everyone loves an underdog. They always have and they always will, if you're a total neutral watching a match a part of you inside is willing the no hoper's get an early chance, defend like beavers, park the bus, and keep that world beating striker out the game for as long as possible. This last week has seen all of the above, with arsenal hosting Barcelona, nobody gave them a chance a week before the match even kicked off, some even had Arsenal dubbed as Barcelona light, which in truth they've been called much worse.
I couldn't wait for the Catalans to turn up and beat arsenal at their own game, watch Xavi and Iniesta run the show mesmerizing the likes of Wilshire and Nasri, with their passing ability and seamless "everywhere-ness". To be fair to Barca thats exactly what happened from the moment the ref blew his whistle Barcelona set out to do what they do best make the beautiful game look, well, beautiful. When David Villa ran free and smashed home the first goal of the game, no one saw what was about to happen, not even Messi and his world destroying team mates, and why would they, they were 1-0 up away from home in complete control of the game, then for 5 minutes towards the end of the second half RVP and Andre Arshavin turned the game on its head, with the aid of the wonderful Jack Wilshire who truly showed a degree of world class ability, going toe to toe with some of the worlds greatest midfielders.
unquestionably one of arsenals finest hours, turning over one of the best footballing sides in history in front of 70,000 of their own fans, truly inspirational, and most importantly putting them in good stead for the ever elusive "quadruple". surely this night was destined to be the start of something special for the gunners as they set their sights on some long sought after silverware.
hiccup number 1. four days later the gunners traveled to leyton orient where this time they had the tag of odds on favourites in a match that like the previous encounter with Spanish champions could only end one way, a walk in the park for the visiting side. But the battling underdog, did everything in their power to stop the north London club strolling through to the next round of the FA cup earning a vital home draw, resulting in a replay back at the emirates.
A major upset, but nothing compared to what was about to happen at wembley in the Carling cup final, a competition that arsene wenger has been ridiculed for never taking seriously, for years, he continually named a "weaker" youth side against every opponent. But not this year, 2011 arsenal wanted to win the Carling Cup, and they set their stall out to do so, and once they had reached the final, to play Birmingham, i'm pretty sure there was red and white ribbon on the trophy before the match kicked off, because, why would they throw it away now? surely they would just run riot, hit the blues for 3 or 4, pick up the medals and be off, preparing them selves for a trip to the camp nou, to prove they more than just Barcelona light, and can hold a flame to anyone at any level.
again the underdog battled, and again prevailed, within the space of nine days Arsenal dealt a crippling blow to arguably the best team in the world, and got punished by a team that 99 times out of a hundred they would play off the park. The gunners have had an up and down few days, with upsets aplenty.
So if the trend was to continue to follow the gunners, surely on Wednesday night they will turn up at the Camp Nou, and leave staring down the barrel of the next round tie.
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