Flashback : Remember Arsenal v Ajax 2003 ?

– by

IT SEEMS TO ME like four years ago but the last time Arsenal played Ajax in the Champions League was in February 2003.

I had forgotten that the first Ajax game came just after one at Old Trafford, an FA Cup tie we all remember.

This from The Professor, pages 308-310 :

___________

At Newcastle a fast and furious battle developed. Henry made it 1-0, but early in the second half, Cole gave the ball to Laurent Robert, who beat Vieira and Lauren to rifle in the equaliser. There was more than half an hour left and only a late save by Seaman denied Newcastle victory. Another draw meant that after 27 games Arsenal had 57 points and Manchester United had 54.

The FA Cup took Arsenal to Old Trafford. Henry and Bergkamp were rested, and also Gilberto, who was recovering from Brazil’s friendly in China. Scholes kicked Vieira twice to start a fracas, and van Nistelrooy kicked Keown and slammed his arm into Lauren’s forehead. Vieira, furious at these assaults, was booked for dissent.

Then Beckham flighted a 40-yard pass for Giggs, who went round Seaman and Campbell, but fired over an open goal. That was the turning point. When Edu took a free-kick, the wall jumped. The ball hit Beckham’s shoulder, wrong-footing Barthez for 1-0, and then a swift move set up Wiltord, who swerved past Wes Brown and thumped in the second. Remarkably, Seaman did not have one shot to save.

Media frenzy erupted when the front page of Monday’s Sun carried a photograph showing Beckham arriving for training with a cut over his left eyebrow. The injury occurred in the dressing room when an angry Ferguson kicked a loose boot, which hit Beckham’s face.

Ajax coach Ronald Koeman knew how penetrating Arsenal had been against PSV, but he could also see that they were predictable. His side, with seven players of 21 or under, started shakily at Highbury and conceded an early goal to Wiltord.

Then De Jong made it 1-1 and Ajax settled down and contained Arsenal by defending deep, attacking wide and improving as the game went on, with the little South African, Pienaar, typifying their effervescent spirit.

It is at such moments that Wenger seems to be a very conservative selector, too rigid in his thinking. He has a master plan, a way of playing, and a first eleven which is set in stone. Edu had done enough in Manchester to keep his place.

When Arsenal won 5-1 at Maine Road, Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan said, `Arsenal, in my opinion, will win the Champions League. They’re on a different planet.’

Amsterdam was next and Wenger admitted that `other teams adapt to your style of play’. But, positive as ever, he added, `We’ve taken a big step forward in Europe over the last three years and now believe we can win anywhere against anyone.’

This time there was less fire and trickery about Ajax, who played in a more functional, programmed style, which worked until Vieira made a magnificent tackle, got up, found Henry, who found Pires, who put Bergkamp in on the right. But he scuffed his shot beyond the far post.

The Ajax kids prevented similar counter-thrusts by skirmishing energetically just inside Arsenal’s half, the zone from which their killer passes are so often launched, and defending the box in depth against a side which does not score from crosses. Meanwhile, Roma had become the first team to win a Champions League game in Valencia.

March kicked off with a 2-0 home win against Charlton which put Arsenal eight points clear, so the season now depended on the next four games – Chelsea in the FA Cup, Roma, Blackburn and Valencia.

Two games at home, then two away. The treble was still possible, but Ashley Cole, their only left-back, was out for a month after a hernia operation.

____________________

THAT WAS ONLY two and a half years ago.

Ronald Koeman now coaches Benfica, who play Man United tomorrow at Old Trafford.

That game is on ITV 1.

The Ajax-Arsenal game is on ITV2, kick-off 7.45.

For more on The Professor – Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, click on Home below.

Flashback : Remember Arsenal v Ajax 2003 ?

– by



By Myles Palmer

____________________________________

IT SEEMS TO ME like four years ago but the last time Arsenal played Ajax in the Champions League was in February 2003.

I had forgotten that the first Ajax game came just after one at Old Trafford, an FA Cup tie we all remember.

This from The Professor, pages 308-310 :

___________

At Newcastle a fast and furious battle developed. Henry made it 1-0, but early in the second half, Cole gave the ball to Laurent Robert, who beat Vieira and Lauren to rifle in the equaliser. There was more than half an hour left and only a late save by Seaman denied Newcastle victory. Another draw meant that after 27 games Arsenal had 57 points and Manchester United had 54.

The FA Cup took Arsenal to Old Trafford. Henry and Bergkamp were rested, and also Gilberto, who was recovering from Brazil’s friendly in China. Scholes kicked Vieira twice to start a fracas, and van Nistelrooy kicked Keown and slammed his arm into Lauren’s forehead. Vieira, furious at these assaults, was booked for dissent.

Then Beckham flighted a 40-yard pass for Giggs, who went round Seaman and Campbell, but fired over an open goal. That was the turning point. When Edu took a free-kick, the wall jumped. The ball hit Beckham’s shoulder, wrong-footing Barthez for 1-0, and then a swift move set up Wiltord, who swerved past Wes Brown and thumped in the second. Remarkably, Seaman did not have one shot to save.

Media frenzy erupted when the front page of Monday’s Sun carried a photograph showing Beckham arriving for training with a cut over his left eyebrow. The injury occurred in the dressing room when an angry Ferguson kicked a loose boot, which hit Beckham’s face.

Ajax coach Ronald Koeman knew how penetrating Arsenal had been against PSV, but he could also see that they were predictable. His side, with seven players of 21 or under, started shakily at Highbury and conceded an early goal to Wiltord.

Then De Jong made it 1-1 and Ajax settled down and contained Arsenal by defending deep, attacking wide and improving as the game went on, with the little South African, Pienaar, typifying their effervescent spirit.

It is at such moments that Wenger seems to be a very conservative selector, too rigid in his thinking. He has a master plan, a way of playing, and a first eleven which is set in stone. Edu had done enough in Manchester to keep his place.

When Arsenal won 5-1 at Maine Road, Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan said, `Arsenal, in my opinion, will win the Champions League. They’re on a different planet.’

Amsterdam was next and Wenger admitted that `other teams adapt to your style of play’. But, positive as ever, he added, `We’ve taken a big step forward in Europe over the last three years and now believe we can win anywhere against anyone.’

This time there was less fire and trickery about Ajax, who played in a more functional, programmed style, which worked until Vieira made a magnificent tackle, got up, found Henry, who found Pires, who put Bergkamp in on the right. But he scuffed his shot beyond the far post.

The Ajax kids prevented similar counter-thrusts by skirmishing energetically just inside Arsenal’s half, the zone from which their killer passes are so often launched, and defending the box in depth against a side which does not score from crosses. Meanwhile, Roma had become the first team to win a Champions League game in Valencia.

March kicked off with a 2-0 home win against Charlton which put Arsenal eight points clear, so the season now depended on the next four games – Chelsea in the FA Cup, Roma, Blackburn and Valencia.

Two games at home, then two away. The treble was still possible, but Ashley Cole, their only left-back, was out for a month after a hernia operation.

____________________

THAT WAS ONLY two and a half years ago.

Ronald Koeman now coaches Benfica, who play Man United tomorrow at Old Trafford.

That game is on ITV 1.

The Ajax-Arsenal game is on ITV2, kick-off 7.45.

For more on The Professor – Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, click on Home below.