Sparta Prague 0 - 2 Arsenal
Arsenal beat Sparta Prague 2 - 0 in the Letna stadium to maintain their 100% start in the competition and cement their place at the top of Champions League Group B.Thierry Henry's sublime brace ensured Arsenal's victory and in doing so the great man eclipsed Ian Wright's goal tally to become the greatest goalscorer is Gunner's history.
Henry replaced the injured Jose Antonio Reyes on 15 minutes and took only 7 minutes to score a memorable goal, controlling the impressive Kolo Toure's long ball with the back of his heel and firing an unstoppable, anger filled, swering bullet of a shot into the far corner.
1-0 Arsenal and they never looked back. From then onwards Arsenal controlled the game and looked pretty comfortable, with Toure putting in a assured defensive display which was key. The Gunner's doubled their lead midway through the second half, Robert Pires playing a beautiful curling pass, which Henry controlled expertly and finished with his usual laconic style. Henry's footwork in the build up to the goal summed up what he is best at. He made taking a moving ball in his stride at full pace seem devilishly simple, something it is not. Great players can make hard things look simple. Henry is a great player. It now says so in the history books. Admittedly Sparta weren't the best opponents, being described by a well respected Arsenal expert as a 'bunch of c**nts' with an attack which was 'bread and butter' to defend.
Arsenal put in an confident display which is a rarity in the Champions League, there were plenty of positives to take from the game, the defence was solid, after Clichy had improved, Pires looked 50% improved when Henry was introduced and Arsenal didn't have their usual stutter and drop in confidence.
However, Arsenal do lack a dynamic ball winner, who can drive the team forward, increase the tempo of the team and play a defence splitting pass. However when you are 1-0 up and have Henry it's not of that much importance. Even less so in the Champions League than the Premiership.
Can Arsenal win the Champions League this season? Yes for the first time I can remember, I think they actually can.
posted by JoeBoni @ 7:56 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Hey boys, Teej here.
2 classic away performances in a row for you boys in Europe, albeit against pretty mediocre opposition. But you can only beat what is there, and that's certainly happened in the Champions league this season. Compare to the mancs, and it looks favourable, who have as many red cards as goals this season (van der scar, the druggy and the rapist should have gone on Tuesday too). Well done boys, and I think you do have a good chance to go a long way. Wish I'd had a fiver on you winning it at 16-1 or whatever it was when the draw was made.
alrite tom, joe, sorry its been a while. Like to say Ive been too busy, but truth be told Im jsut extremely lazy. Altho have been busier compared to my last few months of slouching so still becoming adjusted.
Boni mate another awesome post, spot on about our chances in Europe this year. Not sure Paddy will be missed in the Champions League. Altho I htink its vital Sol and Giblets stay fit as to keep our defensive and physical side for the tougher more disciplined teams. Namely the likes of other English teams and Bayern Munich who managed to dominate for far too long periods in the first leg last year.
Thierry Henry Arsenal top goal scorer. I still remember Wrighty ousting Basten from the accolade, and it only seems like yesterday when he buried the ball versus Bolton to bring the crowd into ecstacy, greeted by his biggest and widest trademark smile.
Both are highbury legends, along with Mr Wenger, and this year the latter may well be getting his hands on that prized trophy, with noone barring the spurs and utd begrudging us after all those european campaigns ending after arsenal ran just too short on luck.
16/1 at betfair still. TJ get on pal.
id liek to say i dont want to trun this post into an anti-utd rant, but i do.
Utd v Lille. Two startling things are imbedded into my mind from this game. Utd defenders believe they have the right to hold on and grab Lille attackers and not get penalised ( a belief borne from continuosly seemingly able to get away with it ) and also ruud and cristianos inability to dive properly. They seem now to believe they dont even have to make an effort o make it look convincing. In years gone by this was true, Jiip Jaap even writing how fergie encouraged diving in aroudn the box. How many goals did Becks get from dubious free kicks, and ruud from penalties with as much contact as den and his family after his supposed death.
Its a big heap of bollocks, but my biterness has died down recently as United increasingly look tripe, infact I fear they may no longer be regarded as competition, I dont like the thought of never seeing a utd arsenal game again and not get the feeling of overturning an arrogant united fan. Its what makes being a gooner so enjoyable ,that and a derby win this weekend. And spurs fans believe their the best team in North London, Jenas believes it, I believe the scoreline will show us the way.
Im plumping for 2-0 Arsenal. Thanks for inviting us lads, feel free to come to ours later on in the year s owe can put you back in your place...
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