Soccer Scene Gunners rattle O’Leary for Champions League

By Joe Behan

You have to hand it to Arsenal. The Gunners will simply not be shot down. By beating Leeds United 2-1 the most precious of club tournaments, the Champions League returns to Highbury Road. Leeds United’s David O’Leary, a 20-year veteran with Arsenal, wasn’t too happy about how the Gunners manhandled his boys, but he’ll have to get over that very fast.

O’Leary’s return to Highbury, his home away from home as a player, was the perfect preparation for the champs’ semi against Valencia. As we all know there are no friends in football, and for Big Dave’s return to Highbury there was no family. Before the Leeds game against Valencia, it did seem that Leeds would have to win the Champs Final to qualify for next year.

While we know better not to write off Leeds, Liverpool now look favorites for that third CL spot. Nonetheless, the ex-Arsenal player was not greeted with open arms on and off the field. Some of the crowd got stuck into O’Leary while Martin Keown worked the players on the field.

After the game, the Leeds boss was hoping the FA would look into two incidents that occurred during the game. Thrashing elbows by Keown on Lee Bowyer and Mark Viduka’s retaliation were ugly. Sadly, it may take an on-field fatality for the violence to disappear. The ideology of attempting to scratch the violent element in the game would indeed evolve the sport. It starts with the game’s philosophy.

The referees are in there with monsters at this time of the year. Too often we see players making public statements. What happened to strictly soccer? It is doubtful that the result will be changed. O’Leary knows that. There was one delightful moment when Thierry Henry showed a touch of class in the 17th minute to open the scoring for the Gunners.

Arsenal’s boss, Arsene Wenger, admitted it was a tough game. He also reminded us how physical Leeds can be, especially up top. Regardless, he knows now that his side finish in the top three with guaranteed Champions League.

Leeds have home advantage in their remaining EPL games, but that Highbury defeat is a soccer lesson for O’Leary and Leeds.

There are other forces besides the Gunners at work to stop Leeds in the Champions League. There is, of course, Liverpool, who beat Newcastle, 3-0, with Michael Owen kicking in with a hat trick.

Liverpool 3 Newcastle United 0

Michael Owen, like Arsenal, will not go away. His threesome puts him firmly back on track to become the striker he is meant to be. His second hat trick of the season puts him on 19, right up there with the best; he may well not be finished. With Leeds losing and if Liverpool beat Chelsea at Anfield, the Reds may become super again. That Chelsea win would send them into their cup double efforts with Champions League secured.

There is so much to play for at Anfield Road these days. Owen’s goals have set the finale for Liverpool to become clear candidates for soccer scene team of the year.

The Newcastle lesson was Owen’s quickness and smarts. He will not be denied a place in the FA Cup next Saturday. He reminded his boss, Gerard Houllier, of his goals when he threw him the match ball after the game. Liverpool are flying, winning their last six games and losing only one in their last 16 premier clashes.

Patrik Berger appeared on the field to make Owen’s second goal. Robbie Fowler hit a lovely long ball sending Owen to finish his third and destroying the Castle. Liverpool’s attack is potent, and the Reds are putting some serious stuff together. Ipswich joins Liverpool in pushing Leeds all the way for Champs League status. While Liverpool wait, Arsenal were not the only ones claiming next season’s future, Coventry City were at it too but going in the wrong direction.

Aston Villa 3, Coventry 2

Mustapha Hadji’s brace was not enough to keep Coventry in the Premiership. Aston Villa came back and scored three goals to win 3-2, thus sinking the Sky Blues into Div. 1 football. It was Paul Merson who put the winner away for Villa, keeping the club somewhat respectable this season.

For Coventry, Merson’s goal ended over 30 years of City playing top-level ball. Talk of losing major books at the club is extremely important; talk of a superb 34 years of great service to the game is more so. Coventry is a great football club and once they keep their youth policy they will be back.

Irish support are concerned that their center half, Gary Breen, is taking the drop he could do without. If he gets back into premiership in one season with Coventry, then he will have proven himself. His selection continues for Ireland and, hopefully, it continues for Coventry. It is unlikely that a premier team will look to buy him.

Coventry will be one of the more interesting teams to keep an eye on, especially for the Irish. In the end, it does not come as a shock as Coventry has been struggling for quite some time with the relegation zone.

Roundup

Middlesbrough scored a dramatic equalizer in the 81st against Bradford. Boro look favorites to avoid the drop. Chelsea defeated Everton 2-1 with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring yet again; looks like Ranieri stays on as Vialli goes to Watford. Derby had a great 1-nil win over Manchester United making life difficult for Manchester City to stay alive in the premier.

Also, Sunderland beat Charlton Athletic 3-2 with Niall Quinn hitting the net. West Ham knocked Southampton for 3 with top-notch Hammers getting on the scoresheet: Cole, Di Canio and Kanoute. Leicester beat Spurs 4-2, making Glen Hoddle’s arrival at Tottenham not so Hotspur.