Final to Forget

Although Barcelona fans would beg to differ, I don't think this final lived up to its billing. And I would go as far as saying it was a final to forget.

People spoke about the Liverpool-Milan Final long after the new season of the champions league kicked off. I doubt many would speak about the Barca-Arsenal final in the same way. I think it was mostly down to the referee.

We are all entitled to our opinions, and  I feel the referee wasn't totally imparitial. Or at least he made some errors. The most obvious one would be when Lehmann was sent off. It spoilt the game totally. It would be a brilliant contest were it 11-a-side, but Arsenal being one man down would predictably pack their defense and try to catch Barcelona on the break. With only a single Henry up front, even the genius of Fabregas couldn't find space for him. It would be that sort of night.

Although even Mr Wenger thinks a red card was fair, I don't think so. If not for the sake of the exhitbition, then for following the rules. The rules state that a professional foul is commited when a player prevents (usually deliberately) an opposition player a chance at goal. However, in this case, Guily followed up the trip on Eto'o and hence a goal was still scored and it should have counted and Lehmann shouldn't have been sent off. Although it is hard to tell, I would think that Lehmann didn't deliberately trip Eto'o, the striker was merely too quick for him. And besides, with no malice intended and the ball did end up in the back of the net, there should have been no need to spoil the game.

Poor Jens Lehmann, and you also have to feel for Robert Pires, who most believe has played his last game of Arsenal - and what a way to go, sacrificed early because of the loss of a goalkeeper. But most of all, the spectacle of the two best attacking teams in Europe was destroyed by one team forced to defend for the majority of the game.

The red card was the main talking point, but other talking points include Eto'o's goal. Arsene Wenger seems to think it was offside. And personally, TV replays show that it probably was. However, in the defence of the referee, it was probably hard to see the faintest touch by Larsson that would have ruled Eto'o offside. It looked like it didn't matter that the referee that was photographed in a Barcelona top didn't get to officiate. The decision still seem dubious.

Other incidents include giving Theirry Henry a yellow card, when it was clear that he got the loose ball, and if anything, Van Bommel accidently kicked Henry (whilst going for the ball) and hence got tripped. Also, the numerous free-kicks given to Barcelona at the edge of the penalty box - which Ronaldinho, who had an aweful game by his standards, failed to capitalise on - would serve to think that all the officials might have been wearing Barcelona jerseys.

In the end, Juliano Belletti scored the winner, after incisive work from Larsson. TV replays and commentators suggested it might have gone wide of the far post had Arsenal keeper Alumnia not touched it. Well, it is such luck that wins games. But if 11 men Barcelona could only beat 10 men Arsenal 2-1, then it would be interesting to imagine what might have been had both teams been at full strength for the whole game.

But hats off to Barcelona for now. They have won the game, although it was not proof that the best team won. But I didn't feel the magic when Puyol lifted the cup compared to when Gerrard did. I guess last year, it was more of a final to remember, it had goals and drama. This one just had poor refereeing decisions and a lack of contest.

I would say it was a final to forget.