Football’s Greatest Goals No.55
This week’s ‘Greatest Goal’ was the epitome of football at Arsenal during Arsene Wenger’s time at the club. A quick, dazzling attack with slick passing and a composed finish.
The goal was scored by Jack Wilshire, but the player who scored was of little importance. It was the sublime build-up, with five one-touch passes before that encapsulated Wenger’s style. Previous players such as Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry provided some exceptional football during their time at the club – but this was sheer perfection.
The Spanish national team and Barcelona had started a similar brand of short passing and maintaining possession. It was given the name ‘Tiki-taka’ and was used to great effect from 2007. Spain won the World Cup and European Championship using the method and Wenger watched on, already working out how he could imprint this style onto his Arsenal team.
On Saturday 19th October 2013, Arsenal hosted Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium. 18 minutes in, Arsene Wenger’s dream came true as his Arsenal side scored the dream goal. It won the BBC’s ‘Match of the Day Goal of the Season Award’ and rightly so.
Jack Wilshere started the move ten yards outside the Arsenal penalty area. He took the ball forward, beat a Norwich player before laying the ball out wide to left back Kieran Gibbs.
Gibbs took a touch before passing down the line to Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard dibbled infield towards the penalty area and played a quick one-two with Wilshere, who made a run towards goal.
Cazorla played a first-time ball to Olivier Giroud who was stood at the edge of the box. Giroud and Wilshere exchanged one-touch passes with each other between two Norwich defenders and suddenly Wilshere broke the Norwich offside trap and was in front of goal with only John Ruddy to beat.
Wilshere hit a delicately placed first time shot across Ruddy into the far corner of the net. The Norwich goalkeeper stood motionless, completely powerless to stop the shot.
Arsenal won the game 4-1 to go top of the Premier League. They finished the season in fourth place and Norwich were relegated, finishing three points off safety.
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