Goal of the decade

Goodplaya.com is running an excellent survey on the best goals of the decade here.

Rightly so, he has waited until the decade is over, as it happens no favourite will come from anything in December, but there have been some crackers.

I reckon Bergkamp v Newcastle will win out, and it awesome, but my choice is one that probably won't even be in the top 10.

Any favourite goal has to stand out. It has to be one that you can visualise, and describe without having to see a youtube clip (although I had great fun watching them all again - as I write the snow is falling and I reckon I'll not be able to get to work tomorrow. So might as well stay up watching those beauties)

So there are a handful in the list that do that.

- The mazy run of Henry against Spurs in November 2002 showed him at his absolute peak. And any goal against Spurs is a delight (Cesc providing a couple of corkers), but that was the best of the decade.
Henry also did something similar against Inter, and then Liverpool in the 03/04 season and against Madrid in 05/06. All of these were incredible and against such good opposition, but the one against Spurs was the best.
- Henry's backheel against Charlton, was something different - and although this is about Arsenal goals, Zola's FA Cup goal from a corner in 2002 was cheekier and more ingenious backheel- our best goal needs to be better than that.
- Henry's goal against Prague, hit with the outside of his foot was a peach, but if you want to see a ball curl watch Roberto Carlos' free-kick in Le Tournoi - Yes I know if was not Arsenal, nor was it last decade (1997) but that strike will stay with me forever.
- I don't want to give Adebayor any recognition in this survey, so I didn't. But to be fair the goal against Liverpool at Anfield in 07/08 is one of those memorable goals - because of the run by Theo. His chest'n'volley against Spurs was also quality.

- You also won't see a better team goal than the move finished off by Nasri, against Man United, at home in the 08/09 season. A gazillion precision passes, movement, pace and a crisp finish. If Wenger was taking this survey, that's the goal he would choose.

- My Second favourite is RVP's volley against Charlton. It was hit with such venon, and was so technically difficult and so brilliant - I'll never forget it. I think he struck it so hard that he broke his foot and was out of action for months. But I can see it right now and anytime I want in my mind- it was that memorable.

- But my favourite. Eduardo scoring that volley against Burnley in the FA Cup in February 2009. Almost a year to the day with the same ankle he broke in that horrific incident at Birmingham. But this is not an emotional, sympathetic choice. It was technically amazing and truly memorable in its own right. I was the ground that day and when he first struck it it looked like he'd mishit it and skied it. But watching the replay, I realised it was truly amazing.

I can't believe that there is no Bergkamp goal in my top 3, but perhaps he was at his peak at the end of the previous decade. Nothing will beat the goal he scored against Sunderland in January 1997. The drag-back, the bedazzling of the defence, the trademark curled shot - truly memorable, truly beautiful.

I hope not to leave it too long until the next post - might have some readers by then!