At last: Wright's drought comes to an end

At the height of Ian Wright's distress, lurid tabloid tales told how he saluted the Arsenal fans after a defeat at Hillsborough and was crudely vilified in return. One photograph used was certainly powerful: ranks of deranged supporters denouncing him as he left the field. But then they would, wouldn't they; they were Sheffield Wednesday fans.

There has been the usual blend of truth and fiction surrounding Wright's loss of form. By breaking Cliff Bastin's Arsenal goal-scoring record, and with England's World Cup qualification assured, he had satisfied two aims that had motivated him for months, if not years. No matter how much he fought it, a temporary dip in inspiration was a predictable outcome.

But insinuations that Wright had suddenly become a striker without purpose were simply ludicrous. He can become the first Arsenal striker to score 200 goals; even better, he can get the winner for England in the World Cup final. Wright might be the wrong side of 30, but his mind and body are not about to fall apart overnight.

Wright was relieved enough about his first goal for seven games (hardly a sackable offence, even these days) to embark upon an extravagant length-of-the-field run, in which he hauled his red shirt tightly around his face to reveal a white vest emblazoned with the words: `At Last!' Stage-managed, for sure, but his relief was palpable.

There was much to admire in Arsenal's all-round performance, and Arsene Wenger, their manager, kept Wright's contribution in perspective. "Ian has worked hard in recent matches, but he has just not scored the goals. It has been some unconscious thing that it is difficult to fight against. People concentrate on Ian Wright when he scores or when he doesn't, but the whole team are responsible."

Indeed. Wright scored because Arsenal, seeking to remedy last weekend's faltering display against Liverpool, functioned as a unit. It took both Marc Overmars' purposeful dribble and Dennis Bergkamp's sturdy challenge and cross to provide Wright with a simple far-post header. Without those contributions, Wright's drought would still continue.

St James' Park's raucous booing of Wright's goal-scoring celebrations was tempered by the subconscious acceptance that his return to form must benefit England. Those home fans offended by the belief that he over-did the celebrations deserve not an ounce of encouragement. You can incite the most ignorant supporters by doing as much as winning a tackle. It was all good theatre.

For Newcastle to contest the first phase of the season without strikers of the calibre of Alan Shearer and Tino Asprilla is evidently a blow. But the longer Shearer's absence continues, the longer their shortcomings begin to look more deep-seated; more clinical finishing from Bergkamp could have punished them more severely.

Kenny Dalglish's preference for the lightweight Dane, Jon Dahl Tomasson, ahead of the Georgian, Temuri Ketsbaia, is not shared by the most vocal of St James' 36,000. Ketsbaia at least has the belligerence to make things happen; Tomasson, playing behind a lone striker, Asprilla, faded like a cheap curtain in harsh sunlight.

This week has seen the first World Cup draw since the striking influx of foreign players into the Premiership, and it brings a welcome perplexity for the more xenophobic supporter. Not before time, partisanship must now be expressed with a broader spirit.

What, for instance, must Newcastle's fans make of Asprilla? Back from injury for the first time in two months, Asprilla barely lasted an hour and Tony Adams subdued him without difficulty.

A repeat of that in June, in England's World Cup tie against Colombia, would be a delight. But Asprilla can no longer be turned into an overnight hate figure, not when the Geordie nation is praying that he will somehow salvage Newcastle's season.

Newcastle: Hislop, Watson, Peacock, Pearce, Pistone, Batty, Lee, Barnes, Gillespie, Tomasson (Ketsbaia 75), Asprilla (Albert 62). Subs Not Used: Given, Howey, Hamilton.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Adams, Keown, Winterburn, Parlour, Petit, Platt, Overmars, Wright, Bergkamp. Subs Not Used: Manninger, Upson, Mendez, Marshall, Hughes. Booked: Petit, Adams. Goals: Wright 36. Att: 36,751.

Referee: S W Dunn (Bristol).