Thursday, August 24, 2006
Champions League night at Ashburton Grove
Last night was my first time in the new home of football, Ashburton Grove (commercially known as The Emirates Stadium). I have issues with calling it the Emirates because it reminded me of those halls where some big shot sponsored and you're forced to call it Dewan PIBG Datuk So and So for a 10 year contract or something like that. But that's just me.
I will not deny that it's an impressive stadium. I haven't been to many, mind you. Only Bukit Jalil to watch our national team get whooped by Man Utd, Chelsea and some formality match between Newcastle and Birmingham when they came down for some Amsterdam Tournament-esque cup competition. I've been to Villa Park when I went to the Midlands to meet my cousin, which was akin to Highbury in a sense because of the stands. Anyway, it took me a good 10-15 minute walk from Highbury and Islington station to The Grove but let me tell you, it was amazing when I first saw it.
The good thing about The Grove is that there are no pillars whatsoever. I love Highbury (it's like having fond memories of your first house kind of thing?) but I won't miss the pillars. I've not have the misfortune of seating near to a pillar but I can imagine how frustrating it can be missing a nice Thierry shimmy just because there is a big block of concrete blocking your view. There's two huge screen opposite of one another at the angle of corner flags. There's a lower tier, upper tier, box office and club member areas. For a bum like me, I can just barely afford the lower tier tickets behind the goal. The seats were comfortable. Made in Malaysia. No kidding.
I don't know if it's related but the three blokes in front of me had to change seats because it broken. I assume the nuts and bolts weren't secured safely. It received a good laugh in my section. Two competitive games and it's already falling apart.
Prior to first team warming up they showed clips from Arsenal TV. They showed the top 10 goals of last season. Number 10 was the header by Campbell in Paris. Still hurts watching it. The rest were goals scored by Henry and van Persie (i.e: at home vs Aston Villa, Sparta Praha and away to Madrid). The first team warmed up at the opposite end. I was sitting near the BAD BLUE BOYS (seriously, that's what the Dinamo Zagreb fans call themselves). Let me tell you one thing, this was my first time in a European night fixture so I got to see flares in real life for the first time.. It was a weird scene because these are probably hard core die hard fans (maybe not ultras) and most of us were with families, eating mince pies or doing Sodoku while waiting for kick off.
I think Arsenal fans are NOT as quiet as advertised (Highbury Library anyone?) but we just needed an incentive to raise our voices. For instance, playing against 'bigger teams' or bitter rivals. It's a shame really because the acoustics of the stadium's really good and the echoes of the songs just gave me goosebumps.
And then there weren't enough songs. There was one bit where we sang 'you're shite and you know you are', one mother in front of me cupped the mouth of her overly enthusiastic son in vain attempt to refrain him from uttering those vulgar words. hahaha So yeah it's just the usual 'stand up if you love Arsenal', 'Thierry Henry', 'you're not singing anymore', '3-1 to the Arsenal, 3-1' etc.
I suppose had Cygan came on we'd get to sing 'He's bald, he's shite, he plays when no one's fit'
Anyway on to the game. We were poor and there was no width. What's the point of having a bigger pitch if you do not utilize it? Hleb and Cesc kept suffocating each other's space. Cesc was under par, but I suppose if you have an off-night and win 2-1 it's not that bad. I just hope we'd get the fluidity of passing and perhaps, paradoxically, be selfish and try to shoot from distance. It's quite frustrating to see Hleb or van Persie who is more than able to score from distance opt to pass to say, Hoyte who would make a mess out of a cross and then it's back to square one. I'm not convinced that Hoyte should start as a left back. I would much prefer Flamini in that role.
Oh Kolo Toure was ace. Prior to second half kick off, he came over to our section and applauded us. He did the same in that Wigan game after full time whistle. It's really nice when players acknowledge the non-singing fans. haha
Cesc got some abuse from Dinamo Zagreb fans, they were throwing some stuff to him. Naturally we boo-ed their fans but I was thinking if it was possible to implement a new song which is not so foreign in Malay:
'Booo sama dia, Boo; sekali lagi, Booo; Boo pendek, Boo; Boo panjang, Booooooooooooooo' hahahaha
You reckon it'll catch on?
Van Persie did his amazing skill right in front of our eyes. He carressed the ball and outwitted the player. Shame it didn't lead to a goal because it would have been awesome. He had a couple of chances where he hit the post which was unlucky. Overall I think he was our most dangerous player but that was before Theo came on.
Oh when Theo warmed up. The crowd sang 'Theo theo theo theo theo'. I'd kill to be in his place. Imagine 50k people singing your name and you're barely legal. Not to be outdone, Thierry came and warmed up as well. Basically everyone worships that guy. I'm glad he stayed.
According to my brother there was a power cut in the live feed so they couldn't see Freddie heading the goal. It was a well taken freekick by van Persie and Freddie didn't have much to do but just brushed his head to guide the ball to the right hand post of the keeper. Shortly after that van Persie was subbed and Theo came on. He worked well with Thierry and his cross led to Flamini's first goal of the season and our first win in the new stadium. I hope Flamini will show that clip to Adebayor who is as usual, very frustrating to watch. The argument for starting Adebayor is that he links up well with Thierry compared to van Persie and that he is hardworking.
It's just that we need a goalscorer, not some cheap labour.
I understand why Wenger doesn't start with van Persie. His link up play isn't that good and he can be deemed as being selfish. However, I think we need more players to be selfish than try to walk the ball into the net. I wish they would shoot from distance, you might get a deflected goal (well, that's how Lampard got his fair share of goals, no?). I suppose once he improves his link up play he should be dead cert to start.
Or maybe we can play 433, should everyone be fit-->
Lauren-Kolo--Phil-Clichy
--------Gilberto--------
----Cesc-----Rosicky----
---RvP--Titi--Walcott---
Wishful thinking, huh?
So far, we've been unbeaten each time I went to watch the game. Was slightly worried it won't be the case yesterday, thinking it would be one of those nights but it's all good.
The draw is later today and we might get Bayern Munich, Lyon or Celtic, among others.
Oh, big brother is chuffed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored for Man Utd. Only team with maximum points as of now but the league is not a sprint, my dear brother ;) posted by demerara at 8:25 pm
