My Top 4 Arsenal Goals

There is an ancient football adage that says: "It takes only one second to score a goal in normal play, but 0.4 seconds to score a penalty!" If you can net four goals within 90 minutes (that is over 5,400 seconds), it's as good as winning every match. So, here are my 4 Most Valuable Arsenal Goals during the Wenger Journey: Click, click, BANG!

1. Ray PARLOUR v Valencia (2001)

Definitely my Favourite Arsenal Goal of All-Time, a screamer on target. The Power-shot was a typical Ray Parlour goal. Though an unsung hero, the Englishman took the ball in his stride from Nwankwo Kanu at the edge of the centre circle, ran past an opponent with two forward nudges and blasted from outside the box without warning for a 2-1 comeback win in the 2001 UEFA Champions League. Arsenal had never gone beyond the Quarterfinals but I kept on dreaming expressed by my uncontrollable scream that night. He replicated it in the 2002 FA Cup Final but Arsenal's second by Freddie Ljungberg was my "Double Happiness", because the worry of a deja vu equaliser like the preceding year's final evaporated...

2. Dennis BERGKAMP v Newcastle United (2002)

It is the Most Brilliant in the List and probably the Greatest Arsenal Stunner ever, though Nwankwo Kanu (v Tottenham) and Robert Pires (v Aston Villa) pulled off a similar trick. Bergkamp's turn was unrehearsed and sublime - just a perfect way to describe the whole of that season for the Gunners. They played some great football without losing away from home on the way to Wenger's second double. Pires was the Most Talismanic while Tony Adams plus his Old Guard backline were about to retire. It was Thierry Henry's first Premiership plus FA Cup Double, but the Dutchman's second and Arsenal's third...

3. Thierry HENRY v Liverpool (2004)

"Lads, it's time to snap out of it..." Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United and Champions League by Chelsea (moreover at Highbury) within a week, I bet the Frenchmen Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires (Author of "Le Footballeur") and Henry just took matters into their own hands after first half. Michael Owen brought back deja vu from the 2001 FA Cup Final loss, but it wasn't going to happen again with Henry still hungry for his second Premiership title. This goal proved to me Thierry's "invincibility", his second strike in a hattrick on the 4-2 Good Friday victory against a team that would clinch five trophies the following season including a comeback UEFA Champions League win over the mighty AC Milan in the finals. Henry left Kop players falling to the grass with his merciless dribble run...

4. Aaron RAMSEY v Hull City (2014)

Nine years was a painful trophy-drought for disappointed Arsenal fans, but am glad Ramsey's extra time 3-2 FA Cup winner resparked their happiness. Without this Wembley goal, Arsene Wenger might have been forced out or resigned. However, it simply solidified the manager's legacy at the Emirates because it won his first trophy after moving to the new stadium (in 2006) plus erased all the Bad Memories since 2005...

MY BEST ARSENAL COMEBACK
In 2010, Arsenal became the Premiership's Comeback Kings by setting a Record of four consecutive Wins after conceding first. But the Most Extraordinary Comeback Game in Arsene Wenger's Career was a 4th Round Capital One (League) Cup Triumph at Reading's Madejski Stadium in 2012. At 4-0 down, I decided to sleep because I knew the Game was over; there was no Way Arsenal could come back. However, residing in a Neighbourhood where most People support the Top Six or Eight English Teams (and non-Gunners might have been sympathetic), I couldn't resist finding out the Truth after hearing People screaming over and over again. It couldn't be Reading Fans screaming; I didn't know any. When I switched on the Radio, it was 4-4. On turning on Sky Sports after Midnight, the Gunners were leading 5-7, extraordinary. I regretted why I did not watch the Game through and through, but was still happy about the Performance: Giroud ignited a Fightback, Walcott scored a Hattrick and Chamakh put the Nail in Reading's Coffin during Extratime. Reading Defender Chris Gunter called it a "stupid Game"...

