I have never felt so emotionally charged up after watching a match. That too i couldn't watch on tv thanks yet again to my cablewala who out of a sudden decides to show vancouver instead of Arsenal (and previous cricket matches highlights on other channel). Could only watch last 30 minutes on a low quality stream on the net with a dozen interruptions and reconnections.
Aaron Ramsey, a 19 year old bright midfielder of Arsenal, who has proved himself so many times this season and was all poised to be a shining star, suffered a career threatening injury to his leg in the match. The captain of Stoke, whether intentionally or not, BROKE his right foot. It was sickening to watch his broken foot hanging while he was writhing in pain. Sky decided not to show the replay as it was "disturbing". The offender was given a straight red card, and he left the field crying. Even he couldn't meet the eyes of Ramsey. The play was stopped for a good length as both teams' players were trying to help by calling medical attention and trying to soothe Ramsey. Arsenal's captain Fabregas and our best buy this year, the defender who is called "the verminator", Vermaelen, were both in tears. This happened after 60 minutes of the game.
Arsenal have always lost playing away to Stoke. Stoke have always scored against Arsenal by someone heading a long throw of Delap. They did it again in the early minutes of the game. But Arsenal today showed class and fought back into the game and ended up equalising before half time.
After the horrific injury, all the players on the field had their "shoulders down". No one seemed motivated to play. Still after about 5-10 minutes Arsenal gained composure. Our substitute striker Eduardo got a chance to finish the game but he missed it. Finally Fabregas got a penalty off a clear handball in the 89th minute. Referee must have felt bad for not allowing Ramsey a clear cut penalty in the first half. Fabregas had earlier got a penalty against the same keeper but the keeper had saved. This time also he guessed the correct direction but Fabregas scored. This charged up Arsenal again. The verminator scored with a simple tap in again from a Fabregas cross. Arsenal won 3-1.
It was such a crucial win. For the most important reason that just 2 years ago at the same point (February 21 or so) our striker Eduardo had suffered a similar horrific ankle break. In that match also Arsenal players had lost the will to play and ended up conceding a late penalty and drawing the match 2-2. Arsenal had been league leaders so far in that season but the season just dropped after that, and Arsenal drew 5 successive games, ending the season in the 2nd place.
But tonight Arsenal showed character. Fabregas motivated the players after the incidence. They even huddled together after the win in a repeat fashion of the "invincible" era (2004 season where Arsenal went on the entire season unbeaten, which was for the first time in 110+ years in the league, by any team). This team has grown up.
With League leaders Chelsea losing in a very negative game tonight, Arsenal are just 3 points away from them now.
After the match both the manager and Fabregas reacted very strongly against the teams who always play "physical" against Arsenal. This is the THIRD time in 5 years that an Arsenal player has suffered a 1-2 year losing injury. This is definitely not a coincidence as the lower teams employ such physical tactics because that is the only way they can stop the free flow passing football of Arsenal. But I wonder is this the price Arsenal pays for playing so well AND fairly? This year, out of all the 20 teams in the league, only Arsenal has not got any red card (remember that Chelsea got 2 red cards just today). That means Arsenal plays to win beautifully without getting into such malicious play. And in the process players like Diaby, Eduardo and Ramsey suffer such horrendous injuries?
The only positive out of tonight is that the entire team is now determined to (even Wenger said it in his post match interview) "win it for Ramsey".
With easy fixtures now for Arsenal and tough fixtures for their competitors (No 1 Chelsea and No 2 Manchester United have yet to play against each other), there is all the chance to win it now.
Hope that Ramsey recovers soon. And like Diaby and Eduardo, come back to play an awesome game for Arsenal again.
