Teams
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Morrow, Bould, Adams, Campbell, Wright, Smith, Schwarz, McGoldrick.
Sheff. Wednesday: Pressman, Atherton, Petrescu, Pearce, Nolan, Sheridan, Hyde, Sinton, Bart-Williams, Taylor, Watson.
It may be just that winning is a novelty, but I was inspired. As a Clock End regular I have not heard Highbury in such good voice for a long time. Sheff Wed had good travelling support, but they were drowned out by the Arse.
Sheff Wed had the best of the play early on, but once we had scored we controlled the rest of the first half. Stephen Morrow has only scored twice in his career and both have been against Sheff Wed. Tonights was a stormer: Outside the area he dribbled forward, turned the defender and shot from 20 yards out. If you are only ever going to score once every two years make them like this!
The second goal from Ian Wright was almost as spectacular, but don't we expect that anyway? A Wednesday defender headed the ball miles into the air and Ian volleyed it from 12 yards giving the goalie no chance.
Another bonus was 'Steady' Eddie McGoldrick's performance - I haven't had much time for him, but he has played a blinder against Moan Utd and tonight. Campbell and Smith continue to disappoint.
More worrying were the injuries: Seaman went off just before half time and was replaced by Vince Bartram (ex Bournemouth) who, after an early bad punch out, did very well. McGoldrick and Morrow both went off injured to be replaced by Dickov (for whom I have a lot of time) and Keown (for whom I do not). Ian Wright was limping at the end of the game as well, and he was booked _again_.
Bartram received good support from the Clock End in the second half and clapped in recognition at the end. He's not bad, but I wouldn't want to be missing Seaman for long.
Best bit of the match for me was when the North Bank and Cloack End were singing to each other - North Bank singing "We are the North Bank, We are the North Bank, We are the North Bank, We are the North Bank Highbury" and then waiting for the Clock End to sing back with "We are the Clock End,........" Going from end to end for ten minutes.
I like sitting in the Clock End, when it isn't all given to the opposition, for the 'creative tension' with the opposing fans - what are the relative merits of other parts of the ground?
The last couple of weeks have been pretty bad which ever way you look at it, but we have pretty high standards. The last eight of the CCC isn't bad in my book
Report by Matt Tee.