Arsenal (1) 2 - 0 (0) Liverpool
Highbury, Monday 21st August 2000. kick-off 8pm
FA Carling Premiership
Preview
- Arsenal team news
No enforced changes that we're aware of, but there has to be a chance that we'll see Bergkamp earlier than on Saturday, and possibly Pires too.
- Liverpool team news
Patrick Berger picked up a knock on Saturday and is definitely ruled
out. Emile Heskey may join him. The best news is that our nemesis
Robbie Fowler is also on their injury list.
- UK TV/Radio coverage
Live on Sky Sports 1.
- non-UK TV coverage
- Australia: Live at 4.00am EST, Tuesday 22nd (kick-off
5am). Fox Sports.
- For details, and countries not listed above, see the
non-UK TV FAQ
- See also
Arsenal (1) 2 - 0 (0) Liverpool
Highbury, Monday 21st August 2000. kick-off 8pm
FA Carling Premiership
Red Dawn.......
I have going to Highbury since I was five years old. I am now thirty-three
so that's quite a few games I have watched over the years. Now allowing for
the fact that I'm as biased towards the Arse as much as the next Gooner, and
that I probably didn't fully take in what I was watching until I was ten or
eleven, Graham Poll's performance during last nights spectacle was possibly
the worst refereeing display I have ever seen at Highbury.
Poll had a nightmare match from start to finish, as did his incompetent
assistants. I really feel for any Manager who has to deal with this guy this
season, whether it is in the Premier League, FA Cup, or God forbid, any UEFA
competition.
The real shame is that all the talk is not about how we beat Liverpool 2-0,
our first victory against them in six years, but how once again Patrick
Vieira has shamed football with his terrible behaviour on the field of play.
At this point, I feel that I have to quote Ian McGarry from the Soccernet
website....
'Arsenal won the three points against Liverpool at Highbury but lost what
little respect the game had left for Patrick Vieira when the midfielder was
redcarded for a second time in three days.'
...don't worry folks, it gets better.....
'Graham Poll, arguably England's best referee, presided over a game which
was billed as a barometer to how the title might be decided but instead
descended into farce.'
...and better....
'Arsenal were aided by the controversial first-half dismissal of McAllister,
Liverpool's 35-year- old debutant, for a rash but non-violent challenge on
Vieira. The Frenchman, sent off for the fifth time in his Arsenal career
during last weekend's defeat by Sunderland, survived McAllister's tackle
well enough to re-enter the match after treatment. '
And then people wonder why Wenger questions the impartiality of officials
and the press when PV4 is in the 'frame'. From my viewpoint on the half-way
line in the Lower West stand , I really thought he had broken his leg when
Paddy was caught by Gary Mac. It was clearly a red card offence, but not
according to the Arsenal hating press.
However, when Paddy was booked the first time, was it for a foul ? Was it
for dissent ? Maybe it was for not falling around on the floor (as certain
Sunderland players do) when elbowed by an opponent and for telling him what
he thought of his tackling and subsequent reaction. The second one was
pretty clear-cut from where I saw it. A 110% committed ball winning
challenge - sorry, I forgot, that's not allowed anymore ! Did the opposing
player get carried off - no ; did Hamman go in on PV4 over the ball - yes.
Did Hamman get booked - no. The Vieira effect takes precedence once again.
Off you go Son for an early bath.
If I was the Manager of a team playing Arsenal I would employ one simple
tactic - kick Vieira. Just make sure that everyone commits one nasty
challenge on him. You might pick up one or two yellow cards but the
likelihood is that PV4 will be red-carded for one mistimed lunge, brought on
by his shortish fuse and complete lack of protection from the Ref. No
Vieira, no midfield, Manu has gone so you are up against Grimandi + one
other, that's a bit easier for you to deal with, isn't it ?
I have this horrible feeling that we will never see Paddy play for Arsenal
again. He is the one player in our team that is truly irreplaceable and it
would be rank as sad if he left as when Brady left for Italy. However, his
team-mates will hopefully pull him out of his despair and tell him this is
where he belongs. It is about time the FA wised up to the way in which he is
victimised. It seems that the Ref's have at last found a replacement for
Wright to pick on in an Arsenal shirt.
I'll leave the last word on this issue to Steve Curry, of the Sunday Times,
who was interviewed on BBC Breakfast News this morning.....
'McAllisters challenge was mistimed with no intent, Vieira's was a two
footed lunge and the intent was clear. If he doesn't like it here, he should
go and play his football somewhere else.'
Well Mr Curry, you would say that wouldn't you....
Keep the faith !
report by Paul
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Useful links for armchair fans
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Useful links for travelling fans
- ArseWeb's highbury pages, including ticket info, getting to the ground, etc.
- AwayFans.co.uk. Stadium reviews and info. Maps, traffic reports, pub lists, info on disabled/wheelchair provisions, etc. Conference teams as well as Premiership and Nationwide.
- London football Arsenal page from
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travel, accomodation, etc).
- From the Terrace. Each team's section includes a page on their ground, with directions. Premiership, Nationwide, and Scottish.
- AwayGuide.net. Directions, maps, pub guides. All Premiership and Nationwide league teams.
- Football Ground Guide. Lovely site, loads of info, pics, diagrams, etc
- Football Grounds of England. With capacities, record gates, and pictures.
- Football Grounds frenzy. Wonderful photos of football grounds, with a little info too. Everything apart from
glitzy new grounds, and no Premiership ones. Might be handy for Cup games, and
certainly nice to look at!
- FanZone.
Information for travelling sports fans. directions, car parks, eateries,
pubs, blah-de-blah....
- Our own Highbury pages for useful info for Arsenal's home games.
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