Walk Down Memory Lane..

          I started supporting Arsenal since 2003(I was 9 years old then) and have been a Gooner since. The reason for me to start supporting Arsenal was very simple. A computer game called ‘FIFA 2003’is the reason. It was kind of the first football video game I started playing. The logo of Arsenal with ‘The Gun’ appealed to me. It was like love at first sight!

          And a particular competition in European football which has fascinated me very much since 2003 is the ultra-prestigious UEFA Champions League. The aura of the competition beats everything. The format is super-exciting too. The Best from Europe are pitted against one another. I don’t think it needs more introduction.

DREAM COMBO

          So combining the above fascinations, walking down memory lane, I stumble upon some ‘DREAM’ matches played by Arsenal. These are the matches which make my stay till 3:30 a.m. in the night fruitful and satisfying. The excitement keeps you awake.

          So here I present to you 6 of my most cherished Champions League matches played by Arsenal (which I have witnessed on TV since 2003)-

1)

Historic venue! Historic match! Historic significance! Legendary players!

2 months ago Internazionale had thrashed Arsenal 3-0 at Highbury. It was due to Inter’s magnificent counter-attacking play. That day Thierry Henry had said, “When we go to the San Siro, we would like to implement a similar brand of football.” And how!

Arsenal became the first English team to taste success at the San Siro. Thierry Henry certainly played one of the best games he has ever played in the Arsenal jersey. He was instrumental in all the 5 goals scored by Arsenal. Arsenal hurt Inter on the counter. Blistering pace on the left wing disturbed the Inter defence all night! Never has an Italian team’s defence ever been breached in such fashion. Ripped apart to shreds!

In John Champion’s (PES commentator) words, “That night T. Henry was as close to perfection as you will ever see from a striker. You could have picked any defender from any time in history and pitted him against Thierry Henry. And I am sure Henry would have terrified him that night!”

ICONIC MOMENTS- Thierry Henry’s 2^nd goal & the Emphatic-ness of the victory.

2)

This is where it all started. Our famous run to the 2006 finale began here. This is when the team gained the belief that they could go all the way. No one had given the young Arsenal team a chance against the intimidating ‘GALACTICOS’. But Arsenal silenced all doubters wrong due to a magical goal by the magician himself “TH 14”!

Arsenal bamboozled Madrid in the first half, wasted 2 clear cut opportunities. Arsenal finally got the lead just after half time. Good pass by Fabregas to Thierry Henry. And ‘HE’ does the rest. Goes past 3 defenders with his pace, skill and strength and a perfect finish past Casillas. Perfect goal! Arsenal steam-rolled Madrid at the Bernabeu and in turn became the 1^st English team to defeat Madrid at the Bernebeu!

ICONIC MOMENTS- Thierry Henry’s goal and the Arsenal faithful singing, “ADIOS, ADIOS” in the end!

3)

It was supposed to be a home-coming match for Patrick Vieira. It was supposed to be the first match in which the 2 great Arsenal midfield generals were pitted against each other. It was Fabregas vs Vieira. The Gunners vs The Old Lady. Arsenal vs Juventus at The Highbury.

It was the match in which the Arsenal youngsters played with maturity. It was the match in which the youngsters came off age.

It was the match in which a star was born. His name was Cesc Fabregas. This was the stage he particularly chose to declare that he was ready to take over the reins, become the driving force of the Arsenal midfield engine (Against his contemporary Vieira). He bossed the midfield, dictated the play, played with passion. In short he was superlative that night.

Juventus were literally blown away by an Arsenal side which played with verve and invention. Arsenal played sublime football, balanced in all areas, frustrating the Italian League leaders. Outplaying them in all departments.

ICONIC MOMENT- Pires dispossessing Vieira and Fabregas scoring the goal with the return ball.

ICONIC MOMENT IN ITSELF.

