Wenger Believed – Arsenal Make History

Real Celebration
By Boris Mellor
February 22 2006

How many believed that Arsenal could make history at the Bernabeu? The tabloid press licked their lips at the Gunners impending doom. Blood curdling quotes, real or imagined, emanated from Madrid. Even the more thoughtful reporters of the Guardian thought Wenger had lost it.

 To quote Richard Williams in the Guardian before the match:

 

“What does not seem within Wenger's scope is the ability to devise an interim solution to the sort of challenge that will be posed tonight by Real Madrid, whose recent emergence from their own prolonged period of depression represents the latest threat to Arsenal's hope of leaving Highbury with cheering in their ears.”

Even most Arsenal fans feared the worst – though a colleague of mine predicted 1-0 to the Gunners on a very rational basis. But one man believed – and if ever he was master of mind games this was it. He convinced his team they were good enough. That’s what mind games are for – raising your own team’s confidence – not rowing with curmudgeonly Scots.

Wenger proved to be a master of strategy – he out thought, and the team out fought, Real. Everybody has seen the game by now and read the reports. All that needs to be said here is that Arsenal could have been 3-0 up after 12 minutes rather than 0-0 at half time. At the start of the second half Arsenal could have repeated the first 12 minutes, but they did get the necessary away goal.

 And what a goal – Henry slalomed his way through the Madrid defence – evading four challenges in total, none of which were half hearted. Henry used his strength and speed to bounce off them. The finish when it came was sublime.

So he doesn’t do it in big matches? Do they come any bigger than this? But the night was not just about Henry. Every player stood up to be counted – from the makeshift defence (yes there were errors – but they fought and protected each other) to a combatative midfield led by the magnificent man child Fabregas, and the finally visible invisible wall. Reyes gave a cross to die for – but Henry put wide. And as the teams legs began to tire in the closing minutes they not only hung on by sheer will power, but even managed to counter attack. This was a magnificent and historic performance.

Who was man of the match? The whole team? The manager and staff, or the travelling library that out shouted  the Bernabeu? It would demean the whole team’s effort to award it to one player.

 It’s only half time, and let’s hope we don’t have to regret the numerous chances we failed to put away. For make no mistake this could have been 3-0. But let’s lighten up, at least until Saturday, any Gooner who hasn’t dreamed of a victory like this is a fan of the wrong sport. As for me I am walking on air for the next few days, Brian.