Another Red Letter Day

You've got to hand it to Crouchy.
Benched for weeks, recently brought on for a mere 40 seconds to simply run down the clock, and this at a time when our other frontmen, bar Torres, aren't exactly setting the world on fire.
With the fear that our match winners might pick up knocks before Tuesday, he was given his first start in a long time.
He promptly dispatches one cracking finish and is a general menace all game, deservedly picking up the Man of the Match bubbly.
It seemed he was up to prove Rafa wrong from the start. An early screaming 25 yarder nearly went in, and his control, touches and understanding with our midfield was spot on.
Andy Gray typically and predictably did him a disservice by describing his finish as a scuffed mis-hit when everyone else could see what a good strike it really was.
When Souness was asked in the Sky studio if Crouch and Torres could play together, he was under no doubt that they could.
Rafa's not really given that partnership a good go, and on the face of it, the pace of Torres allied to the height and target man presence of Crouch seems like a decent match.
Where it perhaps falls down is that Rafa obviously likes the high tempo fast interplay between Nando and Gerrard, and one of Crouchy's main failings is how the play patently slows down when the balls reaches him.
And for somebody who's 6ft 7ins, his heading can be chronic. One gilt edged chance, in particular, a few yards out dribbled apologetically from his forehead into Almunia's arms
Still, its a partnership which should have been given more opportunities than it has.
Kuyt has rightly deserved plaudits in recent weeks, but its been more for his unbelievable commitment, professionalism and guts than any dynamic forward play.
Turning towards our fourth striker, not many people have a great deal of love towards the Ukranian at present.
Two decent chances at the Emirates, the first a golden one, both missed by Voronin with impressive aplomb.
It may just be me, but I don't think any Premiership player should have a backside of such a wide diameter.
He's quickly fallen from grace has Andriy, after early promise with his Toulouse blockbuster and finish to seal the points away at Sunderland.
Of our four front men, I reckon at least half of them will be off to pastures new to be replaced hopefully with someone with genuine pace.
Other points of note at Arsenal were another top class display from Carragher, proving that some mid season whispers about his wilting form were wide of the mark.
Pennant gave us more evidence that there isn't a lot going on upstairs with a pointless swipe to give a free-kick on the touchline which led to their goal.
We had a full back, Finnan I think, right on hand, but that didn't seem to register with the bearded one.
Damien Plessis was a name new to most people, yet after a slightly shaky start, I thought he put in an impressive performance.
He asked and got a lot of the ball, seems to have a good pass on him, likes a tackle and does constructive things rather than resort to the hoof.
Looked a similar type of player to Sissoko, except with a decent touch and some semblance of skill.
I've taken a bit of stick for my refusal to accept Kuyt's challenge on Hleb last week was a pen. ;-)
Yet again, we had another incident in the Liverpool box which people, Souness actually, called a stonewaller.
In all honesty, I wouldn't have given this one either.
I've not seen a good angle of it to be truthful, but the best available doesn't seem to show anything hugely wrong from Lucas.
Yes, they always say never raise an arm, but as was the case with Hleb, his mate Cesc also went down like the proverbial sack.
They must be taking lessons from each other. Torres too actually, from some of his voluntary crumping to the floor effots last Wednesday.
If that challenge had been put in anywhere other than the penalty area nobody would have batted an eyelid.
Surely there isn't a different rule for fouls in the penalty area?
Anyway, that's the back of the game we weren't particularly bothered about. Strange to note then that we put in one our best away performances at Arsenal for years...with a vastly under-stength team
Here's hoping for the big one on Tuesday night. Cue the noise.