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| Goal of the Season |  | |  | The style of football Arsenal producesometimes overly relies on all component parts synchronising inharmony. It's an oft levelled criticism that we do not have the toolsto eke out results when a few cogs in the wheel show signs of rust.However, one thing you can guarantee is that when the symnphonic chordsare all struck, Arsenal will grace any season with some beautifu goals.Here are my top ten Arsenal goals this season in reverse order. Agree,disagree, call me a twat and threaten to remove my limbs, as ever thefloor is yours in the shape of the forum.
10.DENILSON- Bolton Wanderers (a) 20th September 2008-
Withtrips to Kyiv and Blackburn having been completed in the seven daysprior to this fixture, the Gunners found themselves 2-1 up at half timeand a fatigue ridden Arsenal defence were resisting something of analamo from Bolton in the second half. Arsenal's defence was repellingthe Trotters' attacks into the last minute, when substitute TheoWalcott, still invigorated by his England hat trick ten days earlier,picked up the ball on the halfway line and tore at the Bolton backline,causing them to back peddle furiously. With three Bolton defendersoccupied, Walcott slipped a clever ball to Adebayor in the area, whospotted the forward run of Denilson and the young Brazilian sweptAdebayor's low cross into the roof of the net and seal the result thatput Arsenal top of the league for 24 hours. A clean, crisp, incisivecounter attack goal, the kind which the Invincibles made a companypatent and the sort we simply do not score enough of nowadays. (Diaby'sgoal at Villa Park being the only other similar example I can think offrom this season).
9.Andrey ARSHAVIN (2nd goal)- Liverpool (a) 21st April, 2009.
Thesecond goal of four on a night that would truly announce Arshavin'sarrival in the Premiership. The Gunners had serendipitously gone in athalf time a goal to the good, only for Liverpool to quickly roar backwith two early second half goals. Arsenal looked resigned to defeat asthe Reds scoured for more goals. With the Gunners bereft ofinspiration, Arbeloa sloppily allowed the ball to run loose at the edgeof the area. Arshavin scented the ball out like a bloodhound and firmlysmashed a first time exorset past Reina from 25 yards. It was a trueexample of the kind of improvisation Arsenal had been lacking in attackall season and another instance of Arshavin providing a moment ofgenius just when he looked at his most anonymous in a game.
8.Samir NASRI (2nd goal)- Manchester United (H) 8th November, 2008.
Probablythe most keenly celebrated goal of Arsenal's season. With Arsenalemerging for the second half in a deserved one goal ascendancy, onesensed that United would attack relentlessly. But the wind was knockedfirmly out of their sails early in the second period. Cesc Fabregasdrew Nemanja Vidic out of the centre of defence, teasing him by showinghim the ball thirty five yards from goal. He then slipped anintelligent ball to Nasri on the edge of the area and the Frenchmanannounced his arrival by spanking the ball powerfully into Edwin vander Sar's top corner from 20 yards. It was the element of surprise aswell as the quality of the strike that sent the crowd into raptures andhelped us on our way to a 2-1 victory.
7.Nicklas BENDTNER (2nd goal)- West Bromwich Albion (a) 3rd March, 2009.
It'sperhaps significant that for the third consecutive time in this list, aplayer's second goal of a match features. With the confidence of afirst goal behind them, the aforementioned had the audacity to take onstrikes they might otherwise have not attempted. This goal neatlydemonstrated the improvement in Nicklas Bendtner and in many ways setthe tone for a strong end to a campaign which saw him collect 15 goals.Kolo Toure arced a long ball to Bendtner on the edge of the Baggiesarea, with his back to goal. He trapped the ball on his knee, swivelledand dispatched a firm volley into Scott Carson's bottom corner.Fantastic technique and the sign that a player who endured a forlornwinter had got his mojo back.
6.Robin van PERSIE- Everton (a) 28th January, 2009.
