TRACK-SUIT SCIENTIST Arsene Wenger took his prototype up the M1 for a test flight on Saturday.
The new machine made a short subsonic flight over Birmingham and landed safely.
The X-2007A is an experimental craft which will eventually fly at high altitude.
The plane, which is being developed in a British Aerospace hangar near St Albans, was not due to come into service till next year, as some components are unproven. They need to be tweaked and re-tested in the laboratory.
However, Wenger faced unusual circumstances and decided to unveil the X-2007A.
Satisfied by Saturday’s mission, he may favour a European flight in Spain on February 21.
The plane’s black box has been examined by aeronautical engineers and reveals the following data :
The X-2007A has won all 11 games where it has scored first this season.
SATURDAY’S PERSONNEL : Jens Lehmann, Johan Djourou, Philippe Senderos, Vassiriki Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Sebastian Larsson, Gilberto Silva, Emmanuel Adebayor, Thierry Henry, Jose Antonio Reyes (Aleksandr Hleb).
JENS LEHMANN is the best keeper in the Premiership this season. Jamie Redknapp told Sky viewers that the best three keepers are Cech, Reina and Robinson, but none of them would have made that electrifying left-handed save from Jarosik’s fierce shot.That save set up the 2-0 win.
FLAMINI clearly headed the ball that Sky pundit Chris Kamara said hit the back of Emile Heskey’s head. Kammy sees more replays than we do, but he got this one wrong. Flamini headed the ball and then Heskey’s forearm smacked him on the chin.
Kammy suggested that red card is rescinded. Surely not. Heskey’s studs-first lunge into the chest of Senderos was dangerous play and worth a yellow card in any league. Heskey is not a malicious player and never will be, but a clumsy striker of his size must play within the rules. Otherwise you won’t need a physio on the field. You’ll need paramedics.
DJOUROU is superb and a talker. Talking is vital at the back and we saw him yelling at Gilbert against West Ham, telling him where to be, before Gilbert was injured. You don’t have to be 28 to organise your team.You just have to be sure what you are saying is right.
SENDEROS kept Campbell out of the FA Cup Final and may yet keep him out of the Bernabeu.
LARSSON is the seventh left back Arsenal have used this season. Five of those players are not left backs
FABREGAS started the move for the first goal and provided the assist for the second with one of his instaVision passes through the middle for Henry. It was a two-touch move from a player who has been taking three or four touches in recent months.That is not a criticism. Cesc sees a lot and sees it quickly. If Cesc sees no pass after one touch it’s because the team is struggling and the movement is zero.
DIABY is an impressive forager and presser who wants to go and get the ball, rather than wait for it to come to him. He has energy, initiative, shooting ability. Makes runs into the box and wants to play in the box, which this team badly needs. Takes knocks, wins free-kicks
GILBERTO could lose his place to Diaby.
REYES has 13 assists in all competitions.
HENRY’S 200th goal was a pure Arsene Wenger goal, as much the trademark of the manager as the player. Pass the ball early and forward, use your pace to create one-on-ones with the keeper, then finish. This strike came after an end-to-end counter-attack that put the ball in the net in 8 seconds.
And the shot was only Henry’s second touch on a ball he collected five yards inside the Birmingham half. That touch placed the ball 20 yards ahead of him. He switched to Thierry-turbo, leaving Melchiot and Latka for dead, and was two yards inside the box in less time than it takes to say va-va-voom. Then came the stunning finish, a left-foot shot that whistled past Taylor at his near post.
ADEBAYOR headed the first goal from four yards. The header was unusual for Arsenal and so was the four yards. The move was Fabregas to Henry to Diaby on the right and his low cross hit centreback Latka and rebounded into keeper Maik Taylor’s chest and popped up for Adebayor to nod in.He didn’t miss. He made sure by heading it down.
With Adebayor and Diaby running into the box, Hleb can do what he does best : pick out goalscorers with through passes.
REAL MADRID WATCH
Madrid have won seven games in a row and Saturday’s 4-0 thumping of Espanyol was their best performance of the season, triggered by Beckham’s whipped cross to the near post, which Guti stabbed in.
Then Zidane made it 2-0 and the returning Ronaldo scored with a running header, converting Cicinho’s floated cross.
Second half, Zidane took Cicinho’s pass, flicked it into his stride and hammered home a low left-foot shot from distance.
Madrid are third, ten points behind Barcelona.
Caretaker coach Lopez Caro might get the job for next season. Hey, Florentino ! What’s Spanish for, “If it ain’t bust, don’t fix it?”
But Lopez Caro won’t get the job if Arsenal beat them.
SPURS WATCH
Kamikaze Curbishley went 4-3-3 at White Hart Lane yesterday, which allowed Tottenham to win easily by 3-1. Robbie Keane and Carrick had acres of space and Defoe scored twice.
Spurs are fourth and four points ahead of Arsenal, having played a game more. Can they bring the Champions League to White Hart Lane next season while Arsenal play Uefa Cup football at the Emirates?
Doubt it. They have replaced average players with average players. I suspect that this Spurs team is a long way from where Martin Jol would like it to be.