Gunners' Greatest Goals

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GGG31: Thierry Henry v Charlton, 2004

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Thierry Henry found all sorts of ways to score fantastic goals during his Arsenal career and this strike - in at No 31 in our poll - was unique among his 226 in the Club's colours.

It came shortly after half-time in a fairly run-of-the-mill home win - the penultimate game of Arsenal's record 49-match unbeaten run. Charlton were already trailing to a Freddie Ljungberg goal when Henry took over in the 48th minute.

When the French striker collected José Antonio Reyes' pass eight yards out, he had his back to goal and Jonathan Fortune in close attention. But Henry improvised brilliantly. In a split second he executed a powerful back-heel which flew through Fortune's legs and past Charlton keeper Dean Kiely.

Few players had the wit or imagination to try such a thing; Henry tried and succeeded. He went on to score again as Arsenal ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.

"It's a special goal not for the technique of the back-heel, but because he is so quick to analyse what is the best response in that situation," said Arsène Wenger after the game.

Sol_Campbell

原帖由 中場指揮官 於 2009-6-20  06:53 PM 發表
GGG31: Thierry Henry v Charlton, 2004

呢球印象都好深

中場指揮官

原帖由 Sol_Campbell 於 2009-6-20  07:50 PM 發表

呢球印象都好深

後抽入波.

我覺得第1位應該係柏金vs紐卡素果球or亨利vs曼聯果球.

中場指揮官

GGG30: Theo Walcott v Slavia Prague, 2007

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

A classic team goal to cap a classic team performance.

Our list will have more than its fair share of long-range strikes and flashes of individual brilliance. But if you were to pick a signature Arsenal goal, this might be it. It's not the most spectacular but nonetheless it showcases the pace, touch and movement which has been commonplace during Arsène Wenger's reign.

The night in question was October 23, 2007 and Slavia Prague were, effectively, lambs to the slaughter in the Champions League group stage. Arsenal were 4-0 up and in full flow when Theo Walcott scored the goal of the game.

The move started on the halfway line with Alex Hleb. He knocked the ball inside to Mathieu Flamini and made a forward run while Flamini played it first-time to Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard's delightful flick took the ball into the path of Hleb and he looked up before playing a perfectly-weighted through-ball inside the full-back for Walcott to sprint onto.

The England winger's pace took him away from a defender and, as the Slavia keeper advanced, Walcott waited before nervelessly flicking the ball past him, against the far post and into the net.

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GGG29: Carlos Vela v Sheffield United, 2008

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

You could argue that some modern Arsenal goals only crop up in our list because they are fresh in the memories of those who voted. But that would do a disservice to the incredible technique of this Carlos Vela strike.

The Mexican youngster was one of 13 teenagers in the Carling Cup squad to face Sheffield United last September. Before the game some questioned whether that Arsenal team was just a tad too inexperienced to trouble an established Championship side. By half-time those doubters were wondering how just many the young Gunners would score.

Vela was at the forefront of the onslaught with a hat-trick on his first start for the Club. All three were fine strikes but his second was really special.

Arsenal were three goals to the good and the second half was four minutes old when Kieran Gibbs lofted a pass down the left flank. Vela controlled it on the turn with his shoulder, taking Blades captain Chris Morgan completely out of the game. If that was impressive, the finish was even better as Vela raced in on goal before lifting an audacious chip over keeper Paddy Kenny.

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GGG28: Adebayor v Tottenham Hotspur, 2008

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Goal No 28 in our list was a chink of light on a dark night for Arsenal.

The Gunners went into this Carling Cup Semi-Final second leg with a proud record against their North London rivals. Tottenham had not beaten Arsène Wenger's team in 21 attempts but, for once, they were celebrating at the final whistle.

Spurs were four up on the night - and 5-1 up on aggregate - when Adebayor scored the goal which earns him a second appearance in our GGG50 countdown. It was a fine move which started with Justin Hoyte on the left and involved a slick exchange between Eduardo and Cesc Fabregas.

