They say never go back and Arsene usually never wants players that he let go back at the club. Normally he is right. Generally players that leave never go on to replicate the success or even the quality that they had whilst playing for Arsenal. He was brilliantly described (as part of a brilliant post here) recently as the best used car saleman in the land for exactly that reason - as their legs have a knack of giving way on another manager's pitch.
But equally Wenger has had his regets and openly spoke of his desire to keep Anelka and that he would have had him back. So would I.
Wenger has been equally canny in letting Sol Campbell "train" with us. It's try before you buy. It helps the player, and we owe that to him, but it also allows the manager to evaluate him. I don't usually get drawn in to speculation, but I think Wenger will sign him on a short term basis as back-up in case Vermaelen or Gallas get injured. Silvestre was fine for cover in the Carling Cup or against lowly opposition, he just does not have the pace. Campbell may have lost some of his pace, but I still think he'll be quick enough and his physical prescence could be useful.
Wenger didn't go back for Viera and I'm pleased that Patrick has found himself at an ambitious club playing in the Premier League. I hate City, actually probably more that Spurs just because of their £ootballing philosphy, but I wish Viera all the best, just not against us.
As I type this news is filtering through of the attack on the Togo team bus in Angola. This is horrendous, but does not surprise me. Terrorist organisations were bound to see the the African Cup of Nations as an ideal opportunity for an attack. Anything they do on this smaller scale competition will have a ten-fold impact on the World Cup. The security is on a smaller scale that it will be for the Finals in June and I'm probably being a bit patronising but I can't see the organisation of either of the competitions in Africa being as slick as anything in Europe or the US. This attack, has already been a major success and the repercussions will be huge.
I hear Adebayor is safe. I hate him as much as the next man, but would never wish this upon him. Yes his celebration against us was stupid - but footballers have never been known for their intelligence, it's their football brains that we love.
The poor driver has been killed, let's hope that it isn't any more serious on a personal level for Togo's players and staff.
Event like this put our own health and safety concerns in perspective. So we have to call some games off due to the snow, big deal.
If the game at the Emirates goes ahead tomorrow (which I think it will), have a safe journey.
'98
Friday, 8 January 2010
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Nearly led them a Merida-nce
Been on my own international break.
Arsenal haven't really been the same team since theirs.
Was hoping to use my "merry dance" pun tonight but a defeat was what I expected. To be fair, for the first 5 minutes it would be an accurate description. We were moving the ball round well, lots of intricate passing and the possession stats were near-on 100%. It genuinely seemed to unerve the Greeks on the pitch and especially in the stands. Did you notice there weren't any women in the whole ground, including the hairy "cheerleaders"?
Arsene said before the game that fielding this young team would be true to the competition by providing a more motivated side, rather than a more experienced team who had nothing to play for. He was right (again). They genuinely had something to prove and places to fight for. Ramsey responded well and at times looked real quality. By no means the finished article, but some of his passing was sublime. He's got that physical edge too. In a team of full teenagers, he looked experienced and composed. Merida increasingly showed us why Wenger wants to keep him in and around the first team.
A lot of the talk had been of the rising young star Wilshere. I wonder whether he's beginning to believe his own hype. I've seen him play Carling Cup games and even in the Emirates Cup pre-season where he played the rest out the park. But he's trying too hard at the moment, taking people on and running into trouble rather than picking the right pass. Maturity will play a big part here.
Interestingly, rather than showing his experience, Vela seemed to be dragged down by playing in a team full of youngsters. He lacked composure, seems to be brushed off the ball to easily and missed one very good chance at least to score. Again, I've see him play brilliantly and finish with such confidence. That seems to be missing and a Vela firing on all cylinders would really help our first team. All I could think was if there was anyone that I would have wanted on the end of the Ramsey pass that Vela missed, it would have been Arshavin.
Walcott showed that his pace and intelligent running comes naturally and doesn't diminish everytime he has a lay-off due to injury. Let's hope he finds his feet (literally) quickly because Aaron Lennon has begun to show that he can pass and cross and is currently looking more likely to go to South Africa this Summer.
