What a thriller!! Judging from this match, the addition of Reyes seems to push up into an even higher level in our attacking play. No longer, we are over-reliant on Henry, I dare Alex Ferguson to call us an “one-man team” again. To be frank, I never realized Reyes could be THAT good. He got the skills of Henry, got the aggressiveness of Ian Wright, and got the toughness of Adams. What a player!
With the likes of Henry, Reyes, Bergkamp, Pires, Ljungberg in full flow, we are now attacking the opponents from left, right, midddle to even a more devesating effect than last season. And Dennis, boy, doesn’t he look like back to the future?! Playing like a 24-year-old rather than a 34?!
And the kid Cesc. We now all know about his skills, but this kid got a tremendous football brain. Watch him collecting the ball (from a pass) next time, you may notice before the ball arriving, Cesc already looks for who to pass. Therefore, it allows him to make a quick, one-touch pass with purpose. Unlike many players who would start looking for teammates to pass only when the ball is on their feet. With such a solid technic and skills, it’s difficult for a young kid to keep things simple, and avoid to show off the fancy stuffs (read C.Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney). But Cesc manages to keep a levelled head, willing to just to play his part for the team. He may not be English, but definitely got the Arsenal spirit inside him.
I don’t want to get too carried away. Our defence simply needs to improve. We shall not be fooled that we could pull out this kind of come back again and again. In order to maintance a consistency in the race of the Premiership, a better defensive display than today’s is a MUST.
28 Responses to “What a thriller!!”
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August 22nd, 2004 at 2:10 pm
Yes that was quite some game! Nearly had a stroke when Arsenal were down 1-3 minutes into the 2nd half. The attacking midfielders and strikers saved Arsenal today.
Lehmann needs to playback the video of this game so that he learns from it. Letting in that 3rd goal from Quedrue is a piece of very poor goalkeeping from him. He can do better or otherwise Taylor or Almunia should have a stint in the keeper position.
My concerns about Cygan still hold. I would prefer to have Sendoros come in to take over from Campbell until Campbell is fit. I expect Cygan to make mistakes which will punish Arsenal and today, I was not wrong. With Sendoros, it will be a fresh start for him in the first team - so who knows if it will be worse. I think it is a chance worth taking. Wenger said he is bringing in another defender to cover Lauren. I hope he brings in one who can almost play in the middle of defence.
My man of the match is a toss up before Reyes and Bergkamp. I am picking Reyes for this game but it is close.
August 22nd, 2004 at 2:40 pm
Brilliant thing: such skill, such resilience, such spirit! And much credit to Boro for going on attacking when they were 2 goal up.
Worrying thing: Yes, Lehmann (much as I like him as a personality); and obviously the defence in general - Sol had a very thoughtful expression. Evidently Wenger doesn’t think Senderos is ready yet, which really means we HAVE to buy someone, don’t we?
Sad thing: Cesc’s cut his hair.
Question: was Vieira booed by a section of the fans before the match?
Man of the match: Reyes.
August 22nd, 2004 at 2:46 pm
I don’t know if it’s just me… but after Cesc got his Chris Waddle-80s-style hair cut cut, doesn’t him look a bit like the mixture of C.Ronaldo and David Bentley??!!
August 22nd, 2004 at 2:48 pm
I don’t know if it’s just me… but after Cesc got his Chris Waddle-80s-style hair cut cut, doesn’t he look a bit like the mixture of C.Ronaldo and David Bentley??!!
August 22nd, 2004 at 2:49 pm
Unbelivable!!
I really think I’m going to have a heart attack one day watching Arsenal. Must admit. We really did miss Big Pat and Sol today. But can’t deny attacking. Is there any other team with that sort of power?
August 22nd, 2004 at 4:58 pm
Cygan at least has some experience at the position. Senderos has none. Wenger will not put Senderos out there unless Campbell is next to him.
Unless Cygan is injured, I’d be shocked to see Kolo and Senderos in central defense.
August 22nd, 2004 at 5:01 pm
Please…. let’s not start the Lehmann debate again after 1 bad goal… Wenger is not putting some young kid in goal behind Kolo & Cygan…. its about having a veteran presence. I know we’d like a clean sheet every match, but get realistic… we let in the fewest goals in the league last season… and Lehmann is a major part of the reason that is so.
