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Hoyte at right back came in for Lauren and looked quite at home, Rob switched to the right while Reyes, who had his best and certainly most effective match for some time went left side. Flamini and Fabregas took control in midfield, Mathieu with his perpetual motion style and Cesc with his controlled and skilful passing. Both our midfield youngsters try things that they maybe they shouldn’t when safer passes or moves are available but they sure as hell don’t lack for confidence.
Cesc had already hit a fine angled pass to Rob that he couldn’t quite control when Reyes opened the scoring after all of three minutes. José Antonio had been fouled twice in a single run before gaining the free kick. It was played short and the early ball picked out Reyes in space. His jinking run worked him into the box prior to hitting a controlled low shot past the keeper whose first touch was to pick it out of the net. 1-0 Arsenal and the stylish stuff that followed showed that the game was all but over.
At the start of the match our passing was considered and purposeful but by the end it was slick, fast, unpredictable for the opposition and often quite outrageous. Some fussy refereeing from the Italian failed to spoil the party and Arsenal’s build up play really looked the part. Reyes was showing his class once more, Dennis was pulling the strings and Henry scared them to death.
Almunia was required to read a through ball and react early, which was what he did. Henry had a decent solo and Reyes the follow up shot. A cross from Winsnes eluded Cole but was found by Helstad who crashed his shot low and hard only to find Almunia equal to it with a full length diving save. Manuel had little else to do on the night however. Hoyte, Bergkamp and Reyes put together a decent move that ended with their keeper winning the race for the ball against Jose.
Henry might have put us further ahead but on twenty-four minutes Flamini won a block tackle that resulted in a spooned ball forward for Henry to latch onto before the keeper could race out to cover. One touch, a lob, and one bounce were enough to double our lead to 2-0 and we were as good as through to the next round.
Dennis had a could have, should have chance one on one with the keeper but was given a ‘Walking in a Bergkamp wonderland’ chorus anyway. Fair do because he was oozing class from start to finish. A tidy move involving Dennis, José and Cesc saw our young Spaniard flick it over a defender with his right and plant it home firmly with his left. A great goal was followed by the slide along on your knees style celebration, arms akimbo. 3-0 Arsenal and everyone relaxed totally because we were in the next round with less than half an hour played.
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Cesc responded with a surreal solo from the centre circle to the penalty spot before he lost the ball. Hoyte put Henry through but he was offside. Henry’s next surge won a penalty and a yellow card for their keeper. Pires despatched it from the spot with aplomb, low and hard to the keeper’s left. 4-1 Arsenal to be followed up with a chorus of ‘Are you Tottenham in disguise’. We were now in piss take mode but managed to allow Stensaas a free shot but he chose to aim at the corner flag. Half time.
It made a very pleasant change to spend the half time break unworried about the outcome of a European Champion’s League match. Novel but nice.
As is normally the case with Arsenal we failed to dig a hole and bury our opponents having won the match by half time. Instead we tried for a bit of the overly complex, some of the casual, quite a bit of the laid back, some of the save ourselves for the next big game and a fair bit of the ok so lets just go out there and enjoy some exhibition style relaxed knock it about type football. No stress or strain for the players or the fans and certainly no tension. Which is good for my heart and more importantly good for Arsène’s heart.
Reyes being back on song chanced his arm with a crossfield ball killer that found Henry perfectly, José then showed more flasher skills. Reyes and Pires got it together as Rob’s cross was nearly perfect for Henry. Henry had a left foot drive over the bar after good play involving Thierry, Flamini and Reyes. Dennis set up Reyes for a chance. A Henry and Bergkamp break looked seriously promising and we bossed the game. Rosenborg forced Cole to head clear in a rare counter while Flamini was booked by Stefano Farina, the Italian ref, for what looked like a good tackle, it didn’t help that he was poncing about miles from the play when he gave it. His lino in front of the West stand was also a total joke. This clown gave a couple of throws when only a bit of the ball was over a smidgen of the line. The fact that the whole of the ball must be over the whole of the line was clearly lost on him. Henry was pretty unimpressed as well, as glares go it was one of his best.
Strand was replaced by George around about the time Henry refused to accept Solli’s apology for a shove that went unspotted by the Italian clown in charge. Henry flashed one into the side netting from a narrow angle before Clichy replaced Dennis – the captain’s armband being moved on to Thierry. Reyes moved up front.
With about quarter of an hour remaining Van Persie replaced Ashley who strolled off to a well-deserved standing ovation from what appeared to be the entire stadium. How rare is it that he gets either a break or his own personal ovation, both were deserved. Pires played a killer ball to Robin but he shot wide. He certainly injected some life back into the match though. Storflor replaced Helstad. Van Pires had a blast with his right peg that was very well saved, Henry followed up with his own power shot that went wide.
Henry then set up Reyes who’s cheeky chip was lightly sand-wedged onto the roof of the net. Van Persie then showed off some super skills and followed this with a shot that was inches wide. He finally found the net following fine play from Cesc and José. The finishing touch to this was a lovely little dink over the advancing keeper. 5-1 Arsenal.
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Van Persie is a class act but still has a lot to learn yet, as do all our young players. That said, what an absolute pleasure it is to know that we have so many youngsters knocking on the door. They could well be battering it down by the end of the season.
Before I sign off, just a thought about penalties. Having three players ready to step up for the spot kick depending on how the penalty was won, and probably a whole more waiting in the wings, seems to be an eminently sensible way to go. The rotation system has worked very well to date. Not only is there a reduced pressure on the man who would normally be destined to take them every game. It also puts an increased pressure on the keeper, especially if they like to study videos of a teams spot kick specialist. It may even help should we participate in a penalty shoot out.