What do you do when you’re playing a second-leg European tie and you have a four goal deficit from the first leg? Which is, quite frankly, massive. Almost insurmountable. Almost.

Arsenal found themselves in such a situation on Tuesday night having been mullered (and Roben-ed, Vidal-ed and many others) 5-1 in Munich in the first leg. So they opted for a fiendish plan… to concede 5 more Ok, they did score one first, but then it went south from there. Assisted, inevitably according to Wenger, by some ‘revolting’ refereeing decisions. Strange use of a word but he’s not from these shores. Even though ‘revolting’ in French normally involves use of a guillotine. Anyway…

It, basically, all went to shit. Heads dropped, the spirit simply deserted the team as if sucked by some celestial vacuum pump, and they gave up the fight. Such is the level of disgruntlement currently circulating round the Emirates. Not a happy place. Worst of all was a picture of Alexis Sanchez sniggering as Bayern’s 5th went in, when he was on the bench. What a horrible picture.

There is an alternative.

Barcelona (my bestest, most favourite ‘dream team’ other than Spurs) also faced the seemingly impossible after losing their first leg 4-0 to Paris St Germain. They scored 3 by midway through the second half but then catastrophe. Like 4-0 isn’t catastrophic enough. They conceded a goal by Edson Cavalli (think ‘Harry Kane but swarthy’). The dreaded ‘away goal’. So now Barca need to score a total of 6 to win. 3 more goals. And time is running out. And is running out. And running out…

With the clock at 88 minutes Barca scored again. Then injury time. OMG. Another goal. Still not enough. Then in the 95th minute, with the whistle almost in the ref’s mouth to blow for time (almost, just a little excitement created here, not that it needed it), Sergi Roberto hit the winner for Barcelona. The place erupted, the world stood on its collective head, I was declaring a 4 Hearts contract at the bridge table so sadly missed all the fun as a million Catalans group-hugged and screamed. Amazing result. Amazing excitement. Just amazing.

The difference between Arsenal and Barclena’s responses to their 4-0 deficits was that the Barca manager, Louis Enrique, resigned after the Paris match. Ooooooooohhhhhhh…

Happy Thursday

A xxxx