Old Gooner's thoughts on: Liverpool vs Arsenal

Oh ye of little faith. (The 'ye', by the way includes me who would have bitten off the hand offering a draw had it been given at half time)

Maybe the first half is best written off as a bad dream. If it's possible we looked worse than when playing the Chavs last month. The scallies were faster to the ball, closing us down and quite honestly making us look like amateurs when we tried to attack. In truth we were lucky to be only one down.

Thankfully the defence managed to compensate for Fawlty's flapping and we owed a great deal to the Verminator, Alex Song and Denilson who put in more than their fair share of effort.

Apparently le boss gave them hell at half time with words to the effect that they weren't fit to wear the shirt. It's hard to argue that most of them deserved it.

And then we found our own beach ball in the shape of Johnson's left boot. Cue much laughter, relief and the thought that a much brighter Arsenal might make a game of it. For sure, they'd picked up their game and at least deserved to be on the same pitch.

What was surprising though was the effect this goal had both on scallie players and supporters. For the first time we could actually hear that wonderful bunch of gooner away supporters who out shouted the Kop for the rest of the game. AA's goal was just reward for them. He'd played his socks off with virtually no help from anyone in the first half and whilst he still can't tackle, he does bring a quality brain, upper body strength and deftness of touch that belies his minute stature. Hopefully his injury isn't serious. Likewise Traore who seemed to pull up lame late in the half.

If both of them are out for any length of time we will have a problem even though Silvestre has vastly improved on last year's performances in the short time he's spent on the pitch.

Wish I could think the same of Theo and Mr Fawlty. Maybe if AA is out, Theo might be given a chance in the middle. Maybe not having time to think will be the answer for him.

Gooner for 60 years...