Denilson, Eduardo, Diaby. It was a day for three of our more occasional goalscorers. When Arsenal were playing well in the early stages of the season, the goals were coming from throughout the side, and so it was yesterday, at least after the 43rd minute.

Rather strangely, it took a brawl to ignite the team. Having watched the highlights on the box, it began when Nasri rather spitefully stepped on an opponent’s ankle after a free-kick award to the Gunners. Whilst I can’t condone this kind of thing, frankly, it did the team no harm that one of their number showed a bit of spite to ignite the spirit amongst his colleagues. They showed a bit of unity in the melee that followed, and in fairness, our number eight was only giving the visitors back a bit of their own medicine. I’ve always thought Nasri had something about him, character-wise, in spite of his cherubic visage, and we need more of his attitude – which I will summarize as ‘if you give it out, you can expect it back’, in the side.

Even if Nasri wasted the free-kick that followed, Arsenal looked more determined and in injury time, Denilson scored a cracker from a subsequent free-kick in a similar position. Yet up to that point it was largely a nothingy kind of game, with lots of passing but not much penetration. What followed the scuffle after the Nasri stamp was a lot more like it, and – spirit-wise – a vast improvement on the bulk of the draw at Burnley. The team took to the field in the second half, and doubtless helped by Hull’s hand being forced to come out and play a little more adventurously, turned in a very decent performance.

I didn’t see the foul for the penalty along with, I suspect, the majority of those in the ground. Highlights indicate a shirt pull, but it seemed a very harsh award, with even ‘Tango’ Brown calling it ‘”soft”. Whether or not the game’s final result would have been much different had Hull scored the spot kick, I am not sure, but Almunia’s save – and credit to the out-of-form keeper for that – helped continue the Gunners’ momentum. Bit disappointing that three Hull players converged on the rebound without a defender in sight, and I hope that’s addressed by the manager in training. Fortunately, they got in each other’s way and conspired to miss a sitter.

It was 2-0 soon after, thanks to the combination work of Song, Diaby and Eduardo. Diaby played much better in this match, and it must be hoped he has run into form and remains fit, as if he plays as well as he did in the second half, he can be a real asset. The inconsistency of his performances, along with his frequent injuries, means he has failed to convince. But there are at least signs that the torture of watching him develop might be worth the wait. The next few weeks will probably be make or break for this player’s reputation with the fans. Let’s hope he builds on an excellent display.

Arsenal played so well once they got going that they could even spurn two gilt-edged chances from the usual suspects, Eduardo and Theo. However, 3-0 is a delight, and with tough encounters against Villa and Portsmouth before the year’s out, it must be hoped that this game will kick-start some momentum from recent doldrums, and rebuild the confidence of both the team and the fans.

The Chelsea defeat took a lot out of the supporters in terms of belief, and as for the players, Arsenal have performed quite patchily since. But in the league, the stats say four matches and ten points, so the results are being posted, even if some of the time it’s made for tortuous watching. Sign of a good team to pick up points when not playing at their best and all that. Who knows, but at least going into Christmas, maybe there is a reason to believe.

Can we expect a favour from the Hammers at home to Chelsea this afternoon? Anything other than an away win and I’ll be convinced that Santa Claus is the real deal.