Some People Prefer Cash

So how was it for you Ash – your very first game against the Gunners?

Judging by your performance in the tunnel, when you seemed to blank the good wishes of former team mates, it was always going to be tough to handle.

You chose to effect the hard man approach in an effort to be cool, but hacking down Hleb and vehemently protesting a deserved yellow only demonstrated what you have lost since you chose to bump up your bank balance at the Bridge.

Fortunately, luck was on your side because Alan Wiley inexplicably chose not to punish your 83rd minute foul on Hleb and that generosity paved the way for Chelsea’s equalising goal.

There was enough about your performance to suggest that even after a few months in a totally new world, you are still a top player – though it must hurt that you are unable to play with the freedom of expression you once enjoyed.

But not half as much as the embarrassment you felt when the trickery of both Hleb and Eboue dumped you on your backside, or when the final whistle confirmed that even without massive players like Henry, Toure, Gallas and Rosicky, Arsene Wenger’s young Arsenal side was more than worthy of a point against your new club where you seem so happy.