Red-hot Gunner Returns

Gunners usually go AWOL (Absent Without Leave) or MIA (Missing in Action) because of injury, suspension, transfer or family issues. Some make really great returns and here are some of my best:

1. Aaron RAMSEY definitely tops my List of Red-hot Returns. Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross was very apologetic for tackling him in a leg-breaking crash. At first sight of the injury, you wouldn’t forgive the Stoke defender. However, Ryan wept after seeing the damage plus got red carded and Ramsey said he didn’t feel pain before returning several months later to score the only goal in an Emirates Stadium win over Manchester United on 1^st May 2011. The fearless shot outmaneouvred an opponent’s attempted block. Then in 2014, as if redemptive, Ramsey scored a 3-2 FA Cup extra time winner against Hull City to end Arsenal’s nine year trophyless run, washing away the pain of losing two League Cup finals (2007 to Chelsea and 2011 to Birmingham City). Ramsey was the second Gunner I saw break his leg on live TV. February just felt cursed like Black November 2002, but I bet Ramsey broke the jinx. Even if it took him three more seasons to finally win a trophy, 2014 was surely the Welshman's year…

2. EDUARDO da Silva was the first Gunner I saw breaking his leg on live TV. It happened at St. Andrews (home of Birmingham City) on a February 2008 weekend that saw Arsenal drop a two goal lead and falter in the rest of the season after playing quite well in the first half of the season. I watched the game in Namuwongo (a Kampala suburb) and while trying to take my footwear for mending near the neighbourhood Kyebando Kisalosalo Market during the following week, 5,000 UgX mysteriously disappeared from my pocket. Born in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Eduardo played for Croatia but had the skills and sharpness to fit in any Brazilian squad. After recovering from his left ankle break, Dudu returned for Arsenal in a 2-0 FA Cup victory over Burnley scoring the second goal with a deft ankle volley from an Alexander Song pass. The rest of his Arsenal career was not as great as before the injury, but his return goal was very promising…

3. Thierry HENRY became Arsenal’s All-Time Leading Goalscorer by scoring twice as a 15^th minute substitute (for injured Jose Antonio REYES) against UEFA Champions League hosts Sparta Prague on Super Tuesday 18^th October 2005 after seven games on the sidelines with a groin injury. His 185th Ian Wright record-tying goal was a sick extravagant curler struck with the outside of his right boot while turning 180 degrees maintaining Arsenal’s 100 percent record in Europe. That season: the last at Highbury (2006), Arsenal became the first club to reach the Champions League Final without conceding a single goal. It was also Arsenal’s first time beyond the quarterfinals. “Gunners, what is your profession?/ I’ll be back!” TH14 is the King at Arsenal and when he returned in 2012 (on loan from New York Redbulls) after leaving for Barcelona in 2007, the script was already written for a majestic arrival at the place where he is most adored, no matter how brief the stay. He capped off the long awaited Dream Day with a trademark goal against Leeds United propelling the Gunners to the 4th round of the FA Cup. Wearing shirt number 12 at the Emirates Stadium, Henry scored his 12^th goal in his 12^th appearance against Leeds United 12 minutes from the final whistle in the 12^th season since his debut at Highbury Stadium (1999). Maybe he’s the 12^th Gunner in every game…

4. Patrick VIEIRA (one of the Players in Europe with the Most Red Cards) got two red cards in the first three days (first two games) of the 2000-2001 season and was suspended for five painful games. Arsenal coped quite well without him but he returned to win the 2001 French Player of the Year plus Premier League Player of the Season Awards after some unbelievably disciplined performances the rest of the season. Arsenal finished second in the league behind Manchester United and lost the FA Cup Final 1-2 to Liverpool…

5. Olivier GIROUD who had been out for months due to injury, headbutted a QPR player in the 2015 season, but returned again as a substitute after a three game suspension to score a consolation goal for Arsenal in a 1-2 home loss to Manchester United. It was a very progressive goal despite the loss showing one way Arsenal needed to attempt in order to score without overelaborate buildup plays. The season ended with a second FA Cup triumph in a row and Giroud scored his Supersub goal to crown a 4-0 win…

6. Abou DIABY was probably the Gunner with the Most Returns because he also had the Most Injuries, so I guess some moments of his return games are memorable. He could dribble confidently and scored a number of good goals. Unfortunately, the chronic setbacks never allowed him to explore his full potential. I pray the same thing never happens to Jack WILSHERE who scored the BBC’s Match of the Day Goal of the Season in 2014 and 2015…

7. Danny WELBECK’s return from injury on 14^th February 2016 (Valentine’s Day) in a title decider actually inspired this article about returnees. It was his very first game this season. Table leaders Leicester City FC were ahead of Arsenal by five points before the game and Premier League Top Scorer Jamie Vardy’s first half penalty gave Leicester hope for an eight point advantage until Theo Walcott equalized in the 70^th minute. Welbz came on as a substitute and had some time to work something lovely. With the four added minutes already played and score tied at 1-1, the King of Assists Mesut Oezil stood over a freekick that would probably be the last kick in the Sunday Clash of the Titans. As they say, the rest is History, Man of the Match type of way…

Dat Guy, Welbeck!