August 22nd, 2004 at 5:06 pm
Where do you start ? I grew up in London, shifted to Boston 6 years ago and watch the EPL every weekend. I’m over in London again for work and my wife is with me. She never really got fever pitch but over the last few years has come to understand why I am a mad man at 10 AM EST on a Saturday and I get to watch the Arse.
As we are in London, I got tickets to today’s game and also this Wednesday’s game where we could be the “one and only”. Not even the dark lord, Darth Ferguson has replicated what we have and like one of his horses, he should be put out to the pastures. This season is his last.
Now to the game. The pre game stuff was ok, seeing the coaches arrive, the way the fans greeted Ray (Who could forget the goal he scored against Chelsea in the FA Cup), going into Highbury and then the festivities. Seeing PV stroll out ever so cool, getting the special trophy.
If anyone had aksed me what the score would have been I think I would have placed 10 squid on nobody guessing 5-3 to us. But then, thats football, right ? Backs up against the wall, but the mark of a champion is how you respond. Dennis lead by example from the way he defended, to the usual touches to his goal.
God (Arsene) will no doubt be evaluating the defence, but have faith. This team with the likes of Jose, Ash, Cesc, Gael, Bentley, Pennant and all the other youngsters have a great future ahead of them.
Sing along time now.
We are invincible
We are invincible
We are invincible.
Peace until I post on Wednesday night when I hope that we do one better than all of the clubs in the history of English football have done.
to Chelski and the Scum.
August 22nd, 2004 at 5:25 pm
3-1 down and the ball comes to Dennis Bergkamp. I think he just decided “I’m going to score now and there is nothing anyone can do to stop me. This goal will change the game and give my teammates the strength to carry on.”
Ok, now I score. BOOM. I scored. Let’s play some more.
That was just awesome leadership from Bergkamp. It just smacked of “I’m in control of this ball at this time and I will change the game.” I was so impressed.
What a day.
August 22nd, 2004 at 5:37 pm
WE NEED SOME SOL!!!
August 22nd, 2004 at 6:17 pm
Andez you right about Cesc. He is not one of those showboats kids and really uses his brains.
The only positive thing about today’s game was coming back after 3 - 1. If Arsenal should have lost you would have hear ppl going on about they missed “PV” who???? .PV was not missed.
I never talk about Pascal cause he simply can’t defend and this is not just base on today’s sloppy defending. The defending was crap period.
‘Thank God Dennis looked like he was 20 rather than 35. Amazing - what can you say about a guy like that. Captain for the rest of the season.
Remember the season is a marathon and not a sprint
August 22nd, 2004 at 6:22 pm
Speechless…Although at 3-2 down, it seemed inevitable we would get the three points. Thank god for Dennis…
August 22nd, 2004 at 8:43 pm
Ragav… you picked quite an entertaining match to attend! Lets hope Wednesday is more of a stroll!
I’m also a Boston Gooner…
cheers!
Roll on Wednesday!
August 22nd, 2004 at 8:45 pm
You obviously don’t care for PV…
but we’d NEVER be down 3-1 in that match if he were on the pitch… may he return VERY soon!
and may our amazing streak continue for a looooooooong time.
August 23rd, 2004 at 1:03 am
How many of your thought that we were going to loose after going down 1- 3? Did you ever doubt our boys? To be honset, I thought that the run was going to end then and there….until some old man decided to shoot the ball a minute later.
In fact, a week or so ago a local magazine ‘EPL’’s pundits predicted very bravely that Gunners were to be gunned down by Boro 2-3. At the time I thought “get the f_ _k out of here”, and seriously comtemplated never buying that magazine again and send viral infected hate mail to them.
Well, they could have been very right as it could have gone that way, with Asene admitting that he felt that it was the closest they came to loosing a premiership game in recent time.
To me it was probably the most exciting football game in recent memory. I think that no superlatives could describe the display of mental and physical strength of all those who faciliated the comeback. I don’t know through which network you folks were watching the game. I was watching the local Astro network which is fed by UK’s Sky. After the Pires goal they were showing the replays and before they could complete the their multi-angle rounds they switched back to live pictures and all I could hear was the commentator (Martin Tyler, I think) screamed “Reyes………” I almost cried.
