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No time to dwell on that huge disappointment now, we’ve got a monumental task in German giants, Bayern Munich. When I say “monumental”, I don’t insinuate that we have no chance at winning like the cheap rags that call themselves newspapers. I mean the “good” side of our beloved, bipolar Arsenal has to turn up, and remain for the 90 minutes. No messing about. This is the biggest game of the season so far.
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Despite the dark, wafty fart cloud hanging over the Emirates, I’m confident we can get it done. Not because we’re in any way equal to Bayern – I’m not a fool. No amount of optimism could make me oblivious to the broad chasm separating us from those crazy Germans in form. No, I’m just used to the ups and downs of Arsenal Football Club. Everyone doubted us to beat Barcelona two years ago at the Emirates. I was too scared to watch it live, in fear of my stream freezing and cardiac arrest ensuing.
That amazing night, we were subject to an onslaught that only Barcelona can be associated with. Lionel Messi and David Villa were a nightmare to defend, and it looked for a while like we wouldn’t make it to the end of the match in one piece at times. Still, that nagging, quiet optimism in the back of my head refused to fade. Yes, we were taking our knocks, but Barça were wasting chances left, right and centre. We were too, but that was beside the point. The atmosphere was magnificent, the play was electric, and we looked a team who wasn’t afraid to take the game to the Catalans. Jack had the match of his life, out-playing the world’s best midfield pair like they were academy kids. Our two goals were absolutely brilliant, but Arshavin’s magic is among my top 10 Arsenal goals of all time. Controversial? Yes. It doesn’t matter, what that goal represented was (temporary) revenge for 2006, and everything Barça stood for. If I were to sum up this game with one sentence, it would be this: We started Johan Djourou and Nicklas Bendtner - and won. It doesn’t get better than that.
What does that have to do with tonight, you ask? That match is symbolic. Arsenal at their very best. Sure, we’ve undergone a massive personnel shift since then, but that doesn’t mean our attitude should change. We are the Arsenal, and we can beat you at your own game.
That sentiment held true against our 3-0 victory at home to AC Milan. I’ve never seen such a look of fear on the face of Zlatan Ibrahimovic as we tucked away our third goal of the night. No one had expected us to beat the pants of Milan, after our brutal humiliation at the San Siro. At the time, Milan were one of the best teams around. Their attack fearsome, their defense tighter than Fort Knox. They were thrashing whoever they played, but we proved a lump in their throats that was tough to clear. Sure, we lost, but I haven’t been more proud of a team for their willingness to face adversity head on, and almost conquer.
While we haven’t lost to Bayern 4-0 in the 1st leg (touch wood), I don’t expect an easy game, for either team. If I were to put money on a result, it would be a 2-2 draw. Don’t expect us to keep a clean sheet against a team whose goal difference is higher than our EPL points tally. It’s gotten to the point where Manuel Neuer hasn’t even bothered to stand in between the sticks, instead warming up subs as they prepare to come on the field. Yes, Bayern aren’t exactly the leaky two-stroke speedboat we are at the moment, but it doesn’t mean they’re impervious either. Between Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott alone, I’m sure we can find an opening. Individual battles among players will be interesting, but the most anticipated one has to be between Jack and Bastian Schweinsteiger. It’s not every day we come up against one of the top 10 midfielders in the game, and as we saw two years ago against Barça, Jack can keep up with the best of ‘em. While I’m not all that confident in Giroud’s effectiveness tomorrow, the least he could do is give Van Buyten and pal a good rollicking in the air, or at least stun them with that nice mug of his. The most threatening players for both sides will be our wide forwards. With Podolski’s delivery and Theo’s pace, look for Alaba and Phillipe Lahm having to stay deep for periods of the match as they’re bombarded by our red-hot duo. If they don’t play well, we have no chance of winning.
I’m going to cut it short here, and leave you with this message: Forward. Yes, we have many unofficial mottos that help with describing our plan of attack tomorrow, but this one is the best. We can’t get pegged back, we have to be focused, and most importantly, we can’t be scared.
Come on you Gunners, march towards those Germans and give them all you’ve got!
