By Boris Mellor
October 24 2005

I have always enjoyed jammy goals, and Sunday was no exception. And I would like to dedicate it (why shouldn’t spectators be allowed to dedicate the goals they have seen) to the large Birmingham fan (who says Neanderthals didn’t make it) who yelled furreigner at every Arsenal substitution.

 How anyone who professes to love football can greet Dennis Bergkamp’s entrance like that deserves to see his team lose by a jammy goal; especially when it was another Dutchman who scored it.

 

As I feared Arsenal were hung over from their European adventure, and Wenger made few changes. Gilberto seemed more hung over than most, even though he hadn’t played. Hleb certainly was feeling the strain, but was not the only one. .

 

Birmingham could have scored within minutes, but Cole cleared the line, from my Clock End seat it looked like it had gone in. Scare over, it would prove to be the last really effective assault on Arsenal’s goal. It would take 20 minutes before Arsenal got into the game and it was Gilberto that unleashed Freddy on a brilliant run that could only be stopped by Cunningham’s suicidal tackle. The issue is not last man but a clear goal scoring opportunity – which it clearly was. The Neanderthals saw that as evidence of Arsenal cheating – no wonder they died out.

 

I am sure Freddy would have scored, but although Reyes took a good free kick Taylor made a great save. The sending off according to the press was the signal for the Gunners to start playing better. But perhaps playing better had forced the sending off, but who cares, Arsenal proceeded to dominate. From now on it was one way traffic. Some of the shots perhaps weren’t hit that well, including Pires penalty, but Reyes had a couple of blinders saved, as did Ljungberg, and at least another one from Bobby. Taylor was man of the match, a brilliant performance that seemed to make it one of those days.

 

The Neanderthals got cocky – sit down they called at errant Clock-Enders, the stewards doing their bidding. But once it was realised how it was getting up the blue noses then the more the Gunners stood up. Arsenal carried on bombarding the far end, Bergkamp and van Persie came on and added to the urgency. We became more direct, but Taylor continued to defy the odds. Then vP did something unusual, at least for Arsenal, rather than pass he hit the ball from outside the box. It came of a defender and then bounced cruelly in front of Taylor to amble over the line. You never know your luck until you try. Lovely – how the Clock- End jeered at Neanderthal and mates.