Published: 3 November, 2011

ARSENAL
IF it had been Spurs, they’d have brought a DVD out by now.

Heckaroo, they would have. They would have had them burned and packaged by Saturday night and then opened up their crummy gift shop first thing Sunday morning just to sell them.

Their fans would have even queued around the block.

That’s what Spurs would have done if they had given Chelsea such a wonderful flattening.

Not for Arsenal, who always adopt a little more class. But that’s not to say that this was not the – linger on the ‘e’ in ‘the’, readers – greatest game.

The best ever Premiership match, a spectacular victory for all of us, for financial fair play over money.

As Robin van Persie wheeled away for his hat-trick, the contrast between the £3million Arsenal spent on buying him from Feyenoord and the £50million spent on Fernando Torres was so crisp it could have been a biblical warning or one of Aesop’s Fables: Money can’t buy you everything, that kind of thing.

On a turf, that Chelsea’s big men upstairs seem to want to sell against supporters’ wishes, John Terry was left cuddling the grass as van Persie raced clear.

Well done to the Chelsea supporters for resisting the sale.

If only the team’s defence had as much backbone.

Everything Chelsea fans have accused Arsenal of, schoolyard defending, no recent trophies etc, is now happening at the Bridge.

At least Arsenal haven’t spent £ [insert big million number here] to be in the same place.
RICHARD OSLEY

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
I BELIEVE myself to be a fair man – and that means giving credit where credit is due.

Therefore, I must publicly don my hat to a display at the weekend that not only was exciting but inspirational: consider further the consistency of the last seven matches and phenomenal isn’t too strong an accolade.

This type of performance aligns itself to everything football should be: passionate, robust, skillful and exciting.
So, I hold my hands up high and admit in front of all and sundry that I was wrong, wrong about Scott Parker! Ha, ha, what did you think I was going to say?

I couldn’t see why Harry Redknapp wanted to bring in another midfielder, but during Spurs 3-1 win against Queens Park Rangers at the Lane on Sunday Parker was irresistible, spoiling and breaking up the momentum of opponents all over the pitch.

It’s also to his credit that the only thing you read in the papers is about what he does on the pitch, so much so that not even the meanest of West Ham supporters would begrudge him success at Spurs.

I never doubted that he was a proficient footballer but what I’m seeing every week is a one man wrecking shop! Lots of teams could have secured his services but didn’t want to take a risk on an older player, yet he’ll run through brick walls for you.  

It just goes to show that age ain’t nothing but words and a number.
TONY DALLAS