arsenal in quarters

i don't want to trump canadian gooner, but i can't be silent after this draw victory, so i'll change the time and sneak this in below him. what a game. i only saw the second half, but it was the most exciting half of arsenal football i've seen in years, and certainly the most exciting half of football i've seen since last year's liverpool comeback in the final against milan.

i, like canadian gooner, am increasingly freaked out by senderos, and i long for a stable campbell to re-enter the fold, but even with senderos' occassionally frightening moments i have to say that our back line is the best it has been all season. i hope wenger sees what he's got in flamini and doesn't rush clichy or cole back. for the first time all season we don't need them. beckham played well today for madrid, but flamini played even better, minimizing the beckham threat. and matthieu even stood up to a ruffled and angery zizou...and that's got to be hard to do for a lad who played his french football in marseille -- the home of zidane. toure is a rock. not much else to say there, and eboue has been a stellar replacement for lauren since returning from the african nation's cup. he is a younger version of lauren, and his play has been inspired.

as for the rest of the praise our team is due, i'll make it quick: hleb was marvelous (man of the match really), and he is going to be an arsenal great (plus, he's finally picking up the arsenal rhythm and passing the ball. he no longer lingers, and that's a good thing). freddie was great again; he's found his wind and he's using it. cesc is another future great...i hope we can hold onto him. reyes was tireless and for a pretty boy he sure works hard. i love him more and more all the time. and then there's henry's brilliance. he's surrounded by five white shirts, all by himself, and he almost scores from the edge of the 18 yard box. god i love him. and i can't forget jens at the other end. what a save at the death to keep us in it.

wow. i am so spent.

the last thing i want to say is well done arsene. you've weathered the storm. you've stuck with our boys and let them mature. you've fought through an awful bout of injuries, and you never panicked. i don't care what else we do this season, i am happy with 2005-2006. and your tactics today, switching to the 4-5-1 when you brought on pires were impeccable. shut down the midfield, shift to the counter attack, and hold off real. i can't wait to see us firing on all cylinders next year. we are going to be deadly.