Analysis of an astonishing goal
by Myles Palmer
FEATURES
THE ARSENAL AGM - FULL WRITE UP
FIVE REASONS: ARSENAL COULD WIN IN BARCELONA
CARLTON AND ITV UPSET US AGAIN
JEKYLL AND HYDE PLAY THE NOU CAMP
Gabriel Batistuta proved me wrong by scoring an exceptional goal.
It was only his third kick of the match.
His first, a nasty late tackle, almost broke Lee Dixon's ankle after one minute 56 seconds.
His second, after 48 minutes, was a ridiculously speculative overhead kick which sailed six yards over the bar.
Then, in the 75th minute, Batistuta scored the goal that knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League and knocked them into the UEFA Cup.
A goal that could earn Fiorentina another £7 millon if they do well in Phase Two.
If Arsenal had to go out of the Champions League, it was better to be knocked out by a sensational goal from a great player. Not by a deflection or an own goal or a controversial penalty.
I remember talking to Martin Tyler about Batistuta about two years ago and asking if he was the greatest centre forward since Marco Van Basten.
Martin said: "His record says he is."
His Italian record is now 134 goals in 219 league games.That is the equivalent of 200 goals in the Premiership, at least.
It goes without saying that Batistuta is very South American: the way he plays is flashy, spectacular and dramatic. He always goes for power, not placement. He gambles. He fires cannonballs.
So it was always going to be a sensational goal, or a misfired rocket into Row Z - nothing in between.
The move that brought the goal was really quick, really intelligent, really incisive, and it was all the more commendable because it justified Fiorentina's defensive strategy in the match.
Vieira broke forward powerfully and promisingly but was tackled by Firicano, Adani hit a crossfield pass, Rui Costa laid it back to Chiesa, who found Heinrich just inside his own half.
Heinrich broke past Vivas and ran straight down the middle of the field as Rui Costa's run took Keown wide on the right, and as Heinrich swerved past Adams, Batistuta was hovering onside and wide of Winterburn, on the corner of the penalty area, with his arm in the air, demanding a pass.
He is the captain. When the pass came, quickly, Batistuta took two touches. He stopped the pass with his right foot, and touched it forward instantly with his left, so that the ball went seven yards forward and he had to race Winterburn for it.
He knew he was going to shoot with his third touch and he just got there first.
The ball was still moving and he was stretching but he lashed a volcanic shot through Seaman and high into the far side of the net.
The shot was unstoppable, and Arsenal could have had Alex Manninger, Bob Wilson, Peter Shilton and Pat Jennings on the line and that shot would have gone past all four of them.
The ITV equipment clocked this particular blockbuster at 70mph.
On the replays, Seaman was crouching and fell backwards as the rising shot flashed past his moustache and finished just inside the far post, seven feet high.
He did the same thing on the Ryan Giggs wondergoal in the FA Cup semi-final replay, after Giggs was allowed to get even closer to him.
But Batistuta's goal was a stunning finish which will live in the minds eye for a long time.
In fact, it was the greatest goal of its type that I have ever seen.
And it was the greatest goal I have ever seen in a one-goal game.
Seeing that goal was electrifying, like seeing an Olympic long jump record or a 100-metre final, one of those special moments where an athlete suddenly has access to all his talent, all his power, all his training, all his experience, all his ambition, and makes a mark in the memory.
When Batistuta zoomed forward, exploding past Winterburn, he was flying, like Colin Jackson going over the first hurdle.
He is the only centre forward in the world who has scored this type of goal regularly over an eight year period against top class opposition.
It was an astounding strike because of the velocity, the angle and the circumstances.
It was Matchday Five in a six match mini-league with the game was balanced on a knife-edge with 75 minutes played.
The decisive moment was one that Fiorentina been planning for and playing for and waiting for.
The professional concentration that went into the whole move was amazing: the dribble by Heinrich, the pass to Batistuta, the audacity and precision of the set-up touch, the electric movement, and the match-winning thunderbolt.
Let it be recorded: Batistuta scored an astonishing goal against Arsenal at Wembley. It was a privilege to have been there to see it.
Having predicted that Arsenal would beat Barcelona 2-1, and then predicted that Arsenal would beat Fiorentina 2-0, I should retire from prophesy.
But I'll bet you Eusebio's autograph against £250 that Batistuta scores against Barcelona next week. He is exactly the type of player who will prosper against their back four.
Thursday 28th October.