From Euphoria to Despair
For Thierry this could be a very bad loss, for Wenger decision about Henry’s move is crucial and may be for other people this would have just another football game. But for Arsenals fans was like a death they die till Arsenal makes it big again. Around 21,000 Arsenal fans travelled to Paris after securing tickets for the biggest match in the club’s history. Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon said Arsene Wenger’s men had done what they could, considering they had goalkeeper Jens Lehmann sent off early on. “It seemed to be his destiny that he was going to go and win the trophy this year, but it wasn’t to be,” he told BBC Radio Five Live.†He’s got to be so proud of his team tonight. They’ve been heroic, all of them, and the fact that they’ve had 10 men, they should be very proud of themselves.”
Highbury home of Arsenal had flooded with fans and pubs were jam-packed for the contest. Things were EUPHORIC till Eto’o equalized in the 74th minute and 6 minutes later Belletti gave a lead and gunners lost it all. Most of the fans praised Arsenal for battling it out with only ten men in spite of the loss. Well some has to be blamed and referee Terje Hauge’s decision were done so. “The referee cost us the game. Every foul that Barcelona did, they didn’t get a yellow card. Every foul Arsenal did he was producing yellow and red cards,” said Ricky Bradley, 44, from Enfield, North London.
Match summary was as follows:
Barcelona:Valdes, Oleguer (Belletti 71), Marquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst, Deco, Edmilson (Iniesta 45), Van Bommel (Larsson 61), Giuly, Eto’o, Ronaldinho.
Subs Not Used: Jorquera, Motta, Xavi, Sylvinho.
Booked: Oleguer, Larsson.
Goals: Eto’o 76, Belletti 80.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Pires (Almunia 20), Silva, Fabregas (Flamini 74), Hleb (Reyes 85), Ljungberg, Henry.
Subs Not Used: Bergkamp, Van Persie, Senderos, Clichy.
Sent Off: Lehmann (18).
Booked: Eboue, Henry.
Goals: Campbell 37.
Att: 79,500
Ref: Terje Hauge (Norway).
Tears were everywhere but in general fans were proud and loyal with their side and almost everyone praised for the way Arsenal fought out with ten men. To me personally it was a very god final and a well deserved victory by Barca who never failed to capitalize on Henry’s 4th minute miss and the extra mental margin over the red card which brought down Arsenal to ten men. I guess Henry needed to be more than what he is always if Arsenal had to win.
EUPHORIA———————>> DESPAIR
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