Unforgettable

Those whose love of football stretches into decades will recall that there was one film which was routinely shown to young players for inspirational and educational purposes. It was the 1960 European Cup final, when a wonderful Real Madrid team which included Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Francisco Gento produced a truly magical display to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 and secure the club’s 5th successive triumph in the competition.

For all their brilliance, heroes such as these from a bygone age no longer have quite the same resonance, but anyone who witnessed the 2007 Carling Cup final will know that in Arsenal’s young team Real’s heroes of the 60s have worthy successors. The pace, accuracy, mobility and imagination of their football in the first hour was sensational and the idea that a side whose average age is 21 and which included an under 19 midfield could leave the Premiership Champions so bewildered was almost beyond belief. They swept into a deserved lead with a stunning goal from 17 year old Theo Walcott which was reminiscent of Michael Owen at his best and but for the brilliance of Petr Cech would have gone in at half time with a substantial lead. Instead they were obliged to suffer the frustration of a Drogba equaliser, courtesy of a linesman who failed to acknowledge that he was offside.

Sadly, worse was to follow. The incident which saw John Terry stretchered off also caused Abou Diaby, who had spent the game looking more and more like Patrick Vieira, to retire hurt. Referee Howard Webb, whose benevolence towards Chelsea had already been demonstrated in the first half by a refusal to award a clear penalty against Carvalho and a totally inadequate yellow given to Essien for a horrific challenge on Baptista, allowed Diarra his second blatant body check with no more sanction than yet another yellow. Chelsea sub Arjen Robben began to make an impact and after young Denilson uncharacteristically gave the ball away in midfield, the Dutchman produced a pinpoint cross for Drogba to score Chelsea’s only legitimate goal. And after that, the flare-up which prompted three red cards and a massive case of mistaken identity by the same linesman whose incompetence had allowed Chelsea to equalise, effectively marked the end of Arsenal’s hopes of the trophy.

For Arsene Wenger, his brilliant young team and the Gunners’ fans it was tragedy to play by far the better football and watch the opposition walk off with the Carling Cup. Hopefully, they will come to realise that what they achieved meant more even than a trophy, because it signified a great future for them and for the club. Chelsea, who have only the present, will have to go out and buy theirs.