WBA 0 – 2 Arsenal: Aliadiere’s Phoenix Moment
20 comments October 25th, 2006
Jeremie Aliadiere will always remember his first Premiership goal. It came at Highbury, the fifth in a thrashing of West Brom. Last night we faced West Brom again, and the game will share a significance for Aliadiere, as the night when his Arsenal career recommenced after almost two years in the shadows.
Last season in particular was disastrous for the Frenchman. Limited opportunities in loan spells at Celtic then West Ham were followed by a more impressive but hardly headlining spell at Wolves under Glenn Hoddle. However, it was whilst in the Black Country that Arsene Wenger decided to hand Aliadiere a new three-year contract: a final chance to prove he could cut it.
Last night, that faith was repayed. A converted penalty he had won with a mazy run preceded a neat finish from a tucked back Theo Walcott free-kick, as a very young Arsenal side marched to a 2-0 victory over in-form West Brom.
At 23, Aliadiere was the eldest outfield player on the field: a remarkable statistic. Of the other Young Guns, Denilson and Theo Walcott impressed, but special praise has been reserved in The Daily Mail for one Alex Song:
“Particularly outstanding was Alexandre Song, the Cameroon midfielder. Song, 19, was an energetic fulcrum between defence and the attack in which Aliadiere was rapier sharp.”
We always knew he’d come good. Sort of. Seeing as I wasn’t at the game, nor was it on TV, you’re probably best to read Arsene’s comments: he tends to know his stuff.
The one down-side from the game was that we lost Emmanuel Adebayor with a thigh strain, that could keep him out for three weeks: an even better night for Aliadiere.
Elsewhere, Kolo Toure has signed a new long-term contract, which is brilliant. He has become one of the top centre-backs in Europe, and is unparralelled in world football in terms of sheer power and athleticism. He can stay as long as he likes.
I’m going away tomorrow until Sunday, so there probably won’t be any news on here. If there is, it’ll be stuff I’ve typed up today, but set to publish at a later date. So, for example, if Arsene Wenger walks out on the club tomorrow, I’ll be posting articles that completely ignore that fact. Good, eh?
