We started off well with Thierry on fire. Chances came and went with the only goal in the 1st half coming from the unofficial best player in the world. The second half saw Fulham attempt to try and get back into the game but, like the crowd, it was all a little subdued. But when the second goal finally came from the ever reliable Bobby following a fine move down the right most of us were just glad to hear the final whistle.

Newcastle away was a different story altogether. Again we started well and should have had at least one goal before Vieira's wonder-strike just before half time. Graham Souness's side came into this game under some intense pressure from not producing the type of performances their fans have come to expect from them over the past few seasons, and they came out in the second half with a point to prove; they showed a lot of determination but very little else.

Newcastle is a bloody cold place to visit at the best of times and in the deep of winter it is even harder, so to come away with 3 points is an absolutely brilliant result even if the performance was more fight than class. If Newcastle lacks warmth in weather it does not lack it in hospitality where the Geordies definitely know how to party and I would recommend a visit to the "Big Market," an area which must have the highest proportion of bars and clubs per head than anywhere else in the world.

New Year's Day saw us visit our former spiritual home of Woolwich to play Charlton, but over the last few years this has not always been a happy ground for us. This year it was a case of let's get in there, get the 3 points and let's get out. Charlton always give us a hard game at the Valley and, don't let the score fool you, it was a lot closer than 3-1. Freddie took his goals well, especially the second which was a great move and Van-Persil can definitely hit the ball given half a chance and, low and behold, during the season of miracles we finally won wearing that bloody blue kit.

So that's 9 points out of 9 and the only other thing we could have wished for was that Chels' and the Mancs could have dropped the odd point but that didn't happen. On the positive side we didn't either or else we could have been chasing shadows now.

So next year Santa how about maximum points as well as Jennifer Aniston, it's not much to ask for is it?

New Years Resolution
The word for all you NY Gooners for the New Year is: recruit. Spread the word and try and get as many of your workmates, family friends, partner's friends, the guy you sit next to on the subway, in fact anyone you come across into becoming an Arsenal supporter. Drive them nuts with everything Arsenal until they sign over their soul to The Gunners. I expect each and every one of you to recruit at least 5 people in the first six months of this year and 5 in the second half of the year and I want to see progress reports on a regular basis. So what are you waiting for, get out there and turn New York into an Arsenal town?

The 2004 Teabag Awards
Following every other award ceremony recently, I decided to follow suite and hand out my own for 2004. Some serious and some not so and if Jason K is not sure which is which can someone please sit him down and paint him a picture?

Arsenal Player of 2004
Thierry Henry - Dragged us through some hard times and gave us plenty to cheer about, the real world player of the year, for us anyway.
Young Player of the Year
Cecs Fabregas - Maturity beyond his tender years, boy can Arsene spot talent or what?
Goal of the Year
Thierry's second versus Liverpool at Highbury, the lift we needed just at the right time.
Performance of the Year
It was a hard choice between our FA Cup demolition of Portsmouth and Liverpool at home but I plumped for Liverpool because of the circumstances. This game came off our elimination from the FA Cup and Champions League to our two fiercest rivals, we were down 2-1 at half time but we showed the character we needed to carry us on to the title.
Celebration of the Year
White Shite Lane- Things don't get much better than crapping on the lawn of a neighbor you hate.
Mug of the Year
Danny Mills - He thought he could make a fool out of Thierry but left with egg on his face.
Best Away Fans
Portsmouth - for knowing a great team when they see one.
Quote of the Year
Alex Ferguson - "Arsenal will slip up. No team can go the whole season unbeaten". Wrong again Fergie!
Best Song
"We are unbeatable, we are unbeatable"
Bore Story of the Year
PV4's on-off transfer to Madrid in the summer
Bore of the Year
Our pal Alex Fergumoan, for not knowing when he has lost the plot and to just pack up and piss off.
Most Confused Supporters
Sp*rs who for some reason thought that it was a moral victory by getting a draw at their place even though we got the point needed to win the Premiership and humiliate them on their own turf with our celebrations. Poor, senseless fools
The "If that mob down the road can appoint a French manager how wrong can we get it" Award
Sp*rs and Jaques Santini.

I Heard It Through The Grape Vine
Following on from Gary Neville's claim that Rio Ferdinand is the greatest defender that England have ever had, old red nose is now claiming that Mr. Memory Man is the best defender in the World. Fergie also says that on Thursdays they will be having sponge with custard and that nurse will be round shortly with his medication.

Life After Arsenal
Alan Sunderland, our goal scoring hero from the 1979 FA Cup final. Was transferred to Ipswich and then played in Malta where he settled down and still lives to this day on a small island called Gozo.

Spotted out and about.
TH14 driving his brand new Mercedes sports near Cockfosters, North London by my wife Joanna, who nonchalantly said "That was Thierry who just drove past us" like it happens every day.

Players we have been linked with over the Christmas period
Sean Wright-Phillps (Man City) Midget midfielder
Edgar Davids (Inter) Midfield terrier
Sergio Ramos (Seville) Young forward
Valeri Bojinov (Lecce) Teenage forward
Andrea Caracciolo (Brescia) Fetus forward
Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton) Keeper
Sebastien Frey (Parma) Keeper!!..in fact any keeper over 16 and under 45 with a pulse and a pair of gloves.

Useless Arsenal Trivia
Youth team player Luke Webb is the son of former Manc & England international Neil Webb.

Celebrity Gooner
Harry Redknapp said that he has been an Arsenal fan ever since his Dad took him to games in the early 50's.

This weeks "Totally Irrelevant" link to Arsenal
Youth team player Michael Jordan is no relation to The Michael Jordan.

All the best,
Teabag