The Croatian striker eventually found Adebayor lurking on the edge of the Spurs box and he let the ball roll between his legs to wrong-foot Ledley King before setting himself for a venomous strike which whistled into the top corner. It silenced the home fans - at least temporarily.

With 20 minutes left Adebayor's goal was too little, too late on the night but it showed the Togolese striker at his best. He went on to net 30 times that season.

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GGG27: Ljungberg v Manchester United, 2001

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Freddie Ljungberg made a habit of scoring against Manchester United during his nine-year tenure at the Club, so perhaps it’s unsurprising that at least one should crop up in our countdown.

This strike is not only notable for its quality but for its importance to Arsenal’s 2001/02 title-winning campaign too.

The Gunners had started the season in rampant fashion but by the time the Red Devils visited Highbury in November, Arsène Wenger’s side were without a win in four Premier League games. Man United, on the other hand, were looking ominous.

Indeed the visitors opened the scoring through Paul Scholes after only 14 minutes however, within three minutes of the restart, Ljungberg struck.

Robert Pires intercepted Gary Neville’s slack pass a good 50 yards from goal and hurtled towards the area. As Kanu drew the two Manchester United central defenders into the middle, the Frenchman picked out Ljungberg creeping in down the right-hand side.

The flame-haired Swede took one touch with his right before gently prodding an arching effort over Fabian Barthez from the edge of the area.

Later, the French goalkeeper would make two memorable mistakes to hand the Gunners a 3-1 victory. But it was Ljungberg’s superb equaliser that provided Arsenal’s platform.

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GGG26: Kanu v Middlesbrough, 1999

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Kanu gets his first mention in our countdown with a goal that encapsulates all that was great about the Nigerian striker.

Even though it was an 'unimportant' fifth goal in a 6-1 Arsenal victory, the sheer genius of the finish secures its place at No 26.

Arsenal travelled to Middlesbrough on April 24, 1999 off the back of a consummate 5-1 victory over Wimbledon the week before. And with Arsène Wenger’s side tussling for top spot with Manchester United, the Gunners had no intention of taking their foot off the gas on Teesside.

Marc Overmars started the rout from the spot in the fourth minute before Nicolas Anelka, Kanu and Patrick Vieira put Arsenal well out of sight.

Then, on the hour-mark, Kanu illuminated the afternoon with a ridiculous flash of brilliance.

The lanky frontman had a hand in the build-up too, pirouetting away from danger halfway inside the Boro half to feed Overmars on the right. After a neat interchange with Ray Parlour, the Dutchman whipped a low cross towards Kanu in the centre.

In truth, the cross wasn’t great but it mattered little to the Nigerian. Despite the close attentions of a Boro defender, Kanu let the ball run between his legs and sent a cute back-heel across Mark Schwarzer into the bottom corner.

Few in the Arsenal squad would have attempted it, even fewer would have pulled it off.

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GGG25: Patrick Vieira v Newcastle Utd, 1998

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Patrick Vieira brings up the halfway point in our countdown with a strike that perhaps deserves a higher placing.

Again, it’s the argument of what exactly makes a goal great. Is it the importance of the goal or the sheer quality of the finish?

This effort was the third goal in a rather routine home win over Newcastle as the Gunners closed in on a League and Cup double in 1998. But the aesthetic beauty of the goal makes it stick in the memory.

Marc Overmars started the move with an interception just inside Newcastle’s half. The Dutchman rolled the ball forward to Nicolas Anelka who laid it off to Vieira just outside the centre circle.

The talismanic Frenchman strode towards goal and, with nobody closing him down, he decided to let fly from all of 35 yards.

The searing drive nestled in Shay Given’s top right-hand corner like a French Exocet.

It was a strike that typified the young midfielder at the time. Powerful, fearless and all-conquering.

