scroll the header off the screen
scroll the header off the screen
scroll the header off the screen
scroll the header off the screen
scroll the header off the screen
 		  logo scroll the header off the screen
scroll the header off the screen
scroll the header off the screen
scroll the header off the screen
scroll the header off the screen
 
Report Next match Last match ArseWeb calendar ArseWeb home

(1) 1 - 3 (1) Arsenal

The Dell, Saturday 23rd August 1997

FA Carling Premiership

Arsenal:       
             Seaman
Winterburn Bould Grimandi (Marshall 75) Garde
   Overmars (Boa Morte 87)   Petit (Platt 65) Parlour
        Bergkamp  Wright

subs not used: Anelka Lukic


scorers:
   Overmars, Bergkamp 2
A fine away win over Wright's favourite defence, but unusually we scored 3 goals without him getting one. The match was notable not for the anticipated record-matching feat that was so hyped in the press but for the arrival of Marc Overmars as a significant force. Early on he set up a chance for Wrighty but the volley was hit early and high. But after 20 minutes Overmars decided to go it alone as Wright waited just inside the area. Instead Overmars jinked past 3 defenders and poked the ball past the keeper from fairly close range.

Southampton got back into it with a soft goal. Oakley got to the goal-line on the right hand side. His first attempt at a cross was blocked and came back to him, then his second took a deflection which lifted it high into the penalty area where Maddison jumped through the rather static defenders gathered under the ball to head home.

But in the second half Bergkamp produced 2 goals of the standard we have come to expect. Let's face it, he's spoiling us - it just isn't surprising any more. The first he carried forward from the half-way line, switching the ball from foot to foot, past terified Soton players and into the area where he curled it past the keeper from the spot.

Seaman had a dodgy moment when he caught a ball on the line, but on the MotD replay it looked like he kept it out, even when pushed by a speculative Soton striker.

The third came ten minutes from the end when Dennis showed those who say he's not a physical player a thing or two. He chased the ball outside the Soton area and half brushed, half wrestled aside Benali before slamming the goal home. Bergkamp took the trouble to go and rub self-styled hard man Benali's face in it by celebrating in his face. Here's our exclusive transscription of the ensuing conversation, as lip-read by Mel Melis.

DB :     Yeeeaaaah! Ha Ha! Yeaaaahhhh!
Benali : Oi! Stop that! I'm a hard man bruiser!
(benali shoves bergkamp, DB stands next to him again) 
DB:      Yeeaaah!! Fnar! Fnar! Arf! Arf! Ha!
Benali : I'm warning you! I'm hard! I'm a good marker me!
(Benali shoves Bergkamp, DB stands next to him again) 
DB:      What a goal! HAAAAAAA!!!!!! HAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
Benali : Stop it! I am good! I marked Sheringham last week!
         I am a tough dude! Hard as nails!
(Benali is cuddled by his mum and wanders off).

It's all true (says Mel).

The ever-popular Benali really showed his footballing talent in another incident in this match. Wrighty returned the ball to Benali after Soton had been awarded a free-kick. Benali promptly put the ball down right next to Wright, some distance from where the free-kick should have been taken, and kicked the ball right at him. Of course, Wright got a booking for this. It's easy to blame Benali for this but surely Wright, knowing his reputation with referees, could have stayed out of trouble by, errr, not giving the ball back...?

Anyway, it may only be another rubbish team we've beaten but there's still lots to be happy with! And it's right to be happy with these wins rather than take them for granted. Chelsea, our closest (only) rivals for the "top London team" tag, have already lost to Coventry, and the Premiership champions only managed a 6-3 loss to Soton last year.

Check out the AFCi report and the other Arsenal sites. There's also the report on the official Saints site. More here soon. Ian (ANR) is on holiday at the moment.

The new League Table is now up & running. We're second after 3 matches with Leicester coming up midweek and then Tottenham on Saturday. It'd be nice to see Wrighty get one at Filbert St then break the record against the old enemy. But there's no pressure! If they put men on him to stop him, and the two (at least) it looks liek taking to stop Overmars, well, there should be plenty of room for Bergkamp to entertain in. With Anelka on stunning form for the reserves of late ("late" being the operative word, he's just been fined for turing up late for 2 reserve matches in a row), it looks like our pre-season hopes of having the most frightening attack force in the country are still very much alive. The defence needs sorting out though: is Garde really a better bet than Parlour at right back? Why does TA keep getting recurrences of apparently healed injuries? Where's Boom-boom? It sounds like it's just Bouldy holding it together back there at the moment.

report by Rupe.

HOME: 00-01, info, history, people, misc, Links | Newsreel | Shop | Calendar | Table | Stats | Cybury | HELP

copyright belongs to original author where credited. otherwise © Rupert Ward, ArseWeb MMV

ArseWeb is NOT the official Arsenal site. The (excellent) official site is here