FIRELIGHT !

Anfield: European Cup Quarter Final Second Leg:
Wednesday 8th April 2008:

There can be few greater contrasts than the footballing philosophies of Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger. Whilst Benitez is arguably the finest exponent of the dark arts of defensive football since Helenio Herrera, Wenger would insist his team played the beautiful game in the midst of an earthquake.

At Anfield in one of the finest Champion's League matches witnessed for a decade these two vastly differing ideologies clashed head on. After a 1-1 draw at the Emirates where Arsenal at times overran Liverpool with their breathtaking movement, Wenger's team came to Merseyside and for the opening half hour produced football not seen in this city for many a year.

A scintillating one touch style at staggering speed that cut devastatingly through Benitez side. Anfield watched in stunned awe as the Gunners flirted like yellow dervishes amongst chasing red shirts. It came as no surprise when they took a deserved lead through Diaby.

Severely outclassed the home side by the skin of their teeth remained only one down. But this superbly drilled Liverpool were nothing if not fiercely resilient and from a corner Sami Hyppia thundered a headed equaliser.

The second half unfolded, no team gave an inch until nineteen minute from time when the error-ridden Philippe Senderos gifted a rampant Fernando Torres an inch and he ignited Anfield with a flashing shot that screamed into the net.

His season imploding, Arsene Wenger responded by sending on substitutes Robin Van Persie and a young man whom Arsenal supporters and indeed players shared grave doubts as to his true worth. Bought from Southampton at great expense, labelled England's future, eighteen -year-old Theo Walcott entered the Anfield arena uncertain whether even his own teammates trusted him with possession.

On eighty four minutes with hearts, nerves and legs close to collapse on both sides he received the ball midway inside his own half. Walcott beat one red shirt, skipped a second and exploded over the half way line. So much for hype!

Like Firelight an electrifying Walcott flew past more flailing challenges before racing into Liverpool's penalty area and crossing perfectly for Emmanuel Adebayor to fire home from close range. Wenger punched the air for this is what he preached. Three each on aggregate and surely Arsenal were semi -final bound?

And then the world caved in.

John Ludden:
cfieldsoffire@aol.com