First Three Points In The Bag
Aug 17th, 2008 by 'holic
My Arsenal are back, and so too the delicious pre-match breakfast (cheers Rincon). Forecasts of inclement weather proved, thankfully, wide of the mark. The season’s opening day did not provide too much comfort for those who look had predicted gloomy beginnings.
As we had half-expected Emmanuel Eboue was switched into the centre of midfield and in truth this freed up Denilson to play a much more natural role alongside him. They will face sterner tests than Greening and Morrison, but the temporary pairing were largely on top.
West Brom opened with four across midfield and Do-heon Kim in the hole behind Miller. Four minutes in that plan was in tatters as Clichy and Denilson combined to set up the outstanding Nasri. One-nil to the Arsenal.
All that surprised in the ensuing eighty-six minutes was that Arsenal did not add to that superb strike. Nasri and Clichy continually opened up the Baggies right flank but, try as they might, Adebayor and Bendtner could not find the finish to the superb approach play.
I was, however, a little surprised at the jeers when Adebayor wasted one second-half opportunity with a rare poor touch. a second viewing on ‘Match of the Day’ confirmed I had not been hearing things. Clearly not everyone has forgiven his summer antics.
Arsenal would not be Arsenal without one heart-stopping moment. Morrison attempted to punish Gallas for a momentary nap but the impressive Djourou was back to clear off the line, and you knew that the Albion’s best chance had gone.
Like most supporters I feel that often the referees make some pretty poor decisions against your club, and Howard Webb arrived having officiated eighteen times for the Gunners, of which we had won only four. I would have been quick to condemn so it is a pleasure to record he gave a faultless performance. On a day when the much-publicized ‘respect’ initiative was expected to lead to a glut of cards, Webb let the game flow and got the big decisions right. Not one booking resulted. The players too, deserve some credit for that.
The post match pints tasted all the sweeter as the result from Middlesbrough filtered through. We seem to be withstanding the charge from the other half of North London quite well at the moment.
A word of thanks also to for the striking RMT maintenance men. Can you take industrial action every weekend, please. The trains were on-time and that was much appreciated.
12 Responses to “First Three Points In The Bag”
Get the fuck in
Well in Jackster. Morning holic
He did it! Good man.
Am I still to keep shtum ‘holic?
Is there something you are not telling me. Does your mobile phone have no flash and no flash ?
Just askin’ like !
Yes (Jackster) thank you, and no (xyzzy), thank you.
First drinks don’t count if they are only half’s…
“Adebayor wasted one second-half opportunity with a rare poor touch” ????????????????????????
I’ll have a tall, decaf, skinny latte please.
Whoops, sorry, wrong shop.
So I had to be away for this to happen.
Shame, it was funny while it lasted….
Congrats, Jackster, that half-pint must have been the sweetest ever.
I thought this was a serious site which invited open debate.
Goonerholic always writes about Arsenal in a considered fashion and comes across as the ‘best type of fan’, so why are the posts today apparently some cosy coded chat between cyber-mates instead of commenting on a game yesterday that had plenty of talking points?
Did anyone see the ManU team sheet? Their squad is thinner than ours!
Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher, Carrick (O’Shea, 25), Scholes, Giggs (Possebon, 63); Rooney, Campbell (R Da Silva, 80). Substitutes not used: Kuszcak (gk), Neville, Evans, Gibson.
Possenbon & Da Silva are two young Brazilians and Campbell is a 20 year old.
Why do we accept the criticism of our squad? If our first XI is Almunia; Sagna; Gallas: Touré; Clichy; Nasri; Cesc; Denilson; Rosicky; RvP; Adebayor then our second XI is Fabianski; Eboue; Senderos; Djourou; Traore; Walcott; Ramsey; Song; Diaby; Vela; Bendtner. Have ManU, Chelsea or Liverpool got a second XI as good as this?