2004-05 Season: Just watched the DVD again...

Bring Back Pires · Post by **Bring Back Pires** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:03 pm

This happens to be my favourite season for some reason. I know we didn't win the league, but the football we played between the start of the season and the loss to Mike Riley at the end of October was immense. There was the 4-1 win at Everton on the opening day, the amazing 5-3 game against Middlesbrough, the 4-1 crushing at Carrow Road, the Henry back-flick included in the 4-0 demolition of Charlton, the defeat against Blackburn that equalled the unbeaten record of Nottingham Forest (42 games), and further victories against the likes of Aston Villa.

Even after the "defeat" to Man Utd, there's some quality football that's worthy of winning the league in any other season that Chelski didn't buy the title in. The 3-1 win against Villa in February '05 saw some of the best football ever played - culminating in Cole's amazing strike (our third). It's injustice that we didn't win the title.

Anyway, some random thoughts and memories...

- Had forgotten how good Reyes was that season. He scored a plethora of goals and had a healthy number of assists too. Despite his sub-par performances in the following season, it seems crazy that he was traded for Baptista. Just a shame that JAR didn't fancy staying in England, as he could've become a great player.

- Had also forgotten how influential Fabregas was at this stage. He was in the shadow of the likes of Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira, Pires, Ljungberg etc., but on reflection, made a big impact. Shame about his hair in the early stages!

- Senderos won Arsenal.com's player of the year in March 2005, and had a blinder against Man Ure in the FA Cup Final. I thought he was a top class player then, and still rate him now; sadly, he never became the world class defender he once threatened to be, and I'm not quite sure why that is.

- Odd to see Justin Hoyte playing at Highbury. Hadn't really noticed this, despite being at said match.

- Highbury is far superior to the Emirates (a direct response to the other thread active on here). When an important goal went in - such as Reyes' against Middlesbrough or Henry against Chelsea - the place was pandemonium. Despite an extra 22,000 at the soulless bowl, the atmosphere has never matched that of Highbury (on its best occasion). Fact.

- Bergkamp or Henry? I've had conversations with many as to whom is the best player in AFC history. The Arsenal.com poll won't shed any light, so I'm asking you guys - which is the best? I'm not denying that Bergkamp is pure class, but Henry seemed as though he could win games single-handedly. And often, did exactly that.

- 04/05 seemed like a quite recent season. Having watched three years on, it seems like a lifetime ago. And we STILL haven't won the league since, which quite frankly, isn't good enough.

On a side note, the 'Up for grabs now' DVD (ie. the match / documentary of the 2-0 win at Anfield) is available on Play.com for just 3.99. Seems like a worthy investment to me.

OT02 · Post by **OT02** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:28 pm

The commentry for Reyes' goal vs Boro still gives me goosebumps

hanny73 · Post by **hanny73** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:31 pm

On the subject of Reyes - why wasn't he in the Spainish squad for the Euros, is he injured or just out of favour?

Cesc is God · Post by **Cesc is God** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:59 pm

OT02 wrote:The commentry for Reyes' goal vs Boro still gives me goosebumps

... Here they come again... It's REYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Stand up for the Champions!

I love it!

EDIT: I've just watched all the goals on ATVO and it's so good, I'm close to crying. Just knowing that once Dennis scored, we were going to win. And scoring the equaliser and the winner in the space of a minute sums it up - That was our best ever team (Apart from the season before but pretty much the same squad).

I can't stop watching it!

OT02 · Post by **OT02** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:19 pm

As much as i hate the *word censored*, I liked Cashley's goals against Man City and in particular, Villa away.

Vieira's penalty against the Mancs - LOVE IT

augie · Post by **augie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:46 pm

I would argue that it wasnt a dislike of england that drove reyes back to spain but more to do with the shit he was taking from henry every which way he turned

People always forget the reason that arogones *word censored* said those racist remarks about henry was that he too knew that shit that reyes was putting up with. Not that it was any excuse cos the *word censored* should have been sacked by the spanish fa on the spot

In my mind you can forget about henry and wright when talking about the best player the club has ever had - to me it was a straight choice between DB10 and Chippy Brady. These 2 could do things with a football that defy belief and I classed myself privileged that I at least got to watch the dutch maestro live in action on a few occasions as he graced our club

RNTGOONER · Post by **RNTGOONER** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:16 pm

That teams was great it had leaders everywere, and skill to match.

Agree with Augie about Bergkamp, Henry will not still terrorise defenses when he is 34 and that is were his class realy shows.

Swale_Gooner1985 · Post by **Swale_Gooner1985** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:45 pm

hanny73 wrote:On the subject of Reyes - why wasn't he in the Spainish squad for the Euros, is he injured or just out of favour?

Because he is crap!

Yorkshire_Gooner · Post by **Yorkshire_Gooner** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:51 pm

In the game against boro even though we were 3-1 down it just didnt feel like we were going to lose the game!

JakeN13 · Post by **JakeN13** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:29 pm

augie wrote:I would argue that it wasnt a dislike of england that drove reyes back to spain but more to do with the shit he was taking from henry every which way he turned People always forget the reason that arogones *word censored* said those racist remarks about henry was that he too knew that shit that reyes was putting up with. Not that it was any excuse cos the *word censored* should have been sacked by the spanish fa on the spot

In my mind you can forget about henry and wright when talking about the best player the club has ever had - to me it was a straight choice between DB10 and Chippy Brady. These 2 could do things with a football that defy belief and I classed myself privileged that I at least got to watch the dutch maestro live in action on a few occasions as he graced our club

sorry mate, I don't care if Reyes is your love child, Henry derserves a lot more respect than people talking rubbish like that as if it was facts, when it's only your opinion and what you think is right.

I don't know what was going on behind the very thightly closed doors of Arsenal but reading between the lines of what players have saidin interviews I think many of them felt he didn't put in his weight enough and who could blame them?