CARLING PREMIER LEAGUE.
Leicester City v Arsenal 4th. December. 1999. 11.30am
Leicester (0) 0 Arsenal (1) 3 FT
Grimandi
23
Dixon
53
Overmars
75
City Caught Napping
Peter Gilbert 4..12.99
At half time you could almost hear the rollocking that Martin
was dishing out to the lads after a particularly inept first half
that had taken almost 5 mins. for them to get a touch of the ball
and even then our first touch belonged to Tim Flowers taking a
goal kick after a Overmars shot.
I had begun to forgive them the fact that I hadn't got in until
1.00am, had got up in the dark, had driven through a blizzard
in the Pennines to arrive in a sunny but cold Leicester. Pre match
talk was still focussed on 'The gang of Four' - if they stay Martin
and the good players will go although there will be overtures
made.
We could have taken the lead in fact when Matt Elliott got a header
on target from a corner but Dixon was on patrol and he headed
clear. Shortly afterwards Arsenal had a corner. It was taken by
Petit and another Frenchman Giles Grimandi rose unchallenged and
headed it neatly into the onion bag for a successful French Connection.
Our midfield players argued with the defenders who blamed the
'keeper who glared back, the fact was though; the marking was
slack and all blue shirted players were guilty of non reaction.
It was hard to pick out a player who was performing well in a
City shirt. The team in general seemed to operate like bribed
men, it was a sickeningly poor effort.
Arsenal though had half their team out but still managed to ooze
class and quality which doesn't make the defeat any easier to
cope with.
The second half started as if Martin had done the trick and his
players certainly seemed inspired with Lennon having a shot saved
after good work from Izzett directly from kick off.
Cottee too went close- hitting the side netting much to Arsenal's
relief. The best chance however fell to Impey who ran on to a
ball in the box but even though he was unmarked, his first touch
which should have been a shot was inept and the ball slipped from
his control and into the grateful hands of Manninger in the Arsenal
goal.
Then what do you think happened after our little spell of pressure?
That's right - Arsenal went up the other end, Henry 'nutmegged'
Savage, crossed the ball and Dixon popped up to knock in a second
from close range.
Martin (cursed by The Manager of the Month Award) fiddled constantly
with tactics and the shape of the team in an effort to get hold
of the ball and cut out Arsenal's quick witted short passing game
which frankly left us flat footed and our Jekyll and Hyde personality
reared it's ugly head.
Even Emile, who had received an award for 'goal of the month'
before the kick-off appeared to have left his persona in bed for
this 11.30 KO to disaster.
Arsenal popped up for another goal after Henry,Overmars and Kanu
had taunted our defenders into psychological submission and the
little Dutchman placed the ball neatly past Tim Flowers.
After that it was a feat of staying power and I for one have never
been so tempted to leave a game early. I toyed with the idea of
abusing a security man and being evicted for my trouble, but they
were too busy counselling small children in Leicester kit.
We came away with the same points, the same position and the same
team that started to gain the away win last week. Sadly though
we never looked in it today......we could say we were beaten by
a better team or that we are forever condemned to be 'mid table,
but the talk on the street afterwards was 'Oh well it was just
one of those days.' We'll be back, we are LEICESTER CITY !!!!!!!!!!
Leicester: Flowers, Sinclair, Taggart, Elliott, Impey (Marshall,
67), Izzet, Lennon, Savage (Oakes, 76), Guppy, Heskey, Cottee
(Zagorakis, 82).
Subs not used: Walsh, Arphexad.
Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Adams, Upson (Vivas, 12), Winterburn, Silvinho (Hughes, 65), Grimandi, Petit, Overmars, Kanu, Henry (Barrett, 89).
Subs not used: Suker, Lukic.
Booked: Grimandi.
Attendance: 20,495.
Referee: D Gallagher
