Written by BBGun Thursday, 10 March 2011 21:25

GunnerTalk Blog

By Besim Sezer

Having had some stupid internet company con me, lie to me and basically try to stick their willies up my bottom (DONT EVER USE ONLINETICKETEXPRESS.COM) I was stuck in Barcelona without a ticket for the mouth wateringly poised second leg of the Champions League last 16 tie against the universally hailed "Worlds Best Football Team"

Match day started with a morning stroll by the pier and there I struck Gooner Gold. A big PA thumped base round the city and the Fan Zone, organised by Red Action in conjunction with the local authorities, was absolutely jumping.  The atmosphere was great and Gunners enjoyed beers and a kick around together whilst waiting the clock down towards kick off. It was a perfect warm up to the main event and optimism was high.

We arrived at the stadium a few hours before kickoff and luckily we found reasonably priced tickets easily.  (Did I mention DONT EVER USE ONLINETICKETEXPRESS.COM) Panic over - we indulged in a few more pre match sherbets right outside the Camp Nou. Our fans were dancing and singing to classics like ‘We've only come to see the Arsenal!’ The opposition mob watched us nutters and seemed amused at our great banter.  Just before double vision set in we took to our seats. I was with the Catalonians but just in front of the Away Support.  I sat with pride wearing my shirt and as the Champions League music drifted around the magnificent stadium the enormity of what was coming started tingles in my spine!

I thought ‘this is going to be a long night' as wave after wave, after wave of attack (as expected) crashed against our defence. I had predicted a 2-1 score line before the game thus leading us into an extra time sneaky win.  I always knew Barca were spoilt for skill but what really impressed me was their work ethic, their closing down and their off ball commitment to winning it back.  They hunt in packs and as much as we tried we just couldn't get the ball into any safe positions, we couldn’t stretch out wide and we couldn't find any space. We also couldn't find each other when we did manage to gain possession of leather.

BUT we were holding!  Wenger's game plan was evident and as the end of the first half beckoned without us conceding even one goal despite such Barca dominance, I became quietly optimistic. Queue the face slap. We conceded right at the end in the usual Arsenal gift wrapped manner.  This time the bow was tied by our off colour El Capitian.

During half time I mooted the score line. I couldn't be too down because, let’s be fair, they probably should have scored sooner, so at one nil down there was still all to play for. I knew we would score, don’t ask me how I just knew!

The second half started and we got that all important away goal to balance out theirs. Barcelona decided to exchange gifts back and presented us with a goal of our own via their man's head Busquets.  The Gooners were ecstatic.  Being in with the Barca fans certainly didn't stop me celebrating passionately!  In a Graham Taylor style "Did they not like that!"  Abuse was hurled in my direction and it was then that I was introduced to the word 'Puto.'  It’s use was not restricted to me - every one of our players were included whenever they touched the ball. And don't remind me of the whistling, ohh god the whistling - whenever we got the ball, that noise right through your brain.  It was deafening.  

So then, at 55 minutes played, Robin Van 'Shock Inclusion' Persie spins and runs at goal. It’s our first real chance since the equaliser (if any other player was on the ball I wouldn’t call it a chance but we all know what he can do!)  He turns, he aims, he shoots... the majority of Arsenal fans cheered, from our angle we actually thought for a minute that it was a goal and were majorly peed off to see the Assistants flag. 

But what’s this??? The referee running towards RVP with his card held high – this can’t be happening? He's off?  For what, what for?  It was only when we saw Robin turn around pointing out the Nou Camps 99 thousand full to the brim capacity that the reason dawned on me. It seemed so ridiculous that it was the last thing we suspected. The whistling was STILL deafening - what on earth was the Ref on? UEFA orders maybe?  

Game Killed! Full stop, done, finished, kaput. If I were Wenger I would have pulled the team off and forfeited - it was that much of a joke. Slumped in my chair I watched the inevitable unfold.  It was like a pack of dogs tormenting a wounded bloody animal and my heart hurt for the boys.  Jack was battling but for every nip he gave out he got a big bite back and it was awful to see, 10 days after his tears at Wembley.  Words can’t express how bad the feeling was and the Arsenal fans were shocked mute!  

What an injustice!  Yes they are the better team, yes they probably deserved to win overall but this is football and the best team don’t always win. You only need to look at some of our results over the years. The amount of times we have played teams off the park and come away with nothing while the opposition have been lauded for their 'never say die attitude.' Our sense of injustice was increased as Nasri and RVP had been grabbed by the throat without any punishment.  I really feel that with 11 vs 11 we would have performed a snatch and grab, maybe lost the match but won the tie. 

We've been beaten around the head by the stats this week but it was the same at the Emirates and we came back TO WIN. To compound our misery, as their third goal went in,  the home fans began pointing and calling us names, "Puto, Puto, Puto!!" That they had to beat us with an unfair numerical advantage did not seem to permeate their arrogance.   So once they had settled down I stood up and began clapping them all.  I turned left, I turned right. I did a full 360 clapping. Their smug faces shone as they took it as a bow to their superiority. So then I held up both hands showing ten fingers and clapped more. There may have been a language barrier but my point was clear "Well done, you've won against ten men, you should be so proud!" I held my hand out to make handshakes but they were all folded!! Job done - that shut them up. The mighty Barcelona had won this one game, out of two, against a team crippled by the referee. As a spectacle and as fair fight it ended in the 55th with the raise of a yellow card from their 12th man.

There was one chance for us to still pull off the Great Escape. Unfortunately it fell to the man who talks the talk but clearly cannot walk the walk.  It was only because I witnessed Mickey Thomas, Anfield 89, that I jumped when Bentnder was given A GILT EDGED chance thru by Jack, but really I knew it was never gonna happen once it wasn't RVP on the end of it.

To sum it all up - I'm proud of the boys and the travelling Arsenal fans. It was a great experience to visit the Nou Camp and watch Barcelona play. It’s just sad that we were robbed our chance to shine. I hope to hear from all the Gunners informed about Gunnertalk.

Ohh by the way Alves... he's a Puto!!!