On the pitch
GAME 22: ASTON VILLA 0-2 ARSENALJanuary 18, 2004
We went top of the table after Thierry Henry cheekily sidefooted home a free-kick in the 28th minute while Villa were still preparing their wall, and then, seven minutes after the break, Olof Mellberg fouled Kanu in the area and Henry slammed home a second from the spot.
It was just reward for a professional performance at one of the league’s in-form teams. With Dennis Bergkamp (calf), Sylvain Wiltord (ankle) and Jeremie Aliadiere (knee) all injured, Wenger started with his only two fit first-team strikers – Kanu and Henry.
It was a fast, open game right from the kick-off. Kanu was the first player to really threaten in the 11th minute when his cut-back from the byline deflected off the legs of Mellberg and rebounded into the side-netting.
Three minutes later Freddie Ljungberg fed the ball back to Pires just outside the corner of the Villa area, and he put all his power into a volley. It sailed over Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen and looked like dipping under the bar before the big Dane thrust out a hand to tip it over.
We were now starting to ease through the gears. Pires’ low drive from 25 yards forced Sorensen to save again, and then a flowing move ended with Henry’s goalbound shot being blocked by an outstretched Villa foot. Marcus Allback then went close before we went ahead with Henry’s quick free-kick.
Sorensen had to make a scrambling save from Henry a few minutes later but, apart from that, neither side threatened again before the break.
Henry kept his cool from the penalty spot on 53 minutes after Kanu was fouled in the box and we held on for a deserved three points.
Line-up: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Ljungberg (Parlour 77), Gilberto, Vieira, Pires (Edu 77), Kanu (Toure 77), Henry. Subs not used: Stack, Keown.
Where we stood
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Arsenal
22
15
7
0
42
14
52
Man Utd
22
16
2
4
40
15
50
Chelsea
22
14
4
4
40
17
46
Charlton
22
10
7
5
31
23
37
Liverpool
21
11
5
7
31
23
32
What the press said
“Whether or not Arsenal got a leg up to the Premiership summit, in two-goal Thierry Henry they had a striker whose answer to a thick lip was to kick the opposition in the teeth.” – Daily Mail
“Cheeky Boy Thierry Henry mugged Aston Villa as the Gunners extended their unbeaten run and shot back to the top of the Premiership.” – Daily Star
“There are some games on the often-rocky course to a league title where you simply have to forget the pretty football and just dig in and ride your luck and grind out a result. This was such a game for Arsenal.” – Daily Express