A lot of people have fingerpointed Cygan and Lehman (our usual scapegouts) for putting us behind in the first place, though Cole was partially responsible for the JFH goal as well. The problem is that they, especially Cygan, could play very well for 89+ minutes, but when they make just one error, it is usually a very critical and glaring one. But the season is young and I’m sure Asene will seriously address that. Give Boro a lot of credit, they put up a good fight and gave us the chance to see for ourselves our weaknesses & stregths.
Exciting though it was, hope we don’t have to ride that rollercoaster every week.
August 23rd, 2004 at 2:58 am
Fellow Indy Gunner John Knightsbridge and myself were IM’ing each other all through the second half of this game, and, well, we both decided that we both needed a lie-down at the end!
The pains were coming quick. Cygan lets in Hasselbaink, fresh off his “Hand of Smog” goal from last week, badabing. Then LEHMANN of all people lets one in frmo Quedrue! AAACK!
A minute later, herrrre comes DENNIS! The heart is seizing up now. I knew I shoulda quit smoking years ago!
RRRRRRRE-YESSSSSSS!!!! Jesus CHRIST this kid is the shiznit! My breathing gets heavier and heavier.
By the time Henry goes for #2, I’m reaching for nitro pills I DON’T HAVE!
I swear, I’ve never had such an exhilarting, life-threatening experience watching Arsenal for as long as I can remember….well, OK, the Handbags at Old Trafford game when Horsey missed the penalty, perhaps.
Cesc, yeah, he’s the shiznit too. In fact, once we get van Persie on, we’ve got this weirdo Japanese-pro-wrestling veteran-young lion dynamic happening. Like Reyes is Satoshi Kojima to Henry’s Keiji Muto, whilst van Persie will hopefully be the new Hiroyoshi Tenzan to Bergkamp’s Masahiro Chono. Cesc is certainly Vieira’s “young lion,” but Hell, last 2 games he’s almost BEEN Vieira!
And yeah, I know none of you have NO idea what I’m rambling about, but DAMMIT IT MAKES SENSE TO ME I TELLS YA!
Defense really needs to get its shiznit together tho.
— Geoff
August 23rd, 2004 at 5:55 am
Now, my favorite goal was our captain’s one. It really was a cry for battle.I watched the game with my 2 housemates who support Pool and Leeds(now Manure I think, coz he is so much into Alan smith). When we were 3-1, they were laughing and kept telling me they should have bet for Arsenal’s 1st defeat. Now when we were 3-2, I knew who will have the last laugh. When Reyes scored, my Pool mate was still cursing Pires for being too lethal. And when Henry added his 2nd, my Leeds mate who usually curse Henry’s every action for what he called an “arrogant” player, could only said:” this man is crazy. unreal”
And on top of that, the sincere admission from them:”arsenal are too frightening”
We all know that we have problem in defense, but the thing is, we can’t do much about it when it comes to who AW should play. As much as I love Senderos, AW and, as some of you also, has pointed out rightly that he does not have the experience. But you got to at least throw him into the game as sub so that he will earn experience, otherwise, he will never be ready. Anyway, I won’t have a go at Cygan coz after all, I know I can’t ask too much from him. And more importantly, imho, goals we conceded was the result of poor coordination and awareness of our defensive unit, rather than poor quality of whoever it is. Ash had his part for the 2nd goal as he was well off position, and Cygan was quick to point it out, calling “Ash” was the first thing he did when the ball went into the net. Never mind, we can let them play for some more games and hopefully the awaraness will grow.
Having said that, we need a Sol after all.
Thumbs up to Boro for their daring approach to the game. Much better than some players in blue managed by a manager who was so inspired by George Graham’s 1-0 Arsenal. Can he be a gooner ???
August 23rd, 2004 at 6:46 am
I can tell you that their was no booing when Vieira came on but the Vieira song was not sung with as much gusto as is has been. I got the feeling that it did not sound as loud it used to; I think he also looked a bit embarrassed when he first walked on. His program notes gave us an insight as to what went on over the summer and he admitted that he had decided to leave but changed his mind and as much as most fans are glad he stayed they still find it hard to read that he actually was thinking of going.
