Sweet Jesus, what a game!
Atrocious defending by the Arsenal was bailed out by Edu, who could not be hotter right now. He has forced Wenger to make him a first-choice selection.
Arsenal blow the lead, twice, but this isn’t the Arsenal of last year. The one that let leads slip away. So once again they took the lead and held on to win, 2-3, in a huge away victory in Spain.
Edu grabs two and Pires with the other and the Arsenal look good to advance as they win again without a goal from Henry.
Reyes in his return to Spain didn’t really play a major role.
Bentley came in at the end for his Champs League debut.
Would Gilberto have grabbed two? Probably not, but would Arsenal have given up two with him in? Probably not.
13 Responses to “Celta de Vigo 2 - 3 Arsenal”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
February 24th, 2004 at 4:51 pm
Great game - looked on the webcast during work. Needless to say, I got no work done. Set Piece Defence appeared to be crappy (every time Arsenal gives a corner away, I get nervous now) but this can be worked on.
Wenger has some hard decisions to make - Edu’s on a fantastic run so it would be hard not to place him as a starter. Of course, this is a good sign, we’ll need the depth for the 3 competitions our lads are in!
February 24th, 2004 at 7:07 pm
Not a lot of talk about here. Very stressful tonight, but proud of the players. The good thing is we won in Spain.
Yes we won, but that sort of performance will get us eliminated very soon. What an awful performance tonight. I have always said Edu should play but now is not the time for that debate. I hope Wenger have a good word with some of the players on the plane. No names
DB10, I hope you fly and good to see Ali is back and Scored against forest.
February 24th, 2004 at 8:23 pm
Arsenal FC you either hate them or love them. Damn the end result matters but sometimes I wonder. Far from convincing stuff from Arsenal but at least we’ve got the away goals.
NB: Please for the person who thinks I?m an English/Arsenal yob thanks but far from that. Next times don?t stay Anonymously and might buy you a drink.
I loved my club but can’t stand fiction and so-called fans. Facts and say it the way it is. As much as I loved to hate Spurs even if Spurs does something right I will say it. Support and watch football not just Arsenal.
February 24th, 2004 at 9:21 pm
The final result is ultimately what counts!
We won on the road, in the Champions League, in Spain no less!!!
Pinch me… I think I must be dreaming!
As the players noted after the match, we still have alot to do. Need simply a draw at home vs. Celta Vigo…. a team that we are definitely better than.
Not our best performance by far. But we won the match and scored 3 away goals. They must now beat us by 2 goals… or score 3 against us. That isn’t likely. I do feel we missed Gilberto defensively… but you simply can’t keep Edu on the bench.
Roll on Saturday!! I’ll be making the pilgrimage across the pond for the home match v.Charlton on Saturday! woooo hooooooooo!
February 25th, 2004 at 12:31 am
What a game. I only had a chance to listen to it on Arsenal Plus Radio, but it had me on the edge of my seat. I was sitting in my office and had to stop myself from yelling out in joy.
Edu has sure showed that he is a star. Looks like he will get his playing time if he keeps it up.
Clichy seems to be putting on a strong performance and looks to be a strong asset with Cole out. It’s great to see the young players playing well. The future of Arsenal looks good.
I hope they play well in the next game and draw a home game for the first in the next round. I’ll be in London and hope to get a chance to see the game.
February 25th, 2004 at 12:46 am
God DAMN. Words fail me. Yeah I read the webcast, and our defense was pretty iffy, but the final result made me want to flap my arms and gibber incoherently, this is so unreal.
We won. In the Champions League. In Spain no less.
My my my.
— Geoff
February 25th, 2004 at 12:50 am
THE ARMY MARCHES ON!!!
OK, so maybe I’m a little biased, but Edu had one whale of a game. This week I have seen more than one interview on Sky with former footballers, and when they have talked about Arsenal’s defense, they have usually mentioned Gilberto. Perhaps he does things that the untrained eye doesn’t see. That still doesn’t mean I have to like it!
Both Vigo goals came off set pieces, which means our defense was sloppy and lazy. I don’t really know how much Gilberto would have helped, as neither goal was scored by the man Edu was marking. Anyway, I’ll leave that argument for another day.
Until then:
Edu wants YOU!
For the “Edu Army”
February 25th, 2004 at 3:48 am
If you find the time pop into TBird on Blackstock Road before the game and ask for me.
February 25th, 2004 at 4:01 am
If there is anyone out there who is crazy enough,tell me Gilberto should be starting for Arsenal ahead of Edu.
February 25th, 2004 at 4:46 am
All I have to say is what a goal by Edu, his second goal and not by the Celta Vigo player. That ball bent so far that I really had thought he had misshit the ball into the stands. Even if the goalkeeper knew exactly where he was aiming before it was struck he wouldn’t have made the save. God Edu is playing well right now.
In two weeks, I make my return to Highbury when I get to see the 2nd leg!!!
February 25th, 2004 at 8:30 am
I can’t believe anyone can be be negative about this result. We didn’t play as well as we can but we still won in Spain in the last 16 of the Champions League. A fantastic result.
Gilberto or Edu? It doesn’t matter. As far as I’m concerned they’re both great players and there’s room for both. With the number of games and injuries we pick up both will get their chance.
For now I just want to enjoy a great result.
February 25th, 2004 at 12:30 pm
Not on “current form”…
but don’t be surprised or upset when Wenger starts Gilberto over Edu in a week or 2 when Edu’s scoring streak ends.
February 25th, 2004 at 12:32 pm
Will do Kelvin…
I hope to mill around the Highbury area before/after the match with a few mates. I believe they go the Tbird on a game day anyway.
cheers!