Written by Ben Harrington Monday, 12 December 2011 15:59

GunnerTalk Blog

By Ben Harrington

A last minute decision to attend this game was vindicated by the visiting of the 3 fabulous statues of Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry as well as the epic ‘Gooner Firm’ after match party in the Eaglet.

Myself James and Kal took the decision to meet up earlier than usual for a bit of greasy spoon action and to get to the stadium to check the bronzed icons up close and personal, but certainly before the crowds gathered, a great decision as we got our photos with little fuss and could then head off to the Tollington for an opening gambit on the booze front.

A couple of pints in the pub with a clearly hungover to buggery Kal were had; we then went back to the stadium to get in on the birthday festivities. Just having the likes of Henry, Wright, Limpar plus many others in attendance seemed to give the whole place a lift.

I was also given a natty card to hold up in block 10 as the teams came out, made me really feel part of the celebrations!

The first half was a slightly drab affair, littered with missed Arsenal chances. Theo ran onto an Arteta through ball and squared it for the on rushing Rambo and Gervinho, but Hibbert intercepted a certain tap-in, Song put Ramsey in and after a pirouette in the box just clipped one just over the bar and Gervinho fluffed another one on one with a keeper this season and drilled it straight at the legs of Howard.

A half time chin-wag with Greg about how we should be in front was had as the temperature dropped.

The second half carried on in the same vein from the outset, Van Persie scooped one over the bar after getting his feet into a muddle and Theo had a shot saved at the near post.

Everton had a brief spell as an attacking force, a Vermaelen clearance and Phil Neville shaving the crossbar was the efforts to come out of the Toffees rare foray into the Arsenal half.

But Everton’s resurgence looked to take more control of the game Arsenal struck. An absolute beauty of a ball from Song found RVP unmarked in the box and he lashed in a quite superb volley, I was sat almost directly behind and saw the ball swerve in off the foot off the post, after 70 minutes of pure frustration I was finally able to warm my frozen feet up by going bonkers!

Everton had one final forage forward and some kid called McAleny volleyed just wide.

Not long after the whistle was blown and the sense of relief in the stadium was evident, a good 3 points that moved us up to the lofty heights of 4^th place, a couple of months ago we had idiots tipping us for relegation so this turn around keeps a firm smile on my face.

The day was not to end there, a rapid power walk up to the Eaglet for the usual post match Away Boyz action was on the agenda and I was greeted by Russ and a pint. Good man!

Needless to say the antics and drinking only escalated from there, William Gallas dropped by and posed for a few pictures as well.

The best part of the evening had to be the Gooner mosh-pit to The Away Boyz ‘Human’ which we then got an encore of, which meant another mosh!

So Arsenals birthday was every bit as great as the firm had planned, possibly the best ‘home’ day of the season?

I think so!

Until next time!

Follow me on Twitter @BenAFC

Also follow @TheGoonerFirm to keep up to date as to where the party animals are having it!