07/08/95 Wolves 0 Arsenal 2 (friendly)

(Two reports)

Before the game the players spent around 25 minutes warming up and this involved a 5-a-side type (but with more players I think) game on a pitch marked out by Stewart Houston. The players looked to enjoy this especially Paul Merson who appeared to be making a lot of jokes.

Just before kick-off the resident DJ at Moulinuex put on Jeff Beck's "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and when it came to the chorus, and the silver lining bit, cut the sound and all the Wolves fans - attendance was 22,500 - sang "Hi Ho Wolverhampton" ! Very odd - and this reduced many of the Arsenal contingent to hysterical laughter.

Once the game started the Arsenal's formation became apparent;

		    Seaman

	Dixon	Bould (Keown 85) Adams	Winterburn

	Parlour	  Jensen  Platt	Merson

		Wright	Bergkamp

Subs (not used): Harper, Helder, Hillier,Dickov.

The first 15 minutes were, as I recall, fairly non-descript, with neither side creating any real chances. Wolves had most of the possession but they seemed unable to cause the Arsenal defence any problems.

After 15 minutes Arsenal stepped up a gear and not long after David Platt opened the scoring. A corner was won on the left, Merson swung it in and it was half-cleared out to Ray Parlour who hit a low shot towards goal, this was deflected into a ruck of players and Platt stretched out and knocked it into the left hand side of the goal. A chorus of "1-0 to the Arsenal" immediately rose from our ranks.

Arsenal continued to out play Wolves with Bergkamp, Wright, Merson and Platt all playing some lovely stuff in their half. The second goal when it came was an absolute beauty. Jensen picked up the ball in midfield and hit a glorious 40-yard pass into the path of Ian Wright, Wright beat the covering defender with his first touch and then beat the keeper from the left hand side of the area with a hard, low shot. If the game had been televised the goal would have surely made at least goal of the month. A chorus of "2-0 to the Arsenal" sprang into life - and the guy next to me claimed not to know the words to this one !

Shortly after we were given a demonstration of the class of Bergkamp when he beat his marker with a superb turn, right in front of us, and set on a run to goal. Unfortunately him and Merson weren't on the same wavelength and the final ball was wasted. I thought Bergkamp had a fairly quiet game - which was a shame but I'd much rather he had a quiet game now than in September.

The only moment of panic in the first half came when Seaman came for a clearance but it was knocked away from him and went straight to a Wolves player - he took his time with the shot and this allowed Seaman to get back and save the shot with ease.

The second half was fairly pedestrian, Wright had 3 or 4 opportunities to add to Arsenal's tally but wasted them all. On one occassion all he had to do was pass the ball to his left and Bergkamp would have had a clear shot on goal but he elected to shoot himself and missed. But he did look very sharp and caused Wolves defence a lot of problems.

Wolves did try to reduce the deficit but they just didn't seem to have the guile to break down a very solid defensive performance by Arsenal. They threw Tony Daley on for the second half and the crowd noise level would raise whenever he got the ball but Winterburn and Merson kept him pretty subdued. I can recall 3 clear chances falling to Wolves in the second half but only one of them was on target and Seaman made a superb save and pushed the ball around his right-hand post.

The only substitution for Arsenal came with about 5 minutes to go when Keown came on for Steve Bould.

It is hard to assess individual and team performances in a friendly like this as no-one is really that committed - although Dixon, especially, and Bould gave the linesman a torrid time throughout the game. I have to say, though, that I thought Ray Parlour was crap - he just hasn't got the pace or the skill to play wide on the right and the only trick he tries to employ to beat his man involves him running straight into him and appealing to the ref for obstruction. It didn't work last night. I know a lot of you rate him highly but I just can't see why.

Platt was fairly quiet but did score a goal and is the first midfield player we've had in years who has been prepared to make runs beyond the front two. Bergkamp showed some delightful touches but was well marked by Dean Richards who was far and away Wolves' best player. Wright and Merson looked sharp and keen to get stuck in which is surely a good sign. Jensen played the holding role in midfield well and also played that peach of a pass for the second goal. The defence was solid as always with Adams looking a class above - Steve Bull hardly got a sniff of the ball. Seaman looked sharp and will surely be ready for the start of the season.

I wouldn't go as far as the PA report and say we looked like title contenders - it was a friendly and it is hard to judge anyway - but I do think we are on the right path and will be there or thereabouts next season.

report from Andy Powers.

The trip to Wolves was, for me, the first of the season and what an evening it proved to be.

I can't explain how incredible it was to be standing by the team coach as the players got off, and seeing the likes of Berkamp and Platt walking into the stadium to play for the Arsenal. In the squad walked in with a real no nonsence approach.

On entering the ground, which has only completed its re-development during the last 15 months I was amazed at how much better it is than many premiership grounds, there were probably 1500 or so expectent Gooners who stood amazed as Platt and Berkamp came out to warm up ( I lost count of the number of fans that kept saying I can't beleive this is Arsenal. Where's Eddie?!)

So onto the game itself.

Berkamp displayed some touches of sheer brilliance, this is a player that will make hours of traffic to away games worthwhile. He can kill a ball in the air, turn a defender as if he wasn't there, beat a man with more ease than Spurs can throw away money. Never before have I witnessed a more skilfull footballer. There was one occasion on the right hand touchline, by the half-way line, where he brought down the ball with the tip of his toe and in the same movement swayed past a defender. The fans just stood up in admiration, dumbfounded. The new tactics were aparrant throughout, there were some great passing moves, mixed in with the all reliable good old moves, such as the near post Bouldy filcked on corners.

The first goal, after 20 minutes, came indirectly form a Paul Merson corner which was cleared and following a goal mouth scramble the ball broke to Platty to fire home from 12 yards.

On 33 minutes JJ hit a cross field ball 50 yards( yes that is JJ as in John Jensen) to the feet of Ian Wright who reaced past 2 defenders to slot the ball past the keeper inside the far post.

The second half conatined no goals but the Arsenal really dominated and Wrighty was unlucky not to have scored at least 3 more. Seaman only really had one save to make, and it was a typically superb one that many keepers wouldn't have.

What a pleasure it was to see Bruce's Gunners play. Anyone that hasn't yet arranged to go on Thursday to Highbury, sort out some tickets NOW!!

THE BOYS LOOK AWESOME.

PS Before the game I saw a reporter from Clubcall who said that he had heard from 'a good source' that we had made a bid yeterday for Martinez of Auxerre. The one who kicked Keown in the air in France. He plays a holding midfield role and would probably play in front of the back 4. Who knows? Yet more speculation.

report by Bradley

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