Teams Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Adams, Linighan, Winterburn, Jensen, Parlour, Merson, Helder, Hartson, Wright Subs: Kiwomya (Hartson 79), Morrow, Bartram
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Barton, Cunningham, Reeves, Kimble, Perry, Jones, Elkins, Leonhardsen , Goodman, Holdsworth Subs: Fear (Leonhardsen 59), Clarke (Holdsworth 73), Segers
Att : 32822 Referee : R Gifford (Mid Glamorgan)
I guess this match had a definite low-key, end-of-season feel to it, though I thought it was still reasonably entertaining. Arsenal played some quite nice football, particularly Merson and Helder, and the only real thing lacking was a goal. For Arsenal Linighan came in for Bould, and Jensen and Parlour replaced Schwarz and Keown in the middle of the park, while for Wimbledon Barton was playing on the right side of midfield with Cunningham at right back.
Arsenal did start off very slowly, and it was Wimbledon who made all the running in the first 15 minutes or so. They might have scored 2 or 3 times in that opening period. First a long throw from Jones was missed by everyone as it bounced along the 6 yard line, and then Holdsworth failed to get any purchase on his header from about 5 yards off a Barton free kick from the left. Seaman then had to make a sharp save from Leonhardsen, palming away the Norwegian's snap shot from about 15 yards.
>From then on though, the game was virtually entirely dominated by the Gunners, unsurprisingly given that Wimbledon were playing their 3rd game in 6 days. Helder had a couple of early runs down the left before he set up a chance for Merson about 15 minutes into the game. He played a superb first time pass from a knock-back from Wright to allow Merse to take it in his stride and burst into the area on the left. It was on his left foot though, and Reeves did well to get across to block the shot for a corner.
Soon afterwards, in a bit of a scramble in the area, Parlour appeared to be tripped, but with Wrighty in possession, the ref waved play on. Playing the advantage, perhaps!? Arsenal's best chance of the half fell to Wright when he beat the offside trap to leave himself a clear run onto Dixon's through pass. However, coming from an angle on the right, he went for the near post and the keeper reacted superbly to tip it into the side netting. As seems to have been traditional this year, the ref then gave a goal kick.
Jensen had his customary effort from outside the area which was a well struck volley straight at the keeper, but the only other notable incident I can remember from the 1st half was when Sullivan just collected a through ball ahead of Wrighty. He left his foot there as Wright ran past him and caught the striker with what looked like a nasty blow to the hip/stomach. Fortunately Wright continued after a bit of treatment, but the Wimbledon keeper earned himself a few boos from the home crowd.
In the second half Arsenal played some quite nice stuff, most of it originating from either Merson or Helder. With Parlour and Jensen in the middle, and Helder on the left wing though occasionally switching to the right, Merson was playing in that free role which I think suits him best. He often dropped deep to receive the ball off the defence and start off attacks, but made a lot of forward runs and also played some glorious passes.
However, in the 1st minute of the 2nd half it was Helder who almost engineered the breakthrough. He beat 2 or 3 defenders down the left, and pulled the ball back into the middle where Wrighty, stretching a bit and under pressure from a defender, poked the ball over the bar from 10 yards.
Merson had a couple of good runs from deep to the edge of the penalty area, but both times his shot lacked enough power to beat Sullivan, and Helder also had a similar run from the half way line, but again with a similar end result. It was then a combination of the two which set up what was probably Arsenal's best chance of the game. Running across midfield Helder played a lovely lofted pass with his right foot, to Merse making a forward run. Merson pulled it down quite well, but didn't seem to realise how much time and space he had, and his attempt to half-volley it instantly past Sullivan was predictably scuffed with his left foot.
The final real opening of the game fell to Wright. A short cross in from the right was nodded into Wrighty's path by Jensen. However, with a defender in close attendance, he was always stretching a bit and his shot from 12 yards was hooked past the far post. The final 15 minutes of the game were effectively just played out by both teams. Wimbledon were probably quite tired and Arsenal more concerned by thoughts of next Wednesday.
Overall a so-so performance from Arsenal, with the main relief being that no serious injuries were picked up. I have to say that Linighan looked a little rusty at times, and I always worry that he turns only marginally quicker than a supertanker. Parlour started off playing as crap as normal though I thought he did improve as the game wore on, making a couple of good forward runs in the 2nd half. Conversely Jensen started off quite well, but faded somewhat towards the end. Hartson also had quite a good 1st half but wasn't as evident in the 2nd, and Wrighty had a reasonable game apart from his finishing. Hopefully he's saving up for next week. However, I thought it was Merson who was easily Arsenal's outstanding performer, though Helder wasn't too far behind.
Report by Derek Brownjohn