IT’S EXCITING to get to the European Cup Final at last.
It’s been a very long haul for lifelong fans and it’s been 15 years for me because it’s 15 years since that 1-1 draw at Benfica in 1991, which gave us a glimpse. But Isaias had other ideas. Who else has scored three goals against Arsenal in two games?
Arsenal could not beat Lens at Wembley, could not beat Dynamo Kiev, lost 4-2 to Barcelona after Cocu’s cheating dive, lost 2-0 to Deportivo La Coruna twice, could not hang on for a 0-0 in Valencia – I could go on but I won’t.
I’m not gonna mention the Batistuta goal, the Wayne Bridge goal.
It’s been a long, long, long road to Paris, a helluva lot of air miles, punctuated by some glittering victories (Juventus 3-1, 4-1 against Leverkusen, 4-0 in Eindhoven against PSV, Inter Milan, Roma) and some colossal moments, like the Kanu goal to go 2-0 up against Bayern and the Ray Parlour cannonball to make it 2-1 against Valencia after Ayala scored the first with a volley.
It’s nice to work your way through into the European Cup Final and play a glamorous team in a great city. It’s a massive stage and a huge opportunity for somebody to write his name in history. An opportunity for somebody to score a goal that becomes legendary.
Ronaldinho is back in Thierry Henry’s home town.One of them played for Paris St Germain and it wasn’t Thierry.
Paris made the Brazilian a playboy but Barcelona made him a winner.
BARCELONA are Spanish champions and Arsenal are north London champions.
Clearly, Arsenal’s defence is too young and Barcelona have more firepower.
So how can Arsenal win ?
By keeping a clean sheet again.
More tomorrow.