Three more points, another win, two goals from Robin van Persie and one of them is just one of the best I have ever seen. The second half was just a couple of minutes old when the increasingly impressive Alexander Hleb released Eboue down the right, he pulled a cross back to the edge of the box and it was Crouching Robin, Hidden van Persie as the Dutchling flew threw the air and volleyed into the Charlton net. An awesome strike by any standards.
Afterwards Arsene Wenger called the goal ‘technically perfect‘ and he’s not wrong. To hit the ball with that pace and that cleanly while flying through the air like Superman is an incredible skill but to be able to control it and provide that measure of accuracy is something else. He really does have enormous potential and let’s hope this is the start of a good run in the side for him.
And just because it’s the kind of goal that’s worth watching again and again, here it is:
Robin scored our first as well after Charlton had gone ahead through Darren Bent. Again it was good work by Hleb inside in the box, he clipped a pass to van Persie who rifled it home.
We did ride our luck a little bit though. Jens Lehmann made a terrific save from Andy Reid, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink put a free header just wide (can whoever taught Eboue how to cross please have a word with him about defending because that was shocking!) and Charlton will feel rightly aggrieved that they weren’t awarded a penalty for a clear handball by William Gallas. Still, you need a bit of luck sometimes and we got it yesterday. You have to say though that the league table is certainly doing Charlton a disservice, they’re much better than last.
After the game Arsene Wenger praised the hunger of his team but for me the most important thing was the fact that we went a goal behind and still managed to come back and win the game away from home – especially after a midweek European game. You feel a small corner has been turned there. Now you feel like we have options on the bench, there’s a healthy competition for places in most areas of the pitch and you can’t underestimate how important that is.
We’re steadily moving in the right direction and I am encouraged, oh yes.
In other news Arturo Lupoli scored twice for Derby yesterday but there were no goals for Nicklas Bentdner for Birmingham. They ended up pretty much neck and neck for the reserves last season. I wonder if they’re competing this season.
Finally Amy Lawrence writes about Arsene Wenger’s ten years in charge and ten ways in which he has changed English football.
And there you go. Have a nice Sunday.
