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But first the ups and downs of going to a match with so many new faces in the crowd. The Club shop was banged out which can only be good for the Club. Getting in I had to queue behind four corporate prats who couldn't understand why they couldn't use their season tickets. Once inside I had to queue for an age for a £3 pint of Carling while the tosser in a suit behind the bar counted money instead of serving - do it when the games on you irritating plonker! As a West Stand season ticket holder I got to sit in someone else's seat in the North Stand by way of a change. As a Highbury regular we had to take photographs for the visitors and advise some inconsiderate fools to sit down. Yes I know it's necessary to stand on occasions and I'm happy to do so but not because a prat like the guy wearing the 'Selo 6' shirt felt it essential to stand up every time the ball crossed the halfway line.
We also had to advise people that they shouldn't really be leaving after 90 minutes because they might miss the fun bit. At the end extra time we had to explain what was happening and how the penalties worked. While I'm in vaguely moaning mode can anyone explain the necessity of closing the bar 15 minutes before kick off? If you can't take drinks into the 'seated area' so what if people carry on drinking under the stand. Which also begs the question why did I see a spectator wandering around in the seated area with a pint in each hand if you're not allowed to drink there? Oh yes and the occasional visitors only know one and a half songs. Song sheets would be a useful addition at such games.
Francesc Fabregas was in the starting line up and became our youngest ever player at just 16 and he looked pretty useful. Cesc hardly wasted a ball, and was very aware of what was going on around him, always able to lay off a first time ball to feet or equally happy to hit a 60 yard pass just like Johnny Haynes (ask your Granddad). Cesc played just in front of our back four that comprised Cygan and Tavlaridis who both played ok but were hardly stretched by Rotherham's forward play. Gael Clichy at left back was straight out of the Ashley Cole book of attacking football and looked the part. Justin Hoyte at right back also knew his job and had cracking pace. Interesting that there were no defenders on the bench.
In midfield Cesc was joined by Edu, Kanu who was captain and another speed merchant called Jerome Thomas who did very well in his spell at QPR. Up front Wiltord didn't look too bothered except when we won a free kick which he invariably claimed was his to take. Jeremie Aliadiere was bothered however and will develop into something very special when he gains a tad more strength. He's already like lightning over the first few all important yards and will probably be too fast for your average lino, his work rate was superb, his movement quite good and he has a good eye for finding space
Rotherham wearing Inter Milan colours, their home kit being red shirts with white sleeves which might have clashed, attacked the North Stand first half, but not very often. Our early goal came when Thomas, Kanu and Wiltord worked it in from the left very neatly to give Aliadiere, who had found some space a fairly easy chance. 1-0 Arsenal after about eleven minutes play.
When Kanu was chopped on the edge of their box Cesc looked hopeful of taking it but Slyv claimed seniority and hit the ball into the wall before firing the rebound just wide. 'Stand up if you hate Tottenham' most new faces got the hang of that one. Darren Byfield, Rotherham's best player and worthy of playing in a better team, had a shot beautifully saved by Graham Stack. Stack is a tad short but performed well. Chris Swailes was booked for a foul on Kanu. Clichy was playing as a winger more often than not.
Another free kick after Thomas had been chopped was passed too deep. Great play from Edu coming out from deep. Good ball in from Hoyte. A Wiltord solo ended with a cross hit too deep. Another good Arsenal move ended with Edu shooting just wide. Byfield looked offside but Stack blocked his shot anyway. A good ball followed by a driven shot by Hoyte. Kanu to Thomas to Wiltord who's shot was saved for a corner. Jeremie's header saved. Halftime,
We opened with a brilliant ball from Kanu which saw Aliadiere fire just wide of the far post. Kanu also almost beat the keeper early in the half but also had a weak header from a Wiltord cross. A great cross in from Rotherham's right saw Graham miss his punch. Long throw ins from Shaun Barker (I think) were their best weapon and did cause the odd problem at the back. Rotherham fans claiming most of the Clock End got quite excited about winning a corner.
Referee Barry Knight models himself on Collina, but only his hair cut. When Chris Sedgwick arrived viciously and about twenty minutes late to hit Edu it could easily have been a red card shown instead of the yellow he did flash. 'Who's the w*nker in the green?' We were well on top but too often looking for the long ball to Aliadiere. Fabregas was well set up but shot well wide. Handball in their box not given and the ref indicated it was the chest, if he'd been honest he could just have said he was unsighted, which he quite obviously was. Clichy did really well and found Wiltord who had a fine run before firing over with his left peg.
