A Touch of Class
Henry
By Boris Mellor
May 17 2005
Actually it was more than a touch of class, and I am not just referring to the football. It was great to see a lap of honour done in front of a full house. It was heartening to hear the crowd sing Wenger’s and Bergkamp’s names over and over again.
A Touch of Class
Arsenal 7 Everton 0
Van Persie 8
Pires 12, 50
Vieira 37
Edu 70 (pen)
Bergkamp 77
Flamini 85
The team and crowd behaved as if the season was a magnificent achievement, they refused to buy into the anti-climax theories doing the rounds in some quarters. Indeed it is a tremendous achievement. Wenger has manged to mould age and experience together to create another great footballing side. Perhaps the gelling came a little too late for a major trophy, but like good lager the process can’t be hurried.
Wenger has shown that you do not have to spend hundreds of millions on success when you have classy youngsters like Fabregas, Senderos and van Persie. He has stolen a march on the competition, but no doubt there will be imitators.
But will they be able to imitate the flowing silky football, or the genius of Henry or a Bergkamp? Arsenal’s football flowed last night and left the spectator gasping. It could be argued that Everton didn’t put a lot of effort in, but then the Gunners hardly exerted themselves. It was often one touch passing, covering the ground with ease and speed. On another night Everton might have scored two or three, but Arsenal might have scored 10 or 12, but for Richard Wright’s goalkeeping.
Arsenal played breathtaking one twos, sometimes off Everton defenders. Pires hit a shot at Wright, and then lob headed in the rebound, it was both exhilarating and comical. Every goal was a gem, including Vieira using only one touch to chip Wright. The ball was so perfect that he just let it run until he was ready to strike.
Van Persie was replaced by Henry, and Vieira by Flamini for the second half. Thierry was magnificent in the second half providing many assists, but Wright prevented him from getting on the scoresheet. It was Henry who won the penalty by attempting to flick the ball over the hapless Carsley, who had little choice but to handle it.
More Class
What followed was even more class, as the whole team went into committee to decide who should take it. Henry does not take penalties he has won, so he was eliminated. Perhaps it should be Lauren, but what they were debating was who should have sentimental rights to be on the scoresheet on the occasion of the last time red and white was worn at Highbury. Bergkamp appeared favourite, as it could be his last match at Highbury, finally white smoke emerged – it would be Edu as he definitely would not be returning, leastways not in a Gunners strip.
It almost looked as if Wright had saved the penalty, but Edu had hit it too true and hard for one hand to stop it. Meanwhile Bergkamp’s generosity was repaid only seven minute later he intercepted a clearance, and with perfect control, he controlled a high looping ball, and sent his shot past Wright. What class, as if there was any doubt, he was now confirmed him as man of the match. The crowd loved it, living in a Bergkamp Wonderland. If only he could play forever.
A few minutes later Flamini finished off the scoring with the seventh goal from an excellent Reyes assist. What was also noticeable was that Reyes and Henry failed to make the scoresheet, but both had excellent games. In Reyes case not just his pace and assists, but also his tackling back and the covering of every blade of grass during the match.
A Record for Arsenal
Seven goals are the most the Gunners have ever scored in the Premiership, and it is the fourth highest total behind Man U and
Touching Class
The team made its way the ground saluting the fans, Edu looked like he could burst into tears any moment, Henry consoled him, the crowd demanded one more year for Dennis, Wenger smiled enigmatically and double D and thousands of others sang Good Old Arsenal.