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  ¤ CM 00/01

We came face to face with our North London rivals in a championship-deciding match. Our participation in Europe and domestic Cups saw us having 2 games in hand over Chelsea. With the gap at 11 points, Chelsea needed a win to keep up with us. Although, it would meant that we have to win to pile on the pressure. 2 well-taken goals by Greening saw us leading at half time. Whereas at Villa Park, Chelsea were 2-1 down. Saviola increased the score line on the hour and it looked like we were to be crowned champions with 6 more matches to go. Then Zola scored with 22 minutes on the clock. It was a tense affair for us, since we wanted to kill two birds with one stone. It would be hard for Tottenham fans to see us winning the Championship at White Hart Lane. Saviola secured our win when he scored another goal in injury time. 4-0 to Arsenal! Despite hitting the post twice in the dying seconds, Chelsea had failed to find the winning goal and would have to start all over again next season. Hooray! Another Championship title in the bag. At least we could start concentrating in Europe now. [ScreenShot]

We went to Stamford Bridge after seeing Ajax Amsterdam 2-1 off in the Champions League Semi-Final at Highbury. I decided to rest a few key players for the match against Chelsea and that saw us slipping to a 2-1 defeat. It was a mere consolation for the Blues. A draw at the Amsterdam Arena gave us a 2-1 aggregate win and another potential explosive encounter with AC Milan.

News elsewhere, Galatasary won the UEFA Cup after beating Southampton 1-0. This would mean that if we were to lift the European Cup in 2 weeks' time, we would have a chance at avenging the UEFA Cup defeat 2 seasons ago.

I allowed the Reserves to play the remaining league games I have since there was nothing much to lose. I just wanted to gauge their abilities and to promote a few players for next season's campaign. The young Gunners played extremely well, drawing 2-2 with Sunderland before humbling Manchester City (4-2) and Southampton (3-1). Players who showed some future potential were Joe Osei-Kyffour (2) and David Noble (1) who won the Young Player of the Month award for May. All in all, the top 5 league standings at the end of the 2001/02 season: Arsenal (96), Chelsea (78), Tottenham (67), Liverpool (63) and Southampton (63).

Then came the FA Cup Final against a team which would very much like to stop us from completing a domestic treble again, Tottenham Hotspurs. Spurs haven't beaten us in 2 seasons and they have conceded more than 20 goals against us in just 5 matches. History certainly wasn't on their side.

72,472 Tottenham and Arsenal supporters gathered at the Millennium Stadium which have become our home ground lately, thanks to our victories last season and this season too. The match started off with Spurs having most of the possession but failed to penetrate the defense. A long clearance by Stepanovs to Joe Cole, saw the nippy midfielder dribbling past 2 defenders before flicking the ball into the path of Saviola. GOAL! That prompted a series of attacks by Spurs. Then, deep into injury time, Joe Cole chipped the ball to Saviola who coolly slotted it to Bergkamp in the 6-yard box. GOAL! At the restart, it was a midfield tussle with neither side having an advantage. In the 57th minute, Joe Cole tried to take the ball into the box but was blocked by Perry's tackle and the loose ball fell to Bergkamp. GOAL! 3-0! Arsenal looks certain to lift the FA Cup! 10 minutes later, a cross from Parlour found Saviola and this time with his left foot. GOAL! Tottenham were being humiliated on the pitch. 10 minutes before time, Greening's long-ranged effort made it five. Arsenal had repeated their treble glory! That put us level with 9 FA Cup wins each and United's 10 wins was within sight. [ScreenShot]

We set off for Berlin for the highly anticipated match against AC Milan in the European Cup Final. Milan have won it 5 times. Judging from last year's encounter and the 2 group matches this year, Milan would be a tough nut to crack. 30,000 Arsenal supporters made the journey to Berlin for the Final. It reminded me of last year's memorable final, which we won 4-2. Arsenal were unlucky at the start, both Saviola and Bergkamp shot straight at the woodwork. In the 17th minute, Bergkamp nodded a cross from Parlour to Ljungberg. Ljungberg made his way into the penalty box. GOAL! It was an entertaining match with both sides playing fluent football. The fans were clearly enjoying every moment. In the second half, it was Milan's turn to pile on the pressure but Manninger and the rock-solid defense managed to keep Shevchenko and Comandini at bay. A quick counter-attack saw Ljungberg having acres of space 20 yards from the goal, he shoots. GOAL! We started to play more defensively. 3 minutes before time, a pass from Saviola found Joe Cole just outside the box. GOAL! We have won it! It has been a long time since a team had won back-to-back European Cup titles, the last being AC Milan themselves. [ScreenShot]

Our European record this season, having played 17 matches, we won 13 and drew 4. We scored 39 goals and gave away 10 in return.

  CM 00/01
  Season 00/01 :
  Pre-Season
  Part 1
  Part 2
  Part 3
  Part 4
  Post-Season

  Season 01/02 :
  Pre-Season
  Part 1
  Part 2
  Part 3
  Post-Season

  Season 02/03 :
  Pre-Season
  Part 1
  Part 2
  Part 3
  Part 4
  Post-Season


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