Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Arsenal

[funster]

Sad but true - in recent seasons we have had a habit of taking the lead against the Gooners and throwing it away. Yet again, we have managed to repeat this feat. Unfortunately, today's scoreline is a touch more embarrassing than those of recent seasons (leave aside the 3-0 defeat at The Emirates last season), and under the intense media scrutiny, probably the last thing we needed.

The early kick-off played havoc with making it to the ground on time. Ten minutes in when we arrived, the stadium bathed in sunshine - an absolute scorcher.

Not long afterwards we won a free-kick and despite it having been on the side more favoured for a right footer, Bale got it up and down, curled around, and into the back of the net! 1-0! Come on!

In reality, Almunia really should've done better, but I wasn't going to complain. The euphoria was tempered by my memories of recent seasons - see first paragraph of this match report.

Ultimately the Gooners had the better opportunities of the first half. Two terrific saves by Robbo, and one that crashed against the bar, but we went in at the break a goal up.

When we came back out my first thought was to wonder whether we'd start at all well. Good enough, although the Gooners did have the better of the first five minutes after the break.

We'd been caught offside again and again and I'd said that one of two things was going to happen - either we'd keep getting caught offside, or, more likely, we'd spring the trap at least once. And we did. Berbatov through on goal, round the keeper, and why he didn't get his shot away I'll never know. The defender nipped in and got the ball away. That was a gilt edged chance to make it 2-0 and the complexion of the game would have been entirely different.

As it was the Gooners pulled level from a header by bloody Adebayor. It was at the other end of the ground so I may well be making this up, but Robbo didn't seem to get anywhere near it. Now, I haven't (and won't) join the ranks asking for Robbo's head, but this time he did seem to get it wrong. A soft touch to equalise.

Mind you, we still came at them. A corner led to Berbatov turning it goalward from very close range, but cleared off the line. Unfortunately, the Gooners made us pay and as Fabregas advanced and we backed off he let rip from miles out to score what I hate to say was a good goal.

Even at 2-1 down we had chances. Bent's introduction injected some pace up front and he too sprung the offside trap but his feeble effort when one-on-one with Almunia..... well, it left a lot to be desired.

With four minutes added on - almost exclusively I would suggest because of the number of Arsehole players who fell about when touched - memories turned to Jenas smashing in a late late equaliser last year. He actually made a burst through and I thought he may go for it again, but alas no. What happened in the end was Adebayor scored again to seal the match - another (unfortunately) good goal.

So we lose again and no doubt the knives will be sharpened. The most disheartening thing today was that we again led against Arsenal and again missed out.

Positives were seeing Dawson back. He and Kaboul played reasonably well at the back, but in front of them we once again lacked in central midfield. The vast majority of Arsenal's attacking moves came through the middle.

The combinations of Chimbonda-Malbranque and Lee-Bale made for a much more balanced team. Bale in particular impressed me hugely.

Berbatov was again commanding up front when pulling the ball down but somehow lacked the cutting edge that was so evident through the second half of last season. Keane ran his guts out and did the job he seems to have adopted of chasing down and closing down.

Unfortunately today - as Martin Jol said - they were clinical in taking their chances, we were not. No doubt plenty of people will be calling for Jol's head citing another defeat against the top four, and another game against Arsenal where we led only to lose, as evidence that he can't cut it. But let me ask you this - when your best striker fluffs a one-on-one at 1-0 up, and a lad you've paid sixteen million quid for scuffs wide at 2-1 down, is that really the manager's fault?

It would be a crying shame to see Levy and his board lose patience. One of the primary reasons we never seem able to make the step up in my humble opinion is that they are unwilling to give the manager enough time.

If I'm wrong, I'll hold my hands up and say so. But Martin still has my full support.

[Twizzle]

still a big gap between 4th and 5th, but this season we'd be lucky to get to 5th from here

disappointing considering all the money we spent