I was very impressed with what I saw and quite enjoyed the game. A luxury to be able to watch a champions league game, knowing you've qualified top and have nothing to worry about - including to a large degree, any of your players getting injured.
We've had a very disjointed few weeks and I hope the first team can get back on track against Liverpool at the weekend.
I've noticed a strange psychological thing going on. Arsene must have said to them early this season that it is not results against the big teams that win you the title, its how you do against the rest - citing United as an example. I've seen quotes from various squad members referring to this idea too.
In essence he is right, but it seems to have been taken too literally by the team and almost given them an excuse for not winning these games. So far it has been taken literally as we've lost to United, City and Chelsea. Spurs are obviously not classed as a big team, because we beat them.
Fortunately Liverpool are not looking like a real challenge for the title this year, which leads me to feel we might just get something out of this game, but with some key players missing it is asking for some of our other players to step up and be counted.
Very grateful that its on sky, so I don't have to struggle with poor illegal streams. Is there a market for providing a quality stream to paying customers? Would it really damage crowd numbers?
Anyway, I'm looking forward to it.
'til next time
Arsenal haven't really been the same team since theirs.
Was hoping to use my "merry dance" pun tonight but a defeat was what I expected. To be fair, for the first 5 minutes it would be an accurate description. We were moving the ball round well, lots of intricate passing and the possession stats were near-on 100%. It genuinely seemed to unerve the Greeks on the pitch and especially in the stands. Did you notice there weren't any women in the whole ground, including the hairy "cheerleaders"?
Arsene said before the game that fielding this young team would be true to the competition by providing a more motivated side, rather than a more experienced team who had nothing to play for. He was right (again). They genuinely had something to prove and places to fight for. Ramsey responded well and at times looked real quality. By no means the finished article, but some of his passing was sublime. He's got that physical edge too. In a team of full teenagers, he looked experienced and composed. Merida increasingly showed us why Wenger wants to keep him in and around the first team.
A lot of the talk had been of the rising young star Wilshere. I wonder whether he's beginning to believe his own hype. I've seen him play Carling Cup games and even in the Emirates Cup pre-season where he played the rest out the park. But he's trying too hard at the moment, taking people on and running into trouble rather than picking the right pass. Maturity will play a big part here.
Interestingly, rather than showing his experience, Vela seemed to be dragged down by playing in a team full of youngsters. He lacked composure, seems to be brushed off the ball to easily and missed one very good chance at least to score. Again, I've see him play brilliantly and finish with such confidence. That seems to be missing and a Vela firing on all cylinders would really help our first team. All I could think was if there was anyone that I would have wanted on the end of the Ramsey pass that Vela missed, it would have been Arshavin.
Walcott showed that his pace and intelligent running comes naturally and doesn't diminish everytime he has a lay-off due to injury. Let's hope he finds his feet (literally) quickly because Aaron Lennon has begun to show that he can pass and cross and is currently looking more likely to go to South Africa this Summer.
I was very impressed with what I saw and quite enjoyed the game. A luxury to be able to watch a champions league game, knowing you've qualified top and have nothing to worry about - including to a large degree, any of your players getting injured.
We've had a very disjointed few weeks and I hope the first team can get back on track against Liverpool at the weekend.
I've noticed a strange psychological thing going on. Arsene must have said to them early this season that it is not results against the big teams that win you the title, its how you do against the rest - citing United as an example. I've seen quotes from various squad members referring to this idea too.
In essence he is right, but it seems to have been taken too literally by the team and almost given them an excuse for not winning these games. So far it has been taken literally as we've lost to United, City and Chelsea. Spurs are obviously not classed as a big team, because we beat them.
Fortunately Liverpool are not looking like a real challenge for the title this year, which leads me to feel we might just get something out of this game, but with some key players missing it is asking for some of our other players to step up and be counted.
Very grateful that its on sky, so I don't have to struggle with poor illegal streams. Is there a market for providing a quality stream to paying customers? Would it really damage crowd numbers?
Anyway, I'm looking forward to it.
'til next time
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Damn you international break!
We lost our momentum. We lost our in form striker. The players looked a little sluggish. I hate international breaks, especially for meaningless friendlies or games that don't really mean anything to us.
