An emotional day for everyone associated with Arsenal, as Arsene Wenger led his Arsenal team for the very last time – away against Huddersfield, with their fan displaying a classy act to Wenger in the 22nd minute of the match and the host manager presenting Wenger a gift before the match.
The 2017-2018 Premier League season came to a close yesterday, with the Gunners still in search of their first league point in the year 2018. For his final game in charge, Wenger selected David Ospina, Hector Bellerin, Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding, Sead Kolasinac, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alexandre Lacazette, for his final game in charge of the Gunners.
Huddersfield were poised on making Wenger’s 1235th match in charge of the Gunners end in defeat for his team, as it has been in every away league match for Arsenal. The host tested Ospina with a header in the second minute, following a cross, which was whipped in and headed by Mounie that was saved well by Ospina as he went to the ground quick enough.
In no time, the host who choked out the Arsenal team from playing their usual game came even closer to open the scoring. Following a move from down the flank, Pritchard played Tom Ince through on goal; getting the ball well into his strides with his first touch – but will rue his second touch on the ball, as he blazed it well over the bar.
A classy act to honour one of the League’s greats, as a sold-out crowd in the 22nd minute gave Arsene Wenger a standing ovation to acknowledge all that he has done in his twenty-two years reign in England and for Arsenal football club.
Sead Kolasinac was unfortunate not to score from close range, following Mkhitaryan’s corner that was flicked on by Mustafi as the ball was heading for the far post – which Kolasinac reacted immediately but couldn’t direct the ball on goal as it skimmed past the post.
The breakthrough would come in the 38th minute, as Wenger last and most expensive signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the only goal of the match and bid farewell to Wenger with three points.
Lacazette’s pass set Aaron Ramsey who was Arsenal’s captain in the match, as he was free down the left, providing a precision cross to the far post that was turned home by Aubameyang.
Aubameyang, who is looking like the real deal has now scored ten goals for the Gunners since his big-money move from Dortmund in January.
In the 60th minute, Ince raced onto Pritchard’s pass and his low shot arrowed towards the bottom corner of the post, only for Ospina to divert it for a corner with a fine save. That was Tom Ince’s last contribution of the game as he got subbed off thereafter.
Lacazette had the chance to score a second for his team but his audacious effort was well read by the opposition keeper. Lacazette fired straight at Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl when through one-on-one after a good team effort.
Midfielder Dean Whitehead, set to retire and join the club’s coaching staff, was given a rousing reception when he replaced Jonathan Hogg in the closing stages. The home side came close to spoiling it for Wenger in the dying moments when Aaron Mooy’s thumping volley skimmed the crossbar.
