Nicosia Gooner
10-21-2013, 06:49 AM
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/aidan-ohara-wengers-v iew-summed-up-by-wilshere-goal-29676379.html (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/aidan-ohara-wengers-view-summed-up-by-wilshere-goal-29676379.html)
On Saturday, Arsenal put together a goal of such beauty that, for neutrals at least, made it almost irrelevant that they hadn't won a trophy in eight years. And in the 20 seconds from the point where the ball is intercepted to the moment when it hits the net, it encapsulated why Arsene Wenger's philosophy on football will never be forgotten – even if they never win anything again.
Winning with style is obviously the perfect combination but, like White or Garcia, there is always a place for the player or team that brings people to the edge of their seats for the chance that they might see something extraordinary, even if it isn't, ultimately, in pursuit of victory.
The Brazilian team of 1982 are still spoken about fondly with stories passed on from one generation of football lovers to the next about the genius of Zico, Socrates and Falcao. The 1994 version actually won the World Cup but, while Bebeto and Romario occasionally sparkled, no child was running outside pretending to be Dunga.
There are no trophies awarded in October but, after a fortnight which encompassed discussions ranging from the meaning of a nationality to potential racism surrounding space monkeys and on to the power of television punditry, it was refreshing to let a debate ranking the best goals of the weekend be the most controversial topic.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's volleyed back-heel was exceptional while the emergence onto YouTube of Stephanie Roche's control of a cross with her right foot, flick with her left and subsequent 20-yard volley into the top corner is certainly worthy of being in the conversation when it comes to goal of the season from any league in the world.
But while individual genius, obviously, requires just one person to shine, there's something about the synergy and perfection of a team goal such as Jack Wilshere's which makes it so exceptional.
In the end, there were four one-touch passes exchanged in a couple of seconds before a fifth first-time touch volleyed the ball into the corner. In the middle of it all there were three flicks and two one-twos that created a goal where, if it were created on a PlayStation, would have the scorer jumping around the living room.
On Saturday, Arsenal put together a goal of such beauty that, for neutrals at least, made it almost irrelevant that they hadn't won a trophy in eight years. And in the 20 seconds from the point where the ball is intercepted to the moment when it hits the net, it encapsulated why Arsene Wenger's philosophy on football will never be forgotten – even if they never win anything again.
Winning with style is obviously the perfect combination but, like White or Garcia, there is always a place for the player or team that brings people to the edge of their seats for the chance that they might see something extraordinary, even if it isn't, ultimately, in pursuit of victory.
The Brazilian team of 1982 are still spoken about fondly with stories passed on from one generation of football lovers to the next about the genius of Zico, Socrates and Falcao. The 1994 version actually won the World Cup but, while Bebeto and Romario occasionally sparkled, no child was running outside pretending to be Dunga.
There are no trophies awarded in October but, after a fortnight which encompassed discussions ranging from the meaning of a nationality to potential racism surrounding space monkeys and on to the power of television punditry, it was refreshing to let a debate ranking the best goals of the weekend be the most controversial topic.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's volleyed back-heel was exceptional while the emergence onto YouTube of Stephanie Roche's control of a cross with her right foot, flick with her left and subsequent 20-yard volley into the top corner is certainly worthy of being in the conversation when it comes to goal of the season from any league in the world.
But while individual genius, obviously, requires just one person to shine, there's something about the synergy and perfection of a team goal such as Jack Wilshere's which makes it so exceptional.
In the end, there were four one-touch passes exchanged in a couple of seconds before a fifth first-time touch volleyed the ball into the corner. In the middle of it all there were three flicks and two one-twos that created a goal where, if it were created on a PlayStation, would have the scorer jumping around the living room.