Only 37 to go for another Invincible Season from Arsenal by Peter
Was it ever in doubt? From the second minute, with what Sky (and more of them later) called the joint fastest opening day goal in Premier League history – not quite sure how they define that? Hundredths of seconds, tenths? Whole Seconds? Minutes? – the result was in the bag.
And, without leading players – Sanchez, Koscielny, Sanogo.
OK, the Foxes had a couple of lucky breaks – the first goal, miles offside. The second only came about because Xhaka’s inch perfect pass was just a fraction of a yard or thirty out. I can’t remember much of their third, but as I seem to recall our defence absolutely made sure that no header was going to go in from where they were standing No, Bouldy had told them exactly where to put their boots and they weren’t going to move. Not for anything. It was darned unfair of Leicester to knock it into the box when our Super Swiss was having his go at playing ‘Grandma’s Footsteps’. Or perhaps, it was charades, and he was acting out his name? (Granit(e) – geddit?)
But what a hatful from our boys! Danny gets a goal, and Ramsey HAS remembered where the net is. As for the two headers. Mr Wenger, if you do read this blog, take my advice, just get the back four to bung it into the box and let our French forwards bang it home with their heads. None of this fancy stuff on the ground. Launch the old Liverpool ‘alehouse’ – there’s nothing wrong with route one football, ask Wimbledon (oh, sorry, forgot, they no longer exist).
Good to see Petr practising his centre half skills, the only Red to dispossess Vardy all night. So, my second suggestion, Mr Wenger, is put him in the back five, ‘cause Ozil is clearly working on his handling skills (as illustrated by the lead up to our third goal) to become our new number one between the sticks (although, he will always be my number one – hope the wife doesn’t read this!)
Seriously though, what a great start to the season. Tight interplay, great movement, four goals against one of the best organised defences in the country and the Ox seems to have found his position. Excitement or what! I did suggest earlier this week that this season was one about which to be optimistic – there were a few Doubting Micky Thomases judging from the posts that followed such thoughts, but after a display of stunning attack, biting midfield (well, kind of, at least the two stayed out of Mike Dean’s book) and innovative defending, surely we are now favourites for the title?
Just a final word, though. What has happened at Sky? Is it always like this on Friday Night Football (haven’t watched it before) or have they been banned from the stands? Why else are they broadcasting from the pitch when it’s clear all anyone wants is to turn off the lights and go home? Have they spent so much on the TV rights that there is no money left to rent an inside room? And why is Gary Neville’s interactive bundle of televisual tricks attached to a miniature ice cream van? Where does the driver sit? Is he flogging 99s to the ballboys on the other side of the screen? Will Gazza, Cazza and co still be out there, wrapped up in scarves and gloves on a wet and windy night in Stoke come February?
Now the season’s over and the title won, those are the questions that should be on the pundit’s lips.
Peter Bird
(PS… And, why oh why are they ending the broadcast behind a tiny, empty, oval table in front of the abandoned stands? Jamie Carragher is hard enough to interpret at the best of times, without the distraction of ground staff clearing up behind him.)