17/05/2000 –BIG LOW
Knocked out of the Champions League only to then make final of UEFA Cup and lose to Galatasaray on penalties. My most vivid memory was that if Emmanuel Petit had performed in midfield we would have won, but sadly he did not and left in the summer. ‘Don’t Call Me Baby’ by Madison Avenue was the tune for our failure.
12/05/2001 – SURPRISING LOW
Lost the FA Cup final having dominated the whole game, took the lead with Freddie goal, not given a penalty for a blatant Henchoz handball. Eventually we lost to two classic Michael Owen goals. Sucker punch and a new slimmed down non Spice Girl Geri Halliwell with ‘Its Raining Men’ topped the charts.
04/05/2002 – CLASSIC HIGH
Back in Cardiff a year later and this time victorious with a 2-0 win over Chelsea in the ‘It’s only Ray Parlour’ final. Tim Lovejoy of Soccer AM’s famous quote as Razor picked the ball up outside the area only to curl a classic into the top corner. ‘Freak Like Me’ by the Sugarbabes topped the charts.
08/05/2002 – ULTIMATE HIGH
A wonderful night sees the Gunners win the league with a game to spare beating their rivals on their own patch. Sylvain Wiltord shoots his was into Arsenal folklore. ‘We win the league in Manchester’ I wish it were a classic atop the hot parade but it was ‘Kiss Kiss’ by Holly Valance. More famous now for the Fosters ad and Strictly Come Dancing.
17/05/2003 – HIGH
I enjoyed this one as I stayed overnight in Cardiff after the match. Our third FA Cup Final in three years and a 1-0 win over the Saints. For R.Kelly fans ‘Ignition Remix’ was no.1.
25/04/2004 and 15/05/2004 – HIGHER THAN HIGH
Arsenal secure the league title at White Hart Lane with a 2-2 draw, having lead 2-0 and three weeks later finished the season off at home to Leicester with a 2-1 win to go a whole season undefeated. For me the team was more fluent in 2002, but the ‘Invincibles’ will be the team to go down in history. Depressingly across both dates ‘F**k I Don’t Want You Back’ by Eamon stayed at no.1. No I have no recollection of it either, but if it stayed at the top for three Sundays it must have been good!
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