A statue came to life « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager
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By Walter Broeckx
Well we had an Fa cup game at the Emirates that wouldn’t stay in our collective memory for the rest of our lives.
We played Leeds who turned out to be a very stubborn opponent. But this was what we expected them to be. So the game went on in the first half with well nothing but chances for Arsenal. Arshavin was very lively but his shots kept missing the target. Ramsey worked his socks off but he also couldn’t find enough space to put the ball in the Leeds goal. Always a defender in the way, always a leg or an arm or a head. Or well a misplaced last ball.
And a linesman that seemed to try to keep us from scoring when he saw the ball over the line when it wasn’t even close of being over and then calling back Oxlade Chamberlain for what seemed to be nothing.
The most important thing in the first half was the fact that from now it is certain that there is some kind of voodoo spell on the full backs at Arsenal. Any players that comes near to this position will get injured it seems. Coquelin who had a great game in the first 25 minutes suddenly went down after he made a run forward and had to leave the field. I have lost count but I will try to count the full backs we have used so far this season that are unavailable for the moment.
At right back we had so far playing: Sagna, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Coquelin, Djourou and now came on Yennaris. This is the 6th right back this season!!! At left back we had Miquel today. And he only came there because we had used so far this season: Gibbs, Traore, Santos, Vermaelen. Am I missing someone? If not this means we have used 11 players so far just for 2 positions. Who on earth has jinxed us? We are used to some problems with injuries but come on this is even for Arsenal unseen and unheard.
But I thought Miquel and Yennaris did a great job today. Miquel played very assured and was strong in the challenges and he looks a promising player. Yennaris was a bit nervous at first and it showed a bit but the further the game went on he became more relaxed. And he had a few great interceptions, made a few strong blocks. Not bad at all for a 6th choice right back.
In the second half Oxlade Chamberlain stepped up his game. And well he was unlucky not to score today. He deserved it and he was very lively and looked very promising. Some great runs and some good shots but the keeper didn’t want to make Oxlade Chamberlain man of the match.
The game went on and on and we couldn’t get the ball in the goal despite enough chances to do so. And then came an old bald guy that we hadn’t seen for a while. He used to kick a few balls in his younger days. Maybe some of you older guys will remember him. Some say that he used to score a few goals in those days. Some fans are sometimes even seen with his old shirt from that long forgotten period. Some say that he even has a statue somewhere in North London. Some say that he is the top scorer of all times for Arsenal. Some say that he is a living legend. Some say that his name is Thierry Henry.
So this living legend came on the field. And when a few minutes later Song played an inch perfect pass to this living legend I wonder how many people knew from the moment he got the ball what he would do with it. I think some 50.000 in the stadium hoped he would turn the ball around the keeper in the far corner. Some 10.000 Leeds fans feared he would turn the ball around the keeper in the far corner. I think even the keeper knew what he was going to do.
Some million Gooners worldwide raised from the ground, their sofa, chair, or whatever they were sitting on in expectation that he would score. And that is just exactly what he did. Nobody could have written a better script. Thierry Henry coming on the field at 0-0 and then he to score the only goal in the game. And a goal that was and still is apparently so typical Thierry Henry that it just felt even better. Come on Tony admit it that you wrote the script for this evening.
The comeback of the king, with a typical Thierry Henry goal to give victory over a hard defending Leeds. A more than deserved win at the end and a great way to let the world know that you are back with the club you really do belong, Thierry.
You guys who can say for ever that they was there when TH came back and won us the game can well say it forever. But for us at home we felt as if we were there too. And thanks to the wonders of technique we could see just how much it meant to him. To see the joy after he scored was great. To see him running to Arsène Wenger and embracing him was great.
But the best thing was at the final whistle. Thierry said he had cried 2 times in his football career. Once when he left, once with the unveiling of the statue. And I wonder if he cried for a third time at the final whistle tonight? If not he was very close to it.
When a statue came to life could be the title of a horror movie or a Stephen King book about impossible things happening. But today I have seen a statue coming to life. I was not there, but I will never forget it!