So what makes a great goal? I know it seems a easy question but honestly, what makes a goal truly great? Is it the goal that keeps a side up or a lob from the half way line? The goal that drags a side back in to a game when they’re 2-0 or a last minute winner in injury time? Everyone has a different variation on what they judge to be a great goal or what the ingredients are that makes some goals stand out above all others.

Well, I’m going to give you my ten goals of the decade, which you may agree with, but probably won’t. Yet that’s one of the great things about football, we all have different opinions and views of the same incident. Hopefully you can view these goals without blinkers of your favourite team and simply judge them on the goal itself. OK, ready? Then we’ll begin.

Goal Number Ten: Thierry Henry v Spurs November 2002

Another North London derby, another Arsenal win but this for me is one of the best goals that this decade saw in the continuing battle between Arsenal and Tottenham. A wonderful solo run and finish saw Henry begin to show the form that was to torment defenders the length and breadth of Europe for the remainder of the decade. A truly great individual goal.

Goal Number Nine: Dietmar Hamann v Portsmouth March 2004

There looked nothing on when Michael Owen swung the ball back in from the left wing but Didi Hamann was running in to hit this strike beautifully from the edge of the box. One of those wonderful volleys that occur every now and again, I doubt Hamann has ever scored a goal better than this in his life.

Goal Number Eight: Shaun Bartlett v Leicester April 2001

What a strike this was for Charlton Athletic. A wonderful cross field pass from Graeme Stuart that the South African Shaun Bartlett hit first time to fire it past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. A fabulous hit, set up by a fantastic pass.

Goal Number Seven: Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle March 2002

What a wonderful piece of skill this is. From Pires’ crossfield pass, Bergkamp flicks the ball one way and rolls around the defender the other and then slides it past Shay Given. A delightful bit of skill from the Dutch master.

Goal Number Six: Xabi Alonso v Newcastle November 2006

Alonso seemed to be one of those players that could try and score from inside his own half more than most. This strike against Newcastle left Steve Harper scrambling to get back, but to no avail. Perhaps more impressive than the similar goal he scored against Luton Town in the F.A. Cup, it will live long in the memory for its precision from distance.

Goal Number Five: David Bentley v Arsenal October 2008

Probably Bentley’s high point during his difficult spell at Tottenham, this wonderful hit saw him control the ball on his chest and volley the ball in to the Arsenal net from 50 yards out. A sublime strike that shows the quality he has, but he simply hasn’t delivered at White Hart Lane. The only benefit to Spurs would seem to be the consistent quality that Aaron Lennon now shows week in, week out since Bentley joined.

Goal Number Four: Wayne Rooney v Newcastle April 2005

Everyone knows the power of Wayne Rooney but this goal shows it for me like no other. Like something from a video game, Rooney spanked the ball in midair at what seems 100mph. The only thing that surprised me was that it didn’t burst the net. A wonder goal from a player that on his day is unplayable.

Goal Number Three: Glen Johnson v Hull City October 2008

Well, it is always special when a full back scores a screamer, Stuart Pearce built a career on smashing the ball in the back of the net, but this was a fantastic strike from Johnson. It impressed me, because he runs on to the ball, controls it with two defenders closing in and smashes it home with his left foot. An outstanding goal.

Goal Number Two: Paolo Di Canio v Wimbledon April 2000

Now this goal summed up the genius of Di Canio in one swift moment. A flying volley that saw him use his left leg to propel him upward for a smashing volley with the right foot past Neil Sullivan, it was a divine finish from one of the Premiership’s most enigmatic players. A truly great goal.

Goal Number One: Robin van Persie v Charlton September 2007

This for me, is one of the best goals I’ve ever seen. A simply breathtaking goal that showed fantastic technique, athleticism and an eye for goal that Marco Van Basten would have been proud of. Everyone knows the qualities that van Persie offers the Gunners, but niggly injuries have held him back from showing the Arsenal faithful his full potency.

So there you have it, my favourite ten goals from the last decade of Premiership football. Leave me some comments, or memories of your favourite goals over the last ten years.

The news that Arsenal’s Croatian striker Eduardo Da Silva will be back playing within the next three weeks was one of the highlights that emerged from the clubs Annual General Meeting yesterday.

The Brazilian-born forward was a vital part of the Arsenal team that had charged to the top of the Premier League last season until a horror tackle from Birmingham City’s Martin Taylor ended his season and ruled him out of the summer’s European Championships.

That game at St Andrews was a particularly bad one for the Gunners as, along with Eduardo’s injury, Arsenal gave away a last minute penalty that saw them draw 2-2 and captain William Gallas throw an almighty strop. This was a pivotal moment in their title challenge and it was one from which they never recovered.
Huge credit must go to the doctors, physios and Eduardo himself for getting back to fitness so soon. The horrific images from the incident left many to think whether he would play again.

To put the speed of Eduardo’s recovery into perspective would be to look at the plight of his team-mate Tomas Rosicky. The Czech captain limped off in Arsenal’s home victory against Newcastle on January 29th with a hamstring problem. Complications with the injury and an additional knee problem mean that he is not expected to be back playing until after Christmas.

Eduardo’s return will be a huge boost to Wenger as he is a popular member of the squad and his injury had a huge effect on the team morale. He will also give them another striking option as his neat link-up play and predatory instincts have been missed. While Carlos Vela is a very similar player to the Croat, at 19 he is not yet ready to lead the line.

Wenger also used the AGM to have a little dig at the media and the Emirates crowd after booing could be heard on the half-time whistle against Everton last weekend, with his young team trailing 1-0. He said: “I am personally very proud. But I believe this team needs a strong guide to go through difficult periods, because at the moment I do not feel that, either from the media or our supporters, that this team gets the support that it deserves.”

The Arsenal Supporters Trust back what the manager had to say. A statement from the AST said: “”The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust shares Arsene Wenger’s view that the matchday atmosphere at the Emirates sometimes needs galvanising.
“Sometimes Arsenal’s fans forget just how young our players are given their quality and that they need encouragement on the pitch.”

Wenger highlighted how well the club is set for the future both on the pitch and off. He said: “First of all I feel the Club is well-managed financially and I am very proud that we live within the resources we create from our own business and we do not need external income. I feel that is very important for the future of the Club.
“Another big reason to be optimistic is that we have been very consistent. Through the years we have always been at the top level and we always want to win trophies but the most difficult thing to achieve is consistency.”

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood also moved to reassure fans that the club would not sell out to foreign owners. Saying: “Arsenal runs through my veins and we do not want control handed over to somebody who has not got Arsenal in their blood. Rest assured, we are not going to sell out to the first man who comes along”

Wenger went on to talk up the success that their academy is having in producing young English players and believes that soon they will see the benefit. “I would like to say as well is the structure of our team is fantastic, but very young. That means that tomorrow will be better than yesterday.
“It means as well that nothing dramatic will happen to this Club. For years we have had a foreign influx but we have worked hard with young English talent. They will be ready within one or two years to produce results.”

There was also some exciting news away from the AGM as Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp hinted to BBC reporters that he would like to return to the club one day. Bergkamp, who is working with Ajax while he acquires his coaching badges, was in North London yesterday alongside another Dutch legend, Johan Cruyff, at the opening of a new football facility. He said: “”People ask me the question if I could come back to England one day to coach and I say yes.
“I always enjoyed it here and it’s a fantastic country to be involved in football. Maybe in the future I will be back in some way.”