August 23rd, 2004 at 9:00 am
I, for one, will always see the armband around DB10, whether its actually there or not. His individual effort put us in the record books with style even though it only brought us within one. It was 3 minutes after Quedrue fooled Lehmann by, well, shooting at the goal. The rest of the team FOLLOWED HIS EXAMPLE and now we are sitting pretty at the top of the table 12 goals to the good (counting the Charity Shield) against 5. Its not Chelsea’s defensive record, for sure, but ask them if they’d like to switch.
Dennis is “Captain, My Captain” for this his last year. His legend will be beyond all.
August 23rd, 2004 at 9:02 am
I agree they would have never equalized at the end of the half had Vieira been on the pitch. But would he had been able to turn the game around like DB10 did before we had lost belief? They should TATTOO an armband on that man.
August 23rd, 2004 at 9:17 am
Why is everyone having a go at Cygan for the second goal it was just as much Cole’s fault as Cygan’s. If you look closely Cole moves forward to head the ball and then he ducks out of the way, the ball is then too close to Cygan for him to react leaving him exposed. Why did Cole go for a ball which rightfully wasn?t his and then pull out leaving both his and Cygan?s position exposed?
August 23rd, 2004 at 10:00 am
Vieira will win the fans back… those who are unhappy with him.
He shields the back 4 beautifully… and with BOTH Vieira and Gilberto on the pitch, we are a much different team defensively.
Put Sol back in place for Cygan… and we are alot more solid at the back. I have no worries in the long term about our defense.
With the firepower we possess… who would?!
We have Dennis Bergkamp… We have Dennis Bergkamp…
August 23rd, 2004 at 10:03 am
Agreed…
there always seems to be a need to have a go at some player… at the moment its Cygan. I think he is adequate cover for Sol… he’s not Sol Campbell, but then again … WHO IS?
I have alot more confidence with Cygan in there… who at least has some experience at this level, than throwing Senderos out there. Don’t see that happening… its not the way Wenger usually does things.
August 23rd, 2004 at 11:14 am
Your right. Arsene will not risk throwing in a kid just because we the supporters don?t like a particular player. I think Cygan is a good squad player who can cover for Kolo or Sol when injured and if anyone thinks that we should have a ready made replacement for these two who is as good as they are is living in dream world. If we did he wouldn?t be hanging around in Arsenal?s reserves on the off chance of getting the odd first team chance if a first choice player got injured. He would be at a club where he was first choice himself, so we have to except that our back-up players are going to be slightly inferior to our first choice. I remember just before last years FA Cup final (v Southampton) I met Steve Bould and the discussion at the time was about who would be playing centre back because Sol was suspended, so I thought I would ask him who he thought would play, and the one who he said wouldn?t play even though he was fit was Cygan because he was lacking so much confidence because of the flack he was getting from the crowd and that he did not want to let Arsene or his teammates down. We as fans do not realize how much we affect player?s conference and people should think of that before they get on their backs. I have met Cygan and he seems like a very polite and gentle man and I think the abuse he gets is sometimes uncalled for, but history shows that there is always one player that the crowd will always have a go at, I am old enough to remember Jon Samals but I also remember David Price, Lee Chapmen, Gus Cesar and David Hillier to name a few, but we do not even have to go back that far because I remember the season before last the crowd getting on the back a young player in his first year with us, a young player who could have lost his confidence for years to come but he managed to get thru that year, the players name?.Kolo Toure. Need I say anymore?
August 23rd, 2004 at 11:33 am
Tea….
you make a great point…
there are not going to be many GOOD players willing to sit around on the bench waiting for someone to get injured… or get the odd game or 10 minutes at the end of a match. If they are good enough, they want to play first team football.
Jeffers didn’t want to sit, Wiltord didn’t want to sit, nor will Pennant…
Cygan is not bad cover… if he was a great defender he wouldn’t be a back-up.
August 23rd, 2004 at 12:17 pm
Send me some of that shit you are on man because you sound like your out of it.
August 24th, 2004 at 10:33 am
PLEASE never compare one of our own to C.Ronaldo. Makes me feel dirty…
August 24th, 2004 at 10:37 am
Can’t say much else that hasn’t been said, except I think I may have had a little trouble breathing during parts of the match. Just wish I could’ve been at Highbury!
An extra ‘cheers’ to MTL_Gunner, who I met up with in Montreal at the pub during the match. And an another ‘cheers’ to the ArsenalAmerica staff for allowing a connection like that to happen, it was much better than me just screaming on my own!