Sunderland had no real momentum to lose. They last won against a big 4 team when they beat Liverpool. I guess they felt they didnt need to raise their game when they lost to Spurs in their last game.
Perhaps Sunderland benefitted from not having any major players out due to internationals. Why it should make such a difference baffles me a little. We can easily win 2 premier league games with a Champions League game sandwiched in the middle. So why not an international victory sandwich?
From the highlights I have seen, Song looked our best player. I love the fact I was so wrong about him. He's beginning to be one of my favourite players and a consistent performer.
Still, win next weekend and we'll have an almost identical record to Man Utd, reclaim 2nd and have a superior goal difference to them. We'll have made up some ground on Chelsea too, by virtue of beating them.
The downside is, I'm not sure we'll do it. I want to stay positive. Its very simple this year. The team that finishes above Chelsea will win the title. Here is our chance to stake our claim.
Lets get back to winning ways against Liege. No excuses, no sluggishness. A solid, confidence building win is required.
Sunderland had no real momentum to lose. They last won against a big 4 team when they beat Liverpool. I guess they felt they didnt need to raise their game when they lost to Spurs in their last game.
Perhaps Sunderland benefitted from not having any major players out due to internationals. Why it should make such a difference baffles me a little. We can easily win 2 premier league games with a Champions League game sandwiched in the middle. So why not an international victory sandwich?
From the highlights I have seen, Song looked our best player. I love the fact I was so wrong about him. He's beginning to be one of my favourite players and a consistent performer.
Still, win next weekend and we'll have an almost identical record to Man Utd, reclaim 2nd and have a superior goal difference to them. We'll have made up some ground on Chelsea too, by virtue of beating them.
The downside is, I'm not sure we'll do it. I want to stay positive. Its very simple this year. The team that finishes above Chelsea will win the title. Here is our chance to stake our claim.
Lets get back to winning ways against Liege. No excuses, no sluggishness. A solid, confidence building win is required.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Luck o'the French
Malouda said they were lucky....because the referee didn't see it. He is right. The hand of le God well and truly helped France to the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Henry has cheated, it was wrong, but I would have done the same and I think any other footballer in that position would have done the same. Handball, not get caught (by the referee) and play in the world cup. Yes please.
The media has gone wild again. As they always do when Johnny Foreigner cheats. Would the reaction have been the same if it was Rooney? I think not.
Is his reputation in tatters. Of course not. He has had the grace to admit it was a handball. Something Maradona never did. But it wasn't the Argentine's handball against us that tarnished his reputation, it was his continued drug abuse, of cocaine in particular and his use of ephedrine that caused his expulsion from the 1994 World Cup. I think the referee in last night's game has more to worry about in terms of reputation.
It means we have France in the finals. It would be a lesser tournament without them, and even worse if the Irish were there. They are not a good team and I hate Robbie Keane. He bitches and moans his way through every match. At least this time he has something genuine to moan about.
Now we get to see some of our own play on the biggest stage - Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, maybe Diaby and ofcourse Henry - who will always be Arsenal. And he'll be back at the club one day, in some capacity. And I can't wait.
Even more gutted that Arshavin won't be there. He really would have lit up the tournament. Instead we have Slovenia. Know any of their star players??? I think not. However I am pleased that UEFAs blatant attempt to get all the best teams in by deciding to introduce seeding at the last minute failed. Cheaters don't always prosper.
Nearly back to proper football. The team is damaged but not destroyed by the international break. Bring on Sunderland.
Henry has cheated, it was wrong, but I would have done the same and I think any other footballer in that position would have done the same. Handball, not get caught (by the referee) and play in the world cup. Yes please.
The media has gone wild again. As they always do when Johnny Foreigner cheats. Would the reaction have been the same if it was Rooney? I think not.
Is his reputation in tatters. Of course not. He has had the grace to admit it was a handball. Something Maradona never did. But it wasn't the Argentine's handball against us that tarnished his reputation, it was his continued drug abuse, of cocaine in particular and his use of ephedrine that caused his expulsion from the 1994 World Cup. I think the referee in last night's game has more to worry about in terms of reputation.
