Late and great
When the Norwich keeper somehow got his fingertips to Poldi's thunderous strike and it slammed against the crossbar with time running out I think we all thought it simply wasn't going to be our day. Over the next 10 minutes or so our feelings of frustration went from relief to elation… amid utter carnage! An incredible end to a game where it really didn't look like it was coming.
I generally tend to leave detailed match analysis and lengthy opinions to others. Saturday, however, had so many talking points I feel a few are well worth looking at.
We all know decisions go for and against you across the course of the season. That is fact and something we all simply have to accept. It can definitely be argued we had the rub of the green in the latter stages on Saturday but possibly the most crucial incidents weren't actually inaccurate, just debatable.
Interestingly my season ticket seat and viewpoint is not too far from where the linesman made the penalty decision. For what it's worth all those of us located in that part of the stadium were screaming for a pen when Olly went down in the box. From our position in real time it was crystal clear by the fact the 'Emirates' logo across his shirt was somewhere round by his armpit that his shirt was being almost ripped from his torso!
Watching the TV highlights you could also see Laurent Koscielny's similar claims, the only other player on our side who was facing the incident. For me it looked a clear foul and the correct decision was made. Lady Luck was perhaps on our side because a penalty is not often the result of incidents like those, something I always find amazing given that it would definitely be given as a foul anywhere else on the pitch.
To even things up TV replays suggested the free-kick leading to our visitors' goal was extremely harsh given the attacking player appeared to stumble over his own feet.
Theo appeared to be marginally offside for our third too but with literally moments remaining our comeback was already technically complete as we were leading at the time.
Looking at the game as a whole it wasn't our greatest performance admittedly although we dominated for long spells, struck the woodwork a couple of times and had numerous other chances to score before the late drama.
A game where we were firm favourites to win comfortably ultimately felt like an enormous victory as we all made our way home through the heavy spring rain that fell for most of the afternoon and evening.
It also keeps our good league run going and takes us into our massive game against Everton on Tuesday with spirits and confidence high. We are also hugely aware however, that our visitors arrive in similar form.
It all makes for a mouthwatering prospect. As always we can play an important part so let's get behind the team as loudly as possible boys and girls!
Frank
@stubbsy70
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