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GGG24: Silvinho v Chelsea, 2000

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

We’ve already seen Nigel Winterburn appear in our countdown with a long-range belter at Stamford Bridge. Here his left-back successor claims No 24 with a goal of similar quality on the very same pitch.

Silvinho’s North London sojourn may have only lasted two seasons but he will always be fondly remembered for his attacking flair and cheerful nature. Not to mention late equalisers away at Chelsea.

Of course the season before had seen Kanu turn a 2-0 defeat into a 3-2 victory with a stunning hat-trick. But surely this time around, when Gianfranco Zola and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had handed the Blues another two-goal lead, Chelsea could hold on for the remaining 32 minutes.

Cue another Gunners fightback. First Thierry Henry halved the arrears in the 76th minute with a textbook finish before Silvinho stepped up four minutes from time.

By now Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord had all emerged from the bench as Arsène Wenger's men searched desperately for their equaliser but it was the left-back who would find it.

Another striker, Kanu, saw his mazy run halted 20 yards from goal but the loose ball rolled invitingly towards Silvinho. The Brazilian hurtled towards it and, without breaking stride, lashed a bending drive into the top right-hand corner from 25 yards.

Carlo Cudicini’s positioning was pretty much spot on but even he could get nowhere near it. Proper ‘postage stamp’ stuff.

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GGG23: Ian Wright v Everton, 1993

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Ian Wright makes his second appearance in our top 50 with this inventive, impudent finish in front of an adoring new-look North Bank.

The striker saw off the old terrace in style with a hat-trick against Southampton in May 2002 and he didn't take long to make his mark when its all-seater replacement was unveiled at the start of the 1993/94 campaign. Coventry's Mickey Quinn got the new era off to an inauspicious start with a hat-trick at Highbury on the opening day of the season but, by the third home game, Wrighty was in full flow.

He was bang in form after winners at Tottenham and Sheffield Wednesday and was already on the scoresheet against Everton when David Seaman launched a long punt down-field. It just cleared the head of Gary Ablett and Wright, ever alert, raced onto the bouncing ball. He juggled it one way and then the other to leave Matt Jackson floundering before lifting a delicious lob over the imposing figure of Neville Southall in the Everton goal.

Wrighty ran to the new North Bank Stand and embraced the fans in the front row. There would be much more to celebrate in the months and years to come.

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GGG22: Robert Pires v Southampton, 2003

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

We're up to No 22 in our countdown of the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals and here's another chance to see Robert Pires at his very best.

May 2003 will always be memorable for the Frenchman after he scored the winning goal in the FA Cup Final against Southampton at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. And that historic moment came just 10 days after Pires scored an absolute blinder against the same opponents.

Arsenal handed out a beating to Southampton at Highbury in their 'dress rehearsal', surging into a five-goal lead by the break. A minute after the interval Pires made it six with the goal of the night.

Gio van Bronckhorst exchanged passes with Kanu and tried to thread the ball into the left channel for Pires to run on to. The Dutchman's pass was wayward but Paul Telfer made a hash of his first touch and the ball rolled invitingly for Pires, 25 yards out on the corner of the penalty area. Without breaking stride the French star clipped the ball up and over Paul Jones and into the net.

That completed Pires' hat-trick but he did not go home with the match ball because Jermaine Pennant also notched a treble on his first start for the Club. It remains the only Premier League fixture in which two players from the same side have scored hat-tricks.

hoyte

原帖由 中場指揮官 於 2009-6-26  10:40 PM 發表
http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/images/jun_09/gun__1245937608_ggg26.jpg

GGG26: Kanu v Middlesbrough, 1999

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

K ...

呢球正呀喂!

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GGG21: Adebayor v Tottenham Hotspur, 2007

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Maybe it’s unsurprising that goals against Tottenham have featured so prominently in our countdown. But this Emmanuel Adebayor volley, which scoops No 21, would be worthy of its place regardless of the opposition.

