Well, it’s a bit early to say, but I think we might have just seen the first genuinely exciting match at the new stadium. Going behind, coming back and actually winning the damn thing. Drama with a happy ending for the home support. Ok the team managed this against Dinamo Zagreb, but the tension was nowhere near as great due to the away leg result.

Critically, the second and third goals came from wide. Eboue’s speculative stinger and Walcott’s cross for Baptista, who headed it home looking a sight more bestial than he did against Newcastle. Arsenal were playing 4-4-2 by that point, the need to retain possession in midfield largely over-ridden by Hamburg’s retreat to hang onto the draw. So out with the five man midfield, with Adebayor replacing Van Persie and joining a frankly lacklustre Henry upfront. When Theo entered the fray he played on the left wing with little impact until Hleb’s removal for Baptista. Walcott was far more at home on the right wing and what a difference it made.

Theo is too young to be starting every game for the Gunners. But it’s time he started some. Especially at home where we’ve all seen too many goals conceded before the our boys have kicked into gear. Walcott would deliver a fresh problem. Hleb’s contribution has been excellent, but Wenger must now concentrate on width. Hleb is good enough to play the left side – and resembles the much-missed Robert Pires far more than Robin van Persie is ever likely to. So if Le Boss is determined to stick with 4-1-4-1, he has to play the system with at least one genuinely wide player. I suggested moving Henry out left previously, and an attacking midfield quartet (in front of Gilberto) of Walcott/ Rosicky or Hleb/Fabregas/Henry would make the eyes water). They’d be queuing up for the chances in the area. The Beast could play centre forward as some kind of battering ram. Still, sadly that isn’t going to happen.

The argument against Theo is obviously that he is a bit of a lightweight at the moment and is not likely to win a great deal of tackles. You could make that argument about the aforementioned Pires though – teams can carry at least one player of this ilk, especially if there are five in the middle. Arsene would argue that he has more impact against tired players, but the boy’s got to be worth a look from the off after so many 1-1 home draws with Arsenal funnelling into the centre due to not playing wingers.

Well done to Griffo for placing a bet on a 1-1 draw at half-time during the Hamburg match. He lost his money, but it needs this kind of tactic to break the curse. And there are those that believe Ashburton is cursed. The 1-1 and 3-0 thing is definitely strange. Let’s just hope for a 3-0 in the next home game! Might need Arsene taking a tinkle against each corner flag before that though, or some other such curse breaker.

I believe the manager will continue with the 4-1-4-1 because although he results have not been consistently good, there is no denying the sheer volume of chances being created. There is little anyone outside the team can do about the cow’s arse and banjo scenario, on the assumption the players do actually practice finishing in training. But as I’ve said before, pinging the ball across the goal from the by-line invariably causes havoc and occasionally own goals. Eboue’s effort from wide would probably have been saved had it been shot from in front of the goal, certainly on the evidence of the season so far.

Bolton on Saturday is going to be fascinating. Arsene will want his team to get the bulk of the possession and will undoubtedly stick with the favoured formation. It doesn’t take a lot of insight to say that this one is probably not a good one to start Walcott, and I can foresee a midfield of Gilberto, Hleb, Ljungberg, Fabregas and Baptista lining up. Robin Van Persie is too likely to see red in such an encounter and would hardly be picked for his keep ball qualities. The Beast is rusty as hell, but hopefully that won’t affect his ability to win headers at set pieces either end of the field.

Arsenal are unlikely to get a great deal or protection from the officials at the Reebok, so battlers are required all over the park. If the Gunners can actually come away with three points, it would be such a huge boost for them after the misery on the road last season. It would show that despite their youth, they can win matches they are not expected to. It’s happened once this season at Old Trafford. Let’s just hope the finishing is a bit more clinical and that it happens again.