Bullets from the Ashes: A different Arsenal Story

The Champions League Final - Pre Match

Thanks to the way the Matches in the Premier League season were scheduled, Arsenal had a massive 21 days between their last league came and the Final. During this barren spell Geoff Keeling was bored out of his mind. He was kept busy by preparing for the match in the upcoming week, but he couldn't do that. He resorted to playing Football Manager for hours on end. He couldn't wait for the Final to be over and done with.

This was Pat's last match so Geoff wanted it to be special. It was.

The Champions League Final - - Arsenal 0-3 Real Madrid

The Gooners were distraught. They had been comprehensively beaten. However they realised that it was Pat Rice's Last game. All the Fans broke out into

"We Love you Pat, we do. We love Pat, we do. We love Pat, we do. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh Pat we love you!"

for a whole ten minutes after the final whistle.

Mean while in the dressing room, Keeling was mulling over what he was going to say. As the exhausted players walked in they feared the wrath that was coming.

"Right Lads, I appreciated your efforts today. But I just think we let the occasion get to ourselves. We never stood a chance when Dede, went off. Oh yeah and that definitely wasn't worth a red. However we will all learn from this. We will also learn from the FA Cup Semi. As long as you learn from this I don't mind about today. However I will not be happy if you don't. Just think that it will be even more sweeter when we win it next year, ok? Right with that out the way I would like to thank Pat Rice for all the services to this great club. You are my hero. Thank you. Right, lads, get changed and let's go home."