Goodbye Bobby
2 comments May 26th, 2006
A sad but predictable day yesterday as after six wonderful years Robert Pires left Arsenal Football Club. Most of us knew it was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. His reasons for leaving are the security of a two-year contract, and arguably the prospect of a sunny farewell out in La Liga. Doubtless Villareal are a good side, but whatever he achieves there, he will always be regarded as a Gunner.
After a promising but imperfect first season, Le Bob bounced back with some outstanding form in calendar years 2001 and 2002. It’s hard to list highlights, but the wonderful lob over Peter Schmeichel has to be up there.
The 2001/02 season was his finest hour, but sadly it was ended by a cruciate ligamate injury sustained against Newcastle. In spite of this, he still picked up the Football of the Year award as Arsenal won the Championship. The players bowing to him as he limped up to get his medal is an image I’ll never forget, and one that confirmed the Frenchman’s standing in the game at that point. As arseblogger also suggested this morning: at that point, there wasn’t a better midfielder in the world.
He scored so many crucial goals for us, including the 2003 FA Cup-winning strike. Goalscoring was his gift, and in the last couple of years when his performances dropped a little, it became his main contribution to the side. And that’s what will be so hard to replace. Having Bobby in the side basically guaranteed 15 goals a season. Rosicky and Hleb are not finishers, Cesc hasn’t yet developed that aspect of his game, and Reyes and Freddie have been well off-form in front of goal. Next season, we will have to develop some way of scoring that isn’t “hope Thierry does it again”.
Perhaps the man to turn to is Theo Walcott, who played 30 minutes for an England B side last night. You had to feel for the lad: the ball was launched at him about sevent feet in the air against a defence with 8 men behind the ball. He showed a couple of nice touches though, and I’m sure he’ll impress in the two upcoming International friendlies.
Still, expecting him to step into Robert Pires’ goalscoring boots is a huge ask. For in years to come, when we look back we will remember that Bobby was a goalscorer supreme – a footballing musketeer – whom it’ll be very hard to replace.
Cheers Le Bob, best of luck.
