early start at the emirates and despite the best efforts of the arsenal box office to confuse (my print out said go to gates N and M but the geezer on the gate said it should be J and sent me packing) i was in my seat, overlooking the massed ranks of baggies, by 12.30. a curious and disappointing game in some ways despite the win. arsenal started well, and within 4 minutes new boy nasri cooly finished a great move and the crowd roared its approval. we settled back and waited for adebayor et al to rip the albion apart. but it didn't happen. the baggies wobbled for 20 minutes and even gallas got in on the act, a long short just missing carson's right post, but then they came right back into it. baggies fans made lots of noise and have adopted psalm 23 (the lord's my shepherd) as an anthem and with God on their side we never really had a chance ;D

second half it was pretty even, and the introduction of rvp did little to improve things. we need cesc and rosicky back, and someone needs to invite eboue to inspect a large hole on hackney marshes... we can play a lot better and we will play sides less well organised than west brom. its too early to predict much for the season - a new signing in midfield is much needed (alonso would be brilliant but the scousers are surely not daft enough to sell him..). the spuds lost at boro, hull equalled derby's records wins for last year and cambridge are top of the conference with maximum points (9) after beating new boys barrow. spoke to several baggies after the game and i told them i think wba will be ok this season if they play as well - hope so, they have some good players and they are no bolton.

as for the booing of adebayor, it was because he was playing badly - too lazy and casual - on several occasions he missed the chance to put a team mate in. ok, he wants to score and hear the cheers of the home crowd, but he screwed up in the summer allowing his greed to overwhelm his talent. arsenal fans will not forgive him but we will forget if he starts banging them in. no better place to start than at craven cottage on saturday.