Apr 15
Well, the lads left it late, but scores from Pires (76) and DB10 (88) secured three vital points.
Hleb put the Arsenal ahead in the first half, but Quashie equalised in the 71st.
Bolton lost to Chelsea, they are done. Spurs got by Everton, 1-0.
If United can beat Spurs, and the Arsenal run the table, they will grab fourth.
40 Responses to “Arsenal 3 - 1 WBA”
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April 15th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Who has the 2nd most goals for us this season?
(6)
That guy that always does, year in year out.
ROBERT PIRES.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
I have just one thing to say. Dennis Bergkamp brought me to this club because I so admired his skills and with Overmaars on the wing they were fantastic together. Dennis has never let me down as a Gunner and I for one am absolutely tickled orange that he got the beautiful assist and then the goal. Man of the match without a doubt.
Dennis you are truly my hero. ORANJE BOVEN.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
For once, we didn’t let it sink after being pegged back to 1-1.
For once, the “others” (Hleb, Pires and Bergkamp) decided the result.
It’s still not in our hands. Everything depends on ManU beating Tottenham on Monday. A draw will also suit us fine.
But WE MUST WIN ALL OUR GAMES including away games at Sunderland and Man City.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
What a goal from Hleb. Right out of the Stuttgart archives.
Very flat performance but then I fully expected it. Proud of the lads for fighting the mental and physical drop and grinding the points.
West Brom should have had a penalty and probably deserved a draw.
We need Fabregas back. Pronto.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Stag, actually Pires had got 10 goals in all competition!
And what a perfect way to end the dennis gergkamp day with a dennis trademark goal!
April 15th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
and if u look at United’s draw Vs sunderland, that just tell u what i always believed - with a younger side they tend to be inconsistent, but it doesn’t mean they are crap. simply a natural growing and learning process.
i actually felt a little disappointed United drop points, cos if they won, surely they would be more fired up against Spurs. Now i’m not sure if they would still up for it.
April 15th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
Bergkamp had a classic strike on DB Day. Might have been his last ever for Arsenal, since I don’t see Wenger playing him often. DB will always be my fav, his professionalism on and off the field and brilliant technical skills outweighs almost all other footballers. I hope he coaches the young Gunners after hanging up his boots.
April 15th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
I was very concerned that Henry was taken off that early only a goal up. When WBA scored, I was thinking . . . “Wenger just put the nail on the coffin re: Henry’s return”. Wenger was probably thinking the same thing - What da . . . take off Henry and then they equalize. When Pire scored, I was shouting up and down and woke up my wife. When Bergy scored . . . the main reason why I became a Gooner . . . I punched the ceiling and blooded my hand. What a glorious day and we got the points but man oh man . . . we were giving the ball away too easily out there. Sign of a young team I guess but Wenger in the close season needs to do something different and sign some proven players. We’ve got the youth and Wenger’s going to give them a chance but a little EPL veteran experience would be nice. Of course, the critical point is to re-sign Henry but really it’s going to be Henry’s choice and he’s has worked hard to get to where he is today.
Anyhow, I was flipping back and forth to the Everton-Tottenham game . . . if the Spurs keep playing like that, they’ll take fourth and it will be well-deserved.
Can’t believe I’ll be cheering for the Mancs on Monday . . . hope the Mancs get a result and 4th will be on the cards next Saturday.
HUGE
April 15th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
I agree, Andez. Additionally, I fear that, without the incentive of playing (albeit theoretically) for first place, Fergie’s hatred of all things Arsenal might dim his players’ ardor at White Hart Lane. I was hoping that United’s motivation for Monday would be restored by a Bolton victory at the Reebok this morning but, as we all saw, that was to no avail. Hopefully, we can rely on ManU to at least extract a draw on Monday.
April 15th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
Tha Dutchmasta, Biotches! Recognize.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
The one I called the legend. He is pure class. Still have my orange top on and will sleep in it.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Remember what I said. West Brom were unlucky and we had it thanks to Denis. DB10 was class but the performance was flat and bad at times.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
3 BIG points.
We didn’t play very well, missing chances and letting WBA hang around… we NEARLY paid the price.
Hell… the TRUTH is, Davies was hacked down by Toure, and probably should have been awarded a penalty. I know many of you will say… oh nooooooo. But he took him down.
Bergy sets up the 2nd and scores the 3rd.
Happy for him. Happy we got the win and 3 points.
HOWEVER.
