Moments That Make You Smile

This is the first in a series of regular articles by Paul McArthur from the Wellington branch of Arsenal Supporters Club New Zealand.

January 21, 2007

Arsenal                        2             Manchester United            1

Ahead of this match one would have been forgiven for having that same sinking feeling experienced for almost the entire season of 2005/06. The squad was not yet seemingly capable of taking the title and the rampant champions-elect came knocking on the door. The scene was set for a disappointing evening on the couch. Already well behind in the premiership and seemingly out of the race, the main focus of this match seemed to be far from the Emirates. It was more about whether or not United could continue on their merry way to the title. As it turned out they did continue on their merry way, but not for this week at least. Arsenal stepped up to a level that they hadn’t for a long time and secured a memorable victory in the dying moments – a nicely timed Henry header from a pinpoint corner. It was a good win in a season of disappointment.

When explained in this manner it all sounds a bit ho-hum. Apart from the brief couple of moments during the game, nothing was going right. It was a disappointing trophy-less season doubled by the pain of losing our talismanic Henry at the end of it to Barcelona. Already 2 years had passed since the last trophy and Arsenal have still to win one since. So this game was perhaps just the central point of a barren patch… a negative thought one might say? Is it possible that in 20 years time this victory would be glossed over and forgotten like a pre-season win over Burnley? 

For me at least, the short answer is no. Try this – think of your favourite Arsenal moments. What comes to mind first? No it isn’t big Tone celebrating the double on the open-topped bus in ’98, it isn’t Arsene fronting a press conference after a second double in ’02, it isn’t watching the trophy being lifted after an exceptional unbeaten season in ’04. It is the moments that led to these events, not the events themselves – Adams thumper against Everton, Henry’s amazing back-to-goal volley against United, and then his amazing solo goal during his hat trick against the Scouse in ‘04. If it is to be believed that these small moments were more memorable than the events they led to, then theoretically any great moment you enjoyed during an Arsenal match is just as memorable, no matter the season, no matter the silverware.

When I tried to think of my favourite moments, three of them sprang to mind involuntarily. First one to pop in there was an Ashley Cole goal against Aston Villa, I remember it clearly. Henry beat a couple of defenders and passed cross-field to our dutch master.  With his first touch, in typical Bergkamp style, he flicked it beautifully into the path of Cole for him to volley first time past the advancing keeper from 20 yards. This was a typical Arsenal team goal with all three involved showing amazing touches of brilliance one after the other. The goose bumps appeared on my arms before the ball even crossed the line. This moment had come on the back of a scintillating half hour of football by the Gunners that had me humming. Not being able to recall when this match was played exactly, I was surprised to discover it was a premiership match in the 2004/05 season. Though Arsenal did claim the FA Cup in that season, they were a good 12 points off the pace in the premiership.

Much like the Cole goal against Villa, the second moment that crossed my mind occurred in a losing premiership campaign – an Henry goal to kill off a poor Leeds side at the beginning of the 2002/03 season. It was the third of four goals in the game after a spectacular opening half. Arsenal gained possession inside their own 18 yard box and the ball was pushed out to Vieira. He played a sumptuous through-ball to an on-rushing Henry who paced away from the defenders and slid it under the keeper to send me into a state of insanity. It was another excellent team goal that typified the extremely quick counter-attacking style of Arsenal’s play at the time. But a key thing about this moment was that again it was in vain – Arsenal’s premiership campaign dithered and they collapsed in the final months of the season, eventually losing the reverse tie to Leeds at home, in the process handing the old nemesis Manchester United another title.

The third of my three moments was the aforementioned Henry header to beat that nemesis in 2007 – again in a failed titled race. The similarities between these three moments struck a chord. It is not the outcome but the moment that we strive for. Yes we’d probably prefer to lose to Manchester United and win the title than the other way round, but look at what we’re missing. The moment when that header beat a flailing Van Der Sar can’t be topped. In the middle of the night, with your Manchester United ‘fan’ of a father obliviously asleep in the next room you’re jumping around the lounge screaming… your Arsenal supporting brother is doing the same… that stuff just can’t be bought. This was the moment I didn’t know I valued most. It was the moment I didn’t realise I would never forget. Why do these moments excite us more than everything else? Because they are the whole reason we watch football – that little piece of brilliance that draws you back to your team time and again.

Next time you’re watching an Arsenal match and a breathtaking goal makes you emit a noise you didn’t know was possible, take a moment of your own. Sit back, forget the situation of the game, forget the current state of the league ladder, forget everything else and just fuse that particular piece of play into your memory. Savour how you feel and savour watching your beloved team celebrate. Because one day when somebody mentions Arsenal and the team crosses your mind, this is the moment you will remember first. Not the trophies, not the unbeaten season, not the doubles, just that goal that made you smile for an entire day.