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* The championship race
could be one of the most open for years, because Manchester United's defence looks so
vulnerable. The sale of Jaap Stam remains one of the most mystifying transfers of recent
years. The Dutchman, after all, had held United's back line together for three seasons. As
I write, Leeds are top, a point ahead of Arsenal with United and Liverpool trying to make
up ground. The key to Leeds' challenge may be how they react when the re-trial of Lee
Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate starts next month. Meanwhile, Liverpool -the Premiership's
great counter-attackers -have found goalscoring harder this season as opponents sit back
and defend deep to counter Owen, Heskey and Fowler. Expectations of them are higher too,
which create their own pressure.
* Which brings us to Arsenal. First, the good bits. David Seaman seems to be regaining his
best form, for club and country. Maybe the arrival of Richard Wright was the spur he
needed. Sol Campbell is still finding his feet -but what a relief that Arsene Wenger can
pick two from Campbell, Tony Adams and Martin Keown, instead of having to turn to Oleh
Luzhnyi and Igors Stepanovs. Patrick Vieira has been immense and alongside him, Robert
Pires is far more influential in the centre than he was on the left wing. Thierry Henry
keeps scoring; goals that are nearly all candidates for 'Goal of the Season.'
* Now the doubts. First, Freddie Ljungberg's opener in the 3-1 win at Fulham was the sort
of 'messy' goal that Arsenal score too rarely. Virtually every goal has to be beautifully
crafted, like the strikes by Henry and Dennis Bergkamp later in the game. The Gunners
still lack numbers arriving in the box to tuck away the rebounds and ricochets. A goal is
a goal, whether it's a two-yard tap-in or an Henry special. Maybe Francis Jeffers can
solve that problem. Second, Arsenal lack a dead ball expert, like David Beckham, Ian Harte
at Leeds and Patrik Berger or Danny Murphy at Liverpool. Gio van Bronckhorst may be that
man, but it's hard to see him starting regularly with Vieira and Pires in form. But, given
their quality, couldn't one of Henry, Bergkamp, Pires or Ashley Cole do the job?
* Third, Arsenal still rarely score from headers. An old-fashioned centre forward, like
Mark Vidula, or dear old Smudger Smith of 10 years ago, is the sort of striker the Gunners
conspicuously lack. * Then there's that disciplinary record. The Champions League is hard
enough without playing Mallorca on their own ground with 10 men for 80 minutes. Yet
Arsenal are not a physical side. They can be out-muscled, as Leeds showed when they kicked
the Gunners all over Highbury. There is a conundrum for Wenger to solve.
* Looking ahead: will this be Adams' last season at Highbury? The signs are that he may be
having second thoughts. Whatever his decision, expect the Gunners to start looking at
centre backs before long. Perhaps even that Stam fellow, if he doesn't settle at Lazio...
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N16 crossword No.11
Down by Gap
GAP PRODUCTIONS 2001
The winner will receive the prize of a meal for two up to the value of £30 at the
Barracuda on Church Street.
Entries must be received by 12 October 2001.Entries to N16 Crossword, 26 Shacklewell Lane,
London E8 2EZ.
The winner of Crossword No. 10 is Esther Bloom, Albion Road, N16.
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 Twelve solutions are of a kind, with a London theme. Their
definitions are omitted from their clues. The heading may assist. |
ACROSS
1 Sale ran chaotically (7)
4 Gal gets date mixed up (7)
9 Strength shown by internee meeting the queen (5)
10 Cat sits up, disturbing parrot (9)
11 Crude group of players is plastered (5-4)
12 Show topical piece that is demonstrative (3-2)
13 Roy Steel involved in reorganisation (8)
14 Cloying adhesive left by good man (4)
18 8, reportedly, is a terrier (4)
19 Superior, perhaps, followed by John (8)
23 Throw out former partner, with no time to hide (5)
25 International organisation charged with representation for employees
(9)
26 Throw down queen, accepting let off by dealer in game (9)
27 Prohibit girl following instrument (5)
28 Work with haste before lunch (4,3)
29 Tend to get general acceptance (4,3)
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DOWN
1 Article about refining petrol (8)
2 Watched disturbance on pub floor once (7)
3 Rely strangely on army colonel in Arctic wind (9)
4 Like a bloodhound, perhaps, bound to meet a revolutionary (3-5)
5 Fly consumed by way of absorption (6)
6 Heavy wife (5)
7 Cunning method (7)
8 American accepted by public school (6)
15 Scene of disaster when girl entertains VIP (9)
16 Main record reportedly sent to union? (8)
17 Club with alternative to Bridge (8)
18 Last supper, half-eaten (2,5)
20 In opera box, turn up nose seeing shape of diamond (7)
21 Broken pelmet (6)
22 Where, in Rome, to have odd number required for meeting (6)
24 Fasten lock, after tethering chariot's horses initially (5)
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