On Friday, my Dad sent me on an errand to find some curtain hooks. The first shop I went into had a Sp*rs clock on the wall and gave me 8 curtain hooks for free. (They were probably just lying around for years) I said to myself "wouldn't it be nice if Sp*rs could present Arsenal with a gift or two tomorrow."
Well, they obliged. But also took the time to gift wrap it, tie a bow round it and send it straight to Cesc's feet. Thank you very much, Sp*rs. Big team; you're having a laugh!
Anyway, those Gooners without tickets yesterday found one of the many Arsenal related pubs in the Finsbury Park area and made sure that they filled every available space from midday well into the evening. (By that time the Sp*rs fans had skulked off to lick their wounds, or something)
I arrived at The Arsenal Tavern just as the match was about to kick off. Pushed my way to the bar, bought my drink and found my friends in a corner. What followed was 45 minutes of chants with the basic theme of "We Hate T*tt*nh*m" with 2-0 to the Arsenal at the end.
After a first half of missed chances and not much else, Robin was able to put the ball past a diving, but otherwise helpless, Big Nose Gomes. Cue the whole suburb of Highbury erupting in cheers.
We hadn't finished celebrating that first one when Cesc intercepted Sp*rs restart, walked right past several Sp*rs defenders and whacked the ball past Big Nose. More loud eruptions, as people in Potters Bar were probably wondering what the noise was!
At half time the pub emptied as the smokers all headed for the only place it is still legal to puff.
As the teams came out for the second half, my Psychology lecturer friend remarked how the disinterested body language of the Sp*rs players was encouraging. They hardly troubled Mad Manuel (back in goal) during the match.
Goal number three, and the gift tag on the present - Ed goes down injured, and everyone except the ref stops. When Sagna, who slowed to a brisk walk (even at that speed, Sp*rs defence still couldn't catch him) got the ref's message to play on, he resumed running and crossed it to Robin for his second.
After that it was easy. Sp*rs were pretty much beaten, although no Arsenal player, Gooner or Arsene Wenger dared to relax unless we screw up for the second time in a week. Prompting my friend Adrienne to comment, "this is what happens when you concentrate".
At full time, we had more drinks and went to a nice Italian place on Stroud Green Road. Unfortunately, the food stuffs of the title weren't on La Porchetta's menu!
