So happy today! As Biggus pointed out, it is nice to bicker about which goal was better as opposed to who fucked up for the goal/goals we conceded.

However, I think we need to lift this particular debate above just Arsenal. So, what is the best goal you have ever seen, and why, is the question. For me, the explanation is just as important as the goal, so don't come in here and just say which goal! Please.

For me, I am putting two goals into the mix. My first one, and second overall, is Roberto Carlos' freekick for Brazil v France. It is up there because it was something never seen before, and the way he hit the ball practically defied the laws of physics. He hits a ball headed for the corner flag, and it ends up in the back of the net.

My top goal ever is there for much of the same reason, and it is of course Bergkamp v Newcastle. Never seen before for sure, but it was calculated and just perfection down to the last detail.


9 years on and I'm still in awe at how well he struck the ball.

Dules, you'd think that you would remember what I asked for since your post is the first one after the OP. So, WHY do fancy golden balls v Greece?

I wouldn't give it to that Rooney goal, reason being there's a goal or two scored like that every season in the PL. Shearer scored quite a few like that, here's one

Same for me. I can see the Beckham goal, if you are English, but in reality there are similar goals scored every season.

Predictably I'm going with Bergkamp versus Argentina.
That's burnt in my brain.

Ooohh. Good shout! Reason?

For me, that goal got a lot better when I heard Bergkamp dissecting it.

Bergkamp's goals against Newcastle and Leicester were pretty special.

Henry against united, when he received the ball with his back to goal, flicked it up, and hit it on the volley from outside the box.

It was masterful majestic, he had total control of time, space and ball.

Bergkamp vs Argentina is a good pick for the occasion, and the efficiency of every touch he makes. Don't even have to watch it I can picture the whole thing in my head.

Was an ok ball from de Boer but Bergkamp turned it to gold.

Henry's back heel gets the prize for audacity, and was also brilliantly executed—nutmegs the defender he's holding off, and actually places it far post past the keeper.

Burnwinter wrote:

Henry's back heel gets the prize for audacity, and was also brilliantly executed—nutmegs the defender he's holding off, and actually places it far post past the keeper.

The one against Charlton?

Bergkamp Newcastle
Fat Ronaldo - Compostela
Bergkamp - Argentina

There are so many great goals, but the one I have the most vivid impression of is Henry's against United.

Rivaldo vs Valencia. It was just perfection from a player who was towering over everyone else in the world at the time. It completed a hattrick too and meant that Barcelona got to play Champions League at Valencia's expense.

Claudius wrote:

Bergkamp - Newcastle
Bergkamp - Argentina

Yup, as easy as that. Ibrahimovic against England was pretty special.

All those goals are good of course, but best you have ever seen? The Rivaldo goal is a good shout as well for me, since the technique is absolutely perfect. However, at the end of the day, for me, it really isn't something I haven't seen variations on.
Bergkamp v Argentina is the same for me; brilliant, but not out of this world. Same goes for most of the other goals mentioned here.

Roberto Carlos's freekick v France, and Bergy v Newcastle on the other hand - I have never seen anything like that, either before or after.

Bergkamp vs Newcastle

Henry vs United

Zidane vs Leverkusen

Zlatan scored another an epic goal yesterday

I know it was only a pre-season game but:

That's the Henry goal I was thinking about too.

That Henry goal is certainly up there for me. 🙂

Yeah that one was incredible.

Aswell as the one against United, the solo run against Liverpool. Because we had just gone out of the FA Cup and CL in the week before the game and it looked like we were about to lose the league too. Then Henry had other ideas and I can never get the image of Gerrard and Carragher falling over each other out of my head. All those Norwich players falling over around Ramsey yesterday reminded me of it too.

The other Henry goal for me was the one that equalled Ian Wright's record against Sparta Prague when he controlled it out of the air, spun around and volleyed into the far corner with the outside of of his foot. He had been injured and wasn't even expected to play yet, but was on the bench due to so many other injuries. The someone got injured (Reyes maybe?) and he had to come on in the first half and did that. The angle from behind him showed how far wide it was going before it curved in.

From an international perspective, Michael Owen vs Argentina for how explosive it was coming out of nothing on that stage. Obviously Bergkamp vs Argentina in the next round too.

bergkamp vs. newcastle 02, bergkamp vs. leicester 98, henry vs. united 01

still haven't seen goals like them to this day

Really sums up the utter madness and improbability of Newcastle's season.

Ljungberg in the FA Cup final against Chelsea is also one of mine, the way he just stormed past John Terry and left him flat on his face (which has become even better years later as Terry wasn't such a widely hated figure at the time). The way it looked miles wide and curled into the top corner and the joy at clinching our first trophy since the 98 double was incredible, especially after what happened in the cup final a year earlier. Loved seeing Lee Dixon watching from behind the goal and running off going beserk before the ball has hit the back of the net. Just watching it again and he also breezed past Gallas who didn't get anywhere near him, which has also become more satisfying later on.

Burnwinter wrote:

I wouldn't give it to that Rooney goal, reason being there's a goal or two scored like that every season in the PL. Shearer scored quite a few like that, here's one

I wouldn't give it to any non Arsenal player and certainly not that tubby little bastard thats for sure!
As you say theres plenty of great goals scored every year so there has to be something that makes them special and for me that special something is the emotional impact they have like winning a trophy such as Charlie George in 71 or Tony Adams' last one.

Agree with that, which is the above Ljungberg one for me or the Henry solo against Liverpool which effectively clinched the league just when we looked like losing it.

Biggus wrote:

I wouldn't give it to any non Arsenal player and certainly not that tubby little bastard thats for sure!

Well I reckon you've got to accept there's some great goals scored by other clubs, so I wouldn't restrict it to Arsenal goals only (except in the sense they're the ones I know).

"Significance" of the moment, or the emotional impact definitely count for something.

That Rivaldo bicycle kick is not the goal of his I'd pick incidentally.

No player quite like him for keeping the ball down so I'd go for one of his scorching grass-cutters I reckon ...

Burnwinter wrote:

Well I reckon you've got to accept there's some great goals scored by other clubs

Well no, I'm an Arsenal supporter- I don't give a fuck about Rivaldo.

Good grief, just make your own call, I don't give a fuck what you don't give a fuck about. Capiche?

Excuse me for not wanking off over Man Utd or Barcelona goals.

Biggus wrote:

Excuse me for not wanking off over Man Utd or Barcelona goals.

This is the "Other Football" section so stop policing the thread with your fascist Arsier-than-thou blowhardery.

I wasn't the first person to choose an Arsenal goal but it seems I'm the first to have to defend my right to.....

That's not what's going on here. Moreover the OP specifically throws the thread open to goals in general, not just Arsenal goals as you have aggressively insisted.

I'm done explaining, either admit you get the point or pretend not to as you please.

I know it's not just for Arsenal goals and I can certainly understand people appreciating Arsenal players/former players international goals, but Man Utd.....WTF!