Last night was something special. That's what you call a real rollercoaster ride. To be summoned from the depths of dreadful defeat, only to be saved by none other than Marouane Chamakh, is a once-in-a-lifetime event. And it was utter torture to go through. Same old Arsenal in that respect, though.
The first 38 minutes at the Madjeski were some of the worst moments I've witnessed as an Arsenal fan. When Martinez (another Arsenal 'keeper I'll be shouting at in the future, no doubt), palmed Leigertwood's weak-ish shot into the net, half of us were all pretty depressed by then. Noel Hunt then decided he'd try and send all Gooners suicidal (as our defenders were playing the same way on the pitch).
When Theo pulled one back it did little to lighten the mood. Maybe if we started the second half quickly we'll have a chance, I thought, but as we trickled past the hour mark it looked like we'd get one more if we were lucky. But if Arsene Wenger is anything, it's a genius and his substitutions changed the game. Giroud and Eisfeld got us back.
If Giroud plays like that every week for us, he'll pay off his transfer fee in a couple of months, I reckon. Nothing was going to get the better of him and his instant impact spurred us on. Koscielny, lucky to be on the pitch, got us within touching distance with a minute of normal time to go, but as the announced added 4 went by it looked like all hope was gone as the ball struggled to leave the Arsenal half, before a combination of Walcott and Jenkinson caused absolute delirium.
It was written in the stars then, that having constantly berated him throughout the game, and it being just his second start all year long, a certain Mr. Chamakh would step up to the plate and show us what he's getting paid £60k (six-zero) a week for. And how. I'm not sure whether I was more shocked that we'd come back to lead from 4-0 down or that Chamakh had just scored an absolute beauty. I bet he still couldn't hit a barn door if you asked him to. He'll still be at the bottom of the pecking order easily. It turns out that he's not bad at lobbing the 'keeper, though.
The only negative to come out of the game is that the heroic comeback does paper over the cracks a little - defensively we were appalling. Djourou was up to his usual tricks at the back as Jason "I-do-what-I-want" Roberts made mincemeat of him. And despite his goal (for us), Koscielny doesn't look the man he was last season - yet. Jenkinson seemed the only defender that was sure and precise on the ball, and I would never have thought that at the start of the season.
Something else I never would have thought I'd say was sign Theo up. Now. It could be he is moving into the prime of his career at his young age and we wouldn't know it. Another club (ie. City) would wreck him. Sort out his contract and make him the new Henry - or something close. This guy's scored double the amount of starts he's had - and we're dragging this contract business on way too long for anyone's liking. Sort it out, Arsene, he could become a legend.
Theo and co. may have saved us from a humiliating defeat but Steve Bould's certainly got his work cut out if he, or if anyone is going to turn this team into winners. Undoubtedly, last night was one of the greatest comebacks in Arsenal history but it's going to take more than that before we get that 'Invincible' feeling again.
Bring on the quarters. Come On You Reds!
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