Top Ten Games of the Year [Archive]

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jwaldman11

06 Jun 2004, 03:26 AM

This is Arsenal.com editor Richard Clarke's list of the top ten matches of the season. He goes into his reasons on the site, but I figured that I'd list them here and get everyone's reaction. I think everyone agrees with #1, but some of the rest are debatable:

1. Inter Milan 1-5 Arsenal 11/25/03
2. Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool 4/9/04
3. Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal 10/4/03
4. Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal 2/21/04
5. Blackburn 0-2 Arsenal 3/13/04
6. Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal 9/21/03
7. Arsenal 5-1 Wolves 12/2/03 (Carling Cup)
8. Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United 4/16/04
9. Portsmouth 1-5 Arsenal 3/6/04 (FA Cup)
10. Portsmouth 1-1 Arsenal 5/4/04

I have three issues with this list: 1) I think "The Battle of Old Trafford" should be higher, as almost every one of the players said that was the defining moment of the season. 2) As much as I enjoyed watching the highlights of the reserves demolition of Wolves in the Carling Cup, in the grand scheme of things, I just can't put it in the top ten for the whole season. 3) I'd probably put the last match of the season against Leicester in place of the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth. Clarke's point with the Portsmouth match was that Arsenal drew in spite of not playing well. I think the same could be said with the Leicester match, where the Gunners went down early, yet found a way to win.

jegerpenge

06 Jun 2004, 08:19 AM

The only reason that I would keep the Battle of Old Trafford where it is is because it wasn't really that great of a match until the last 10 minutes. And it wasn't really the football on display then was it? I do, however, think that the Arsenal 5-0 Leeds game should be higher. I still haven't seen it, I don't expect I will, but I heard it was fantastic. I would also put the Portsmouth 1-5 Arsenal FA Cup game higher as that game was almost flawless from our side of things. It seems like the list is a confused mixture of importance and quality and when he put the two together, he got them both wrong.

rgrayson

06 Jun 2004, 12:30 PM

man i would love to see some of those games...

phishy

06 Jun 2004, 01:58 PM

What about the Newcastle United game @Highbury coming on the heels of the manyoo match/Inter loss at home? 3-2 cracker on a rainy nite in london, IIRC.... Quality~

phishy~

Jasonisimo

06 Jun 2004, 04:09 PM

VaVaVoom

06 Jun 2004, 04:52 PM

I'm I the only one who appreciates Arsenal 1-0 Kiev, Nov. 5, 2003? Maybe it has to do with not seeing it live, but following along with the live text instead. But for importance, outside the League it was absolutely crucial! Here's the preview again. (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=130149&cc=5901)

Great call! Yes, I was in the North Bank Upper for this game, and when Ash headed in at the 88th minute it was absolute pandamonium.

Normally I judge these things by how hoarse my voice is after the game. I'll agree with most of the list, but there's a few I'd toss out...

- v. Blackburn? They were horrible this year. Just because we played like crap there last year (and also lost a CB in the first few minutes) doesn't make it an important game this year.

- Carling Cup? If that's the case, I have a few reserve team games that belong on the list as well. Please.

- I can live with the Portsmouth 1-1 game as #10, but only for the reason that it was one of the only games in our domestic season where we were outplayed. Btw, 3 cheers for Portsmouth, they (and their fans) were fabulous this year.

So, I've knocked 2 off the list. I'll go with Jasonisimo's suggestion on the Kiev game as one replacement. For the other, I'm split between the Chelsea FA Cup game where Reyes knocked in his 1st two for the Arsenal and one other one...

Ok, I've decided...

'71... 2004... '71... 2004

We won the league...
We won the league...
We won the league at White Hart Lane...
We won the league at the sh1thole...
We won the league at White Hart Lane.