Destiny Can Wait

So I woke up at 2:30am this morning to watch the ‘live’ telecast of BPL – Arsenal v Everton. And I must say that although I felt a little sleepy throughout the day, it was well worth it. Thoughts were still running through my mind of Seamus Coleman and THAT terrific defensive block, images of the wonderful match kept appearing in my mind…. LOL. I don’t think I’ve never been so nervous watching an Everton match…. I mean, this was backs-to-the-wall stuff of the highest order, especially in the final 15 minutes when it looked like our legs had turned to Jelly. At that point, Arsenal were first to everything and were the only team in it. They very well could have won the match, if not for some last-ditch defensive heroics from Jagielka, Howard & co.

In fact, Arsenal missed the best chance of the match in the first half when French international Olivier Giroud somehow contrived to steer Aaron Ramsey’s cross wide in front of a gaping goal. If that was not enough, Darron Gibson could well have been sent off for a second bookable offence after body-blocking a streaking Theo Walcott. But overall, I must say I am real proud of the Everton boys. In past seasons, a trip to the Emirates would be a cataclysmic, one-way affair, with Everton under siege and just praying to hang on for dear life. This time though, we were equals. It was as if Arsenal showed us the respect of a big team and until the final stages, it was actually a pretty even match.

I thought Coleman was the Man-of-the-Match, an awesome defensive display, this boy is getting better and better as the games go by. And how about teenage prodigy Ross Barkley? Playing in his preferred central midfield position, I thought he looked bright and lively. Sticking him out on the wing is no good for him. In fact, with Marouane Fellaini operating in  a slightly deeper position to protect the back-four, Barkley was free to express his attacking qualities at the upper-third of the pitch, and he nearly ‘did a Rooney’ midway through the second half with a right-foot curler that went just wide.