It means we have France in the finals. It would be a lesser tournament without them, and even worse if the Irish were there. They are not a good team and I hate Robbie Keane. He bitches and moans his way through every match. At least this time he has something genuine to moan about.
Now we get to see some of our own play on the biggest stage - Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, maybe Diaby and ofcourse Henry - who will always be Arsenal. And he'll be back at the club one day, in some capacity. And I can't wait.
Even more gutted that Arshavin won't be there. He really would have lit up the tournament. Instead we have Slovenia. Know any of their star players??? I think not. However I am pleased that UEFAs blatant attempt to get all the best teams in by deciding to introduce seeding at the last minute failed. Cheaters don't always prosper.
Nearly back to proper football. The team is damaged but not destroyed by the international break. Bring on Sunderland.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Arsenal's number 9 and Kiwis
Apologies (to the zero readers!) for not blogging recently.
My world has been overtaken by an issue (read "incompetent fool") at work. This has coincided with a break from domestic football. So there haven't even been any decent matches to take my mind of it.
I promised myself I would never watch an England friendly again, after Sven took over and used them as an exercise in motonony and tedium. Nothing has really improved. I care when its competitive, because the players do - a bit. And I cannot wait for the World Cup. I love it, for the festival of football that it is. Regardless of whether England are there or not.
Until a few years ago, I really struggled to decide what I would prefer - England win the World Cup or Arsenal win the Champions League. Now there is absolutely no contest. Its the UCL every time. I'd love to see England win the biggest tournament in the World, but I still enjoy the tournament as much without them.
Not overly happy about New Zealand qualifying for it though. How can they be there when Ireland or France won't? They were beaten at home by Fiji! And I don't care that this "home" game was actually away, as my Kiwi mate tells me. It's still a disgrace and it devalues the tournament. Still if you want it to be a "world" cup, then its the price we pay.
Apart from the disruption to the domestic game, especially when Arsenal were in such a rich vein of form, I hate the fact that we always seem to pick a heap of injuries.
I am a little worried about Gibbs' niggle picked up with the U21s. My biggest concern is RVP. Just when he was beginning to change my mind about who was the best striker in the premier league (I've always gone for Torres) he gets injured again!! Lets hope the placenta-massage or whatever it is works because we need him back.
Nevertheless. If you told the Arsenal faithfull (and especially the not-so-faithful who are too quick to criticise) that we had just bought Croatia's star player, a Brazillian who scored something like 83 goals in 111 appearances for his previous club and 18 in 28 for his national team, they'd go mental!
Now its time for Eduardo to step up and truly prove his worth.
I think he is outstanding and has the talent to do it. I'll never forget the goal he scored against Burnly in the FA Cup, nearly a year to the day after he broke his ankle. He used the same ankle to slice the ball (on purpose) in such a way that it improbably hit the top corner. I love poetic justice.
Sunderland away looms this weekend.
You broke your leg and now you're back And Darren Bent... is still crap. Eduardo Silva Arsenal's number 9. na na na na na na na na ........................
My world has been overtaken by an issue (read "incompetent fool") at work. This has coincided with a break from domestic football. So there haven't even been any decent matches to take my mind of it.
I promised myself I would never watch an England friendly again, after Sven took over and used them as an exercise in motonony and tedium. Nothing has really improved. I care when its competitive, because the players do - a bit. And I cannot wait for the World Cup. I love it, for the festival of football that it is. Regardless of whether England are there or not.
Until a few years ago, I really struggled to decide what I would prefer - England win the World Cup or Arsenal win the Champions League. Now there is absolutely no contest. Its the UCL every time. I'd love to see England win the biggest tournament in the World, but I still enjoy the tournament as much without them.
Not overly happy about New Zealand qualifying for it though. How can they be there when Ireland or France won't? They were beaten at home by Fiji! And I don't care that this "home" game was actually away, as my Kiwi mate tells me. It's still a disgrace and it devalues the tournament. Still if you want it to be a "world" cup, then its the price we pay.
Apart from the disruption to the domestic game, especially when Arsenal were in such a rich vein of form, I hate the fact that we always seem to pick a heap of injuries.
