Now that was bliss.
Solid performances all across the pitch, confidence oozing from the pores of all 11 players on the pitch, and a nice, European na·ïve·té from our charitable Portugese visitors. On this latter score, I suppose this is exactly why we love European nights like this. It's not Bolton, Blackburn and for sure, Sunderland away. These continental chaps come to the Emirates, determined to play some football, allow us time on ball, time to stop, flick, backheel, stop for tea, and buy a newspaper. How nice. And sporting.
I don't suppose either Shakhtar or Belgrade will afford us the same luxuries when they visit, and especially when we visit, so I'm just going to savour the moment for now.
As far as our performance was concerned. Well. It was literally, from the first minute, that you could sense a certain hunger in the team, and a certain fear in Braga. It suited us just fine, and it was a long 8 minutes before we finally got our goal.
Cesc made it - and he just about made everything else good on the night. This was Captain Cesc, and the boy earned his wages and more on the night. Is he playing in a different dimension? Indeed. Braga let him loose, and paid for it tonight.
Wilshere was immense, and had both vision as well as a toughness in the tackle we've lacked in recent seasons. Nasri was running all night long, and was as good tracking back in defence as he was going forward. Chamakh - is looking more and more like RVP on steroids. RVP and Bent Nick beware - on this form, he has the best of you both, and more. Think speed, strength and bollocks in tackling. Le Squid and especially Koscielny were excellent too. For once, we saw a defensive spirit that had Koscielny getting into the tackles in the 85th minute of an already-won game as if it was the first in a game with Man U.
Song was our metronome as always, and Vela continues his amazing run of three goals two games in barely 45 minutes on the pitch.
A word too on the Arsh. Even he, managed to mix up his usual moments of frustrating casualness and wastefulness with a couple of sublime assists. Had himself a goal, and should've had another but for the damn post.
Truly, an evening to behold. So just enjoy it again and again.
But that's just it. It was an evening to behold, and evenings don't make seasons. We'll hardly have more pre-pubescent visitors to the Emirates, and the games that would show us more might perhaps have been Blackburn, Bolton, and hopefully Sunderland at the weekend.
In a sense, therefore, what I take away from the night is not how brilliant our football can be. That we're all well aware of. Last night was a virtuoso performance, no doubt. But what has given me the nicest, warmest feeling in my belly was our defensive performance.
THAT was different, and if we keep that up, things could this time be different. You can't help but be optimistic. To have the options of Koscielny, Squid, Vermaelen and Djourou...a nice change from knowing we've got Silvestre waiting in the wings.
Elsewhere, and the evening before, it was nice watching Spurs snatching a draw from the jaws of victory. I'd watched the game till they got their 2-0 lead, cursed a lousy Bremen, and switched to Man U-Rangers. No joy there too, in a really, quite drab game. Full marks to Rangers, but I have to say, I feel for Valencia.
Funny thing is how we too have had our share of horrible breaks (from criminal challenges), and Man U seems to get their horrible breaks from sheer arse luck (Alan Smith too).
It's already Thursday. The nice week continues. So on to Sunderland.
Ciao.
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