Ina's followers see their 'baby' at last

This is a tale of blind heroism in sports journalism. I talk of the men whose task it is to follow the Arsenal career of Junichi Inamoto and report back every detail to a breathless readership in Japan.

Week in week out, you will see them at Highbury, hoping beyond hope that their man will be out there. Sadly, though, waiting for Inamoto is like waiting for Godot. Only less productive. Most weeks, alas, there isn't even a sighting of him on the bench.

Does that deter this hardy bunch? No way. Each Thursday, they venture out to training at London Colney for a conference with the lad. Sometimes, he hasn't got that much to say and they haven't got too many questions, presumably because there are only so many times you can ask how it feels to be a £4million footballer who can't get near a first-team game.

Then there is the interrogation of the manager. We Brits are pestering him about, say, his contract or David Seaman's injury and then, at the end, a respectful conversation like this will suddenly ensue. Journalist: "Mr Wenger, will Inamoto play this weekend?" Wenger: "No." Journalist: " Thank you, Mr Wenger."

In the Highbury Press room, Katsura Tanioka, London correspondent for Sport Nippon, was pondering how much of his life recently has been spent on the magnificently thankless Inamoto watch. "He's big news back home. I've travelled from Sunderland to Southampton to Schalke," he mused gloomily. "Still haven't seen him play."

Let's work it out. Before last night, Arsenal had played 1,890 minutes of competitive football this season, of which 'Ina' had played approximately 15.

So what about that quarter-of-an-hour as sub at home to Schalke, Katsura? "No, I missed it. I'd gone to Bolton that night to watch the other Japanese Premiership player, Nishizawa," he explained. "It can be quite frustrating."

The poor lad. You wonder who is more patient. Ina or him? Yet never fear. This was at last the night. After more than three months - how many players who cost so much have waited so long for a full debut? - the 'Worthless Cup' was on and Ina was in. "Yes, a big night," Katsura beamed.

Now all he needed was for Inamoto to run the show and knock baseball off his back pages. Oh dear. By half-time, it was not looking promising. How to put this kindly? I can't. With his dyed barnet making him look more nervous than a ginger kitten, Ina was off the pace, lost and looking a long way from home. Yes, even against mighty Grimsby.