After a humbling 5 – 1 result at the Allianz Arena, just as it was supposed to be, the usual Arsenal is a bad team was on the lips of every football fan. I doubt if anyone expected something different. It was a beautiful game of football. I personally hate it when after blinking my eyes for less than 90 times in 5400 seconds, the beautiful game ends goalless. In fact, that’s the reason I sought refuge in basketball because you’re never denied the thrill of cheering every second. The dunks, blocks, crosses, alleys, shots, its just a joy to behold. But then, the beautiful game will always be the beautiful game and like a pitiful boyfriend who never gets over a heartbreak, I find myself going back to my ex. Well, the angel you know is better than the devil you don’t know (I wonder why they always say the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know. Man! Be positive small) so football over basketball on any day.
I was happy there were goals galore. Truth is, I personally had no interest in the game but sometimes you just can’t resist the temptation of watching. The atmosphere alone in the TV room, my brother, you can’t miss that. The AC Milan fans who can’t say from the top of their heads the last time they played in the Champions League; The Liverpool fans who are as old as the last time they won the Premiership; the Chelsea fans who for reason have balls enough to claim supremacy; some recent breed of Juventus fans (most of them are Gunners by the way) who are creeping through crevices; and last but not least, the famous ASU (Against Supporters Union) won’t make you regret spending 90 minutes of your time when in fact you find it difficult opening a chapter in BAJA. May the Lord help us.
I wasn’t happy because a lot of people were. They talk like Arsenal has been cursed. Cursed never to see the light of a quarter finals in the CL. Cursed for trying to be the first London club to lift the trophy. Cursed for trying to battle Barcelona for a CL, something the likes of Ronaldinho had labored for. Not that Arsenal did not do much for a berth in the final, but that it was the only CL that the great Ronaldinho had to settle for.
So I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t happy because people thought there was no way in the world Arsenal could qualify. Come on! We all did probability somewhere along the line. So it was annoying when people would just conclude and not leave any window of opportunity. Dude! Even prisons have windows. Well, truth is, I was trying to exhibit some optimism, something I don’t really do often. Arsenal had given me such opportunity. So I held on to it, like a baby suckling on a mother’s breast, milking every colostrum I could get. Also I have a few Arsenal friends I sympathize with, so I had to join them and argue my heart out that Arsenal was going to do it. It was Arsenal’s 100th home game in the CL under Wenger and they had won on 9 occasions with more than 4 goals so come on, Arsenal all the way.
I had some score to settle so I couldn’t make it to the game in time. You know, even if Arsenal was going to win by a 7 goal margin, man must survive. I finished the last bowl of stew in my fridge, went to the TV space only for Arsenal to score. “If it is coming, it is doing”. That’s what I said. At that moment, I knew I would pass for a prophet because my prediction was in the pipeline; Arsenal will qualify. Arsenal was playing with the confidence only seen in the few minutes when a guy is planning on some lyrics to woo a girl. Then Lewandowski scores from a spot-kick, and Arsenal is back to factory settings; concede a goal and start playing poorly. The goals started flooding, and I was smiling. Not at the fact that Arsenal was losing, but that I wasn’t wasting my time. My faith had also taken another leap because as it is written in John 19:22; what is written, is written.
raphaeltakyi.com 