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Maybe the ref helped too. He was keen to let the game flow, was unpedantic, and could see two teams playing entertaining footie at the highest level. He didn’t mind a physical game, but wouldn’t have let the game descend into a game of cynicism. An excellent ref let the game ascend to a good old fashioned physical encounter, allowing both teams to respond with total respect for each other.
And the game itself was somewhat weird - and excellent, absorbing, entertaining goalless first half, followed by a low scoring, somewhat subdued second half.
The game got underway at an astonishing rush. Both teams playing hell-for-leather to get the ball in the net, and at the same time tracking back and defending mightily. Whether it was Wiltord and Kanu pushing forward strongly, or dashing back for some last-yard defensive action, both teams seemed convinced they would be the team to take some sort of decisive early advantage. Fast and furious. Pacey and determined. Both teams charged the length of the excellently maintained pitch, involved in some sort of ancient styled Gallic encounter.
But last weeks lightning strike was not to be repeated. The players might have leapt out of their blocks keen for a swift Gilberto style goal, but it wouldn’t come in the first half. The sheer speed, and the determination, the work rate, from both teams was impressive.
The best chance of the first half was swift in arriving - Henry’s inch perfect pass to Wiltord scuffed off the line.
Both teams toying with each other, both teams looking likely to be able to break through. Arsenal were probably in ascendancy for most of the half, but that might just be me hoping we’d get what was starting to look like "the winner"
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And talking of defenders, Sol was magnificent. Perhaps it was that sweet smile of thing about the choice of scraping past Cardiff in the Worthington Cup on a Tuesday evening as opposed to playing in the world premier footie environment on a Wednesday which makes him perform. I choose to think so. Sol was magnificent. Cool and collected, determined and with inch perfect determination. And Kanu. He didn’t stop chasing, tracking or running all evening. There was some Opta stat about Bergkamp a couple of seasons ago talking about him moving around the pitch more than any other top player. Well, if Opta were there tonight they’d have seen Kanu do a marathon in 45 minutes. He ran his socks off.
The half ended goalless and cardless. A real physical, end-to-end ding-dong. Probably as muchly entertaining for a neutral as it would have been for a Gooner.
With the way we’ve been scoring, er "lately", there didn’t seem much chance of a goalless second half. But it stared differently to the first. It seemed quieter, less enthusiastic. More controlled. Calmer. Not that it took long for the early goal to come, and like last week, Gilberto broke the deadlock early on. Okay, so it was a couple of minutes into the half. A sublime ball from Wiltord saw Gilberto run on to the ball and slide the ball past the keeper. A different provider, but same result. One nil. Thank Gilberto!
The game after the goal became more tactical, with Auxerre almost giving up the ghost - they just didn’t look like wanting win. Okay, they didn’t want to concede any more, but looked content at leaving the score as it was.
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Minutes later Toure came off to be replaced by Edu. Seamo came into his own as well making a couple of excellent saves. With a couple of minutes to go, Auxerre seemed to push everything forward. But just couldn’t get through.
An excellent night for the Arsenal - three Champions League games and three wins. It’s starting to look good for once.
All in all an excellent team performance.