november 3rd
It’s a strange feeling not breaking out the usual post-Champions League game template here on Arseblog but I’m enjoying. A 3-0 win over Sparta Prague ensures our qualification and only two late Ajax goals stopped us qualifying as group winners with two games spare. This isn’t the Arsenal we know but who’s complaining.
Thierry opened the scoring after 23 minutes. As the ball rolled across the pitch he curled it into the bottom corner having started it at least a couple of feet outside the post. Another class goal from the captain. Previously Dennis Bergkamp had hit the bar and had another couple of chances as he was surprisingly preferred to Robin van Persie up front. Almunia, in goal for the injured Jens Lehmann, made a decent stop from a Sparta player in the second half but they didn’t do much more.
It was all very scrappy for most of the second half, the Arsenal fans made their own entertainment with ‘FUCK OFF MOURINHO’ songs. That all changed when Robin van Persie came on though. The boy has got a real eye for goal and within a couple of minutes he cracked a free kick in which would certainly have been a goal had it been a foot or two either side of the keeper.
His first came when the ball broke to Dennis Bergkamp who played it through to Robin on his right foot. He came back inside one defender, then another then finished brilliantly into the top corner. A really, really great goal. Then just a few minutes later Eboue broke down the right, cut the ball back into the box and it fell to Robin who finished neatly with his right foot. He nearly had a hat-trick too but the keeper spoiled that. Not bad considering he didn’t come on until the 65th minute.
He’s surely got to start starting games now. He always looks like a goal threat, he’s a clever player and when he’s benched he never complains but comes on and makes sure the boss knows what’s he’s capable of. His emphatic reply to being left on the bench last night was two goals. You can’t ask for more.
The second half wasn’t all one way traffic, it should be noted. Prague hit the bar, put one header over when Almunia’s one bad kick of the night put us under pressure and from another corner one of their lads was free in the box but blasted it over because he was crap. They also had lots of long shots like the game in Prague. Apart from the one Manuel saved the rest were not in any way troublesome.
Afterwards the manager was quick to praise the two goal Dutchman saying “Robin is improving. We’ve made big steps with him, he’s found his confidence and it’s very positive.” He also said that Thierry Henry had suffered no reaction to the injury which kept him out of the Sp*rs game and that early qualification in Europe would help us concentrate on the Premiership.
He was slightly concerned about the shakiness of the defence at times. Bring back Senderos. That’ll see us right.
Going back to the topic of the week I totally forgot to the put this quote in yesterday from Arsene Wenger when talking about Mourinho. As it’s one of the boss’s great quotes I need here for posterity. He said “I just think that when you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes and not more intelligent.”
Beautiful. The latest is that Peter Kenyon, of all people, is set to give Chairman PHW a call to offer an olive branch. If he rang me and offered me an olive branch I’d shove it up his arse, the wanky, Uncle Fester looking cunt and it wouldn’t be an olive branch but a 12 guage shotgun. Yesterday our Chairman said
“I think it is best people don’t talk about individuals. For instance, I don’t think I should make comments about other chairmen.”
He may have a point although I’d love to have heard him call Martin Edwards a peeping Tom and Ken Bates a smurf fucker. Maybe that’s just me though.
As for AW he’s still considering ‘action‘ but will take some time to think about it. Elsewhere United’s poor form continued as they got beaten 1-0 by Lille. Not such great preparation ahead of Sunday’s game with Chelsea where, much as it might pain us, we need them to get a result.
And that’s it. Sunderland ahead this weekend. Tonight is a PES5 tournament against the Italians in work. I will destroy them, oh yes.
