It was the first match of the season and after driving around for fifteen minutes finally we decided to try our luck at the McDonald's Drive Thru outlet near the Giant Hypermarket. We (Liverpool fan Mohd Hilmi and I) entered the outlet and as usual Gooners will always be outnumbered.
The match was already in its twentieth minute and there was no goal even though I found out later Thomas Vermaelen already had a screamer pushed away by Pepe Reina. As we settled down in our seats Arsenal looked the more threatening even though the home side managed to hit back on quick counter-attack on a number of occasions.
Then Joe Cole in his first appearance in the Premier League in the red colour of the Merseyside club was flashed the card in the same colour of his kit for a high tackle on Arsenal debutant Laurent Koscielny. The incident happened when the first half was just about to end.
It did not give me any joy the numerical advantage that Arsenal would have in the second half as the opponent would be more defensive which in turn would restrict the Gunners from playing in their usual style.
Arsene Wenger must have feared the worst when almost right from the start Liverpool took the lead. Jack Wilshere misread a pass and the ball went to Javier Mascherano who released David Ngog who unleashed a shot that beat Manuel Almunia at his near post, much to the chagrin of Arsenal fans around the world who now feel a world class goalkeeper is really needed in order to really challenge for honours this season.
With having scored the lead, it seemed Liverpool would be content to sit back and soak the pressure and tried to hit back on the counter. The introduction of Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie underlined the Gunners determination to salvage something from the match.
Maruone Chamakh had a good outing and had a continuing battle with Jaime Carragher. Most of the time the former Everton fan managed to get the better of the Morrocans but in the end Chamakh played a vital role in saving a point for his side.
Perhaps the sun got into his eyes when he flapped the high ball and Chamakh managed to divert his header towards goal. However it hit the post and Reina dived for the loose ball a-la catching a chicken for a 'kenduri' (feast). Unfortunately the chicken got away and left all the eggs on the Spanish number two's face.
It will remain as one of the funniest goal ever scored or conceded in the Premier League, cementing Reina's name in the English league folklore, perhaps befitting the prank he and Puyol pull on Cesc Fabregas during Spain celebration after winning the World Cup last month.
Overall it was a good match and the result was fair for both sets of fans. Hopefully Arsene boys will get it right against Blackpool at the Emirates on Saturday in their first home match of the season. More on that later.
And Hilmi, thanks for the McChicken!
The match was already in its twentieth minute and there was no goal even though I found out later Thomas Vermaelen already had a screamer pushed away by Pepe Reina. As we settled down in our seats Arsenal looked the more threatening even though the home side managed to hit back on quick counter-attack on a number of occasions.
Then Joe Cole in his first appearance in the Premier League in the red colour of the Merseyside club was flashed the card in the same colour of his kit for a high tackle on Arsenal debutant Laurent Koscielny. The incident happened when the first half was just about to end.
It did not give me any joy the numerical advantage that Arsenal would have in the second half as the opponent would be more defensive which in turn would restrict the Gunners from playing in their usual style.
Arsene Wenger must have feared the worst when almost right from the start Liverpool took the lead. Jack Wilshere misread a pass and the ball went to Javier Mascherano who released David Ngog who unleashed a shot that beat Manuel Almunia at his near post, much to the chagrin of Arsenal fans around the world who now feel a world class goalkeeper is really needed in order to really challenge for honours this season.
With having scored the lead, it seemed Liverpool would be content to sit back and soak the pressure and tried to hit back on the counter. The introduction of Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie underlined the Gunners determination to salvage something from the match.
Maruone Chamakh had a good outing and had a continuing battle with Jaime Carragher. Most of the time the former Everton fan managed to get the better of the Morrocans but in the end Chamakh played a vital role in saving a point for his side.
Perhaps the sun got into his eyes when he flapped the high ball and Chamakh managed to divert his header towards goal. However it hit the post and Reina dived for the loose ball a-la catching a chicken for a 'kenduri' (feast). Unfortunately the chicken got away and left all the eggs on the Spanish number two's face.
It will remain as one of the funniest goal ever scored or conceded in the Premier League, cementing Reina's name in the English league folklore, perhaps befitting the prank he and Puyol pull on Cesc Fabregas during Spain celebration after winning the World Cup last month.
Overall it was a good match and the result was fair for both sets of fans. Hopefully Arsene boys will get it right against Blackpool at the Emirates on Saturday in their first home match of the season. More on that later.
And Hilmi, thanks for the McChicken!
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