IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED ,,,, ARSENAL TRIED AGAIN ,,, TO PERECTION

 NOTHING BUT SOCCER … (world class variety) ...

…. At first, he appeared stunned, head in hands ... after a player who 

was on the bench, with little chance of getting on the field, only 

minutes earlier had replaced a questionably-injured teammate and 

scored (for the first time in nine years) the game-tying goal on virtually 

the last play to give the home team at least a sense of success … 

which, until the final minutes, seemed outrageous, at best. Then, as he 

walked off the pitch, Manchester United coach MICHAEL 

CARRICK’sexpression changed to one of dark, if not desperate, 

determination. And ManU fans could only hope [cliché alert] heads 

will roll as a result.

Once again his defense let him down. Both Everton goals were set up 

directly by weak, errant attempts to clear … the second (by veteran 

NOUSSAIR MAHARRAMI going directly to recent addition

 AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES ,29, who cranked up a perfectly-

placed strike from outside the box.

Sorry about that, long-suffering ManU fans … but, in the aftermath, 

Carrick refused to [cliché alert] throw anyone under the bus. Instead, 

after repeating the obvious … saying he was “bitterly disappointed.” 

that the tie “felt like a defeat,” he said he was pleased by the play of 

veteran forward MARCUS RASHFORDas well as “BIG BEN” 

SESKO who used his size and height to head in what had all the 

makings of the game-winner two minutes before Maitland-Niles cost 

ManU two points in the standings for the second time in three games.

…. AS A COURTESY, you would think someone would tell JON 

CHAMPIONthe EPL games on NBC and affiliated networks are seen 

(and, presumably heard) ONLY in this country. Heck, we’re reminded 

several times During every telecast … So, w hy did Champion, during 

Sunday’s coverage of the Chelsea-at-Arsenal biggie, invite viewers to 

join him at some gathering coming up shortly in England?

Champion on Arsenal’s well-conceived trick play that finally worked 

and allowed MARTIN ODEGAARD to give the Gunners a 2-1 

victory:

“That is a goal conceived with the swagger of champions.”

A perfectly-executed, four-pass precision play of beauty came in the 

50th minute and actually was started by Odegaard, who came up with 

the ball from a multi-player scrum and quickly hit KAI HAVERTZ 

who turned and passed toRICCARDO CALIAFIORI who found

 CHRISTOS TZOLIS.

While the recent transfer from Club Brugge dribbled down the left 

side, teammates moved into apparently predetermined positions … 

some to assist Odegaard directly, others to draw attention away from 

him. 

Having given up the ball with the initial pass, Odegaard deliberately 

lagged behind Haivertz, who served as a perfect decoy by raising his 

right hand to signal he would be open … then stopped to form a 

perfect screen, facing the oncoming Tzolis, his back to defender

 MAXENCE LACROIX. 

The timing, start to finish, couldn’t been better. Odegaard suddenly 

picked up speed when Haivertz, unexpectedly, made no attempt to stop 

Tzolis’ pass, apparently intended for him.

Lacroix, playing tight on Haivertz (who scored the first Arsenal goal), 

was caught so off-guard that by the time he tealized what had 

happened, all he could do was turn and shake his head while Odegaard 

was ripping a point-blank shot on keeper 

It was a play designed in practice but the Gunners had attempted it 

earlier with no result. “At first, when you don’t succeed, try, try again,” 

said color commentator LEE DIXON.

“T

They tried it in first half, and it wasn’t settled right, and the chance was 

gone. This time it was perfect … another heartbreaker by Arsenal.”

This time we saw Odegaard motioning to a teammate and perhaps 

signaling why not try it again? Talk about perfect timing.

An ensuing goal kick by Chelsea resulted in a scrum that saw

 MORGANROGERS, who opened the scoring in the game’s first 

minute, grabbed, lifted up then thrown to the ground by the Gunners’

 KONAS but … referee CHRIS KAVANAUGH let play continue. 

Odegaard came up with ball … four passes and his perfect (there’s that 

word again) one-on-one shot – Argentina goalie EMELLIANO 

MARTINEZ never had a chance -- later the defending champions 

were atop the standings … at 3-0 for only the third time in club 

history.

Until next time ...