By Myles Palmer
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BOLTON were the first team to suss out that Arsenal could be bullied.
But intimidation didn’t work yesterday as Arsenal beat them 1-0 with a third minute goal by Freddie Ljungberg.
SENDEROS was magnificent again.
Senderos, Clichy, Flamini and Pires were excellent.
Vieira was very good too.
Bolton followed through in almost every tackle.
They were disgusting. Stelios should have been sent off for that tackle on Lauren, who was booked after grabbing the Greek’s shirt front while he was on the deck.
Steve Bennett got that wrong and also the Pires booking.
Pires tried to avoid the tackle, but the guy’s knee just caught him.It was a foul, not a dive.
DIOUF threw an arm at Lehmann and was sent off after 9 minutes.
He is a cowboy who should have been kicked out of English football for spitting last year.
There is no place in our national game for people like Diouf.
LJUNGBERG, so pitiful against Bayern, came back with a bang – and missed an open goal from two yards at the death.
Bobble or no bobble, he was set up perfectly by Pires and should have made it 2-0.
But, as we have seen 50 times, first goal Freddie is a big game player – and vital to Arsene’s unique style of play.
The miss was a 24-carat open goal.
To knock the ball up from there, and over the bar, was world class.
You have to hand it to the Swede. You won’t see another sitter like that for 10 years.
While Thierry mostly scores Thierry goals from the left, Freddie mostly scores Freddie goals, just like this one, with runs from right to left.
A SEASON where Arsenal don’t beat Man United feels a bit weird, so I hope they get United in the final.
Not the semi-final.
It’s always harder for the Nevilles to foul when there are 600 million people watching, right ?
IT WILL BE an interesting summer.
Arsene has to freshen it up.
He knows that.
His wannabe players have done well, although Reyes has faded badly since his girlfriend went back to Spain.
Would I swap Reyes for Michael Owen?
No, because Owen isn’t skilful enough to play for Arsenal.
Would I sell Ashley to Chelsea for £20 million?
Yes, in a flash.
Would I retire Dennis?
Yes, bless him.
If I could sign one English player, who would it be?
STEVEN GERRARD !
Chelsea do not need him.
He would unbalance their team.
Stevie G is not wholly similar to Frank, but I would never play that pair in central midfield.
Not for England, not for Chelsea.
March 12th 2005.
Am I taking a chance writing this before Southampton play Man United ?