I generally don’t like to make big statements. As I get older, I think Kipling’s dictum about success and failure as liars becomes more and more resonant.
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Things are rarely as bad or as good as they seem, and the truth is that most people live somewhere in the middle. Most normal people anyway. That being said, I have to tell you, Eberechi Eze’s goal in beating Bayer Leverkusen last night was perhaps the greatest goal I’ve ever seen live. I can’t stop thinking about it.
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It was easily the purest football shot I’ve ever witnessed in my 35 years. I think the only goal I’ve ever seen that came close was a goal scored by a certain Dutchman against Tottenham in 2012, which was actually a goal from a similar range – and of course we would go on to win that game 5-2.
Anyway, enough about the unmentionables.
While I – rightly – made the most of Max Dowman’s composure during six touches and what must have been the longest 10 seconds of his life on Saturday night, Eze’s strikes suddenly turned violent, starting with the 19th line of the 29th and it kind of took your breath away.
With just 34 minutes and 24 seconds on the clock, Trossard passed the ball to Eads 25 yards out, with his back to the goal (luckily, we didn’t hear anything about the ball being placed on him today). Eads touches his thigh, spins and hits the ball so hard that it goes over the goalkeeper and threatens to burst the net, and from my position I can actually see how far the ball, this cannonball, carries it back. Two seconds later, the clock read 34:26.
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This is the most violent second.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
You can tell this is a special goal. 1) It defeated the goalkeeper Blasovich, who had been threatening to turn a promising night for Arsenal into an incredibly frustrating one. 2) Noise. Not the typical “Yeeeeahhhh”, or a variation of that usually given when a goal is scored in British stadiums.
No, the goal was greeted with that noise of shock at seeing someone try something shocking, and, executing it, it was the sound of sixty thousand people gasping, and then, as the net exploded, it went, “Oh hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!” Luckily for us, I think the ball got to the guy on the pitch who had the confidence to try it and the ability to execute it.
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I walked down the aisle toward Eds, who was heading toward our block with a look on his face that seemed to say “I can do it, you know it,” and then he grinned, surrounded by incredible teammates, chief among them William Saliba.
How Mikel Arteta chose to celebrate, I can only guess.
When I returned to my seat, the people around me looked at each other, laughing maniacally, as if checking to see if they saw what they thought they had done. You did it, and so did we.
What struck me about the replay was that each initial replay on the ground was greeted with the customary “oohs” accompanied by an absolute banger, not just the ferocity of the hit, but the sheer purity of it. The ball had barely any spin, any deflection, and if Dinos Mavropanos was unlucky enough to block it with his head, he would certainly have been killed. The whole thing is like a cross between Thierry Henry’s goal against Manchester United in 2000 and his goal against their local rivals in 2004.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
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After a slow start at Arsenal, Eze does appear to be on track now and has become more committed since his two assists against Wigan. A goal against Tottenham, another FA Cup tie against Mansfield and an influential performance against Everton all suggested the player has now found his role in the team.
Declan Rice scored another great goal in the second half to level the score. After a poor clearance from Leverkusen, Rice fired a brilliant shot from the edge of the area that curved just enough to brush against the post with the goalkeeper firmly planted on the goalkeeper. He made it look so easy that Joe, despite watching the game live and watching replays, still didn’t quite understand how it happened.
I feel like there have been a few games this season where Arsenal dominated the game to a great extent but didn’t get what they deserved due to ridiculous goals – Liverpool, Sunderland and, to some extent, Aston Villa all come to mind. So in order to win, this game with 2 stunts of our own was really enjoyable and hopefully it reminds everyone that sometimes you just have to try something. If you feel it, do it.
Perhaps, as discussed this week, that’s the multiplier effect of Max Dauman’s exciting cameo on Saturday night. A few weeks ago I asked, who would put their hand up to win us the Premier League? Well, it turns out there might be a few candidates.
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Before I go, another shout out to Piero Hincapi, one of the best “where did he come from?” Stopped the guy who looked a bit like Phil Foden in the first half and he did well again. And Benny White. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him but I thought he performed really well tonight and I can’t help but ask myself, is it a coincidence that Bukayo Saka looks more like the Bukayo Saka we all know and love with White behind him and who knows when to go and when to get out of the way?
Additionally, Victor Jacques had a very positive night without a goal, and his hard running, link-up play and ability to stretch the net and create danger bode well for his upcoming return to Lisbon. We may not have expected to go there, but Sporting Lisbon staged a stunning comeback from a 3-0 deficit to win the second leg 5-0. I suspect Lisbon in April would suit us better than Norway. Joe Kress played against us last season and now he’s going back to his old team and he’s so pissed off.
Football, huh?
Yeah, that’s definitely been my experience this week. I still think we will beat Manchester City on Sunday afternoon and look forward to discussing it with you all next week. take it easy!
