CHARLTON ‘s Darren Bent score the first goal of a highly entertaining game but enigmatic striker Robin van Persie bounced back with a bang!bang! performance that will delight his national coach Marco van Basten.
In 21 minutes, Thierry Henry’s forward pass to Fabregas was intercepted in midfield and a neat Charlton move led to Bent, just onside, tapped in Hasselbaink’s low cross to the far post.
Then Henry chased down a ball in the right corner, nutmegged the defender with a pass to Hleb in the box, and Hleb picked out Robin van Persie, who drilled in the equaliser on 31.
It was 1-1 at half-time and then, on 49, van Persie jumped up to volley in an Eboue cross from the edge of the box, a spectacular Goal of the Month-type strike. The replays showed it was a shinner. The ball didn’t hit his foot or even his ankle. It hit his leg six inches below the knee. So it was a great strike but lucky.
Van Persie was fortunate to be in the pitch after scatttering Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink soon after Darren Bent’s goal. As the older Dutchman moved across to block the younger one, RVP lost his rag and scythed Hasselbaink down.
If every player did that, the entire basis of football goes out the window. In Europe, that foul is a red card every time. But Mark Clattenburg gave him a yellow and was praised for his “sensible” reaction.
Obviously, Arsenal were the better side, as they should be against a team with three points from six games, sitting down at second bottom of the table.Charlton are bottom now.
But they were very lucky twice late on. A Gallas handball blocked an overhead shot.It wasn’t even close, it wasn’t even one of those John Terry ball-to-hand/arm-close-to-my-body incidents. It was pure basketball, with his arm way above his head. His arm was up there for one reason only : to prevent that overhead kick going towards Jens Lehmann’s goal.
Then Hasselbaink headed wide from six yards at the death.
Arsenal’s multi-pass style was working well, with Thierry Henry adapting well. He created many chances with passes from all round the front third. And he almost scored near the end, hitting the keeper when Hleb pressured the last defender into a mistake.
Hleb was outstanding, working from box to box, linking play brightly. He is a skilful, tenacious, super-reliable footballer who could have played in Arsenal’s 1971 team or their 1989 team. Managers love players like Hleb.
Gilberto, who had a fine game against Porto, was very good again.
Justin Hoyte is improving at left back, looking steadier.
Lehmann made an electrifying late save, diving low to his left to tip round an Andy Reid shot that was going just inside the post. His quality remains undimmed.
SEPTEMBER was six games, starting badly with a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough but improving with five wins in a row.
Manchester United beat Newcastle 2-0 to go top with 16 points.
Chelsea are second after a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, who are sixth.
Bolton are third with 14 points after beating Liverpool 2-0. Everton are fifth with 13 points, above Villa on goal difference.
Portsmouth lost 2-1 to a dodgy penalty at Spurs and slip to fourth
Steve Coppell’s promoted Reading are seventh. They beat West Ham at Upton Park with an early goal by Korean winger Seol.
ARSENAL and Blackburn are eighth and ninth on eleven points, with Arsenal having played six games and Blackburn seven.
The Spanish Tinkerman’s Liverpool languish in tenth place on ten points.
WATFORD are at the Emirates on Saturday October 14.They play Fulham on Sky at 8pm tonight.
VAN PERSIE needs to improve his movement, become more consistent, more of a team player. And he needs to score goals against better teams than Charlton.
The season looks quite promising. If Arsenal avoid injuries to Toure, Gallas, Henry and Lehmann, they should have a good season.