We're riding along on the Christopher Wreh! (0) 0 - 1 (1) ArsenalSelhurst Park, Wednesday 11th March 1998FA Carling PremiershipThis was the match first scheduled for 22nd December, then abandoned because of floodlight failure (see ArseWeb report). It seemed like someone didn't want it played this time either, because ythe kick-off was delayed till 8.30 after a suspect package was found outside the ground. Fortunately, by the time they found it there were plenty of people in the ground, and becauyse the package was outside they left the fans in. If it had been found inside the ground it would surely have been evacuated (or never filled in the first place) and the match could well have been abandoned all over again.It was a good thing it wasn't abandoned, as once again everything went right for the Gunners on a night that "blew the championship open again". Of course we've known we were in with a shout of the title for ages but it seems this morning that the rest of the country has woken up to the possibility. The plain fact is, that if Arsenal won the rest of their matches, we'd be champions at the end of the season by 3 clear points. West Ham did us a favour by keeping Man Utd to a draw (let's hope they do us a favour or two next Tuesday too), Blackburn (probably best placed to challenge us and Man Utd for the top 2 places before last night) went down heavily at Leeds, and even Barnsley managed a win over Villa that makes things look bleak for Spurs again at the bottom (see Table). As for the match itself, it was truly one of two halves. Arsenal had the the upper hand in the first, got an early goal, and looked like adding to it. But the Dons, unsurprisingly revitalised by the appearance of Marcus Gayle at half time, subjected us to an onslaught in the second half, and if not for a few fantastic saves by Alex Manninger it could all have been very different. Very much a return to the old style Arsenal 1-0 away win. The goal was scored by a player much maligned of late, perhaps because people were expecting too much of a cousin of George Weah. Chris Wreh hasn't had the opportunities that Nicolas Anelka has, but has always looked more enthusiastic, and tonight he was rewarded with his first start for the club. He rewarded us with a well taken goal, created by a run down the wing from Overmars (looking impressive again) and a superb cross to the well-positioned Wreh who passed it into the net from near the penalty spot. A few minutes earlier he'd had it in there, heading home after a superb Bergkamp effort bounced out to him off the bar. Replays confirmed that Wreh had been offside when Dennis shot. Wreh also linked up well with the other players, didn't give the ball away so much, and when he did he actually set about trying to win it back. I've nothing against Anelka, but Wreh looks more ready for the kind of reponsibility that goes with deputising for Ian Wright in a team challenging for 2 major trophies. His name also lends itself superbly to a great song in "We're riding along on the Christopher Wreh". More later. Other reports
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