Miracle in the making

4 draws and a lost in the last 5 games brought a cruising season to a premature halt. Will a stirring comeback do the trick? Or is it the last flash in the pan?

When the gunners drew 4 times and lost to Chelski in a little uneven bump in the season, critics came flying back with their comments of “I told you so” and “kids don't win you anything”. The 4 draws hurt the team badly as they involved teams like Birmingham, Villa, Wigan and Boro; hardly your regular title contenders.

Coupled with the loss to Chelski and a broken leg to Eduardo amidst the run, team morale and motivation were at an all time low. Hardly surprising, goals from Adebayor and Fabregas dried up as the team forgot how to win.As such, there could not have come a worse time to visit the Reebok Stadium.

With a dismay away record there, the danger of the title race going up in smoke similar to previous years was imminent. Although Bolton themselves are mired in a relegation battle themselves, they still had Kevin Davies, Ivan Campo, El Hadji Diouf among others who had the experience and determination to beat Arsenal and continue their domination against the gunners.

For a while, it looks like history is repeating itself when Bolton raced to a 2 nil lead and a man up. Young and ignorant, Diaby was never a match against crafty old heads of the Bolton players. His rash tackle ensuring that the gunners go into the break with a bleak result in the gloomy rain.

Well, in Big Sam’s days, being 2 goals down and a man less will meant game, set, match for Arsenal. However, the players reek of confidence after a half time talk by Le Boss. God knows what happened in the dressing room but my guess is “IT WAS NOT PLEASANT”.

Anyway, back to the hope. RVP continue his drastic return to form by missing sitters and mis-kicking the simplest of passes. I felt my hope for a comeback almost extinguished until a certain maligned captain ghosted in at the far post during a corner kick and slam the ball into the net!

The rapturous applause by the traveling fans broke the sickening repetition of the pounding rain. Gallas issued the war cry and how the team responded! Within 6 mins, the referee was pointing to the spot after a tackle sent Hleb sprawling in the penalty boss. My heart was in my mouth when I saw his hesitation during his run up to the penalty kick. The look of elation and relief mixed in his joyous shout was evidence to all when he sent the keeper the wrong way.

Leveled at last with the nemesis, the gunners pushed further and pressed harder for the winning goal. 2-2 was never enough in this final stretch of the title race. As the passes grew precise and legs tired, we found holes in the Bolton’s defence to suggest we would be able to exploit. Alas, with Lady Luck finally smiling her way at us, a hit by our boy wonder (Fabregas) bobbled its way among bodies and finally decides to deflect on the side of Jloyd Samuel into the net. Fabregas’s goal or own goal? Who cares! We got our winner!

To label this an amazing comeback is an understatement. Even Monsieur Wenger declared that it was the most amazing comeback he ever seen. To me, I feel that this is the turning point of our season. After this, we would be indestructible and will go on to win the remaining 6 matches and even the Champion’s League. The question now is, “Will winning the remaining 6 matches get us the league title?” It seems a bit too little too late with Man U 6 points ahead and even Chelsea is 1 point ahead of us.

Well, its never to late to hope and its never too late to get a miracle!
Go Gunners!!!