Wednesday afternoon I was out of the office, at training event supporting the release of a new mobile solution of our bespoke system. In fact, I was not a million miles away from Swallowfield, where I had had my amp installed last Friday. Originally the schedule dictated that we aimed to finish around 4.30pm, perhaps 5pm at the very latest. As I got into my car, I noted the time on the dash, 6pm exactly. Great. Now I had the drive in the heavy rain back to Wycombe, knowing that any hold on the M4 could delay my date with Champions League football. As it happened, I followed my colleagues to the A33, even though the detailed map of directions for Tylney Hall proved extremely useful. Thankfully I opted to take my own car, rather than a lift, which would have meant having to go back to the office before heading back home and increased my ETA. By the time I hit the M4, I was making reasonable ground but it was busy and with road works approaching I had to drop back down from illegal to fifty miles. Then strangely after the road works, there was a build up of traffic, which eventually brought me down to a standstill. I tried not to worry, instead putting the volume up a few notices on the CD I was listening to. The TA alert was on my stereo, yet every time it cut in, the information given was patchy but never included the M4. As I approached junction 8/9, I put my foot down once again, as the traffic had cleared. Then on the A404(M) by pass I hit the turbo and overtook several cars, though I opted against coming up to Handy Cross, even though it would have been easier and quicker. I drove through Marlow to avoid any traffic that could have built up on the by pass to the Marlow turn off. I had to make a pit stop at ASDA, I had a craving for chocolate ice cream and picked this up along with a big bag of Doritoes. Right all set, homeward bound. I got in and switch the television to 401, to see Andy Gray interviewing David Beckham. Great, this was the game of all games! Fair enough Sky and the press tend to hype up all the games, but perhaps for a change here was a contest that could truly live up to the title of the clash of the titans. Personally I was hoping me could score early, then sit back and soak up the pressure. I was convinced we would score at least a goal at home and Real Madrid perhaps get lucky with an away goal but it being too little too late. Yet the tension was so high, I was itching for the kick off. Keys was doing his best to wet the appetite, with the studio guests, Gullit, Souness and Redknapp. The discussion of Henry, as the complete striker was followed by a clip of an operation theatre as some surgeons (in obvious Dr. Frankenstein mode) put together the pieces that make a great scorer of goals, in between which we saw some of the great individual goals scored by the Frenchman. Now, I love this part of the buildup and Sky Sports perhaps do the best job. Nonbelievers, sorry I mean those that do not follow the beautiful game cannot understand what makes it so special. It is knowing that a man is capable of scoring the most breathtaking, exhilarating goals and not knowing what will unfold over the next ninety minutes. Will we be one up, will be two nil down and out? In essence it is what makes the whole experience so exciting and such a roller coaster to be a part of (be it on the sofa or on the North Bank). When Arsenal start playing the silky one touch football, it just blows you aware and it so beautiful to watch, particularly some of the movement off the ball and the players ability to be so aware of positions, running into the empty spaces. Yet, I knew tonight would be a tough test. I quickly changed and grabbed my spot on the sofa, having some food as the minutes ticked by. This was the make or break match for our season, I heard as the teams came out of the tunnel to the cool air in North London. This was it. The time to stand up and be counted. The time to prove your worth to the watching global audience. Unlike the previous leg, the pressure was on the visitors and it showed. It was visible in their faces as they lined up. Kick off was moments away and I was both excited but in the back of my head a voice said that we could possibly throw it all away.

From the whistle, you could tell the team from Madrid were going to push forward, create chances and potentially take them. You looked at the team sheet and were surprised that we had beaten them at home and had the slight edge in the second edge. The Galaticos were in town and anything could happen. Commentators going into this game, said that Real Madrid could never play as bad as they did two weeks ago and the improvement was there for all to see. Though the Gunners were prepared and matched most areas of the park with great vigour. Rather than go into a match report, I think I will give two accounts of the game. One from each angle, if you will. Arse Blogger gives his usual hardcore opinion, while Daniel over at Die Hard X’s Territory gives a balanced reflectioned on the game. It was a case of too little too late from Real Madrid. The coach should have made more radical changes to the line up at half time. Meanwhile, the fans have longed been chanting, “Arsene Knows!”. Our faith in the manager was once again repaid, even if I hate the 4-5-1 formation, packing the midfield is never an option, even in the heady days of Championship Manager. (I opted for 4-4-2 direct or with the diamond in midfield, playing weaker teams pushing out 4-3-3) Against Real Madrid it was a master stroke and proved to get the goalless draw we required to go through. In my opinion it was a great game for the team as a group. Hleb finally awoke and justified his £10 million transfer fee. Fabregas had yet another great game in the middle of the park against international players twice his age. Gilberto, who has got a great deal of stick this season, played a magnificent game shielding the youthful back four. He rushed back to tackle, clear the ball over to Alexander, who just ran and ran with the ball. His twinkle toes had most of the Real Madrid defence running around in circles. We should have taken the lead through Reyes, and Henry had some great chances which were inches away. In the end it did not matter, we survived the onslaughter to make it through to the quarter finals, the only English team to do so.

Daniel actually spoke to me via MSN on Thursday while at work, and said that there was one team we did not want to meet in the next round. Juventus. To see Patrick at Highbury in the colours of another team would be criminal. I agreed with him and aimed to keep away from Barcelona, Chelsea’s conquerers as they would just humilate us. As it turned out, this morning, we were drawn against the Italian Serie A champions and current leaders, to setup the home coming for our former captain. If Liverpool can beat Juventus in the quarters last year, why can’t we? I am looking forward to the games at the end of this month, as they surely will be yet another spectacule. With our team back to full strength we will have a chance to leave our mark on Europe once and for all.

I have been meaning to get around to discussing my daily commute to work but other things seemed to have always taken a higher priority on the list of things to mention on the blog. My drive to work is perhaps one of the joys of my day. I live seven miles from the office, so my journey into work takes something silly like fifteen minutes or so. However yesterday I came around to the slip road for the by pass to discover it completely jammed. The cars were not moving down to join the A404 south bound. I waited for a while, but slowly lost my patience. The traffic was not moving and I had to get to work. I tried to reverse, but no one would let me out, cars just wizzing by. In the end, I waited for the cars ahead to move along, then darted forward, squeezing past some cars to my right and sneaking in ahead to make my way back into Marlow. There was no choice I had to country route into the office, the same route I currently use to go home. However, this morning the road to work is clear. What is it with people in the Berkshire / Buckinghamshire district? Do they just not work on Fridays? The by pass is clear with free flowing traffic and I get to the office within a few minutes. It is the same on the way home, there is just a noticeable drop in the number of cars on the road. I refuse to believe that enough people do not drive to work on a Friday for this to become a reality. There was must be some geniune reason. If there are any further developments I will let you know. I would have liked to included a traffice free drive home from work this evening, but I didn’t leave until nearly 8.30pm.

The weekend picture plans out like so, tomorrow clean the car and then sort out my room in the afternoon, before heading out to Reading for the evening. Sunday, over to Harrow in the morning to meet up with Mighty Mouse and get the full MM certified treatment on my amp. In the afternoon, the big game and then perhaps pondering the possibility of a trip up North.