By Myles Palmer
Valencia 2 Arsenal 1?
I’m glad that’s over at last.
It’s a lot of fuss, every year, over a nearly-team that almost gets into Europe’s top eight.
I knew Arsenal could not win the European Cup.
When they are good enough to win the European Cup, I will let you know.
If they sign Rustu, John Terry and a centre forward, let’s talk about it then.
This failure is a great shame for everybody, and for me, since I have loved the European Cup ever since I bunked off school to see Milan beat Benfica at Wembley.
In my time Arsenal have only had two games in the European Cup.
Both were memorable.
One was in 1991 against Benfica, when I sat there waiting to lose.
After half an hour I could see that Benfica were superior, with Yuran, Schwarz,Thern and Isaias.
In the West Stand press overspill seats with Jim Lawton, Hugh McIlvanney, anxious fans all around us, waiting to lose, waiting for Benfica to administer the coup de grace, hoping it would come within 90 minutes.
But it dragged on into extra time before Isaias finished it.He scored three wonder goals in two games against the best defence in the world.
Isaias, that night, was an explosive gladiator who swooped and killed with deadly, irresistible force.
Better than Baggio, better than Cantona,but only for one night.Isaias was never that potent again.
In Valencia in 2001 the game was closer, a night of mounting tension before Carew scored with a glancing header that the Parma Dave Seaman would have saved.
Basically, I love the European cup and hate
mini-leagues.
The format will change next season.
I wanna see a contest of competitive skill, a compelling drama,an intense entertainment. Not meaningless games and bore-draws and tedious arithmetic.
In the quarter finals on April 8/9 and 22/23, we should see some drama.
Will Valencia or Ajax reach the semis?
Today’s draw is:
Real Madrid v Man United
Inter v Valencia
Ajax v Milan
Juventus v Barcelona.
So Valencia will face their former coach, Hector Cuper.
Ronaldo meets Barthez again, at last.
I fancy Madrid, Valencia and Milan.
Could Barca make it three Spanish clubs in the semis?
It would be marvellous if Arsenal had been in there, but as Vieira has admitted, they are not good enough.
21st March 2003.