Spurs win on the road at Everton 1-0.
If they beat United, who have zip to play for on Monday… 4th place ain’t likely to happen.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
Also…
I have heard Arsenal have interest in Curtis Davies… and I thought, WHO?
Didn’t know of him at all.
But he played an excellent match for WBA, and did a fantastic job against TH14.
We have Lauren and Eboue at RB, can he play left?! Very good young player.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
As I always say, I’ll take experience over talent and it was there for all to see today. We were very flat till Pires and DB10 came on.
Long live the Legend and a true Arsenal Legend. You can not say he is the best player in the world right now but If there is a better one, then I have not seen him special at his age.
There is no fitting tribute for BD10 then to see him play at Ashburton Grove on my B’day.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
Curtis is a very good player but because he plays for a crap team people don’t hear aboout him.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:35 pm
And what is this silly kids business going on between Henry and Reyes. I know they don’t like each other but this is now getting silly.
Henry should know better as a captain.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:41 pm
Robert Pires 27(+14 sub) 10 goals
Robin Van Persie 19(+14 sub) 11 goals
Adebayor 10(+1 sub) 4 goals
Statistices don’t always tell the full story.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Delighted to see Bergkamp come on and score. In his last season he has had a number of niggly injuries. Hopefully he is over them now. If we do make it to Paris, I really hope he is brought along and put on the bench. Given the right circumstances (or the wrong ones!) he could be the right player to bring on. With seven substitutes in Champions League games, that would not cost us.
April 15th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Yes, I was torn whether to wear my red-currant or my orange top - superstition had me in cranberry as it was a home game.
I’m taking a page out of your book now though and I’ll be sleeping orange tonight.
It was so good to see Dennis come out and so effect the game, literally saving our arse’s. After that WBA equalizer my heart began to sag and then Dennis just caused my heart to sing.
Good on him and what a fitting gift on DB10 day.
April 15th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
He has had the 2nd most goals for the club YEAR after YEAR after YEAR.
Thats the only statistic that matters. PERIOD.
Adebeyor’s performance against Portsmouth, missing a gaping goal twice, doesn’t show up on the stat board either.
April 16th, 2006 at 1:05 am
In watching this game, several things came to mind. First and foremost, classic Dutch master class. I love that man Bergkamp, he will be missed. Second, Reyes was originally purchased as a scorer, but I’ve noticed that even though he can’t seem to regularly find the net for Arsenal, he has made himself useful in other ways. He sets up goals, wins his share of important free kicks a game, and tracks back in defence too. He has become a very solid, hard working player. Also, my man Pires still knows where the goal is. If he leaves, and I hope he stays, he will also be missed.
April 16th, 2006 at 3:04 am
Weak performance but you could tell that the lads had one eye on the Villareal game…
What works in Arsenal’s favor is that the 2 games that may define their season are both at Highbury and a good start in both games is vital…
Reyes I believe is the best long distance passer for Arsenal and he does them often in games now…it is very frustrating to see him sometimes but you can also just see the talent there with some unbelievable moves and dragbacks….
Glad everyone other than Henry got the goals although Henry should have also scored when clean through…
Either way win was vital - Spurs game is all to play for and I am glad that Spurs vs Utd is a lunch time kick off prior to Chelsea game and as long as there is a mathematical chance Utd will play to win…
April 16th, 2006 at 5:03 am
Bergkamp proved again that he’s the classiest player ever to don an Arsenal shirt. So much of the way we play is because of that man’s influence.
Every single touch was class. When we defended that set peice and someone found an easy pass to Dennis about 35 yards from goal, the way he found Adebayor in two touches and started a classic Arsenal counter was fantastic. The way he was first on the rebound from the Pires shot was class (he did the same in the goal against FC Thun). Lastly, his movement on his goal was fantastic. When Eboue made that run Dennis moved to beautiful space where he could receive an EASY pass from Eboue and still have time to take 3 touches picking his side. I’m sorry boy’s but that’s class. That’s why I have 5 Bergkamp jerseys (three hanging up in my bar). I only have one Vieira and one Henry. There’s nobody like him.
We almost didn’t beat WBA at home, but the older heads showed the kids how it’s done. That was a game Arsenal are supposed to win. Champions win those kinds of games. If we’re going to be champions we need the younger guys to develop that cold-blooded killer instinct that the Iceman showed yesterday, home or away. It took he and Pires less than twenty minutes what the others couldn’t do in 70, and that was kill off the game. You’ve got to respect that, boys.
