Andrei Arshavin’s first goal for Arsenal is worthy of being Andrei Arshavin’s first goal for Arsenal. The video is taking forever to load, but it’s worth the wait.
I’m working through some ideas on the manifold and scary question of whether Manchester United are boring now, but this had to go up right away. I hadn’t recognized this trait before, but the way Arshavin finds depth in a flat plane is absolutely characteristic of his style—there’s no angle too tight; the byline is useless as an aid to the defender. Instant reminder of his shocking cross to set up Torbinski’s extra-time goal in the Euro 2008 game against Holland. (The 53-second mark here.)
[via Dirty Tackle]
Read More: Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal
by Brian Phillips · March 14, 2009
“How to Humiliate a Defense” by Andrei Arshavin.
It’s the hesitation step just after that juke to the right that does it. Fair warms your heart, does that…
Irrelevant sidenote: these clips always seem better with French commentators; the way they have no compunction talking over each other in the excitement makes it seem all the more exciting, somehow. More unruly.
Even more irrelevant sidenote: Arshavin really looks like the French singer Camille.
What’s really interesting is that this isn’t a display of transcendent physical talents. It’s a display of enormous chutzpah and contrarian wisdom.
Pretty much anybody in the league could run down that ball, bring it up the side and then strike the ball that way.
It’s just that very few others would actually attempt to do so – because it’s not supposed to work like that.
Great, great goal.
Wenger noted that Arshavin had received four stitches in a deep cut on his left foot at halftime and had to change boots; he runs to hug the physio who patched him up after he scores (something of a growing Arsenal tradition, hugging the doctor).
Wow, amazing goal. Its always nice to see an unpredictable strike like that. You see someone arrive in the midfield (I think its Bentner) and you would assume that he would cross the ball neatly to the arriving player. Instead he decides to work a tight angle and strikes the ball beautifully.
I am so happy Arsenal shelled out the extra 2 million pounds for him.
That’s how you beat the keeper from a tight angle!
Ted- Incidentallly, Eboue’s celebration was actually a piece of interpretative dance symbolising arthroscopic surgery.
The touchline run reminded of Robben, but at a graceful pace that caused the outside back to set a pick against his own teammate the central defender.
I predict we will see a similar move soon, but the center back will tackle his own player.
Imagine what this kid will be able to do once he hits puberty!
And of course it makes no never mind that Robinson is a burned out husk of the keeper he used to be?
I’m not trying to take anything away from AA but crikey did Paul play that poorly.
Well…the sequence would have been impressive had there been no goalkeeper at all, so I don’t think it makes that much difference that Robinson guessed he was going to cross instead of shoot. Part of the reason he played it so poorly was that Arshavin created a situation in which it was really hard to know what he would do.
Robinson has his fair share of gaffes, but so does Van der Saar. The press really has put him in the crosshairs, even though he is a solid keeper. I really think a player’s facial expressions can deceive – everyone thinks Robinho is a free wheeling, smiling, dancing Pele, when I think he is a competitive and selfish prima donna (more so than the usual).
Conversely, Robinson’s facial expression brings to mind Charlie Brown, but I think he handles his box as well as anyone. His defenders left him alone in a desert with a carton of milk with his face on it – what can you expect?
I’m not sure I buy that – looking at the replay, there were two defenders covering the 6 yard box – I think Robbo could’ve made a more aggressive play.
I know – it’s easy for me to sit on my duff and critique. Honestly, I don’t think Paul is as bad as everyone makes out but he’s come off the form he had a few years back.
Speaking of facial expressions, AA was quite the clown after he slotted that one home.
50 career goals conceded to Arsenal by Robinson. Expanding the critique would only serve to diminish the accomplishment.
A fantastic goal. This is a player I knew little about before he came to Arsenal. I have made a point of watching Arsenal matches since signing him, because I wanted to see what this 14 million pounds bought. I have to say, I like Arshavin. I like his playing style, I like how he fits within the Gunners system and I like his creativity. This kid is going to be a VERY good player, if not a great player.
And yes, that goal is sick.
I just realized why I like this goal so much – Arshavin posterizes poor Robbo. Robbo now knows how Erick Dampier feels.
I don’t know if you guys saw Arshavin’s second goal in the Emirates Cup game vs. Atletico today, but “finding depth in a flat plane” just about sums it up. I’m still trying to work out how he’s done it.
I have, and so am I. A very rough video is here (goal is around 2:00). Dealing with technical issues today, but if I can I’ll post a better video as soon as one appears.
Having seen a high-quality clip now, I’m even more puzzled than before. Drag coefficients, torque, and vectors of all kinds just don’t seem to add up to that ball going in the net from the by-line.
Does anyone else’s youtube go Aphex Twin schiz at 2.25 mark, just as Arshavin enters the box? I like to think the video itself is trying to comprehend the goal.
But alternatively I may just have a shitty computer.