Arsenal-v-Fulham 12/08/2007 (KO: 12pm)
First home game of the season and I’m nervous. Excited, yes – but also somewhat apprehensive. After a not-so-inspiring 2006-2007 season, our captain (the delightful Thierry Henry) buggered off to Barcelona over the summer and it’s unsure as to how his absence will affect the team. Although Henry didn’t play much last season, when he did appear on the pitch his presence seemed to boost the other (and particularly the younger) players. What I’m waiting with bated breath to discover whether his now permanent absence will knock their confidence… or give them room to show their stuff and give full rein to their potential.
So… I arrive just in time for kick-off (thanks to an almighty queue at the turnstile). As I hurry to my seat they’re announcing the line up for Fulham, and to my relief Niemi (who I rate highly as a keeper) is out having injured himself during the warm up on pitch. Excellent! I think, his absence can only be a good thing.
Oh how I was wrong.
Less than a minute into the game and Lehmann makes one hell of a cock up, earning himself the ignominious honour of worst start to the season. He made an awful mistake clearing a backpass from Clichy, and instead of side footing it away safely, he shinned it straight into the path of David Healy – who was only about two yards off the line, and couldn’t believe his luck. Fulham are a goal up after only 50 seconds, and the crowd are aghast. Taxi for Mr. Lehmann please…
To my disgust and disappointment, Niemi’s replacement (Tony Warner) had a cracking game and produced a number of fine saves to thwart our attempts to level the score. The boys played well, attacking hard but just failing to get that goal. My heart was sinking.
With less than ten minutes to go, Toure was halted rather naughtily in a fine run by Carlos Bocanegro, resulting in a penalty for the Gooners. Van Persie whacked it in to even up the score, and after a small scuffle in the goal we kicked off again, rejuvenated and keen to get the winner.
The winner came at 90 minutes, with Hleb hooking in a fine ball to gift us with another goal and the three points we so desperately wanted.
Lucky, lucky Arsenal strike again!
Final score: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
First home game of the season and I’m nervous. Excited, yes – but also somewhat apprehensive. After a not-so-inspiring 2006-2007 season, our captain (the delightful Thierry Henry) buggered off to Barcelona over the summer and it’s unsure as to how his absence will affect the team. Although Henry didn’t play much last season, when he did appear on the pitch his presence seemed to boost the other (and particularly the younger) players. What I’m waiting with bated breath to discover whether his now permanent absence will knock their confidence… or give them room to show their stuff and give full rein to their potential.
So… I arrive just in time for kick-off (thanks to an almighty queue at the turnstile). As I hurry to my seat they’re announcing the line up for Fulham, and to my relief Niemi (who I rate highly as a keeper) is out having injured himself during the warm up on pitch. Excellent! I think, his absence can only be a good thing.
Oh how I was wrong.
Less than a minute into the game and Lehmann makes one hell of a cock up, earning himself the ignominious honour of worst start to the season. He made an awful mistake clearing a backpass from Clichy, and instead of side footing it away safely, he shinned it straight into the path of David Healy – who was only about two yards off the line, and couldn’t believe his luck. Fulham are a goal up after only 50 seconds, and the crowd are aghast. Taxi for Mr. Lehmann please…
To my disgust and disappointment, Niemi’s replacement (Tony Warner) had a cracking game and produced a number of fine saves to thwart our attempts to level the score. The boys played well, attacking hard but just failing to get that goal. My heart was sinking.
With less than ten minutes to go, Toure was halted rather naughtily in a fine run by Carlos Bocanegro, resulting in a penalty for the Gooners. Van Persie whacked it in to even up the score, and after a small scuffle in the goal we kicked off again, rejuvenated and keen to get the winner.
The winner came at 90 minutes, with Hleb hooking in a fine ball to gift us with another goal and the three points we so desperately wanted.
Lucky, lucky Arsenal strike again!
Final score: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
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