Post by Salem6 on Nov 9, 2003 18:41:25 GMT
By Roy Collins at Highbury (Filed: 09/11/2003)
Team details
Arsenal (0) 2 Tottenham (1) 1
It will be no compensation to Tottenham's players that they for once walked
out of the marble halls with their dignity intact after one of the most
hotly contested, incident-charged and, to the delight of any neutral
spectators, competitive North London derby at this ground for years.
Arsenal
Heated derby: Arsenal's Jens Lehmann (centre) has a word with Helder
Postiga
Tottenham, having produced their best display under caretaker manager David
Pleat, even managing to outplay Arsenal for a spell in the second half,
will feel aggrieved that they did not get a point. To rub in what they will
consider the unfairness of it all, Arsenal's goals both had an element of
luck about them, Thierry Henry looking offside for the first and Freddie
Ljungberg's winner flying in off the tip of Stephen Carr's boot.
But Arsenal do not stand unbeaten at the top of the Premiership through a
lack of heart and ambition, and it was their grit and determination, rather
than their usual flair, that allowed them to claw their way to a victory
that put them four points clear of their rivals.
That was why the man of the match was not one of Arsenal's gifted Frenchman
but Ray Parlour, good old Romford Ray who was damned if he was going to
allow the club's greatest rivals to consign them to their first league
defeat.
Tottenham looked on course for their first Highbury win for 10 years after
taking an early lead but Helder Postiga's failure to register his first
Premiership goal from two gilt-edged chances eventually proved costly.
In recent years, Tottenham have considered it a good day if they have got
so much as a half-time sandwich at Highbury. As for goals, they have become
positively collectors' items yet remarkably, they were ahead after five
minutes, Robbie Keane getting a double deflection from Arsenal defenders
before the ball fell kindly into the path of Darren Anderton, who steered
it into the net.
That forced Arsenal to abandon their measured approach for one more akin to
gay abandon, Henry forcing two diving, fingertip saves from Kasey Keller.
But Henry, despite being considered a near perfect striking specimen by
many observers, is always looking for new ways to score and almost fooled
Keller with a cheeky left-footed free kick that skimmed the bar.
Henry, as usual, was a magnet to the eye, rising high to head down an
Ashley Cole free kick and then, more disturbingly for his club, collapsing
behind the goal after caught with a backhander from Stephen Carr. As he
received attention, it seemed that he had swallowed his tongue, yet he
rose, clutching his throat and continued in even more frenetic vein.
Tottenham were forced to defend just as frenetically, with Anderton,
normally more show pony than work horse, showing a willingness to help out
all over the field. Yet on the break, Postiga had two outstanding chances
to put the game beyond reach before half-time.
First, after picking up a suicidal back pass from Lauren, he dithered so
long that Jens Lehmann was able to save with his foot and Postiga was so
disappointed that he aimed a kick at the 'keeper which should have seen him
at least cautioned.
Five minutes before half-time, the goal yawned achingly wide again after a
pass from Paul Konchesky took out Lauren. For Postiga, however, the goal
seems as small as a hockey net, and another ponderous delivery allowed
Lehmann to make a more orthodox save with his left hand.
Arsenal seemed certain to make THFC pay for their impertinence after the
break but instead of their normal quick-footed movements, they look like
men running in concrete. So much so that manager Arsene Wenger made a
double change before the hour mark.
Arsenal fans must have been bewildered that one of them saw the
introduction of Pascal Cygan for Lauren, though this was doubtless to give
him some experience when the latter begins his four-match ban next week.
Dennis Bergkamp, a replacement for Gilberto, who had lead in his boots and
his brain, was a more welcome member of the cavalry.
Parlour, however, revelling in his extended role as Arsenal captain, was
the man driving his team forward like some manic sheepdog, his wonderful
through ball allowing Henry, who looked yards offside, a clear run on
Keller's goal.
The 'keeper was once again fingertip perfect but this time, THFC failed to
ride their luck, Robert Pires once again punishing them with a close-range
finish.
Ljungberg's winner followed 11 minutes from time, which meant that none of
Arsenal's last three goals have been scored by Henry. When will he start
sharing the load with the rest of the team?
Team details
Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren (Cygan 61), Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg,
Parlour, Silva (Bergkamp 61), Pires, Kanu (Edu 82), Henry.
Subs Not Used: Stack, Hoyte.
Booked: Parlour.
Goals: Pires 69, Ljungberg 79.
Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Gardner, Richards, Taricco, Dalmat (Ricketts 82),
Anderton, King, Konchesky (Mabizela 73), Postiga (Zamora 82), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Doherty, Burch.
Booked: Konchesky, Anderton, Richards, Taricco.
Goals: Anderton 5.
