Cut Price Cole and Reyes – Arsenal 4 Norwich 1

Hat trick
By Boris Mellor
April 9 2005

Arriving at the ground early I decided to peruse the sale at the Clock End shop. There were several bargain buckets, so I had a good rummage and turned up some bargain bobble heads.

Unfortunately they were only available in two players – Ashley Cole and Jose Reyes. At £2 a bobble head a bargain, but as it clearly says you can’t have your money back on merchandise if players leave, I decided not to take the risk; and as they were the only bobble heads left I assume quite a lot more fans felt the same way. Perhaps that should be a new name for want away players under contract – bobble head.

As the team was announced there was a half hearted attempt to sing the Ashley Cole refrain, there were few takers, instead it was Gilberto who got the cheers and standing ovation.

Norwich were hardly a stern test, but Gilberto showed us what we had been missing as he broke up attempted Norwich attack after attack. He even hit some good passes, but his shooting was dire, but Silva we really don’t mind. Indeed on any other day he would have been man of the match, but this was Henry’s day. Henry should be made captain more often it effects him in a very positive way. From the off he was up for it and it was no surprise that he had scored two by half time. Both of them candidates for goal of the month. The first just finding the space between the goal post and despairing goalie.

Arsenal had gone nine hours without conceding a goal, but without Senderos or Campbell the suspicion that we would foul up was not unwarranted. A poorly cleared ball by Lehmann eventually found Huckerby, mullet no neck as one Clock Ender unkindly called him, hit the net with a goal Henry would have been proud of.

I was surprised that Arsene had picked Flamini ahead of Fabregas, perhaps it was due to international duties, but Arsenal were 2-1 up when Flamini went off due to injury.

Now the dream team was playing, and it got even better as Fabregas sprayed the ball around. The score at half time, of 2-1, flattered Norwich, but it only took a few minutes to put that right. Lauren produced one of the best crosses for a long while, and that mountain of a target man Freddy rose above the Norwich defence to nod it in.

It now became a stroll in the spring sunshine, the passing, and Henry’s play was sublime. The crowd chatted amongst themselves, and the Clock End amused itself bantering with the Norwich fans. "You’re French and you know you are" sang the canaries; au revoir drolly sang back the Gunners. But Henry still had time to get his hat trick; Reyes made a brilliant run into the box and although upended still was able to scoop the ball to Thierry who only had to tap it in. Henry ran and embraced Reyes. Henry is now four goals off Ian Wright's record. The game was over, the team strolled around as the crowd politely clapped as if at a cricket match.

As we walked out a perfect afternoon got even better, Manchester United 0 Blackburn 0 came over the tannoy, we cheered our return to second place.