Arsenal had won five of their opening six games in 2007/08 when they travelled to White Hart Lane on September 15. But the rampant Gunners were rocked on their heels when Gareth Bale handed the hosts a 15th-minute lead.

Adebayor finally forced the equaliser just past the hour and Cesc Fabregas edged Arsène Wenger’s side in to the lead with 10 minutes remaining. Of course Spurs chucked everything, kitchen sink included, at Arsenal in search of a late equaliser but Adebayor’s unstoppable second secured all three points in stoppage time.

Tomas Rosicky started the move by winning possession just outside the Gunners’ penalty area. The midfielder scampered forward, played a neat one-two with Adebayor, before playing in Denilson down the right-hand side. Perhaps the Brazilian should have scored when one-on-one with Paul Robinson but the England No 1 denied him with his feet.

However, the save ricocheted only as far as Fabregas 45 yards from goal. The Spaniard spotted Adebayor lurking on the edge of the area and found him with a low, bouncing ball.

The Togolese’s cushioned first touch sent the ball seven feet into the air and, as it dropped, he arrowed a swiveling volley into the top corner.

Game, set and match Arsenal.

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GGG20: Charlie George v Liverpool, 1971

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

We're into the top 20 and what better way to start than with one of the most famous strikes in Arsenal's history.

Anyone who knows their Arsenal history understands the significance of Charlie George's Wembley winner in 1971. His strike clinched FA Cup glory and, with it, the Club's first Double.

It came at the end of a gruelling Final on a baking hot day at the old stadium. Liverpool had taken the lead in extra time through Steve Heighway but Eddie Kelly's scrambled equaliser left Arsenal still in with a shout of the Double.

As the final minutes ticked away, John Radford headed a long pass into the path of George. He returned the ball to Radford, who moved towards the Liverpool penalty area before cutting in and rolling a short pass towards George. The local lad took one touch to set himself and, from 20 yards, arrowed a fierce shot past Ray Clemence.

As the ball hit the back of Liverpool's net, the Arsenal fans erupted with joy while George sank to the Wembley turf and lay on his back with his arms outstretched. His celebration remains one of the FA Cup's most iconic images.

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GGG19: Liam Brady v Tottenham Hotspur, 1978

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

"Look at that! Oh, look at that!" Those words, screamed by commentator John Motson, greeted the strike which is ranked at No 19 in our list of the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals.

Liam Brady was the scorer and one wonders if he ever struck a ball as sweetly as he did on that famous day at White Hart Lane in 1978. The Irishman's effort capped a wonderful 5-0 win for Arsenal and even overshadowed Alan Sunderland's hat-trick in the same game.

Brady's goal came in the second half. Arsenal had launched an attack down the right-hand side but Spurs smuggled the ball away from their penalty area. Peter Taylor picked up possession 25 yards from his own goal and tried to turn away from Brady as he came charging in from midfield to make a challenge.

Brady won the ball cleanly and advanced to the edge of the box before looking up and striking across the ball with his left foot. That made his fierce shot curl from right to left and find the top corner. The Spurs goalkeeper, Mark Kendall, didn't stand a chance.

The scorer ran to the travelling Arsenal fans, packed behind that same goal, to receive their acclaim. This was Brady at his brilliant best and he would end that season as the PFA  Player of the Year.

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GGG18: Kanu v Chelsea, October 1999

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Our countdown continues with a goal that was quintessentially Kanu.

The Nigerian has already appeared in our top 50 with a cheeky backheel but this scaled new heights of audacity.

The goal itself was astonishing but the circumstances made it even better. Kanu had already dragged Arsenal back from the abyss at Stamford Bridge with two late strike. Then he completed a 15-minute hat-trick in stoppage time to snatch an unlikely win in the pouring rain.

Marc Overmars' interception started the decisive move and the Dutchman found Davor Suker as Arsenal broke at pace. Kanu had drifted out left but Suker's pass was woefully overhit and the attack looked certain to break down.

