It was Match of the Day highlights only for me after catching most of the second half on the radio. There was only one goal in the game, well one goal that stood, and it came after 12 minutes. Adebayor held the ball up well before rolling it out to Hleb whose cross was headed in at the far post by Robin van Persie.
We then lost Hleb to a rather nasty tackle from Mark Noble who scissorsed Hleb’s standing leg which made his knee buckle and while the injury is not as serious as first though he definitely misses the trip to Bucharest. We had other chances too. Robert Green got a great fingertip to touch a van Persie shot onto the post, he then saved from Adebayor after van Persie had played him through and from a right footed Gael Clichy effort. Abou Diaby had thundered one over in the meantime.
Now, how many times have we heard about a player scoring against his former club and it so nearly was the case yesterday. Freddie Ljungberg’s run looked to be very well timed and we were saved by the linesman’s flag when he slid the ball under Almunia. A close call. Dean Ashton also had a good chance but headed straight at the keeper.
It is a very good three points as Upton Park hasn’t always been an easy place for us to go. The commentators on the radio thought we were pretty much in control despite not playing as well as we have been doing. To me that’s a good sign. Away from home against a decent team and this result probably would have been different last season. The manager was pleased, saying:
There’s room for improvement but I am very proud of what the team is achieving at the moment. I believe we can challenge. We are very young, but we have to show we can eke out results.
Was that result eked out? I think it probably was so some proof of our eking abilities will have warmed Arsene’s heart last evening. Still top of the league and that’s an enjoyable place to be.
You’ll have seen mention of Arsene’s interview with France Football this week. The Observer picks it up and runs with it. Interesting stuff.
Some thing about Theo. Slept it out. Have to go. Laters.
