Reyes of hope !

Coming off the bench Jose Reyes scored a brace in the second half to keep our hopes of European play next season alive!

Another important win yesterday night leaves us with everything to play for in the last ever game to be played at Highbury against Wigan come Sunday. That everythinig includes, Champions’ league qualification, retaining our pride by winning over our enemy spurs in the race to fourth place and above all - victory in the last game at Highbury.

A goal from Freddie and two from Reyes saw us leave Manchester with 3 more crucial points that shall well be enough for a Champions league place in case West Ham snatch two points from Spurs on Sunday AND we win against Wigan.

As reported earlier Cole started for the first time since 7 months while Hleb, Reyes, Freddie Ljungberg, Gilberto and Van Persie were the absentees from Sunderland that returned in the line-up.

The game was hardly any appealing until when in the 20 minute Van Persie struck the bar but had been ruled offside before the shot. Then Sol made a block from Georgios Samaras in the 21st minute. Then at the half hour we broke the deadlock. Henry after controlling a pass moved square but in the process threaded a pass to Ljungberg who took one touch before steering the ball towards the inside of James’ left-post to make it 1-0 Arsenal. At that moment a smooth victory looked assured. But not so the case to be! By another 8 minutes City had drawn level with us with a scrappy goal from a set piece.

Joey Barton took a corner which went to Sinclair, who headed the ball towards the goal for Sommeil to equalize. The goal gave a balance to the match and City reasons to be optimistic. However, the magnitude of this match was clear to every Gunner and chances began to be created immediately. From a Henry corner when unmarked Sol should have scored he nodded wide

From a Henry corner unmarked Sol nodded wide when he should have scored. Very soon Henry after dribbling past three city defenders gave the ball to RVP. He intelligently laid it back for Henry in the area to see the captain uncharacteristically send it wide past the post when he should have at least tested James. So that was to be before half-time.

We started the second half well and could have taken the lead again within a minute from the restart if James wouldn’t have saved Persie’ shot. Soon it became quite an affair as City looked determined to gain something out of the game whilst we couldn’t settle for less than a win to remain in the reckoning for the fourth place. We had to step up the pressure. Henry sent Freddie clear in the area on the left in 53rd minute when Freddie went for it only to see his shot hit the post. At the other end Eboue saved a shot from Albert Riera. James again saved from RVP. Campbell stopped Vassell in the area. Then Hleb let fly from distance before James guided the ball clear at the eleventh hour. At the other end Jens saved two headers from Richard Dunne & Micah Richards each. In the meantime Wenger had substituted Cesc in place of Song in the 58th minute. Later he brought Pires & Reyes in place of Hleb & Persie respectively in the 72 minute. The substitution or one can fresh legs paid off immediately. Pires sent the ever energetic Eboue down the right who after reaching the byline cut the ball back to find Reyes to whose side-footed shot James managed to get hands to but not a grasp before it squeezed past into the corner of the net. The Gunners had the lead again. Soon Henry after brilliant play with the ball on the left squared to Reyes who dispatched a fantastic shot into the top corner of the net to seal the match and precious three points for us at 3-1.

City had put up a fight but couldn’t stop us from winning. Spirited they were but not anxious enough as The Gunners.