Embedded in glory, as David Young succinctly sums it up, "on the 20th anniversary of the Gunners' famous title-winning match up there on the last day of the 1989 season," the young guns clinched the trophy to commemorate the majestical date. With the same magic and dazzle, the guns secured their double with a rather laborious effort this time at Anfield. If the first leg was amusing and phenomenal driven, now the Gunners just did the right job to secure the win that gave them an aggregate of six goals against two.
Jack Wilshere, the brightest star and best player of the current squad, pulled the strings of the game yet again to give the Gunners the required pace and enormous talent that certain counterpart lacks. If there is a player in which the hopes of many supporters can rely is in the young shoulders of this English midfielder. While many of their team mates have secured a Carling Cup start next season from their recent performances, the horizon set for Wilshere is Arsenal's first team bench. And if that sounds mediocre enough to any reader, many professional players, let alone reserves, would dream to sit in a place chosen only for the few and talented. One example is the poised and over-valued Nacer Barazite that has been struggling for a place, as well as Fran Merida among many, in which also is included the infamous, and now free agent, Amaury Bischoff.
The match started quite vivid for the visitors, with a different tactical display by Liverpool, mainly moving Buchtmann from defense to centre midfield. A comeback was suggested, but as Steve Bould put in the beginning of the transmission, 2005 in Istambul should never be forgotten.
And if there was a moment in which the hope should have come for Liverpool, it was Dalla Valle's miss in the 9th. Speed was provided by Buchtmann but even with the effort by the northern team it was through Landsbury that two chances for Arsenal came before the twenty minute mark. Liverpool held bravely many attacks from the north Londoners for the following minutes until a little gift from Liverpool's back guard arrived when a long ball was not properly intercepted by centre-halves Ayala and Kennedy giving Sánchez Watt the opportunity to score past Bouzanis.
The unsurmountable lead of four goals was appearing, as early in the game as the 30th minute, too great a burden for the young Liverpudlians, who childishly fell over and over offside. Kacaniklic was the only one that posed a real threat to Arsenal's defense, despite the constants arrivals from Wilshere and Landsbury in the left flank. At times Buchtmann physical prowess interfered with Wilshere's pace in midfield and interestingly enough the confrontation resulted quite even, reaching half time whistle.
Dalla Valle equalised five minutes after the start leaving past Aylling, Bartley and Shea raising his tally to the impressive ratio of a goal per match. Buchtmann's volley three minutes later showed the momentum the home side was enjoying. Each and everyone of the Liverpool attackers was prowling on Shea's goal. Certainly the spirit of Istambul, something present in Liverpool's spirit, according to one of the commentators (his name escapes me), was particularly present in Anfield.
The match now open to Arsenal's counters, the Liverpudlians throwed all out of the board in order to secure another goal that would have stretched the gap. The tide slowly turned on Gunners' favour when, reaching the 64th, the visitors provided three chances on target. Two minutes before the 70th minute mark Murphy came in for Sunu in order to refresh the weakened offesnive display.
And it was in the 70th minute that the last and dim hope fell when a deflection of a Sánchez Watt cross unfortunately touched Ayala, giving Arsenal a lead by an own goal. Watching the play with more detail one can see the splendid pass from Wilshere and, later, the clumsy defending by Kennedy. All dreams appeared, and were, crashed by the lead of the north Londoners. The siege began when Liverpool appeared to be surrendered; Bouzanis denied Thomas and Wilshere runs. Regarding Liverpool's efforts, Dalla Valle and Buchtmann proved to be the most dangerous providers but the lead the team commanded by Bould won in the first leg was, at this stage of the match, appearing to be unreachable.
Both teams made their respective substitutions; Arsenal replaced Henderson for Emmanuel-Thomas and Evina for Cruise whilst Liverpool Buchtmann for Cooper and Wisdom for Roberts. Nothing more was offered from both sides reaching the final whistle. The Gunners won their trophy in such a fashion that many expect a cameo of such a performance by the senior team. We will only have to wait what time brings to these group of brilliant youngsters and if they can lift a major trophy as that generation that twenty years ago won the league.
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