The Beast Strikes Again, and again, and again

Old Spuds 2
(Berbatov 12th, Baptista o.g. 21st)

Young Arses 2
(Baptista 64th, 77th)

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The team list
Keeper: Almunia

Defence: Hoyte, Senderos*, Toure*, Armand Traore,

Midfield: Baptista, Denilson, Diaby (Hleb* (later Flamini*)), Cesc Fabregas*,

Forward: Aliadiere (Eboue*), Walcott
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Julio "The Beast" Baptista followed up his Anfield 4-goal feast with a triple at White Shite, sorry, Hart Lane.

Alas, he stuck one of them into the wrong end and we ended up with a draw.

Spuds started brightly and Berbatov turned, twisted and teased Toure to his heart's content, while Aaron Lennon zoomed up and down their right flank like a Mat Rempit on E.

The Bulgarian threatened as early as the 5th minute when he released a shot that fondled Almunia's woodie.

Then on the 12th minute, Chimbonda found Defoe on the right flank and the resulting cross was nodded in by Berbatov, positioned neatly behind Toure on the 6-yard line, leaving the Ivorian remonstrating at Almunia for not challenging for the ball.

Can't blame him really, most of our defence being used to having Mental Lehmann challenging for everything short of the halfway line.

Berbatov continued his teasing after the goal, releasing Defoe to try his luck twice. But the Fates took exception and chose to answer Toure's prayers.

The Bulgarian was felled by a groin injury and was replaced by Robbie Keane.

Intent on showing up Arsene for his perceived sneer at them (of fielding Young Arses in a semi-final against Ye Olde Enemies), the old Spuds plugged away but were hampered by their loss of Berbatov's sublime touch.

However they were rewarded when Huddlestone's free-kick on their left was booted in by Baptista doing defensive duties.

Halftime saw us down 0-2 and Spuds looking peachy.

Once the second-half was well underway, Arsene wove his magic.

Pulling out the defensive Diaby and the ineffective Aliadiere, he sent in Hleb and Eboue.

His ideas looked like a gamble because Eboue was slotted not into his customary right-back position but into the right of midfield while Baptista moved into the striker's slot Aliadiere vacated.

But Arsene knows - just like the banners say.

Within minutes, Spud's Dawson was heading off his goal-line to deny a Cesc free-kick. And suddenly the Young Arses looked to be on top of the match.

Barely two minutes later, a Baptista-Eboue-Baptista sequence saw the Beast striding clear to slot the ball neatly past Robinson - ironically (intentionally?) into the same spot he had booted his own goal in.

Hleb fell to a hamstring injury after that and Flamini came in.

But the Beast was intent on hogging the limelight and in the 77th he again strode in majestically to knock in Hoyte's low cross that beat the England keeper stranded in no-man's land.

There were openings late in the game but there were no more goals.

The Arses on display were young but they definitely blew a raspberry at those ole Spuds at Whiteshite Lane.

"I am a striker, not a midfielder, Boss!"
A Beast-ly appeal to Arsene

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Karma Police news:

The MadDog of Blackburn broke his leg at Vicarage Road. We're not gloating but merely saying, "Padan muka!".

Gooners are charitable, innit? :P