Man of the Match was 20-year old Hector Bellerin.
His present high-profile in the EPL is courtesy of English football’s most accomplished academy raider.
There is, as you know, no regulation to prevent Wenger snatching 16-year old Barcelona footballers.
The FA Cup 3rd Round match against Sunderland finished as a 3-1 home win after a kamikaze moment from Gibbs gave the visitors a flying start.
He pinched the ball back and then made an imbecilic five-yard pass that Koscielny didn’t expect,
Striker Jeremain Lens promptly robbed Kos and smashed his shot post Cech
Arsenal 0 Sunderland 1 in 17 minutes.
Arsenal were none too convincing at times but Joel Campbell stroked in a well-placed shot that made it 1-1 after Walcott picked him out in the box.
A classy equaliser from a 24-year old who finally looks relaxed and confident, able to do what comes naturally, able to take his training pitch habits into the stadium. As I first noted about 16 years ago, Wenger loved to take Colney into Highbury and reproduce his choreography in front of Arsenal’s home crowd.
No more goals till 72 minutes.
Then Bellerin played a one-two with the Costa Rican, whose deft return ball found Bellerin ideally placed to supply the eager Ramsey with a simple goal from three yards.
Bellerin then topped that with a sublime pass that allowed Giroud to tap in from six yards.
What a ball! In the Ozil class for finesse !
Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1
Superfast players rarely have the composure that this boy shows us twice a week.
Bellerin is a very good advertisment for academy raiding.
Walcott, Oxlade and Chambers? Expensive. But not so good.
Manchester United were absolutely abysmal against Sheffield United but won with a Rooney penalty in 90+3 after Martial was scattered in the box.
Mark Lawrenson, so waspish on the radio, merely said, “It’s just not Manchester United.”
We all saw that in August, September, October and November – and last month too.
The Red Devils must be restored and I think I know the answer.
WATCH THIS SPACE.
At Norwich, Kun Aguero twinkled through to grab the first goal, and soon set up Iheanacho for the second.
Then the tricky De Bruyne slotted low past keeper Ruddy from close range,
Norwich 0 Manchester City 3
Sometimes I think: football is a Latin game invented by Anglo-Saxons.
In the West Country, Jurgen Klopp had 12 injuries and used his reserves and the final score was Exeter 2 Liverpool 2.
Watched the whole of the Tottenham-Leicester game and thought Spurs played stupidly and brought on Harry Kane and Del Alli far too late.
The 2-2 draw means that Spurs and Leicester will replay.
Vardy wasn’t rested. He’s had a minor groin surgery,
Still, I like what Pochettino is doing there and follow Spurs closely.
Just didn’t enjoy them yesterday.
Half-time sub Ruben Loftus -Cheek scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 2-0 win over Scunthorpe.
It was a tasty Arsenal goal, a sweet close-range finish.
Diego Costa, now playing well under Hiddink, had netted the early in the first half.