Fabregas fired just over following a really good move. Another late tackle on Edu, but no yellow card. Some poor marking by Arsenal from a free kick. Another Rotherham free kick saw a tasty ball in go begging. Ryan Smith, another 16 year old on for Thomas who'd done well. Kanu went down in their box but it wasn't a pen. Great closing down by Jeremie. Good play down Rotherham's right called Stack into play. Great stuff from Hoyte but Kanu can't quite make the header. Kanu too greedy after a good Arsenal move.
Fabregas was replaced by Owusu-Abeyie, or Quincy to his friends. Quincy was the biz with very fast feet, tricky and unpredictable. Great run by Ryan Smith ended with a free kick which Edu bent but couldn't dip. Less than a minute to go and a late rally by Rotherham was rewarded with some pitiful marking by Arsenal allowing Byfield a free header to equalise. 1-1. He deserved something for his good play but this was very much against the run of play. Quincy had a run and shot before full time. 1-1 at full time
Extra time
Edu to Aliadiere almost. Quincy with a fast run down the right. Mullin on for the injured Robinson for Rotherham. The live wire Quincy found Aliadiere who shot over. At some point in the first period of extra time I recall Aliadiere being booked for going down in their area but as it was at the other end I have no idea quite how justified the card was, do I sound like Arsene or what? All Arsenal pressure as we pass it around their box for an absolute age. Talbot shot well over, not the first time that's been said at Highbury. Great shot by Clichy went just wide. Keeper out of his area to stop a great chase by Quincy but used his hand so it must be a red card and was. Chants of 'Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio' accompanied by waving hands all around the Arsenal sections. Montgomery the sub keeper replaced Sedgwick who was booed off for his earlier hatchet job on Edu. Free kick wasted by Wiltord who tried to run it in. It was all Arsenal as Quincy went on another run. Barker shot over for Rotherham. End of first period.
Talbot replaced by Baudet. Rotherham defended deep and in numbers after the keepers dismissal, and for most of the match as it happens. Arsenal netted as Jeremie and Sylvain played one-twos all the way into their net but the offside flag was up. A good Smith cross, a Wiltord header. More good stuff from Quincy won us another free kick which resulted in a great save by Montgomery from Edu. Mullin hoofed out 50 yards ahead of any blue shirt. All Arsenal still, loads of smart play, good crosses and enthusiastic pressure. Hoyte replaced by John Spicer who was chopped on his first run by Warne, a tackle from behind but no yellow card. Edu blasted it miles over from a narrow angle and the screen was in more danger than the net. More fancy footwork from Smith and the match ended.
What follows is how the penalty shoot-out went. The penalties being taken in front of the North Bank which was my temporary home for the evening so I could really see the whites of their confident or petrified eyes. Chants of 'Who are yer' greeted every Rotherham player.
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Well taken to the keepers left 0-1 Rotherham
Sylvain Wiltord v Gary Montgomery (first choice keeper having been sent off)
Straight at the keeper, still 0-1
Martin McKintosh v Graham Stack
Low to the keepers right 0-2
Edu v Gary Montgomery
Low and hard to the keepers left 1-2
John Mullin v Graham Stack
Hits the post to the keepers right 1-2
Jermaine Aliadiere v Gary Montgomery
A confident kick and easily scored to the keepers left 2-2
Julian Baudet v Graham Stack
LA low shot as Stack dived the wrong way 2-3
Pascal Cygan v Gary Montgomery
Well taken to keepers left 3-3
Darren Byfield v Graham Stack
We predicted that as he'd been their best player he'd miss
He hit the bar 3-3
Quincy Owusu-Abieyie v Gary Montgomery
Keeper saved with his feet 3-3
Paul Hurst v Graham Stack
To the keepers left 3-4
Kanu v Gary Montgomery
Who'd suffered from cramp at the end of extra time sent the keeper the wrong way 4-4
Paul Warne v Graham Stack
Keeper almost got a hand to it and looked annoyed that he didn't 4-5
John Spicer v Gary Montgomery
Smashed into the top corner to the keepers right 5-5
Shaun Barker v Graham Stack
Low left as Graham went right 5-6
Ryan Smith v Gary Montgomery
Very confident, hit low to make it 6-6
Richard Barker v Graham Stack
Hard and straight right down the middle 6-7
Gael Clichy v Gary Montgomery
Solid and into the corner, first penalty taker to acknowledge the fans 7-7
Gary Montgomery v Graham Stack
Keeper v keeper powerfully and well struck 7-8
Graham Stack v Gary Montgomery
Looked very nervous but took it really well 8-8
Chris Swailes v Graham Stack
His second penalty, Graham saved low to left 8-8
Chant of 'Super, super Sylv'
Sylvain Wiltord v Gary Montgomery
His second penalty, a curvy run and low into the corner 9-8 Arsenal
So that was a pound an Arsenal goal if you had a ten pound ticket. Well done kids!