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Highbury dismissal shatters UEFA Cup hopes
By Chris Kirwan
August 17 2003
As expected the Blues left Highbury without a point to show for their efforts, but the dismissal of Sol Campbell midway through the first half will leave David Moyes frustrated at a missed chance to get a result at a ground where very few others will.

After a season where Everton were narrowly denied sixth spot and European qualification Moyes will be disappointed by Li Tie’s late dismissal. The easiest route to Europe for the Blues is to safely negotiate a route to 40 points as rapidly as possible and to then shirk tackles, securing the ‘fairplay’ spot….

With Moyes worrying devoid of options in certain areas of his side, he opted for Watson and Pembridge on the flanks. But it was Gravesen who created the major talking point. After riding a couple of challenges he was tripped by Sol Campbell when through on goal. Moyes raised the point after the game that it was a situation where he would rather have the goal and play a full strength Arsenal than play a 10 man side level on goals (“I’d rather have have had the goal than the red card as we didn’t score the free kick”).

The dismissal certainly galvanised Arsenal. They adopted the David Brent method of “Team Individuality”, with each player working harder to make up for Campbell’s absence while retaining the skill associated with Wenger’s Arsenal. Arsenal ensured that there were plenty of opportunities to use the sentence ”You wouldn’t know which team had ten men” .

The goals came courtesy of an Henry penalty after Stubbs instinctively stuck out his right elbow as the ball was passing him, and a routine finish for Pires after Wright had made a top notch double save. Radzinski replied with a low driven effort in between Li Tie’s bookings. In fairness the ref got the big decisions spot on; Campbell had to go for his misdemeanour, Stubbs did handle the ball, and Li Tie’s challenges merited bookings.

Moyes reflected to www.evertonfc.com after the game:

”We looked better when it was eleven against eleven at it was a game that we should have got something from. We lost our concentration and relaxed a bit. Against Arsenal you just can’t do that, they’re such a good side that you have to keep at them.”

While it’s disappointing to leave Highbury without gaining an unexpected point or three against the second best side in the country playing for a hour with ten men, the Blues didn’t disgrace themselves. Like last season’s game at Highbury they showed that their work rate and commitment is second to none. Moyes will be pleased that his team is showing the same work ethic as last season, and if he can add a bit of guile before August 31 then the Blues should be able to consolidate on last year’s superb efforts.

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