Don't you love it when, after watching a particularly excellent Arsenal match, the win makes the rest of your day go so much easier? The sun shines brighter, people seem nicer, the job not so tedious. That's how my day went after watching (here across the pond) Cesc and Company dismantle Braga this afternoon. Here I am hours later, sipping an excellent Sauvignon Blanc in ongoing celebration, and I am still basking in the inspired and inventive play of our boys. How could you love them more after that performance? I know there have been times (too numerous to count) when I have wanted to throttle some of them - but that has all faded away now.
I suppose that's enough waxing lyrical so we can get down to brass tacks as it were. But first, a sincere thank you to Braga who played their game and did not try and just sit 10 men behind the ball or kick us to death. Thank you for that.
Well, the match started and in the fourth minute, Cesc got fouled on the edge of the box, but our Luxembourg-ien (?) friend waved play on...so we did. And then minutes later, Cesc go fouled again...on the edge of the box. No call. Now, these fouls were not reckless or brutal in nature - just panicky I think. Finally, we got on the score board in the ninth minute when our Captain Fantastic found Chamak-attack with a superb pass and as the Moroccan feinted to play the ball beyond the keeper when the goalie took out his legs. Penalty this time. Cesc executed it. 1-0.
We didn't score again until the 30th minutes when Cesc (again) played in Shavy who finished beautifully with a bullet to the near post under the keeper. After his misses at Bolton, it was nice to see him score. Has anyone else noticed how Arshavin seems to always be in a good mood before the game (walking out) and when he is fouled? I don't know if it's strategy, but he is usually grinning instead of looking serious (or focused). It cracks me up.
Okay, our supremacy continued as we scored our third goal before halftime. And I have to say, this piece of passing that led up to the goal was exquisite. I had to re-read all the match reports to make sure I got all the intricacy accurate. Jack (who started instead of Denilson) crossed to our Russian and then cut to the box. Shavy took the ball, passed it to Chamakh who chested it down to...Jack who then displayed some crazy athleticism involving shifting his weight off of one leg whilst back heeling the ball back to Chamakh! Maroune then slid it to the back of the net. I almost wanted to cry when I saw the beauty of the movement. I suppose people who have also seen beauty - whether in nature or art - have wept as well. Sniff.
Side note on Jack Wilshere...this boy has come to play and can pick out a pass -long or short - and deliver with such accuracy that it looks as if he has been under the tutelage of Cesc all his career. Please don't get injured Jack!
Okay, back to the match. Halftime came and went. I could not wait for the game to start up again! Who would score next? Nasri was working like a demon all over the pitch. He deserved a goal. Koz and the Squid were working well together (Koz even bailed out Clichy a few time) what if they scored? We commenced the second half with no subs (no surprise) and at about the 53rd minute, Shavy got an assist as he put a cross through and it was headed home...by Cesc. His second goal of the match. He was entirely unmarked. At first I thought Chamakh had headed it. How cool and unexpected that it was our much shorter leader.
What about a hat trick? Cesc has yet to obtain one as a professional footballer. He had his chance. Vela and Denilson came on for Song and Chamakh in the 61st minute. Vela got on the scoreboard with a chip over the goalie and with Arshavin providing the assist. Then came Cesc's chance. On a long, lovely pass from Jack, Cesc had the opportunity to shoot or pass to Vela. Unselfishness being a theme of Arsenal play, Cesc slid a pass to Vela who then shot it home. 6-0. Arshavin had two assists and one goal. Cesc had two goals and three assists...but no hat trick. Cesc admitted he was disappointed at not getting three and stated:
"I am a bit disappointed because I wanted to do it, it's the thing I haven't done as a professional,"
Cesc- you're only 23 years old! You'll get that hat trick, and I'll eat my hat if that doesn't happen this year.
On (another) side note, Cesc was asked by ITV if he was happy to be a Gunner after the Barcelona saga this summer. He responded:
"I've always felt fantastic here. I'm very happy to be here.'' Sniff...again.
So we have some great momentum going into Saturday's game against Sunderland. We can rotate players and rest some which is great as we will be playing a game very three days until after the Chelsea match on October 3rd. After that win (grin), we have another Interlull and don't play proper soccer until October 16th when we take on the Blues of Birmingham City.
That's all for now. One more glass of the vino and I'm off to bed...sweet dreams will be in abundance tonight I think. Savor this one Gooners. Wasn't it fun!
P.S. (Highlights below)
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