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Yes! The time that I've been waiting for... to write about one of my passions, football. As an Indian, it is really strange to have football as my favourite sport above cricket - whithout doubt at that! I guess it all started 6 years back.. when I was abroad and there wasn't really any cricket and football was the only sport I could really watch. The thing I love about the sport is that it isn't really stop-start like cricket.. it is really continuous and at most times that I watch, quite an exciting sport. Why, you might ask? As I am a proud fan... erm.. fanatic of ARSENAL F.C.!
I cannot get into anything specific today... but, I really got inspired to write this entry after we beat Reading 4-0 away. So, I will try to be more general. To me, football is synonymous with Arsenal.. anyone who knows me and watches "Arsenal".. will definitely think of me! I've even made certain people support Arsenal.. after some brainwashing.. but I don't think they regret it even a bit! I love Arsenal.. they are the team who really in my opinion play football the way it is to be played. I love our manager... "Arsene" (Nothing to do with the name 'Arsenal'.. coincidence) Wenger.. What a manager! He epitomises what I feel managers, or for that matter men should be! I truly admire him.. and without him, I might not even be supporting Arsenal today.
Today, any football fan would put their hands up and say that Arsenal are the best football playing team in Europe. Many people won't understand what I mean by this.. Football in England (English Premier League) is physical... incredibly rough and requires loads of stamina, pace and technique... Arsenal at times have been found wanting in another department.. the strength zone. We've not been able to cope with physical oppositions in the past, and are known for the constant whinging for lack of protection from the referees.
The player I admire, love, idolize even.. has to be without a doubt.. THIERRY HENRY! He came to Arsenal as an unknown left sided midfielder.. with Wenger converting him to be a player who has won the Player of the Year (English) 3 times, top the European scoring charts twice and getting nominated for the Ballon D'or (European Player of the Year) and FIFA World Payer of the Year Award once too. He loves Arsenal, and most importantly us! (The fans!) He has been a truly loyal servant to the club and while many of our opponents would feel that he is arrogant, I can't find a single Arsenal fan who will tell you that.
When I look back at days as an Arsenal fan.. the best moment has to be at Old Trafford, 2002. It was in the second half.. Sylvain Wiltord scored the goal that won us the title against our bitter rivals.. and a team I really don't admire much.. Manchester Utd. A moment of great dissapointment would be not so long ago.. the night in Paris, against Barcelona.. I really dreamt about Arsenal winning the Champions League, for years! We reached the final and really should've capitalized on our chances that night. Jens Lehmann (Keeper) got sent off within 20 minutes of the game, and that made things really tough. Even when Sol Campbell headed in on the half hour mark.. it looked difficult and a rather ominous task ahead of the team. I just looked at the number of minutes to play on the tele.. and watching each minute pass by, made me feel relieved... then came the dreaded 2 goals in 4 minutes that wrecked me. I was distraught.
That said, Arsenal have moved to a brand new stadium this season. We started shakily (if there is a word like that!) and now we're really starting to play the football that Wenger stands for. Movement, technique, skill, pace and all that... it's just a treat to watch us when we play well. I just hope that we are able to mount a serious title challenge on money hogging Chelsea.. who have bought their way to being champions. I know that it will be tough, but what isn't in life? I will be an Arsenal fan for life... I will love Arsenal for life... and really would love to write more stuff about them on this blog.
I hope to be writing on more specific issues in football very very soon. As far as I'm concerned.. there are too many of them to discuss here!
1 comment:
unfortunately dont like football nowadays...jus love playin it..so no comments!....hehehe
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