4)

I remember it as perhaps one of the greatest match Arsenal has played since the departure of Henry. This match was special due to the lethal nature of the opponents especially in the Champions League. AC Milan are kind of a specialist Champions League knock-out rounds team. So it was supremely special to be able to beat them in their own den, the intimidating San Siro!

It was Arsenal’s raw pace which disturbed the old (but experienced) legs of Milan. The directness of the play, swiftness on the counter were pillars on which ‘MISSION SAN SIRO’ was accomplished.

But the star man on the field was definitely the unheralded Mathieu Flamini, the same guy who left Arsenal for AC Milan barely 4 months after this match. He played so well, that AC Milan bought Flamini based on his performance in this match ONLY. (Actually Arsenal lost him on a free due to him not renewing his contract) His defensive work was top notch in this game. A perfect DM’s game. A perfect foil for Fabregas, an ideal safe platform for Arsenal to build their swift attacks on.

ICONIC MOMENT- The perfect Counter-Attack by Arsenal leading to the second goal.

5)

It was billed as the battle between two of the most attractive-football playing teams. It was a battle between two teams who were the best exponents of the ‘Tiki-Taka’. It was the Arsenal vs The Mighty Catalans.

I personally cherish this game, not for the football but for the ‘CHARACTER’, ‘GUTS’, ‘DETERMINATION’ and ‘BELIEF’ to come back from behind to secure a win against Barca. Overly so, because a star announced his arrival on the world stage in the grandest of fashions. He not only proved that he is the future but also the present. And that star was undoubtedly JACK WILSHERE.

Jack Wilshere dominated the centre of the park. He fought and that too successfully against the best in the business against the likes of Xavi and Iniesta. He also managed to evade the dirty boy, Busquets on several occasions. His passing, sudden burst of pace in the centre of the park and intelligence irritated Barca and made the world notice this young prodigy’s precocious talent. A Star was well and truly born during this match.

ICONIC MOMENT- Wilshere, a 19 year old Arsenal Academy graduate bossing the midfield against the best in the business.

6)

Again a match against Milan. But this time the only item on the menu was- ‘ATTACK’ as Arsenal had to overturn a 4 goal deficit. Arsenal fought like brave hearts. 

Each player gave more than his best. I feel all players were playing at 200%. There was nothing to lose. This game reminded me of one of my mother’s sayings, “If there is intent, everything is possible."

Arsenal went all-out attack and was unlucky not to take anything away from this game (result wise) except for the tremendous growth in stature of ‘The-Ox’. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed the whole world what he is made of. He made everyone stand up and take notice of his talent. He showed the world that he can do a hell lot with the ball apart from running with it. He showed tremendous pace, dribbling, close control and an ‘Under-Development’ passing range. He played with nonchalance. Not afraid of running with the ball, dribbling past opponents like child’s play. Whenever he got the ball, a shiver ran down the AC Milan defenders’ spines! He was so electrifying.

ICONIC MOMENT- Oxlade- Chamberlain’s magnificent run down the right flank to earn a penalty.

          So that was a list of my favourite Champions League matches Arsenal have featured in. Apart from this one thing I noticed was, each time we defeated a ‘Big’ team, a youngster always stood up wanting to contribute to the victory against the Elite to be counted amongst the Elite. Every ‘Big’ Champions League night a new start was born!

THESE NIGHTS WERE THE NIGHTS WHEN THESE YOUNGSTERS BECAME HEROES

          Also each match showed that a team needs to be consistently good(over a period of 90 mins at least)in all departments to be considered a Champion team worthy of winning the illustrious Champions League.

          The aura of the Champions League still remains intact. The magic of the Arsenal Football Club still amazes me. Hopefully the readers(especially GOONERS) can proudly say after reading this piece, “PROUD TO HAVE WITNESSED THE MAGIC OF ARSENAL!”

PROUD TO BE A GOONER!

(P.S.- All the videos are MATCH HIGHLIGHTS. And I would like to thank my friend, my junior in college and a fellow GOONER- Rishabh Sirdesai for suggesting the above post topic. Thanks bro.)