By Boris Mellor
March 10 2010
Half a week can be a long time in football, on Saturday I had to listen to a couple of idiots near me slagging off Nik for missing several attempts on goal. I asked one what good did he think moaning at Nik would do - would it improve him? Fortunately the majority of fans around us got behind Nik and sang the "Super Nick" song. When Nik was substituted he went off with a smile, and later Arshavin joked that Bendtner was saving his goals for Porto.
When I arrived at the ground I met a mate and we watched the team sheet go up on the monitors, we both thought it was a good line up, but still felt nervous. As I returned to the seat that I had vacated only 3 days ago the bloke next to me said that two of his mates (they were also at the game) had got 40-1 and 25-1 respectively on Nik getting a hat trick. The forty to one odds were because it was on line.
We both had a chuckle, not in a nasty way, but he seemed convinced that Nik would do it. It seemed like one of those immutable laws, you know the ones, the law of the ex, or if you miss an open goal the other team scores. With only 25 minutes gone and Nik on two goals it was looking like an increasingly good bet.
When I met up for the half team briefing James asked, "I wonder what the odds were pre game for a Bendtner hat trick?" He was amazed that I could answer the question straight away, and even more amazed when I told him why I knew. If I had any sense I should have tried to get odds on a hat trick at that late stage, but they would have been a lot closer.
Anyway 2-0 wasn't bad at half time but there was still 45 minutes to go, and with our defence you can never get too cocky. It was ironic that Nik's first goal was far harder to score than any of his misses on Saturday. Arshavin was feeding him to make his little joke come true.
In the first half Porto had done little to threaten Arsenal but the second half was different and there were quite a few squeaky bum moments in the early stages of the resumption.
Players seem to tire, and even Song gave away a sloppy ball that could have seen Porto equalise, but on 63 minutes Nasri finished the match off. An amazing goal reminiscent of 1930s football when little men hiding behind the cover of baggy shorts took defences by surprise and then mesmerised them with on ball wizardry. He weaved his way through at least three defenders and then from a tight angle put the ball beyond the Porto keeper. Three nil, there was no way back now - surely? Any doubts were then removed by an Eboue goal on 66 minutes; he had only come on the field nine minutes earlier, and scored three minutes after Nasri. Once gain it was an Arshavin assist, how the crowd celebrated.
The heat went out of the game, there was no reason for Arsenal to exert themselves, and Porto no longer had any belief. Super Nik was now having a very quiet period, with a minute to go I turned to the bloke next to me and said I can see why your mate got 40-1, there's not much chance of a hat trick now. Then lo and behold as I finished speaking Eboue is brought down in the box, even more wondrous was that ref gave the penalty.
The crowd had no doubt who should take it and all called out his name. Nik had no doubt either and calmly slotted it away; everyone celebrated a beautiful 5-0 win. My neighbour and me not only celebrated 5-0 but that his mate had won a 40-1 bet. Now I am not a betting man, but I bet his mate wished he had put more than £3 on it. The crowd went home very happy, lots of singing and chanting, Nik had overcome the odds of nearly 32 years.
Something New
When Wenger had been told it was 32 years since Arsenal had overturned an away leg deficit he had replied well it's time for something new. Make history don't repeat it should be the new club motto.
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