ARSENAL
Date - 19th November 2005 - Arsenal won 2-3 away at Wigan but the defiant newcomers to the Premiership showed just why they sitting second on the log. They battled through the game coming back to 2-1 and then 3-2 never letting Arsenal out of their sights. The Gunner's first goal was more bad luck for the Latics goalkeeper than a good strike by Robin Van Persie as the diving Filan managed to let the ball slip under him and into the goal.
The second goal by way of Thierry Henry after a wonderful through-ball by Francesc Fabregas. Wigan pulled a goal back from a free kick that ended up in the back of the net from a diving Camara header. There was a bit of a fight between the players after the goal but it was soon calmed down.
Arsenal went 2 in front again through an Henry free-kick which he curled over the wall and past Filan. Bullard then brought the home team back to within 1 as he shot past Jens Lehmann for the Latics second. All this in the first half!
The action continued in the second of with both teams having their fair share of chances but neither being able to capitalise and that remained that, Arsenal now up into 4th place on 23 points.
Thierry Henry scored twice and Robin Van Persie once to seal victory over a Sunderland team that never looked likely to do much better than lose. Arsenal hardly looked to put any real effort into the game and yet still managed to score 3 goals. Sunderland started the match defending very shallow and this proved their very undoing with the first goal coming from a neat high cross by Sol Campbell into the path of Robin Van Persie who controlled very well with his chest before firing home confidently, leaving the Sunderland keeper with no chance. Besides the 2 goals he did score Henry could have had the goal of the season with a truly extravagant overhead shot at goal which beat the keeper but deflected wide off the post. The match was not an overly exciting one excepting the performance by Robin Van Persie who received a standing ovation from the crowd when he was subbed for Dennis Bergkamp.
One of the strangest penalty takings ever seen in football took place yesterday with Robert Pires taking the penalty, but not quite. He tried to pass the ball to Thierry Henry only managing to touch it and resulting in the referee, Mike Riley, giving Manchester City a free kick. This move was apparently practised on the training ground by himself and Henry but the ball simply failed to make it as far as the expectant Henry. The gunners still managed to win 1-0 and moved up into 7th on the log with a goal difference of 6.
London, Henry on Viera leaving - Thierry Henry is confident Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger didn't make a mistake in selling captain Patrick Vieira to Juventus.
"It is a blow to lose Patrick, you cannot hide from the that," new Gunners skipper Henry, 27, told The Sun.
"But as we saw last season there are lots of able youngsters. They showed a lot of quality and are getting better.
"Most importantly, you have to trust Arsene. How can you not trust a man who has won three titles and four FA Cups?"
Vieira, who played more than 400 matches for the Gunners, moved to Juve in a £13.7m deal and his compatriot conceded that he will be missed.
Young midfielders
"Arsene has proved he has a fantastic eye for a player," added Henry.
"No-one had heard of Patrick Vieira when he signed and I'm sure Arsene has a few things up his sleeve.
"There is no doubt that he will sign some more players that few people have heard of but they will go on to become great players."
Dismisses midfield duo link
Experienced midfield duo Olivier Dacourt and Edgar Davids had been tipped as potential replacements for Vieira but Wenger played down reports linking him with a move for either player.
"There is no truth in that at the moment. I'm happy with what we have. I will add what I feel is really needed," said the manager.
"There are a lot of players on the market. We have a big squad and we will look for maybe just one addition.
"Numbers-wise we don't need to add players but if we find a special player we'll take him."