Att: 38,101
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Source:-
sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;$sessionid$VTISSSH00YZP1QFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/sport/2003/11/09/sfgars09.xml&sSheet=/sport/2003/11/09/ixfooty.html&_requestid=131046
Team details
Arsenal (0) 2 Tottenham (1) 1
It will be no compensation to Tottenham's players that they for once walked
out of the marble halls with their dignity intact after one of the most
hotly contested, incident-charged and, to the delight of any neutral
spectators, competitive North London derby at this ground for years.
Arsenal
Heated derby: Arsenal's Jens Lehmann (centre) has a word with Helder
Postiga
Tottenham, having produced their best display under caretaker manager David
Pleat, even managing to outplay Arsenal for a spell in the second half,
will feel aggrieved that they did not get a point. To rub in what they will
consider the unfairness of it all, Arsenal's goals both had an element of
luck about them, Thierry Henry looking offside for the first and Freddie
Ljungberg's winner flying in off the tip of Stephen Carr's boot.
But Arsenal do not stand unbeaten at the top of the Premiership through a
lack of heart and ambition, and it was their grit and determination, rather
than their usual flair, that allowed them to claw their way to a victory
that put them four points clear of their rivals.
That was why the man of the match was not one of Arsenal's gifted Frenchman
but Ray Parlour, good old Romford Ray who was damned if he was going to
allow the club's greatest rivals to consign them to their first league
defeat.
Tottenham looked on course for their first Highbury win for 10 years after
taking an early lead but Helder Postiga's failure to register his first
Premiership goal from two gilt-edged chances eventually proved costly.
In recent years, Tottenham have considered it a good day if they have got
so much as a half-time sandwich at Highbury. As for goals, they have become
positively collectors' items yet remarkably, they were ahead after five
minutes, Robbie Keane getting a double deflection from Arsenal defenders
before the ball fell kindly into the path of Darren Anderton, who steered
it into the net.
That forced Arsenal to abandon their measured approach for one more akin to
gay abandon, Henry forcing two diving, fingertip saves from Kasey Keller.
But Henry, despite being considered a near perfect striking specimen by
many observers, is always looking for new ways to score and almost fooled
Keller with a cheeky left-footed free kick that skimmed the bar.
Henry, as usual, was a magnet to the eye, rising high to head down an
Ashley Cole free kick and then, more disturbingly for his club, collapsing
behind the goal after caught with a backhander from Stephen Carr. As he
received attention, it seemed that he had swallowed his tongue, yet he
rose, clutching his throat and continued in even more frenetic vein.
Tottenham were forced to defend just as frenetically, with Anderton,
normally more show pony than work horse, showing a willingness to help out
all over the field. Yet on the break, Postiga had two outstanding chances
to put the game beyond reach before half-time.
First, after picking up a suicidal back pass from Lauren, he dithered so
long that Jens Lehmann was able to save with his foot and Postiga was so
disappointed that he aimed a kick at the 'keeper which should have seen him
at least cautioned.
Five minutes before half-time, the goal yawned achingly wide again after a
pass from Paul Konchesky took out Lauren. For Postiga, however, the goal
seems as small as a hockey net, and another ponderous delivery allowed
Lehmann to make a more orthodox save with his left hand.
Arsenal seemed certain to make THFC pay for their impertinence after the
break but instead of their normal quick-footed movements, they look like
men running in concrete. So much so that manager Arsene Wenger made a
double change before the hour mark.
Arsenal fans must have been bewildered that one of them saw the
introduction of Pascal Cygan for Lauren, though this was doubtless to give
him some experience when the latter begins his four-match ban next week.
Dennis Bergkamp, a replacement for Gilberto, who had lead in his boots and
his brain, was a more welcome member of the cavalry.
Parlour, however, revelling in his extended role as Arsenal captain, was
the man driving his team forward like some manic sheepdog, his wonderful
through ball allowing Henry, who looked yards offside, a clear run on
Keller's goal.
The 'keeper was once again fingertip perfect but this time, THFC failed to
ride their luck, Robert Pires once again punishing them with a close-range
finish.
Ljungberg's winner followed 11 minutes from time, which meant that none of
Arsenal's last three goals have been scored by Henry. When will he start
sharing the load with the rest of the team?
Team details
Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren (Cygan 61), Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg,
Parlour, Silva (Bergkamp 61), Pires, Kanu (Edu 82), Henry.
Subs Not Used: Stack, Hoyte.
Booked: Parlour.
Goals: Pires 69, Ljungberg 79.
Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Gardner, Richards, Taricco, Dalmat (Ricketts 82),
Anderton, King, Konchesky (Mabizela 73), Postiga (Zamora 82), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Doherty, Burch.
Booked: Konchesky, Anderton, Richards, Taricco.
Goals: Anderton 5.
Att: 38,101
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Source:-
sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;$sessionid$VTISSSH00YZP1QFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/sport/2003/11/09/sfgars09.xml&sSheet=/sport/2003/11/09/ixfooty.html&_requestid=131046
