Average age: 22. Flight time: 3.5 hours. Opponents: Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü of Istanbul which had not lost their last 15 matches at home and which has a new coach in the form of Luis Aragonés, the former Spain coach who led Spain to win the European championship no less.
The game kicked off to a deafening atmosphere but two early goals 70 seconds apart by the visiting Gunners first stunned then silenced the vociferous home crowd, both thanks to Cesc who provided passes to Adebayor and Walcott respectively. An unfortunate own goal followed to reduce the deficit only for Diaby, making his first start to the season after three months, to strike home a third. Three goals in 12 minutes! Arsenal fired in another goal three minutes into the second half following a Cesc’s free-kick which Silvestre nodded to Song, but the host managed to pull one back. Substitute Ramsey, all only 17, scored his first goal for Arsenal in stoppage time to cap a convincing win for the Gunners. A perfect birthday present to Monsieur Arsène Wenger who celebrates his birthday today. Go here for the minute-by-minute report and here for highlights of the match.
Still, we need to ponder on the fragile defence. Where the attacking was classy, the defending was sloppy and clumsy albeit admittedly with a depleted line-up (which Almunia, wearing the arm-band more than made up for). And I hope Wenger reflected on this as he sipped that celebratory glass of wine on his flight back to London.
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