Match Report: Arsenal Win With Henry Magic
The Thierry Henry Show!
Arsenal cruised to a 4-0 thrashing of Fulham, with inspirational play from Captain Fantastic. Watch out Real Madrid!
Arsenal started with Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Flamini, Freddie, Diaby, Gilberto, Hleb, Adebayor & captain Thierry Henry.
Arsenal started lively, and in the first half created the better chances.
The short-passing moves were excellent, except for a few stray balls from Adebayor and Hleb. Hleb does seem to be improving a little game by game, but his passing really does have to step up if he wants a more regular place in the team.
Arsenal were again playing their narrow football, and Fulham were playing deep like Blackburn, Bolton and most of the home teams this season in the league, and letting the gunners play all their football in front of them.
But the warning signs were there, and Eboue sent a great curling ball over the top for Henry on 13 minutes, but the Arsenal captain was unable to control the ball and it went straight into Warner’s hands.
Diaby and Adebayor had a couple of efforts from outside the area, but on 31’ Henry got his chance and smashed a brilliant effort at the near post.
With Fulham camped outside their own penalty area, Diaby managed to play Henry through with a precise ball and the striker ran down the left side and cracked a sweet shot into Warner’s near post and into the roof of the net.
An emphatic finish!
After that, Fulham were rattle and Arsenal only had to wait 4 minutes until their next goal.
The influential Ljungberg played a through ball from almost the same position as Diaby for Henry, but this time to Adebayor. From almost exactly the same position, the Togo International coolly slipped the ball past Warner with his left foot.
At last, Arsenal’s intricate passing moves have paid off in the league and they went into the break 2-0 up.
Arsenal started well in the second half, and on 57’ Arsenal counter attacked and Henry played a great reverse ball that fooled the Fulham defence and played in Hleb, but the winger shot straight at Warner.
About a minute later, Adebayor almost played in Freddie from the by-line but Warner came out quick and blocked the pass.
Arsenal were really turning up the heat in the second half and on 64’ Hleb pushed the ball wide to Eboue, who made a run from the back. He cut the ball back to Diaby, who had so much space but from only 6 yards out he hit the ball into Warner’s legs.
Then just 30 seconds later, the mercurial Thierry Henry received a pass from Hleb just outside the D, swivelled and chipped the ball into the air. In one smooth movement, he turned and volleyed but over the bar.
Dennis Bergkamp made is welcome return on 70 minutes, coming on for Adebayor. Hopefully he’s getting a run out to get ready for the Real Madrid game on Wednesday.
Henry had been on awesome form all afternoon, and just after Bergkamp was introduced he played in Freddie, who waltzed through but Warner made another good smothering save with his feet.
But Henry again showed why we was on another level to everyone else on the pitch, and Freddie played him in on 75’ for Titi to calmly slot the ball into the far corner – a typical Henry finish.
Arsenal had been playing some brilliant stuff all game and it looks like Wenger has instilled some real belief into a team who can’t seem to win away from home.
The Galactikid Cesc Fabregas replaced Hleb with 10 minutes to go, to sure up the game and get a run out before the midweek Champions League game.
With 7 minutes remaining Jose Antonio Reyes came on for Henry, who came off to a standing ovation from the Gunners faithful.
But the goals didn’t dry up with Henry leaving the feel, as on 86’, Flamini found himself at the by-line and played in Cesc Fabregas in and he stroked the ball into the bottom left corner for 4-0.
Great game, great team spirit and great performance. Was there any doubt?
March 4th, 2006 at 9:02 pm
Phew! Some good stuff today, how odd is it that we were underdogs!?! I saw Chris Coleman in Swansea on Monday nite, perhaps he should have stayed in London and prepared his team more!
If anyone is interested, please check out my site http://thearseclub.blogspot.com
Kepp up the good work arsenal 4 life, its an excellent site
March 6th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
That was a good performance and a view into the future of how this new developing Arsenl team will play.
hleb is getting better every game and sometimes it seems the other players are not on his wavelength yet.
he will be a big player for us int he next few yaers. someone who likes the ball and knows what to do with it.
henry nothing more can be said about this TOTAL FOOTBALLER.
EBOUE is coming on leaps and bounds and looks like a world class player in the making.
senderos im still not sure about him and think that he needs a few more years of development.
flamini is coping well and helping to attack. he could turn out to be mr versetile at Arsenal.
adebayor is still finding his feet, i prefer RVP over him.
freddie is back to his best and will be a big asset in the run up.
we are looking like a team that will soon destroy teams again. i think we should get DABO from lazio he has the muscle and poise that can help the emerging kids and best of all we can get him for free.
one more recognisd CH lugano from benfica would be good. he had a good game against england strong in the tackle and good psoitional play.
the future is bright the future is RED AND WHITE.