Arsenal 2 Derby 1

If recent games against Derby at Highbury had been films, they’d have had several scenes axed by the censors, seeking to protect the sensitive amongst us. It sometimes appeared that Jim Smith’s players didn’t want Arsenal shirts as souvenirs, just pieces of ankle, shin and assorted facial features.

Not so on Sunday. Perhaps it was the almost abstract start, which saw Sturridge give the away side a surprise second minute lead? Derby never fully recovered and thereafter seemed to lose all bearings. To be fair, they tried to play football, of sorts, but once Arsenal had shaken the cobwebs from their hair (it took Parlour longer than the others) there was only going to be one winner.

That the two winning goals came from Thierry Henry was an unexpected bonus. Henry has it all, pace, power, and sublime skill. However, as Napoleon once commented, he didn’t need great Generals, "just lucky ones", and that’s where Henry has been sadly lacking in the past few months. He gets into a greater number of dangerous positions than almost any player I’ve ever seen, but if there’s a bobble to be had or a blade of the proverbial viscous grass in the wrong place, he’s hit it.

In my view, Henry is going to be a really great acquisition. Unlike Anelka or Wright, Henry will not have to rely on the service of those around him. His athleticism and keen brain means he’s quite capable of creating his own chances. A good run in the side should see a new star emerge over the next few months. Other bonuses were the form of Overmars, who appears to have been put on an overnight charger, and Oleg Luzny who had a rock solid game at right back, supplemented with a series of dangerous looking crosses that do not appear in the Lee Dixon portfolio. All in all, a solid team performance and three points. Who could ask for more?