I am a little worried about Gibbs' niggle picked up with the U21s. My biggest concern is RVP. Just when he was beginning to change my mind about who was the best striker in the premier league (I've always gone for Torres) he gets injured again!! Lets hope the placenta-massage or whatever it is works because we need him back.
Nevertheless. If you told the Arsenal faithfull (and especially the not-so-faithful who are too quick to criticise) that we had just bought Croatia's star player, a Brazillian who scored something like 83 goals in 111 appearances for his previous club and 18 in 28 for his national team, they'd go mental!
Now its time for Eduardo to step up and truly prove his worth.
I think he is outstanding and has the talent to do it. I'll never forget the goal he scored against Burnly in the FA Cup, nearly a year to the day after he broke his ankle. He used the same ankle to slice the ball (on purpose) in such a way that it improbably hit the top corner. I love poetic justice.
Sunderland away looms this weekend.
You broke your leg and now you're back And Darren Bent... is still crap. Eduardo Silva Arsenal's number 9. na na na na na na na na ........................
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Kids vs School boys
School boy errors led to all three goals yesterday. The first thing they teach you is 'play to the whistle' - to be fair Sagna seemed to forget this too for the third goal. However he remembered before any of the Spurs players. Giving him enough time to whip in a cross that somehow rebounded off both Gomez and the nearby defender to allow Van Persie a simple tap in.
A lack of concentration allowed a more clinical Arsenal to take the lead after some solid play by the visitors and I'd love to say the second goal was down to the genius of Fabregas but a significant proportion of blame must go to the Spurs team for switching off, being in shock and terrible tackling. Nevertheless it was pure joy watching Cesc slalem his way through their team from the centre circle and he showed maturity and composure in his finish.
Nevertheless in all three cases - it was the skill and class of the Arsenal players that made the goals. Van Persie reacted quickly like the fox in the box we always hoped to have. Cesc still had plenty to do once the Spurs midfield conspired to give him the ball so soon after the first goal. Harry was a poor sport in saying that "there wasn't a good goal amongst them" but I did enjoy him looking seriously pissed off in the post-match interview.
I loved the way the team shoved Robbie Keane's comments back down his throat. Better squad! Well lets start with the first team and there is no comparision. Factor in that Defoe, Lennon and Modric were missing and the inadequacies of the Tottenham squad were fully exposed.
I also loved the fact that Arsene got so frustrated with his team that he threw his jacket. The reason - he couldn't get them to hear him due to the noise in the stadium. The legend of the "Highbury library" is well and truly buried, especially if we can keep that kind of noisy support up every week. That he couldn't hear might also be down to Wenger being bunged up due to a cold, but I'd rather go with the reason being the vociferous home support.
Let's hope we can despatch AZ in the same way on Wednesday.
A lack of concentration allowed a more clinical Arsenal to take the lead after some solid play by the visitors and I'd love to say the second goal was down to the genius of Fabregas but a significant proportion of blame must go to the Spurs team for switching off, being in shock and terrible tackling. Nevertheless it was pure joy watching Cesc slalem his way through their team from the centre circle and he showed maturity and composure in his finish.
Nevertheless in all three cases - it was the skill and class of the Arsenal players that made the goals. Van Persie reacted quickly like the fox in the box we always hoped to have. Cesc still had plenty to do once the Spurs midfield conspired to give him the ball so soon after the first goal. Harry was a poor sport in saying that "there wasn't a good goal amongst them" but I did enjoy him looking seriously pissed off in the post-match interview.
I loved the way the team shoved Robbie Keane's comments back down his throat. Better squad! Well lets start with the first team and there is no comparision. Factor in that Defoe, Lennon and Modric were missing and the inadequacies of the Tottenham squad were fully exposed.
I also loved the fact that Arsene got so frustrated with his team that he threw his jacket. The reason - he couldn't get them to hear him due to the noise in the stadium. The legend of the "Highbury library" is well and truly buried, especially if we can keep that kind of noisy support up every week. That he couldn't hear might also be down to Wenger being bunged up due to a cold, but I'd rather go with the reason being the vociferous home support.
Let's hope we can despatch AZ in the same way on Wednesday.
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