By Boris Mellor
November 22 2012

There really isn’t much to report, apart from two very good goals, the match itself was a non-event. Montpellier are at the bottom of group B with one point, so really no other outcome was expected, except of course no one knows what to expect with Wenger’s Arsenal. At the end of the first half I said to a fellow season ticket holder that Montpellier were a sort of French Southampton, but he strongly disagreed, he felt that was unfair on the Saints.

The first half was so dull that my mind kept drifting, the French team looked like an inverted Blackpool in away kit, apart from the navy blue socks. With mittens to keep their hands warm and orange shorts with navy blue shirts they looked more like a team of Minnie Mouses, but without her courage. Indeed they kept falling down so often that I expected Médecins Sans Frontières to turn up. Instead the ref came to their aid with numerous unwarranted free kicks, and of course Arsenal got the first booking.

Meanwhile the crowd entertained itself discussing Chelsea, and what were the chance of getting out of the group. Meanwhile there was a scarf shortage at the away end, I could only spot three, yet 20 minutes from the end they had hundreds of them! How does that work – perhaps it was the famous L’Illusion, Théâtre de marionettes, and none of it was real. Though the three fans stripped to the waist were not an illusion, and it was pretty bracing I can tell you.  What is it about fans from industrial towns and bare chests? Mind you Geordies usually wear a string vest on a night as cold as that.

In front of me sat three stocky young guys wearing herringbone great coats, all three of them, what’s the chances of that happening? Is this the latest fashion? I nearly missed the goal because of them, but they just sat down in time for Jack to score his first goal in 725 days, nearly two years, but not quite, 7 days short to be precise. It was a great goal, superb on any day in any place. One Jacky Wilshere, we all sang, living in a Wilshere Wonderland. The place had finally woken up, so did Montpellier who started to attack with purpose, except they weren’t very good at it.

Then we sang the Giroud song as it was his assist, you know the one to Hey Jude. I remember folks saying no one will sing Beatles songs in 60 years time, now if they said Arsenal won’t win the Champions League in 60 years time they may have had a point.

The crowd also serenaded Santi Carzorla, putting on their best Spanish Aristocracy lisp to pronounce it. The crowd now urged Arsenal on for a second goal, and when it came it was a cracker, it exploded from Podolski’s left foot, smashed into the top of the net from a full volley. Once again Giroud was the provider. The fact that he didn’t score in the match was due to the lack of quality crosses. Wally was well missed, and Sagna can’t cross for toffee, but at 2-0 up it didn’t matter. What mattered was two superb goals, very little opposition and qualification. The crowd sang, very originally, Podolski scores when he wants, but perhaps they are being sly.

Now the crowd were spolit with four heroes to celebrate, Jack, the HFB, the BFG, and Podolski, no it was five I nearly forget Santi. It’s a long time since the crowd have felt confident enough to sing players names, but having seen Arsenal destroy ten men on Saturday, and now heap more misery on the Montpellierese confidence is high.

Arsenal have qualified, Wenger claims he wants to finish top of the group, so that will be a rag bag eleven going off to Greece then. Mind you the Greeks have nothing to fight for as they have secured third place but second is beyond them. Schalke will have to lose to Montpellier and Arsenal win for anything to change.

Meanwhile the Marquee clubs of Europe will all be hoping to draw Arsenal in the first knockout round.

A game of two goals - one after 725 day wait

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 22/11/2012 18:39

Arsenal Times
22/11/2012 18:39

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012:11:24:21:24:47 by Padre Pio.

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Rockstaar
22/11/2012 20:10

Quote:

Meanwhile the Marquee clubs of Europe will all be hoping to draw Arsenal in the first knockout round.

No they won't

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Boston Gooner
22/11/2012 22:13

Quote:

Meanwhile the Marquee clubs of Europe will all be hoping to draw Arsenal in the first knockout round.

"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

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