Arsenal's Best Dribblers

Technically, every Gunner including goalkeepers can dribble, but there are some whose skill or effort is exceptional and noteworthy. I became an Arsenal fan during the 1998 FA Cup Final and have witnessed quite a number of good dribblers come and go. It's not easy to choose who is the ultimate Best Dribbler at The Arsenal, but here are my Favourites since my Enlightenment Game.

In Wenger's first and second group of Double Champions, I must say Dennis Bergkamp can be singled out as one very talented individual. Nicknamed the "Dutch Master", his sublime skill was world-class and confirmed when he scored the Best Goal according to many pundits during the 1998 World Cup in France for Netherlands (Holland) against Argentina. He also scored the Best Premiership Goal during the 2002 Season at Newcastle United from a Robert Pires assist, hailed as arguably the Hottest Arsenal Goal of All-time thanks to his dribbling acumen. He did not plan it, but his touch and turn past the defender still seemed untaught: It just happened. The Invincible 49ers also did a lot of dribbling like Sylvain Wiltord and Lauren Etame Meyer running the right flank hustle.

Kaba Diawara as a Substitute on his Highbury debut in a 1-0 win over Chelsea (Sunday 31st January 1999)

Arsenal failed to retain their Premiership crown in 1999, but (French-born Guinean) Kaba Diawara showed probably the Most Potent Dribbling Skills I have ever seen in any Gunner with an eye for a self-made chance. He didn't score the hard-to-come-by winners and stuff needed to win the championship, but he surely entertained with much hope and unfathomed intelligence like Brazil's very gifted non-Gunner Wonderman Denilson (de Oliveira Araujo) dribbling five players or precariously on the touchline.

Nwankwo Kanu, the beanpole Nigerian was also a class act. Despite a sluggish disposition, he used it to his advantage to deceive opponents with wonderful unanticipated footwork at the right moment. It was said that the ball seemed to be tied to his shoelaces, guess that summarises everything.

Croatian Davor Suker, the Top Scorer during France 98 was also amazing when he moved to Highbury, but it took time for me to see another naturally gifted dribbler.

Aleksander Hleb had all the attributes of a natural born dribbler. I bet the Belarusian could do it in his sleep or without training. Slim but very agile and not too showy.

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, meanwhile is a Gunner who can dribble at speed past opponents. It's like he is not afraid of a tackle, just runs into it like Jack Wilshere. Serge Gnabry would be his best understudy in midfield.

Rightback Hector Bellerin is the ultimate Speed Merchant and Most Coolheaded Gunner when it comes to getting past opponents, always seems focussed on the play. Ivorians Johan Djourou (though Swiss National) and Emmanuel Eboue before him dribbled quite well despite criticism about their focus. Brazilians Silvinho and Santos used to be energetic going forward on the left flank too.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide also has that "it" dribbling factor. He should be allowed to express himself like Abou Diaby minus the multiple injuries.

All the other Gunners, both past and present, have their own efficient maneouvres for instance Robert Pires running forward to a stop with the ball, back then forward again immediately down the left flank or a fiery Thierry Henry creating space with pace for his many goals, just to mention a few. However, the ones listed above seem to have something extra I cannot forget.

The Gunner who takes the crown among the current lot would be the hair-raising Spaniard Santi Cazorla. Doesn't he remind you of Chelsea's Gianfranco Zola in the late 1990s and 2000s? Okay, maybe because the names rhyme but Santi is also the Most Ambidextrous Gunner (though mainly rightfooted), down to earth, enjoyable to watch and relatively classy with an eye for goal. He can turn left or right with ease, knows what to do with the ball, little or small in stature like Messi but very dynamic and completes his dribbles. Remember what he did to Man Utd's Schweinsteiger with his head?! Nevertheless, before I forget, Alexis Sanchez is an enthusiastic dribbler and deserves this nod according to statistics, however I prefer Santi. Mesut Oezil cannot also be ignored, but as good as he is as an Assistman, Santi edges him a bit on this one. Happy #FriendsDay!