|
|
 |
| |
Hey Spurs, that’s how to win a penalty shootout!
LAST week’s column cheekily asked what were the best missed penalties of all time: Ruud Van Nistlerooy’s crossbar clatterer, David Bentley’s look-away now cup final moment, etc.
Thank the heavens above that Roma were only a fraction better than Tottenham at taking penalties.
I would never have lived that one down if Walcott, Nasri and co had done a Jamie O’Hara. In fairness, Arsenal were only a fraction better than Roma at taking them, so two fractions better than Spurs.
But it was enough.
Writing this at 22.51pm on Wednesday night, who cares how bad Abou Diaby’s trickling penalty was? It went in. Who cares that Kolo Touré looked like a headless chicken as he steamed towards the goal? His shot went in. I don’t even care about how bad Manuel Almunia’s Shiltonesque attempts to stop Roma’s penalties were. He didn’t really save any.
All that mattered was that one bobbled into his knee and another rocketed into the sky – and once again Arsenal are in the elite eight of European football.
The heart almost stopped in the process but Arsenal are there and a possible date with lost love Thierry remains on the horizon.
A trip to the Nou Camp, however fearsome the opposition, would be an occasion to put Tottenham’s day at the Milk Cup final firmly in the shade. Against Roma, Arsenal showed they just about have the bottle for it.
THE time has come for Spurs to wriggle free of the relegation scrap.
All season long the prospect of two straight wins has looked enough to lift us out of the struggle, and yet we haven’t managed it, even with Aaron Lennon terrorising every defence in the league and Robbie Keane returning to his motivational fist clenching finest.
However, the league remains as ludicrous as ever. We’re five points above the relegation zone and three points behind eighth place.
It is a small comfort to know that our destiny is in our hands, while Arsenal live or die by Aston Villa’s results.
As for Arsenal, their new favourite hobby of getting massively overexcited after beating Championship sides continues to entertain.
If they want to go another season unbeaten they should drop down a league: evidently their fans don’t distinguish between the quality of their opponents any more.
Wow, you scored three against Burnley. We scored four and we didn’t all start dancing badly and talking about a resurgence.
Only van Persie has his head screwed on, refusing to sign a contract until he sees the guarantee of Champions League football.
As for Eduardo’s much talked about finish, it was nothing special. Darren Bent does that in training all day long! |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
