Being Dennis Bergkamp - Sleeping Through Equaliser Priceless
Nostalgia
By Boris Mellor
April 8 2009
The Captain proudly proclaimed that the 737 was only 10 days old. Ten days old! I have had cars that have taken more time to run in than that. Surely all the bugs and snags couldn't have been checked out in 10 days? It takes me that long to be happy with the position of the rear view mirror on a new car. I began to think that Dennis might have a point.
Being an "overnighter" the plane was not just full of Gooners, but the Press and Executives, one consolation, if Dennis's worse fears were fulfilled, was that the Daily Mail would go down too.
Rain in Spain not mainly on the plain
On the Tuesday afternoon it bucketed down with rain, and I took cover in the Valencia Science Museum, a place almost uncontaminated by science, has nobody told them that Space is defined by the objects within it? But my thoughts were not on science, but would the drainage at Villarreal be good enough; it would be a big spend for a cancelled match. Fortunately the evening skies cleared and it was set fine as our coach left Valencia for Villarreal.
The overnight fans that had been in mufti for much of the trip were now arming themselves with lucky shirts, scarves, and hats; they looked an entirely different group of people.
Nostalgia - Highbury was never quite like this
Our coach pulled into the narrow streets of Villarreal to a friendly reception from the locals. Gooners and Submariners mingled together outside bars opposite turnstiles. At times the ground was hidden behind flats and houses that seemed integral to the stadium.
Then the beeping of horns, and young men in giant yellow perms (Who says Liverpool culture never caught on), ran excitedly behind a giant yellow team coach.
The ground is so small you can walk around it in about five minutes, which I had to do as the Thomas Cook map was hopeless. I still didn't manage to find the bar the Bank of Friendship Posse were drinking in, but we finally met in the ground.
Restricted view £75
The Police gave me such a thorough search that they even counted my testicles, three, all present and correct (I always pack a spare one for emergencies). I climbed my way to the top of the stadium, which though small is far steeper than the Emirates, the climb seemed to go on forever. There were fans taking oxygen breaks on the way up, and, I kid you not, one woman stopped halfway claiming she was having a heart attack, a slight exaggeration as after 5 minutes she resumed the ascent. Thank goodness Wemberlee has escalators.
The climb was well worth it, yes a 80 per cent view of the pitch wasn't great, but a view of the local mountains, and the lights of the town below, made it nearly as good as Burnley, but without the Pork Scratchings.
No that's not noise on the photo - it's a net to stop the throwing of Pork Scratchings
Apparently it's a tradition in Spain that you ignore your ticket number, at least that's what we told people trying to claim the Bank's Posse seats. Trevor reckoned that they were the best view he could get, Lord help those that got a restricted view. The main problem was the glass screen's frame which cut out a precise view of the goal line.Of course it had to be the goal that Ade scored in. I saw the bicycle kick, but had no idea where the ball went after that. Thankfully, but not unexpectedly, the fans at the front started cheering so we knew it had gone in.Its 90 minutes that count - a game of two halves
You probably got a better view than me, but it was not hard to notice that Villarreal dominated the first half, and it was fortunate that Marcos Marcos Marcos Marcos Marcos Senna Senna Senna Senna's (That was who the stadium announcer said it was.) goal was the only one that counted at half time.
To make matters worse Gallas and Almunia were both injured, all the experts with weak bladders doing the post first half analysis, in the well appointed facilities, agreed that Adebayor was useless, and that he should have been subbed.
Second Half changed fortunes
Arsenal were as good as they had been bad in the first half, far more determined and it was Fabregas that gave an assist that left a lot to be done by Adebayor. With his back to goal, Ade trapped it with his chest and overhead kicked the ball past an astonished keeper. The Arsenal fans had kept up a good level of support even at a goal down, but now they celebrated and raised the sound to a whole new level.
For nearly all of the rest of match fans and players were on top form. Only with 10 minutes to go did Villarreal get back into the game. Maybe their pressing game had worn them out, or perhaps it was Arsenal's second half higher line that improved things. Either way it was a good game, a good result, if not a good ninety minute performance. The greedier amongst us complained that we should have won, I would have settled for 1-1 at any time during the proceedings, especially at 1-0 down after ten minutes.
Restricted View Ticket £75
Return Fare £150
Night in Hotel £100
Food and Booze £75
Programme £5
Sleeping Through Equaliser Priceless
Being Dennis Bergkamp
Thanks to the Press the departing flight was delayed by over an hour, just enough to ensure we encountered severe cross winds on landing at Luton. It was one of the worst landings I can remember in a very long time. The pilot hit the brakes as if a bag lady had wandered on to the tarmac. Mind you Dennis would not have been better off driving as the coach driver (the last train for London had departed) warned of high winds on the M1.
Thanks to her Majesty's press I finally got home at 4.30 am, but it was well worth it. I am sure they will reward Arsenal's fans patience by not writing a load of rubbish about the match. Is that a pig flying by my window?
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:12:00:37:40 by Padre Pio.
i know ive been negative towards our players but i have to give credit to our midfield for their 2nd half display
the average age of our midfield was 21 and the oldest player was cesc and he is only 21 years old!!!!!
they played like men yesterday and showed strong mental strength in the 2nd half after going a goal down and losing the first choice goalkeeper and their centreback
What did you make of them Padre?
They were friendly enough, but blieved every time VR dived it was a penalty etc, good job the ref didnt