We knew the Premiership was not won in September when we were winning every game and we know that we have not lost it in November because we can't hit the proverbial cow's arse with a banjo. Obviously the media is full of crisis stories but no one is buying into that, all we are concerned about is that it doesn't carry on for too much longer. We have drawn 2 and lost 1 of our last three games and it says a lot about our team that this is regarded as a crisis, Christ if that's a crisis what are Sp*rs going through?

Arsene puts it down to fatigue and too many players being off form at the same time. Confidence plays a big part and footballers are, after all, only human. Where last year things were happening naturally, you can see that they are playing with a bit of edge at the moment. Last season certain players hit purple patches and carried the team when others were not playing well, this year that has not happened. Vieira has come out and said that he is not playing well (no shit) and that he will get better; this statement could be attributed to any number of players. Our only saving grace at the moment, and the reason that we are not getting slated even more, is the fact that the Mancs are playing really crap and most of the press is concentrating on their downfall. The fact is our real challenge this year was always going to come from south of the Thames and so this has been proven. It's going to be a bumpy ride this season I hope you are all strapped in.

The weekend didn't turn out to be such a disaster, after the game we had a huge bonfire and barbeque to celebrate Guy Fawkes night and on the Sunday for the final part of Joanna's birthday treats I took her to The Dorchester for afternoon tea. Very posh and highly recommended if you're a tourist and you don't mind paying 28 a head.

THE London Derby
Over the last 15 years THE London derby has meant more to the white half of North London than it has to the red. We have had bigger fish to fry but do not let anyone tell you that these games do not mean something to every Arsenal fan. This is an opportunity to put one over the old enemy and give one set of fans a few months of bragging rights. Can you believe that they still think last season's game at White Shite Lane was a result for them because they did not lose, even though we got the point we needed to win the League there! A mate of mine actually came out with the comment that at least we did not beat them. I once asked him which he would prefer, Sp*rs to win the Premiership or Arsenal to get relegated and he said Arsenal to get relegated. When I told him that we would never look at that as success he then backtracked and changed his mind but to me that just about summed them up, they are happier when we lose than when they win.

Chelskavich may be a bigger club than Sp*rs now but when it comes to derbies this is still spoken about in the same breath as the Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow ones, something that the blue noses will not except, this is and always will be the only London derby worthy of note.

Over the last couple of years with the whole Sol saga and their lack of success, this fixture has returned to its most violent past, one takes one's life in your hands going to this game especially at The Lane. The local old bill seem to turn a blind eye to the barrage of bottles and coins thrown at our fans in the queue to get in and you run a gauntlet of hate as you leave the ground. It was bad in the 70's and early 80's but the current climate is really ugly.

One of the best games I went to there was the famous replay of the League Cup semi when Rocky scored the late winner after we were trailing for most of the game. I'd got tickets through a Sp*rs mate and ended up in the Shelf surrounded by Lilywhites. When Clive Allen scored to put them one up I was pulled and pushed by their fans and it was almost like an out of body experience watching so many overjoyed Neanderthals hugging each other. When Ian Alinson got our equalizer I stood up but kept my delight bottled inside, but when Rockys winner went in I couldn't hold it in any longer and neither could pockets of other Gooners scattered around The Shelf, how we got out of there alive God only knows.

I Heard It Through The Grape Vine
Gary Neville thinks that Rio Ferdinand is the greatest defender England has ever produced. Umm, now let me think, Billy Wright, Bobby Moore, Terry Butcher and Tony Adams. Stupid as well as ugly then Gary?

After Arsenal
Paul Vasson was only 19 when he scored the winning goal that beat Juventus in the CWC semi final in 1980. His career was cut short by injury and after attempting to make a go of it in amateur football he became a drug addict and committed suicide when he was in his early thirties.

Spotted out and about.
Thank you to Alicia for this. Patrick Vieira leaving "Dim Sum", a Japanese restaurant in Hampstead.

Players We Have Been Linked With This Week
Shaun Wright-Philips (Man C) Munchkin son of a gun
Alberto Zapater (Real Zarzgoza) 19-year-old midfielder.
Javier Mascherorano (River Plate) Midfielder
Younis Kaboul (Auxerre) 18-year-old defender

Useless Arsenal Trivia
George Clooney & Brad Pitt were both seen on the set of the new "Oceans Twelve" film wearing Arsenal tops

Celebrity Gooner
Tony Hadley, front man for 80's pop combo Spandau Ballet.

This week's "Totally Irrelevant" link to Arsenal
Sheffield United manger Neil Warnock's name is an anagram for Colin Wanker.

This has nothing to do with Arsenal apart from the fact that we beat them in the FA Cup semi's a couple of years ago plus I think it's funny.

All the best,
Teabag