Gunnerblog

Tailor Tragedy: Arsenal 1 – 0 Birmingham

1 comment October 3rd, 2005

After putting in what Arsene Wenger called, “one of the best goalkeeping performances I’ve seen at Highbury”, Maik Taylor did not deserve the events of the 81st minute. Having saved a Robert Pires penalty, 7 Jose Antonio Reyes shots, and countless other efforts, a long range Robin van Persie strike deflected off Steven Clemence and bobbled over the hapless keeper and into the net. Cue jubilation for Arsenal; despair for Taylor & co.

In the early portion of the game, Arsenal had been poor. Birmingham, and particularly Emile Heskey, had taken full advantage. But all that changed when Kenny Cunningham was correctly sent off in the 24th minute for a professional foul on Freddie Ljungberg.

We then came back into the game, and soon after won a penalty when Ljungberg was again tripped, this time by Damien Johnson. Robert Pires stepped up to take the kick, but Tailor plunged to his left to paw away a tame effort.

There then followed a crescendo of Arsenal pressure, with Tailor pulling off miracle save after miracle save. Finally, though, in the 81st minute, van Persie’s speculative effort proved a save too far for the Northern Irish stopper. Some people have credited the goal as an own goal. Frankly, this is ridiculous: it’s Robin’s all the way.

Not a great win, but a good one. It could easily have been one of those days where Birmingham sneaked a 0-0.

But they didn’t.

And so, we waited expectantly for Chelsea to slip up away to Liverpool.

They won 4-1.

Oh well.

Arsenal Keepers in the Clear

2 comments October 1st, 2005

Estonian Mart Poom has been cleared to make his debut in the Carling Cup against the club who hold his registration, Sunderland.

And perhaps more importantly, promising Irishman Graham Stack has been cleared of raping and sexually assaulting a 22-year-old law student. That’s a relief. He’ll now return to Millwall. Where he’ll stay out of trouble. (Sort of).

He might now find himself up against 18-year-old starlet Ryan Smith, who will also be competing in the Championship after signing for Leicester on a 3 month loan deal. Arsene said of the move, “He is a great, great prospect and we feel he needs to play because Reserve games are a little bit too easy for him sometimes. He needs to play at the top level, somewhere like the Championship.”

Good luck at Leicester, Ryan. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing plenty of you in the future.

Another left winger, Jose Reyes, ought to be congratulated on being recalled to the Spain squad to play in their two vital World Cup qualifying games early next month.

With Dennis Bergkamp not considered quite fit enough to start on Sunday, it’ll probably be Jose leading the line again, supported by Robin van Persie.

Apparently, Birmingham only have 13 fit players. Could be fun.

Ps. Apparently a couple of bookmakers have paid out on Chelsea winning the title. If that’s not inspiring, what is?