The Arsenal fans were barely visible at that range, which was probably a good thing. My experience of Arsenal fans is that they are largely weedy bespectacled Nick Hornby-ites who think that watching football makes them cool and interesting, interspersed with a scattering of Norf London boys who think that they’re hard. All in all a laughable little lot. I really do dislike them intensely.

The game started with the vigour we all expect from a London derby, and both attacking play and dodgy challenges were much in evidence. Hasselbaink was denied a penalty after being brought down in the area, and next thing we knew, despite Chelsea being marginally the better side, De Goey batted the ball straight at Henry’s feet in a direct replay of his similar move in the Newcastle game, and in it went. All the Arsenal fans stood up and cheered at the tops of their voices - if you listened carefully you could just about hear them.

Chelsea happily remained unfazed by this and carried on regardless. Zola, Hasselbaink and especially Dutch wonder-boy Zenden producing some blistering play. The central midfielders looked a bit more comfortable with each others’ style of play, and I am now satisfied that Lampard is quite good, though my jury’s still out on whether or not he was worth £11m. Early days yet and we’ll see. Gronkjaer however was bobbins (Bobbins ? - Ed) - losing possession left right and centre and seemingly incapable of tackling. Why he wasn’t substituted for Stanic at half-time I don’t know. I also thought that Gallas, good though he is as a central defender, was pretty ordinary as a right-back and certainly not a patch on the ever-impressive Melchiot.

Our goal, nevertheless, came from a penalty after the baboon-like Keown twatted Zola in the area. I notice Wenger is already dishing up the sour grapes over this one, saying that giving a penalty was "a bit unfair". Well fuck off Wenger - I was in the perfect spot to see the challenge and, though I am not and have never been a referee, tripping an opposing striker in the box and then shoving him in the back just to make sure he falls over is a penalty in anybody’s book. Hasselbaink took the kick, and his usual 90mph shot went straight in.

Chelsea carried on battling (except Gronkjaer) and a brief injury worry for Le Saux thankfully turned out to be nothing. In the second half the Mighty Blues were noticeably the better side and Arsenal were reduced to defending in large numbers and only attacking on the break (remind anyone of another shit team that plays in red?) in their efforts to get a winner that they wouldn’t have deserved.

In the meantime near-misses from Hasselbaink, Zola, Zenden, Le Saux and Lampard showed that Chelsea were not going to let up. We were bloody unlucky not to get a second goal, but when Hasselbaink got his marching orders for shaking free of a bear-hug from Keown, seriously denting Chelsea’s attacking capability, even then the chances continued. Ranieri is apparently going to appeal against the red card, and quite rightly: even if Hasselbaink DID elbow gibbon Keown in his ugly mug it could only improve his hideous appearance...

Luck was definitely with Arsenal though and by full-time the scoreline was unchanged. Definitely a good performance by Chelsea, much better than against Newcastle, and I think the players can consider themselves very unfortunate not to have come out with the full three points. More work still to be done in blending in the newcomers, but I think I can see the makings of the best Chelsea side in years here. I predict a top four finish this time around as a prelude to having the Championship sewn up by Christmas in the 2002-3 season. You read it here first - get down to Ladbrokes and see what odds they’ll give you; ding dong, can’t knock it...

What do YOU think ? Want to add your point of view ? Here's your chance to send me some feedback. NB: Opposing fans: abuse will be laughed at and then binned, so don't waste your time. Considered, intelligent argument, presented in the spirit of friendly rivalry guarantees a response.