliser was sublime, a strike that words cannot do justice for one must see, as soon as the Dutchman's bullet left that sweet left peg, the momentum was with Wenger's men, Spurs were shell-shocked. 

Bad day at the office for 'Arry but he has every right to be
proud of Spurs' season thus far

Tottenham never really turned up for the second half and when Rosicky flicked in a neat finish early in the proceedings to give Arsenal the lead for the first time the stadium erupted. Walcott was a different player from the timid, indecisive boy of the first half and burst through twice in the space of 5 minutes to score two great finishes, much with Van Persie's assistance. Arsenal were in dreamland, nobody expected this, not even the most ardent fans on the North Bank for the simple fact is that their team had not shown this spirit, fight or desire for a very long time, it was unexpected, an inculpable relief. Harry Redknapp joked after his side's 0-0 draw with Stevenage last weekend that it wasn't the best audition for the England job, what would he be saying after this showing?