WhenRobin van Persie receives the ball on his left foot, there are fewplayers in the world who can match his technique and the trueness ofconnection when striking a football. A very ordinary looking Arsenalside were heading for a meandering and deserved 1-0 defeat at GoodisonPark in injury time when Diaby sent a beautifully weighted 50 yard passto van Persie in the area, the ball bounced and the Dutchman unleasheda vicious volley into the corner from the tightest of angles. A momentof creative genius in a side that looked to all intents and purposes tobe UEFA Cup water treaders and served up in the most crucial of momentstoo.
5.Carlos VELA- Wigan Athletic (H) 11th November, 2008.
Anotherkey theme in this list appears to be goals that announce a player'sarrival and firmly cements their stock. Vela, already having bagged ahat trick in the Carling Cup 3rd Round against Sheffield United, firmlyimplanted himself in the minds of the Arsenal faithful with this gem.Fresh from an assist for Jay Simpson three minutes earlier, Djourou ledthe charge from the back and slid an incisive pass to Vela. He nudgedthe ball ahead of him and outpaced the scurrying Titus Bramble, beforerunning to the edge of the area and releasing the open faced sandwedge, clipping the ball impudently over Kirkland in a breathtakingshow of technique and spontaneity. It was the sort of goal you had towatch several times to decipher whether he intended it or whether therehad been a deflection. He did and there hadn't.
4.Robin van PERSIE- Liverpool (H) 21st December, 2008.
Anotherin the swelling cavalcade of van Persie masterclasses. Samir Nasrilooked up and chipped a beautiful ball from the left touchline to vanPersie in the area. With Carragher and Agger in close attendance, therewas plenty for the Dutchman to do. He somehow shifted his feet in thetiniest of areas available to him, flicking the ball onto his rightfoot and eeking out half a yard before unleashing a firm right footshot past Reina. The goal also emphasised how much work van Persie hasput into strengthening his weaker foot, the sort of technique he showedprior to the shot has been obvious for some time.
3.Andrey ARSHAVIN- Blackburn Rovers (H) 28th February, 2009.
Arshavin'sfirst goal for the club in the game that really saw Arsenal start tomotor away from Villa. Arshavin's signing undoubtedly made thedifference between battling like mad with Martin O'Neil's men andconsummately seeing them off. Arshavin, already heavily involved inOoijer's first half own goal, picked up the ball in the penalty area,shimmied past the hapless Danny Simpson before swaggering to thebyline, he then surprised everyone by deceiving the goalkeeper andbending and lifting the ball over Robinson from a tight angle. It wasobvious we had a talented player on our hands.
2.EDUARDO da Silva- Burnley (H) 8th March, 2009.
Eduardo'sreturn has been a bright spot on the season and he sealed his comebackwith a finish of exquisite callibre. Alexandre Song lifted a flightedball into the Arsenal penalty area, Eduardo had set himself but thecross came in slightly behind his poised frame. But he instantaneouslyadjusted his posture and cutely used the outside of his boot to caressa sweet volley past Brian Jensen in the Clarets goal. The stadiumaudibly exhaled in hushed awe as the goal was replayed on the bigscreens, a quite stunning piece of improvisation that redoubled theimpression that Eduardo is an absolute mistress when given a footballand a slight suggestion of a goal net. Eduardo has recently undergonerevisionist surgery to correct the alignment of his ankle bones. Onevidence of this goal, on this particular occasion, those awkwardjoints seemed to serve him well.
1.Emmanuel ADEBAYOR- Villarreal (a) 7th April, 2009.
Havingsealed last season's award undisputably with his swivel and smash atWhite Hart Lane, Adebayor again takes the spoils with this inspiredeffort. Cesc Fabregas chipped a precise ball to Adebayor on the edge ofVillarreal's area. Ade was completely isolated and yet delivered amoment of perfection, controlling the ball on his chest beforedelivering an outrageous overhead scissor kick from fifteen yards whichleft the stunned Villarreal keeper to kiss the ball goodbye as itdrifted into his bottom corner. A truly world class goal on the biggeststage and a vital away goal which was imperative in securing Arsenal'spassage into the Champions League Semi Final. It's just a shame thatthe goal has evidently swelled Ade's already massive ego to the pointthat he would only score one more goal thereafter and would not performagain.LD.
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Post time 26-5-2009 08:15 PM
