Favourite Moments of the 2012/13 Season (Part 2)

6. Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal. This is mainly because I went to the game. I've only been able to go to 2 Arsenal games this season and this was the only one we won. We also played extremely well, in the first half we ran rings around Sunderland and probably should have been about 5 up. Santi Cazorla in particular was majestic. Then in the second half after Jenkinson got sent off we still had a few good chances to settle the win but it was defensive resilience and solidity that was impressive in this half. Sagna and Mertesacker at centre half were excellent, Szczesny was outstanding and everyone just pulled together to grind out a very satisfying, nerve-jangling 1-0 win. I was so nervous watching up in the heavens that I jumped up and celebrated when Szczesny caught a late cross when the bodies were piling into the box. I kept checking my watch, dying for 4:55 to come and it finally did. It was also great to be in and amongst Gooners, especially the away fans. It's always a terrific atmosphere in the Arsenal away end and nice to be around your people.

7. Bolton v Everton/ Brighton v Arsenal FA Cup 4th round. Going to the FA Cup tie at the Reebok Stadium, Arsenal meanwhile faced a tricky tie at Brighton. I was desperate for both sides to get to Wembley and this was a necessary step to take in order to get there for both teams. In the snowy weather I enjoyed a beautiful strawberries and cream Krispy Kreme doughnut and then went on to the game. It was a decent game evenly balanced at 1-1. Meanwhile Arsenal were also drawing 1-1 at half-time at Brighton. Then later in the second half Everton, who were playing poorly scored through Heitinga in the last minute to send Everton through. I was pleased almost as if Arsenal had won it late on and one of the teams I wanted to get to Wembley was now one step closer to doing so.

Then coming out of the ground I found out via phone that Arsenal had also snatched a late winner to win 3-2 at Brighton. It was great, both our teams getting late winners to get to the 5th round. Those are the FA Cup magic moments everyone always talks about. I then enjoyed a freezing cold walk back to the car in the dark. Not one of those cold, dark walks after a defeat where you're miserable; one of those cold, dark walks back to the car where you're warmed by the feeling of victory, or in tis case, double victory.

 

8. Everton 3-3 Aston Villa. This is purely because it was a cracking game. It was twisty and turny and Everton v Aston Villa games are usually very good and this one was up there with the best. 3 goals in each half, plenty of goalmouth action and good attacking football and a great goal scored by Christian Benteke, but the main reason it was great was an awesome cross by Matthew Lowton.

9. Reading 5-7 Arsenal. I came back from a driving lesson looking forward to watching Arsenal play at Reading. I generally relax a bit more when it coms to League Cup games, hence the looking forward to it. After about half a hour we were 4-0 down (not very relaxing). It was humiliation territory and slate everyone territory (and rightly so). However Walcott got a goal back before half-time and Arsenal ended up equalising in the 6th minute of stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes to make it 4-4. It was such a relief, firstly avoiding humiliation and secondly staying in the Capital One Cup. We then went on to be level at 5-5 going into the 120th minute of an amazing game and broke on the counter attack. Arshavin's shot was cleared off the line and Walcott smashed the ball in in front of the ecstatic Arsenal fans to make it 6-5 to Arsenal. I was elated, what a comeback! A last minute winner! Chamakh (who actually had a very good game after the first half by the way- when he was woeful) scored his second of the game on the counter attack to make it 7-5. It was an amazing comeback and a great night. The only thing that ended up marring it was the fact that we went out to Bradford in the next round.

10. Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal. Arsenal had drawn their first two games 0-0 and so there was a bit of disappointment looming as we went to Liverpool. However the team that day put in a great performance both offensively ad defensively and could have won by more than the two goal margin. Santi Cazorla lit up the ground; him, Abou Diaby and Mikel Arteta all put in midfield master classes and ran rings around Gerrard and co. Gerrard was largely at fault for out first goal as well (Lukas Podolski' first goal for the club) so that was a nice bonus. It was a great relief when Cazorla made it 2-0 and it continued our recent great run at Anfield (we haven't lost there since that Champions League robbery in 2008, and haven't lost in the league there since 2007- winning 3 times). I was watching it live on Sky and had a great afternoon enjoying that great win and revelling in it afterwards.