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p37
• I'm writing in the afterglow of Arsenal's 3-1 win at Roma,
hopefully a prelude to the Champions League success that has so far eluded them. This
season, they've discovered how to win on the road. As Arsene Wenger said: 'It's as good a
result in Europe as I've had in my time at Arsenal'. Hat trick star Thierry Henry
emphasised the players' resolve. He said: 'It wasn't just the way we played, it was the
mentality we showed. We were 1-0 down but we came back and that shows the attitude of the
whole team.'
• Henry's hat trick made him the fourth-highest scorer in Champions League history,
with 25 goals in 44 games for the Gunners. Two goals were typical Henry the first
drifting in from the left on his right foot, the third a stunning free kick. It was the
second that I enjoyed most because it was untypical: a reflex swing of the left foot after
the ball rebounded from a penalty box challenge. It made me wonder how many more goals
Henry might score if he spent more time in the middle rather than the left wing.
• It seems that Henry and Patrick Vieira who was also immense like making
points to Italian opponents. Both, of course, were rescued by Arsene Wenger from Serie A.
Henry spent an unhappy seven months at Juventus, while Vieira was plucked from the
obscurity of Milan's bench more than six years ago.
• Pascal Cygan's goal line clearance from Francesco Totti with the score at 1-1 was a
crucial block. But the Frenchman's partnership with Sol Campbell looked edgy throughout.
The pair were caught square for Antonio Cassano's goal, just as they were when Dwight
Yorke netted for Blackburn at Highbury. Martin Keown's return was welcome. But centre back
cover remains a problem for Wenger. Keown is on the last legs of a lengthy career. Igors
Stepanovs and Stathis Tavlaridis show no signs of stepping up to top level. Time for a
foray into the market when the transfer window opens, perhaps funded by the sale of the
increasingly forlorn Francis Jeffers?
• Speaking of Stepanovs and Tavlaridis, isn't there any home-grown Arsenal
youngster who could do at least as well? Arsenal have invested heavily in their youth
development programme. They have been the country's most successful club at youth level
since 1997. But Ashley Cole is the only player to come through in that time.
• The goalkeeping situation is another issue for Wenger to address. Rami
Shaaban hardly looks a long-term successor to David Seaman. We've mentioned Rustu Recber,
the Fenerbahce and Turkey keeper as a likely target. Meanwhile, Richard Wright (who has
kept six clean sheets in Everton's rise up the table) might be forgiven for thinking he
was the right man at the wrong time last season.
• The north London derby is becoming increasingly one-sided. Arsenal were 1-0 up and
clearly going to sweep Spurs away, even before Simon Davies was sent off. For fans of a
certain age, these games were always the high point of the season. For a younger
generation, they have been downgraded, behind the Champions League and the Premiership
clashes with Manchester United. The derby matters more to Tottenham and their fans because
they've fallen so far behind. Shades of City and United in Manchester, or TSV 1860 and
Bayern in Munich.
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