Proud to be a Gooner.
Proud to be North Londoner.
Proud to be an Arsenal season ticket holder (from TODAY after a TEN YEAR WAIT).
Proud to come from a footballing family (even though the relatives played for Man U, Preston North End and Newcastle United and strangely connected to Nelson, the only other English club to beat Real at home, in 1923.)
Proud to be founder of ANR, a website of substance developed over a decade, not over ten months, ten days, ten minutes which is being re-designed and re-launched, very SOON.
This was the nine times European Cup winners versus the team with nine injured players. The media – particularly the UK media didn’t give Arsenal a prayer.
Fast passing, GUTS, dropping relatively deep, and counter-attacks with Ljungberg, Henry, Hleb and Reyes, won the day. Hats off to Arsene who effectively singed the King of Spain’s beard.
This had a Paul Vaessen and Juventus vibe about it.
Reyes could have had Arsenal one up in the second minute. Set free by a perceptive pass by Henry on the left – he scuffed his shot – one of little confidence, and not of a striker. Cassilas saved easily. I thought Van Persie would have made him work more.
The Spaniard had another chance soon after – but a turn of little confidence saw Gravesen clear.
Senderos and Flamini engaged in some inexperienced passes.
Arsenal were helped by Woodgate going off after 8 minutes with a damaged hamstring after the first attack, being replace by Mejia.
Reyes was getting into dangerous positions on the left, and put in a good cross but Henry headed just wide.
Henry turned and set up with a through ball for Ljungberg, but his touch in the area was too heavy and Carlos cleared.
Cicinho, who is getting rave reviews in the press [good in attack, but found wanting in defence], fouled Reyes on the edge of the area, after another dangerous run. Henry ballooned the swerving free- kick wide.
Ljungberg the leader
Arsenal had so much of the positive play, the fact they hadn’t scored was worrying.
Zidane sent a wide cross to Beckham, who slipped Flamini and headed wide.
Soon after, Senderos was caught dawdling [a Willie Young moment], and Zidane set up Beckham for a shot. But the brave Jens Lehmann saved. It was offside but this is the Bernabeau and the richest club in the world.
Eboue, who seems to have come back from the African Nations with a bit of a crown on his head, went on a couple of dangerous dribbles – and put in a couple of great tackles.
Flamini followed suit with an exceptionally brave tackle on Cicinho on the edge of the area.
Henry was in on the left after a give and go, but shot weakly at Casillas, just like at the Wigan Carling Cup home game.
Then THE MOMENT, on 47, Thierry Henry rammed the critics, taking a ball from Fabregas near the half-way line, beat Ronaldo, Guti, Mejia and Ramos through sheer force, determination, speed and persistence and fired low past Casillas.
Hleb, playing a blinder set up Ljungberg who shot straight at Casillas.
ARSENAL’S PASSING BEGAN TO EMBARASS REAL
Into the last quarter, Arsenal began to tire.
Raul on for Robinho, had a header over from a Beckham free kick. The defence left a gap between them and Lehmann.
Reyes was injured on the touchline, but Madrid played on – leading to a scuffle when Mejia tried to push him over the line. Two yellows for Casillas and Reyes resulted.
Pires came on for Hleb. Baptista (that most honest of honest players) came on for the honest Gravesen.
Beckham was pulling dangerously off Flamini. And although clear in the area, Lehmann dived and saved.
Diaby came on for Reyes – and soon had a chance to make it TWO if his angled turn was greater, but Casillas made a smart sweeping save.
Pires ran through and shot at Casillas from a narrow angle.
Zidane was reduced to fouling the energetic Eboue.
From a free kick Ramos chested it goalwards, but Lehmann made a brave save.
At the end of injury time, Beckham crossed, Raul flicked on and Ronaldo missed. The midfield was not tracking back – but what the hell. They’d played their hearts out for a famous victory – alongside the Juventus and Inter away games.
Thierry Henry said: “To be honest we didn’t know what to expect. It didn’t seem an Arsenal team like that. We were brilliant defensively. We were not scared to play. We can play good football. It’s the thing we’ve been lacking. We were patient.We got the ball down . Today at the back we were tremendous. Amazing. But we only won one game. We need to stay calm and focused.”
“I took my chance. We wasted some chances in the fist half.
“My heart is always for always Arsenal. Freddie, Gilberto, Cesc. Everyone played tremendously. Now we must focus on the second game.”
David Beckham said: “It is a fair result. If you don’t play well – you don’t win games. Players like Henry, Fabregas and Reyes can punish you.”
Arsene Wenger said: “We produced a very good performance. We are only half way. Real Madrid will be very determined until the end. We’ve done the first half. We want to do it at Highbury.”
“I told you Thierry would produce tonight. The young players have done extremely well. There is no-one who didn’t have an outstanding game. It convinces him [Thierry Henry] he has a future at the club because the youngsters can produce results like that.”
So Arsenal do what Spurs, Leeds, Manchester United, Derby, and Ipswich failed to do and beat the MIGHTY REAL on their own patch.
This will speed the development of the young players – and help them and Arsenal, no end, come what may.
And the 3500 Gooners – sung their hearts out.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Flamini, Hleb (Pires 76), Gilberto, Fabregas (Song, 90), Ljungberg, Reyes (Diaby 80), Henry. Subs: Almunia, Walcott, Djourou, Lupoli
Real Madrid: Casillas, Cicinho, Ramos, Woodgate (Mejia9) Carlos, Gravesen (Baptista 76), Beckham, Guti, Zidane, Robinho (Raul 63), Ronaldo. Subs: Cobeno, Salgado, Cassano, Diogo