I arrived at the Stade de France two hours early and got the impression it was a Barcelona home match. The compere was obviously pro-Barcelona.Barcelona were introduced first through the big screen PA system and had longer coverage than Arsenal.
This ties in with the impression from the quarter and semi-final draws, when you got the distinct feeling UEFA wanted the glamour team to win the 50th final, in Paris where it all began. You could tell the way they stressed the word Barcelona.
With the Italian refereeing scandal, and the linesman wearing a Barcelona shirt, the last thing UEFA wanted was a controversial refereeing performance. Even if Barcelona maybe would have won anyway, it left a stench.
Uriah Rennie tried to wreck Arsenal's last home game, but Thierry was too hot. But with Hauge and UEFA institutionalisation on his side – it was too much.
Why did UEFA pick a referee, out of all the referees they could have chosen, who had already favoured Barcelona in a controversial decision which went against an English (although Russian owned and Portuguese run) club (Chelsea v Barca).
UEFA put forward this ref and the linesman to FIFA for the World Cup and got rejected. So appointing them for the final, could be seen as an act of political manipulation / retribution.
The Norwegian referee, certainly let Barca get away with foul after foul, some off the ball on Henry. OK he mistakenly gave the free kick that lead to the Arsenal goal, but most decisions, including the critical offside decision for the equaliser, went Barca's way.
From where I was sitting I can't give an accurate description of the finer details of the match. For that, see Myles' report. [By the way, I' didn't see Arsenal fans leaving in distress or huddling downstairs. They [we] were magnificent in the support the whole way through – mostly in the yellow tops provided by the Arsenal board]
So below is a description of the event as I saw it:
A Gooner with a Henry shirt at Waterloo station said: "It doesn't get better than this."
It was Bergkamp's last possible match for sure. But, Henry's, Cole's, Pires's, Campbell's, as well?
On the train there were six geezers playing poker, a man with two kids reading Arsenal programmes, a guy buying a house via his Blackberry going through legal clauses on his mobile. He wasn't a long time Gooner, more of a general sports fan.
The yellow, red and blackcurrant army strode off the Eurostar. The Police presence was strong – a long line of 'ready for combat soldiers' dressed in navy, with menacing weapons to match.
An elderly geezer in an Arsenal shirt wearing an earing pushed in the long and frustrating Metro queue. He hadn't got a match ticket.
There were rumours robbers were roaming around the streets, stealing tickets. And that they were going for a street value of 4000 euros.
Some Barca fans came down the steps to the sound of: "Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal". Metro passengers looked scared but tried to ignore it.
On the platform there was a rendition of: "We're the North Bank, we're the East Stand, we're the Clock end." The West Stand was always quiet.
On the way to the ground, conversations ranged from the next big corporate event – Goodwood, from a couple of men in suits to the violence in Copenhagen from guys with earings. A couple of elderly Arsenal supporters had trouble finding seats. It reminded that Arsenal support is from every walk of life.
Barca and Arsenal fans walked side by side to the match. [Bit different from the pick axe handles from Copenhagen].
Two hours before kick-off, people were milling around in the sunshine in some sort of suspended animation.
Another elderly Gooner with a shaved head pushed in the programme queue.[ Gooners should show each other respect!]
Some famous Arsenal names were on the foyer. Steve Bould in a blue baseball cap – and jeans (see left) – a massively built frame with still a gaited walk. A very fit and young looking Gilles Grimandi was there in a white shirt with what looked like his son (see right). And Charlie George. I said I knew a mate of his, Mike Francis, and saw him (Charlie) play in the seventies. "Ah, Mike", he said.
Inside the ground, someone said the final day Highbury shirts were selling on e-bay for £150. Yellow shirts were provided by the Arsenal directors, here like the Wigan game.
As for the match – like the weather, it was one of dramatic changes. There was sun, clouds, lightning, fireworks, thunder, rain.
Arsenal were out of the traps like a greyhound and dominated the first ten minutes.
Henry had a great chance in the first two, but his shot hit Valdes.
On 17, Eto'o was put in with a clever pass by Ronaldinho, Lehmann dived, caught Eto'o outside the area, the ball breaking for Guily who scored. Was Guily in an offside position when he received the ball?
Lehmann was sent off, Pires substituted for Almunia, Barca's goal was disallowed. Barca players brandishing red cards [Puyol running 50 yards in the process] in the referee's face didn't endear them to the Arsenal fans.
There was a complete volte face with Arsenal now on the defence.
On 37, Eboue, dived and got a foul [which added to the feeling of refereeing inadequacy] Thierry sent in a good cross, Campbell rose easily to head the goal.
Near half-time, Almunia turned an Eto'o shot on to the post.
At half time, Gooners were ecstatic. The toilets were a scrum, with noise levels phenomenal [mainly 1-0 to the Arsenal] and a lot of people had a leak in the sink, but no-one cared. Those using the traditional ' line-up pizzoirs' were well and truly squirted with over pressurised water showers and came out as though they'd wet themselves.
Could Arsenal hold out in the bombardment in the rain. It was going to be a rollercoaster.
Ljungberg who gave fantastic commitment [it is true he runs faster and more often] had a great chance mid-way through, but it was straight at Valdes.
Hleb set up Henry, for what should have sealed the game. But again it was too near Valdes. Thierry was knackered. You could see how he kneeled waiting to take a corner.
I for one, thought they would hold out for the full 90.
Arsenal fans gave magnificent vocal support with a range of. "1-0 to the Arsenal; We shall not be moved; We are the Arsenal boys. We'll win because we're Arsenal."
But towards the last quarter there was an increasing feeling this was like a bull fight with Barca wearing the opponent down with long diagonal balls in the wide spaces for Guily or Eto'o, or later Belletti, on for Oleguer, to cross or cut inside.
Substitute Larsson was the matador, providing the two killer passes for the goals.
The first, he touched a through ball to Eto'o who beat Almunia at his near post. Lehmann would have come out and closed the angle. {Interestingly the Eurosport commentary, which I saw late last night said if Larsson touched it, Eto'o was offside. He touched it.]
The second four minutes later was a reverse pass to Belletti, whose shot was going wide, but hit Almunia's leg to go in for the dodgy winner.
Barca played keep-ball after that – to the final whistle.
Arsenal fans acknowledged Arsene Wenger ["There's only one Arsene Wenger"], and Thierry Henry ["Thierry Henry, Thierry Henry…"] in particular. They both acknowledged back. Didn't realise at the time that would have a bearing on his decision to stay.
Barca didn't parade the trophy around the circumference of the pitch, like the FA Cup Final, which was a shame. But there again the Arsenal end was pretty sparse by then.
There was more camaraderie on the train back to Gare du Nord, than on the way.
One Gooner was swearing. I said: "Could be worse. We could be in the UEFA Cup and Spurs in the Champions League."
Another Gooner in an "I love cooking and Arsenal" chef's hat said, "Yes, if Spurs rub it in, then remind them they're are not in the competition."
Some clung to the fact that Thierry was furious with the refereeing and fouls off the ball, so he'll stay. [Right result, wrong reason as it turns out.]
A couple agreed that Arsenal have to buy big in the Summer for psychological reasons.
Despite the camaraderie, the mood was sombre though.
POSTSCRIPT: So Arsenal look like winning a prize – in the short term at least – more valuable than the Champions League trophy – the signature of Thierry Henry for four more years.
Had Arsenal won, it may have been a different story. But as a famous bard once said: "All's well that ends well."