Arshavin’s First Goal for Arsenal

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]