It took just eighteen seconds for us to score and only a few seconds more to fill the stadium with the sound of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. Welcome to The Potteries again, Arsene! He wisely remained sitting down on the bench all afternoon (cue ARSENE WENGER, YOUâRE TOO SCARED TO STAND UP). From the kick-off Crouch and NâZonzi had worked the ball down the right and, when NâZonzi had centred, Diouf had caused enough defensive uncertainty to enable Crouchy to slip the ball past the keeper from all of four yards (1-0). Apart from Giroud badly mucking up a routine header, we were relatively untroubled, with the energetic Bojan leading the way once again, at one point dispossessing Cazorla and later out-fighting the giant Mertesacker to win the ball. In the thirty-fifth minute, he got his reward. A neat build-up down the right enabled the busy Jonny Walters to fling over a cross for Bojan to ghost in, allow the ball across his body and glide the ball on the volley past the baffled keeper (2-0). A gleeful chorus of TWO NIL TO THE RUGBY TEAM promptly rent the air. We only had to wait ten minutes for the third. Following defensive hesitancy from a corner after Crouchyâs head had flicked it on, Walters crashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range (3-0 in the forty-fifth). Wellbeck came on for the second half in place of their most hapless defender, Bellerin, to join Sanchez up front. Sanchez ran Maradona-like through our defence, rounded Bego and with the empty goal gaping contrived to hit the post. Soon after, we appeared to have cemented victory when Bojan - who else - sneaked in to shoot cleanly inside the near post. Up went the score on the board, 4-0, and the âgoalâ was replayed on the screen until our jubilation was quelled as the ref ruled it out for offside, âinexplicablyâ according to at least one national. Moments later, Diouf made slight contact on Flamini in the box and Cazorla scored from the spot (3-1 in the seventieth minute). Two minutes later, Ramsey hit a volley through a crowded area following a corner (3-2 in the seventieth) and the complexion of the game had changed. However, with the help of the clumsy Chambers, quite rightly sent off after a second yellow for pulling back Bojan, and hindered by sub Adamâs comical and customary yellow when yanking down Sanchez, we held out for a deserved win. Arsene said, âWe were too tender at the back. We gave easy goals awayâ. Mark Hughes commented, âIt has gone from a situation where it could have been 4-0 to 3-2. The game should have been dead and buried but in the end we hung on for the winâ. After our three straight defeats, these valuable points shifted us up to thirteenth place on eighteen points.
Great Article, I don't really know why the '4th' goal was disallowed and it was rather nervy towards the end but we got the 3pts which was deserved and much needed.
It was a really enjoyable game. We have played well for quite a few games this season though so it was nice to get the rewards of good play with all 3 points. For me, one of the most gratifying aspects of the game was the way in which we won. We were enjoyable to watch. The atmosphere was amazing too. Long may it continue.
Diouf was deemed to be offside and in the line of sight between keeper and ball. Diouf was not offside when the ball was struck and was not directly in the line of sight for the keeper - he was beaten near post! The linesman claimed to have not given it!
Thanks Chris, If that 4th had stood it could have been more, feel a bit robbed but happy for the points.
