Stand Up For The Champions

The Gunners deserved the ovation.

Trailing 1-3, lesser teams would have crumbled. But it’s the mark of a champion, that Arsenal fought back and in the end came out 5-3 winners against Middlesbrough last night. And in the process they equaled Nottingham Forest’s 42 matches unbeaten run in top flight English League football.

Many have attributed it to team spirit and mental strength. I have to add the abundance of talent in the team as also a major factor. On a night when the defenders were a bit wanting, the midfielders and strikers rose to the occasion, individually and collectively unleashing all their talent to smother the opponents. A measure of this was 3 goals in a 11-minute spell, with the second and third only 48 seconds apart.

Man of the match? For me, it was certainly caretaker skipper Dennis Bergkamp. His attacking movements forwards as well as tracking back to defend belies his age. Thierry Henry, who also had a good game (he scored twice), commented, “Thank God Dennis looked like he was 20 rather than 35”( http://www.itv-football.co.uk/). He was referring to Dennis being the inspiration behind the team’s fightback with his quick response to Middlebrough’s third goal, a low shot to the bottom corner hardly a minute after Quedrue had scored.

Of course Reyes was again outstanding. Always a threat with his runs into the box or his assits, His pinpoint lob to Henry resulted in the latter chipping the ball over goalie Schwarzer for Arsenal’s opener. And the Highbury crowd will forever remember his goal in the 65th. minute which regain the lead for the Gunners.

Gilbeto and Fabregas were effective as the holding midfielders. The youngster, all 17 years of him, again played “like a guy in-between 25 and 28 in the middle of the park, because of his composure and his mental strength” (Arsene Wenger post-match reactions at the Gunners official web site, Arsenal.com

And finally, as have happen so many times before, Robert Pires, who was on the bench, came in as a substitute in the 61st. minute and equalized for the team 4 minutes later. Quoting Arsene, “To have a weapon like that on the bench is a total luxury, because you know when he comes on he can score at any moment.” Furthermore his understanding with Henry, telepathy-like almost, was again demonstrated. A goal each from one and the other’s pass.

The 42 unbeaten run record of Nottingham Forest is there to be broken by the Gunners in the midweek game (Thursday 2.45 a.m. local time) against Blackburn Rovers. Or will it be the Gunners who will have their unbeaten run ended by the Rovers.

I have no doubts. Up the Gunners!