Arsenal star Andrey Arshavin insists he always felt his sidecould produce one of the greatest escape acts in the club's history as theGunners fought back to beat Reading 7-5. Arsenal's victory against Reading washailed as the greatest comeback in League Cup history, after the Gunnersoverturned the four goal deficit to secure a place in the quarter-final draw.Arsene Wenger's team moved into the League Cup quarter-finals and Russia wingerArshavin played a key role in the fightback with three assists.
Arshavin has been a bit-part player this season, but heseized his chance to shine as Wenger sent out a reserve side to face Reading atthe Madejski Stadium on Tuesday, October 30. But for a long while it looked asthough the tie would be remembered only as another disappointment for Arsenalin a spluttering season. Arshavin himself remained convinced Arsenal, whoeventually forced extra-time with a stoppage-time equaliser, would get backinto the match even when they fell 4-0 down within 37 minutes.
"I did not think about when we had to equalise, I justfelt that if we had the chance and God will help us, we will make a draw!"Arshavin said. "He helped us and that's why we scored in the last minute.I have lost twice 7-1, once I lost 8-3 and once I won 9-3 and now 7-5."But this game was one I will remember always because it was from 4-0down." Arshavin, who played the full mad-cap 120 minutes, saluted histeam-mates for refusing to give in when no-one else expected a comeback.
"I don't think anyone here believed that we could comeback. But we did it and we deserved to win," he added. "We showedspirit because you cannot come back from 4-0 down if you don't havespirit." Arsenal's revival was also inspired by France striker OlivierGiroud, who came off the bench to score the second goal and give the Gunnersrenewed hope. Giroud helped Montpellier win the French league title last seasonbut he admits he had never experienced anything like the Reading match in hiscareer. "It's the first time in my career I've played in a game likethat," Giroud said. "To be losing 4-0, we were in a very difficultposition. I tried to do what I could for the team when I came on."
Such was the chaos at the Madejski that Giroud and FrancisCoquelin hurled their shirts into the crowd in jubilation after Arsenal forcedextra-time because they mistakenly believed the match would go to a replay."I thought that in cup games when you drew, there was a replay. Someonetold me that!" Giroud said. "Luckily, I was able to get the shirtback OK - the fan gave it back to me quickly so I could start the game again.But after the game, I threw the shirt back into the crowd again afterthat."
Reading 5 (Roberts 12, Koscielny 18-og, Leigertwood 20, Hunt37, Pogrebnyak 116)
Arsenal 7 (Walcott 45, 90+5, 120, Giroud 64, Koscielny 89,Chamakh 103, 120)
