By Myles Palmer
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Sunderland 0 Arsenal 4
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Henry 7, Ljungberg 39,78,88
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A GREAT GOAL against Liverpool in Cardiff, an even greater goal against Chelsea last May – and now Freddie is fit for Southampton.
The spiky Swede bounced back from a nightmare season to score a hat-trick against relegated Sunderland, thereby selecting himself for Cardiff, ahead of the wilting Wiltord,the half-time shirt-swapper.
Thierry Henry had assists on all three of Freddie’s goals.
That is 23 assists, a Premiership record.
Previously, Solano, Beckham (twice) and Pires have achieved 15 assists in a league season of 38 games.
Freddie played with injections in the World Cup for two games, had a very serious hip cartilage operation in Cambridge, did eight weeks rehab in Sweden, France and London – and then had a season spoiled by injuries and a virus.
He also missed a game with migraine, which has afflicted him from since the age of 14.
Migraine had never caused him to miss a game before.
ARSENAL WILL WIN IN CARDIFF.
Don’t worry about it.
Arsenal have better players and they know the day and they know the stadium.
And Freddie Ljungberg can become the first player ever to score in three consecutive FA Cup Finals.
How sweet is that?
SINCE BOLTON were always gonna beat Middlesbrough, I watched the Chelsea-Liverpool Champions League play-off.
Hyypia scored with a very early header, Desailly equalised with a much better header.
Then Gronkjaer skipped inside Riise to shoot left-footed across Dudek and in off the far post before halftime.
A terrific goal by the wickedly pretty Dane, whose final ball dismays us all so often.
LAMPARD did good things and then more good things and then even more good things, for 90 minutes.
Well played,Frank!
Gudjohnsen, on the other hand, stunk the place out.
His life must be a wreck, if he is playing like this.
Let’s hope young Eidur can sort himself out soon.
Hasselbaink was better after Zola replaced Gudjohnsen.
Liverpool were in the game until Houllier started making substitutions.
Why take Riise off for Cheyrou?
YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS !
Why bring Heskey on?
MICHAEL OWEN should move to a team that know how to play to him – if there is one.
Owen destroys his partners, so he ends up having no regular partner, so he is on his own too often and gets no service.
Owen had a terrible game today.
GERRARD is known for his long passes and long shots and long tackles.
One of his tackles today started in the middle of last week.
LE SAUX saw it coming and jumped out of the way, but Gerrard still caught him.
Gerrard knew it was a red card.
He has a lot of growing up to do.
It’s a shame.
Sure,it was 89 minutes and he was angry and frustrated.
But he’s been a pro for long enough know better.
Pros have a duty of care towards each other.
The job of a pro is to compete for the ball within the rules but NOT to launch into leg-breaking tackles from 15 yards away.
A few weeks ago I was told Liverpool’s financial position is far worse than they admit.
If that is so, losing at Chelsea is a disaster.
CLAUDIO RANIERI has been a regular at Highbury for Champions League games this season.
He will still be there when Chelsea are playing on a different night.
May 11th 2003.