The Future Arsenal Legend - Thierry Henry Arrives.
Season 1999-2000.
In the summer of 1999, it appeared that the Marble Halls at Highbury had been fitted with Revolving Doors.
Out went - Nicolas Anelka - Rémi Garde - Diawarra - Luis Boa Morte & the ever reliable, Steve Bould.
In came - Davor Suker - Sylvinho - Stefan Molz - Maurico Volz - Oleg Luzhny & Thierry Henry.
Jermaine Pennant.
Davor Suker.
Arsenal also changed their shirt sponsors from JVC to Sega.
The £21m Arsenal received from Real Madrid for Anelka, allegedly, paid for the new State of the Art Training Complex.
Everyone has their price.
Charity Shield.
The season started with Arsenal beating Man Utd 2-1 in the Charity Shield at the soon to be demolished Wembley stadium.
This game was memorable for my Grandson, as it was his first time at an Arsenal game.
Although he was only 5 years old, I wanted him to be able to say he’d been to the Original Wembley stadium.
It was also the first time that he heard the word ”Wanker “.
An Arsenal Fan near us was using it when shouting at Teddy Sheringham, who was holding up 3 fingers to denote United’s treble the previous season.
My Grandson asked his Nan what the word meant, she told him to “ask Grandad”.
When he asked me, I replied that “it’s someone from Manchester”.
For many years we dreaded him meeting a proper Manc
and asking if they were a Wanker!!
Grandson is in.
His first match ticket.
I’d also sold my Arsenal Bond in the summer and only started going occasionally.
Although, I did go to see Thierry Henry for the first time playing against Bradford City.
Jimmy B still goes though.
League.
Match ticket vs Bradford City.
In September, Suker scored his first goal at Highbury against Aston Villa and Henry got his first at Southampton.
Keown & Ljungberg were both sent off against the team from the Lane when Arsenal lost 2-1.
Vieira was sent off at West Ham for kicking Paulo Di Canio. He couldn’t stop him scoring both of their goals though, as Arsenal lost 2-0.
Oleg Luzhny also got sent off at Wimbledon.
Thierry Henry against Leicester at Highbury.
Keane and Vieira exchange opinions at Highbury.
Davor Suker celebrates his 2 goals against Aston Villa.
18 points behind the Champions Man Utd.
League Cup.
Arsenal beat Preston 2-1 in the 3rd round and then drew 2-2 at Middlesbrough before losing on penalties 5-1 in the 4th round.
FA Cup.
Arsenal beat Blackpool 3-1 in the 3rd round and then drew 0-0 at Leicester before losing on penalties 6-5 in the 4th round.
Champions League.
Arsenal started their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Fiorentina in Florence.
Kanu missed a late penalty.
Arsenal beat AIK Solna 3-1 at Wembley.
Freddie Ljungberg scores the first goal vs AIK.
Arsenal then went to Barcelona and got a well deserved 1-1 draw, despite Giles Grimandi getting sent off.
I watched this game at 4am with Kenny H, in his house, while I was on holiday in Australia.
Although some of the Old North Bank boys, including, Hoyboy - Granty - Spooky travelled to this game where Charlie Mc had arranged a Private box for them all.
Nice View of teams coming out in the Nou Camp.
Henry helps Kanu celebrate his goal.
Grimandi gets sent off.
Suker celebrates Kanu’s goal and gets abuse from Barca fans.
Being an ex Real Madrid player didn’t help.
Arsenal were then heavily beaten 4-2 by Barcelona in the return match at Wembley.
The Fiorentina legend, Gabrielle (Batigoal) Battistuta, scored the only goal as Fiorentina won at Wembley 1-0, to knock Arsenal out of the Champions League.
I’m in.
So are some Old North Bank Boys.
70,000 Gooners are in.
Teams line up.
Unfortunately, Batigol put one in.
In my opinion this was probably the best Arsenal team I’d ever seen, containing at least 6 World Class players and they couldn’t get out of the group.
So disappointing !!
This meant Arsenal would now play in the UEFA Cup.
They entered this competition in the 3rd round and won the 1st Leg game away against Nantes 3-0,
then, incredibly, drew the 2nd Leg 3-3.
In the 4th round Arsenal beat Deportivo la Coruna 5-1 at Highbury and lost the away Leg 2-1.
I’m in - Downstairs now.
In the 5th round 1st Leg Arsenal beat Werder Bremen 2-0 at Highbury and progressed to the semifinals despite loosing the 2nd Leg 4-2.
Downstairs again.
In the semifinals Arsenal beat Lens 1-0 at Highbury and won the 2nd Leg 2-1 in France.
In the Final in Copenhagen, where there was some serious fighting between the rival fans before the game, Arsenal drew 0-0 with Galatasaray and then lost the penalty shootout 4-1.
This meant that Arsenal had been beaten in every Cup Competition on a penalty shootout.
Add the one Kanu missed against Fiorentina and Arsenal had certainly paid a heavy penalty for these missed opportunities.
On December 17th 1999, the Legend that was JC, departed this world after a heart attack.
He’s still greatly missed after all these years by all his family and friends.
Teddy Taylor & JC - Gone but never forgotten.
Next Post - Friday 19/6/2020.
Next Generation Emerges.
Comments/Questions - oldgunnersandgooners@gmail.com
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