April 16th, 2006 at 6:57 am
I think he can’t play left, but is very good yong central defender. He might be better than Senderos, I mean he actually stop TH14 and I don’t think that Big Phil can done that, and he is ENGLISH.
April 16th, 2006 at 7:20 am
I think our 4th place chance is about as good as gone though not mathematically. Was expecting Spuds to drop at least 1 point at Everton but they played well to deserve all 3 - credit to them. I expect them to grab 1 point each against ManUre and us - they were quite pumped up in the tough game against Everton. Seems like Jol has got them really fired up. No guarantee we will win all our remaining games especially the tough away game to Wigan considering our away EPL form - there are still problems there for Wenger to sort out.
So Wenger’s best bet now is to focus all on winning the CL. Future of Arsenal’s partication in next years CL and hence Henry’s future is beginning to look like a card game which is what the CL is about. So far Arsenal has been dealt a pretty good deck. So can’t blame Wenger for resting key players when 4th place is no longer in our hands.
April 16th, 2006 at 10:18 am
You should have been worried when Henry got taken off at only 1-0.
It was MISTAKE.
April 16th, 2006 at 10:21 am
Wigan is a home game… the last at Highbury.
April 16th, 2006 at 10:35 am
I don’t think it was a mistake. All subs contributed to our victory, Adebayor was involved in the 2nd and the 3rd was pure class by Bergkamp. Besides that Henry had a quiet game, Curtis Davies had a good evening against the best player in the world.
April 16th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Don’t worry about him, Sheed. Anything less than playing Henry every minute until his boots start smoking and stag wants Wenger’s head.
If Henry leaves, I can see a robot version of him taking his place: the Titi3000.
April 16th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
I don’t think the chase for 4th place is out of our reach by any means.
Tottenham are bottlers, they have a history of it, they could easily cave in when it comes to the crunch.
Even if they get a point tomorrow, a defeat at Arsenal will see them collapse and make it easy for us.
So tomorrow is a big game for them and us, now we’ll see what they’re really made of.
I think if they somehow rise to the occasion and beat Man Utd tomorrow then they will probably take 4th - we’ll have to see.
April 16th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
I’m fairly sure Tottenham will finish fourth. They were bottlers but under Martin Jol they are made of sterner stuff.
If they were going to collapse I think they would have done it after the Newcastle defeat.
I think Tottenham will at least draw with United tomorrow- probably win- and draw with us at highbury. Fourth will be theirs.
April 16th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
I think they can get a draw at Highbury too, in such a big match the extra rest they’ll get will give them an advantage.
But I’m not all that impressed with their midfield to be honest, and I think we’re better equipped to handle the pressure.
I’m pretty sure they won’t beat Man Utd tomorrow. As long as they can mathematically win the title, Utd will battle on - they will also want to ensure they finish 2nd not 3rd. The next 7 days will be excellent fun.
April 16th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
i was born in da town where dey man-u-fracture doze biatches - Valkenswaard, Der Nederlanden.
April 17th, 2006 at 1:15 am
ManU might have lost any chance of the title, but if they drop points against Tottenham and Chelsea, they could lose 2nd place to Liverpool. So I am sure the will go for a win today. If anything, Fergie took the SUnderland game too easy.
April 17th, 2006 at 7:09 am
Ledley King is out for a month, they were all over the place at the back when he missed the Newcastle game. If the concede 2 or 3 today because of that, they’re finished.
April 17th, 2006 at 7:55 am
Rooney scores after Defoe and Dawson went close.
MANU lead!!!
April 17th, 2006 at 8:22 am
Rooney scores again after a mistake by Lee.
Our prayers are being answered.
April 17th, 2006 at 9:42 am
Spurs score one but ManU Hold on.
THIS IS IT. IT IS IN OUR HANDS NOW. NO MORE ERRORS.
No more missing sitters in front of goals. No more conceding goals by allowing free headers in the D. No more “resting” players for crucial games.
Spurs looked fired up today and they won’t be easy to beat next Sat, especially after playing midweek. The away games won’t be easy either considering our poor away form.
WE MUST WIN ALL GAMES.
Let’s do it.
April 17th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Your analysis doesn’t add up. Beat Spurs next Saturday and we can afford to draw one other game.
Spurs game is key. Win, everything great. draw, still in the balance, lose and we are in trouble.