Greatest Own Goals of All-Time No.10
This week’s ‘Greatest Own Goal’ comes from the Arsenal right back Lauren in a league match away to Manchester City in August 2003. The Cameroon international managed to find the back of the net with his weaker foot in one of the first games in Arsenal’s Invincible season.
Ten minutes into the game, Manchester City defender Michael Tarnat hit a long and hopeful high ball upfield for left winger Trevor Sinclair to chase.
Lauren stood in between Sinclair and the ball and both players began chasing after Tarnat’s through ball. The Cameroonian had about a ten yard head start on Sinclair but the City man didn’t give up without a fight.
Sinclair closed in on the Arsenal defender and clearly worried the right back, who took a poor first touch on the edge of the penalty area. He probably should have knocked the ball back to his goalkeeper Jens Lehmann to clear the danger but it seemed as if he thought he could get rid of the danger himself.
After Lauren had slowed down to control the ball, Sinclair was now right on Lauren’s back and the two tussled for the ball. The City man managed to knock the Arsenal man slightly off balance with a slight shove and Lauren stumbled forward and swiped his left leg at the ball. He watched on in horror as the ball hit his shin and ended up in the far corner of the net.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, stood close by and watched on in despair, perhaps wondering what he had let himself in for. He needn’t have worried though as the team went on to win 2-1 to save Lauren’s blushes thanks to second half goals from Sylvain Wiltord and Freddie Ljungberg.
Arsenal ended the season unbeaten and the squad became known as The Invincibles. Manchester City finished the season in 16th place, eight points off relegation.
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