The Penultimate Champions League

So, for the last game of the season I was lucky enough to get to St James’ Park to watch Arsenal take on Newcastle. 

 Since ensuring they would avoid relegation, Newcastle was playing for nothing but the pride to say they beat Arsenal. Arsenal however, well if Arsenal won and Chelsea lost Arsenal could get third place. 

But if Arsenal lost or drew and Tottenham won Arsenal would finish 5^th and wouldn’t get champions league next season for the first time in 16 years.

Even before the game the atmosphere was incredible. The camaraderie between the arsenal fans was immense. As the game began Arsenal looked well, some nice play in the first ten minutes but after that it fell apart. Both teams looked sluggish and neither team seemed to want to win the game. It continued like this for the remainder of the half.

The second half is when the action properly started, Arsenal seemed to dominate and look deadly on their attacks. It only took seven minutes into the second half before Laurent Koscielny put Arsenal one nil up with a lovely flick from a corner. At which point the away stands erupted. Arsenal fans scream resonating around the stadium. Fans going mad, Tottenham hate chants starting, and the belief that the last Champions League spot was going to be ours. Until about the 70 minute mark Arsenal dictated play but then Newcastle looked more attacking. They were getting the ball into much better attacking positions, however not having a real chance on goal, the main problem being Arsenals lack of defensive pressure. Then the news of Newcastle’s goal reached Tottenham fans, so quickly it was even before it had reached our match (To mine and every other Arsenal fans delight to see them falling for such an easy joke). As we edged closer to the 90^th minute it was almost a matter fact that Bale would score for Tottenham at the end which he did. This now meant if Newcastle got a goal Tottenham would overtake Arsenal. Newcastle looked more and more deadly, one attempt bouncing on the edge of the box, perfect for a half volley which was on its way, well before Koscielny came in, channeled the energy of the Karate kid and cleared it, taking a boot to the head in the process. Then Giroud received the ball got mixed up and a Newcastle boot played the ball into Theo Walcott's feet. He played past the two defenders had a one on one with loads of time shot and hit the post. Then all the fans around me were just silent. All we could think is how much will that miss matter, I could just see Newcastle counter attacking up the pitch and getting a goal. On the brink of doing so another clearance from Koscielny saw the ball go up again in extra time. Arsenal then winning a corner, they must have taken a minute to take it but almost the second they did the referee blew the full-time whistle. Then the Arsenal fans went mental. Three seats along someone lit a flare. Fans screaming chants of relief and of passion, these continued in and around the stadium for almost an hour.

But that was it Arsenal had got Champions League football for the 17^th time consecutively since 1996. However without a shadow of a doubt Laurent Koscielny had almost secured the place alone in that game.

Written by @Giles_robinson