Bernabeu Dreams Could Turn To Nightmares…
71 comments February 20th, 2006
When the draw of Arsenal vs Real Madrid was made, there wasn’t an Arsenal fan in the world who didn’t tingle with excitement. It was the match that everyone had been wanting for the last few years: Henry’s swashbuckling Invincibles against Zizou’s Galacticos. A footballing feast to match the Real Madrid – Manchester United tie a few seasons back.
It was to be two of the greatest of the past decade facing off in one artistic duel to decide just who was the greatest practitioner of the beautiful game on the planet.
And then, we became rubbish.
A bit of an overstatement perhaps, but you know what I’m refferring to. Bottling games in the midfield, leaving the ground at half-time etc. Meanwhile, under new coach Lopez Caro, Real have picked up a good run of form. The penetration provided by Robinho and Cicinho on either flank has made them the attacking threat of old.
And, what’s more, we’re absolutely inundated with injures. Robin van Persie, Jose Reyes, Sol Campbell, Dennis Bergkamp, Lauren, Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy – the list goes on and on and on. The team that we’ll scrape together to put out will be something like this:
There’s even the possibility that 16-year-old Theo Walcott could make a debut from the bench, where he’ll sit alongside Johan Djourou, who ought to be congratuled for being called up to this Swiss squad at just 18.
Anyhow, my point is that what was to be a great night for football could turn into be very embarrassing for us if we defend as we have done in recent weeks. We need a brilliant performance from all our top names if we are to get anything out there.
To anyone going to the game: sing your heart out. The boys will need it.