Kanu had other ideas. The Nigerian chased down a seemingly lost cause and got lucky as Albert Ferrer's attempted clearance cannoned off him and towards the Chelsea byline where it held up on a sodden pitch.

The Chelsea goalkeeper Ed de Goey raced off his line and out of his area to confront Kanu. Most players would have squared the ball - Overmars and Suker were both screaming for a pass - but Kanu refused to play the percentages. He took De Goey out of the game with one slick turn and defied a narrow angle to lash the ball into the top corner of the net over the despairing leap of Frank Leboeuf.

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GGG17: Ljungberg v Chelsea, 2002

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

It might be harsh on Ray Parlour but some people describe the 2002 FA Cup showpiece as 'Freddie's Final'. You can understand why.

Ljungberg was at the peak of his powers that year and was enjoying a real purple patch as Arsenal chased Double glory. He scored the goals which kept the title in sight following Robert Pires' serious injury and became the new fans' favourite as a result. And so it was that the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff - and the pubs around the ground - were littered with Arsenal fans sporting a red streak in their hair, in honour of Freddie's distinctive barnet.

The Swede did not let his adoring fans down. Ten minutes remained of the 2002 Final and Arsenal led Chelsea thanks to Parlour's spectacular strike. Then Freddie stepped up to clinch the Cup in style.

A poor touch from Eidur Gudjohnsen gifted possession to Edu and he found Ljungberg just inside his own half. The Swede motored forward and, spotting that the Chelsea back four were playing a high line, accelerated towards the space behind them.

John Terry spotted the danger too late and Ljungberg outpaced the England defender before shrugging off his desperate challenge. Freddie steadied himself, looked up and, with defenders closing in, curled a sumptuous effort beyond Carlo Cudicini and into the corner.

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GGG16: Rocastle v Manchester United, 1991

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

If ever a goal encapsulated the all-round quality of David Rocastle, this was it.

'Rocky' was enjoying a renaissance in the Arsenal side in 1991/92 after falling out of favour the previous season. George Graham had dropped the England international following a dip of form but, after playing no more than a bit-part role in the 1991 title triumph, the dashing midfielder was resurgent in a central role.

He proved that on one of the biggest stages of all - Old Trafford.

This League game was goalless when Rocastle beat Neil Webb to a bouncing ball in the centre circle and stormed forward. The Arsenal man used his brawn to see off a hefty challenge from Ince before evading Bryan Robson with a nifty stepover, long before Cristiano Ronaldo was churning them out in Manchester.

Then Rocastle's brain took over. He looked up, spotted Peter Schmeichel just off his line and floated a delightful chip over the goalkeeper from 25 yards. 'Rocky' had a decent slice of luck when the ball hit the crossbar and bounced in off Schmeichel but he had earned it. This was vintage Rocastle.

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GGG15: Henry v Tottenham Hotspur, 2002

It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans.

Thierry Henry makes his sixth mark on our countdown with yet another glimpse of his unrivalled guile.

Arsène Wenger’s side of the late nineties and early noughties was synonymous with the art of sweeping counter-attacks. Usually they involved more than one player, but this time the Frenchman did it all by himself.

And as if the strike wasn’t impressive enough, the opponents were Tottenham.

Henry had only scored once in the previous seven games but lacking in confidence he was not. In the 13th minute, the rapid striker collected Patrick Vieira headed clearance a good 20 yards inside Arsenal’s half.

With Matthew Etherington in close proximity, Henry burst forward, eventually shrugging off the Spurs man just past the half-way line.

Now he had the back-four to contend with. But as they backed off, the striker continued his forward surge. Stephen Carr’s rather feeble challenge was easily sidestepped by the Frenchman and, after another touch with his right foot, Henry slotted his effort past Kacey Keller from just inside the area.

Despite the endeavours of the goal, the Frenchman still had enough left in the tank to celebrate with an almost pitch-length sprint and knee slide.

Certainly one of the very best in his bulging scrapbook.