Twinkle, twinkle, little star

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
01 Aug	4:15 PM	EC	Atletico Madrid (H)	2	1	Win

If last season's Emirates Cup saw Jack Wilshere announce his precocity by mugging Michel Salgado, the veteran Real Madrid full-back, then this year's edition and Wilshere's consecutive Man of the Match performances were further evidence that this teenager is a special one indeed.

But I don't want to talk about him just yet. We arrived at the Grove on Saturday about quarter of an hour into the first game, up the escalator - is it me or is it wrong that Club level and Box holders get an escalator when the people sitting in the upper tier have to use their legs to get up there? We wandered around Club level for a bit, before I realised that the boxes were actually upstairs for Club level. I knew that anyway, so why I was dragging Jo around Club level, I'm not sure. Anyway, we made our way to the box, past the "Ian Wright Associates" one, the Ian Wright?

We were greeted by Les, a Charlton season ticket holder, and the very kind supplier of tickets, and then we went out to watch a bit of the Paris St. Germain v Rangers game with Kevin, a PSG-supporting work colleague. It seemed like, whilst Rangers had the who area immediately behind the goal, Kevin might have been the only PSG fan in the stadium. Half-time swiftly followed, joined by a chilli wrap with wedges - that ordinarily would cost an extraordinary £19.

This was washed down with a choice of Kronenbourg or a rather nice red wine. I had both. The second half of the PSG game proved less appetising than the opportunity to talk with a couple of Gooners, one less than complimentary about my favourite Dane, drink some more beer and catch up on some gossip. So, it was here that I heard that Philippe Senderos had signed for Everton on Saturday morning- maybe that should have been my Facebook update and not "Box 138.." Still the news hasn't been announced, and it maybe due to the fact that this is the trigger that will see Lescott arrive at Manchester City with Micah Richards making a long rumoured move to Arsenal. Or not.

Anyway, such a move would provide cover at right-back as well as centre-back and therefore allow us to sell the hapless Emmanuel Eboue. But that really would be asking too much, wouldn't it?

Soon enough, we received a team sheet, I was disappointed to see no Thomas Vermaelen, the boss said later that it was due to a small muscular problem but otherwise it all looked okay. The game was preceeded by a period of appreciation for the late Bobby Robson, a "good friend to Arsenal Football Club". The applause appeared to emanate from the north west corner of the ground and were a fitting tribute to a great man.

I spent much of the game chatting with Pete, another work colleague. We couldn't understand the continuous booing of José Reyes- okay, so he didn't exactly cover himself in glory - but he was only ever guilty of being a homesick mummy's boy. Worth booing? I prefer to remember, as I said before, the good things he did for us. Funny that Diego Forlan, whose dive at Old Trafford triggered the 2003 ruck, was basically ignored. So, an ex-Arsenal player was booed remorselessly, whilst a Manc was let off, scott free. Can you work that one out? Me neither. It was unnecessary, and to me, slightly classless. So I made sure I stood up and clapped him off when he was replaced.

It was a dull game really, Robin van Persie sent a first half free kick over the bar, some other stuff happened, nothing to write home about really. Excepting Tomas Rosicky's return to action, of course. He tucked away a very smart finish early on but it was ruled out for offside. Everything he did though only served to highlight just how much we have missed the Czech's guile in midfield, welcome back Tomas!

The second half, until the last 5 minutes anyway, belonged to Jack Wilshere. The kid has so much in his locker, it'd be quicker to make a list of things he lacks. I can think of one thing - height. The rest? It's all there and his play livened up a truly grey August afternoon. As did the sight of Arshavin, Cesc and Eduardo all warming up on the touchline. As Pete said to me, "That's a hundred million quid right there!"

It was the latest Arsenal hero who opened the scoring with five minutes left, slamming home a Francesc Fabregas cross at the far post. If we thought that was it, it wasn't. A through ball two minutes later, our defence parted like the red sea and had Atletico had any fans in the ground, they would have gone nuts at the equalising goal. But not as nuts as we went when Arshavin ran past the keeper, sliding to hook the ball from an impossible angle into the far corner. Game set and match.

We retreated to the box, everyone else left straight away, whilst Pete helped me finish off the red wine, I had one last pee in the private toilet and we headed off into the rain. And boy, did it rain.

I've run out of time to say much about yesterday's game, but it must have been galling for the Rangers fans to see their champions of Scotland taken apart, not just by a team expected to finish fifth this season, but an Englishman. Well, an English boy really.

More tomorrow.

User Comments

john_gunner

Posted on 4 Aug, 2009 at 03:48 PM - Reply

i was at the game, Arsenal werent really tested. However the performance of wilshere was rather exciting. Have to say i was also taken a back by the Rangers Support

Keno

Posted on 4 Aug, 2009 at 05:45 AM - Reply

It was Salgado, but Wilshere didn't make him any troubles. It was - Gibbs, who played then as a winger.

Acadian

Posted on 4 Aug, 2009 at 12:19 AM - Reply

Arsenal now has the RVP_team and the Eduardo_team. Only Cesc can play on either team. Presently, the Eduardo_team is showing promise based on their performance in the Emirates tournament.

Matt

Posted on 3 Aug, 2009 at 10:31 PM - Reply

Sorry but you seem to have devoted 75% of your article merely blowing on about club level blah blah blah. Boring. Next year give us some analysis.

satanisagooner

Posted on 3 Aug, 2009 at 07:02 PM - Reply

Mr Wilshere is a very special talent. Fergie said only 1 rooney gazza best etc comes along every decade. have we got the best for 2010-2020?

clichydoubledeuce

Posted on 3 Aug, 2009 at 06:00 PM - Reply

great post

but didn't he nick it off of heinze, not salgado?

tom

Posted on 3 Aug, 2009 at 04:26 PM - Reply

i was also at the game, and have to say i enjoyed it very much, dont think it was a boring game.

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