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Top 5 Greatest Comebacks

Monday

What’s better? Giving a team a good old thrashing or going behind only to overcome the odds and come out on top? Deciding the best comebacks take into accounting the strength of the opposition, the rivalry, the occasion and the score-line overturned. 


5. Bolton 2-3 Arsenal, Premiership, 2008.

An away to trip to Bolton was rarely enjoyed by Arsenal. Ever since their promotion, Sam Allardyce and his band of aging bruisers, with their ‘they don’t like it up em’ philosophy, had quickly become our bogey team. By half time, the wet and windy game at the Reebok Stadium looked like it was going to be our most embarrassing and frustrating slip-up to date.

Arsenal were losing two-nil and down to ten men after Diaby got a straight red for an ugly, late lunge. Luckily, Arsenal kicked into gear with around 30 minutes left. Goals from Gallas, a penalty from Van Persie and a deflected Fabregas shot in the 90th minute, were enough to secure the three points. Allowing us some relief from the dreaded bap-loving northerners.

 

4. Reading 7-5 Arsenal, (aet). Carling Cup, 2012.

If it was down to numbers alone, this would probably be our best comeback. But this is the Carling Cup, a competition that usually sees Arsenal blood exciting young talent. Against Reading, a side that no one has any ill feeling towards and are traditionally a soft touch for the mighty Arsenal. In fact, they have played Arsenal 14 times and lost every single game. So image the horror of being four-nil down by 35 minutes.

Things had to get better. Usually the superior ranked team comes through towards the end, and Arsenal grew stronger and stronger. By 90 minutes, Arsenal were only a goal behind, and by 90+6, Walcott got his second goal and the equaliser for 4-4 in stoppage time to trigger extra time. In added time, Walcott completed his impressive hat-trick, and Chamakh rounded off the tie to spark wild scenes of relief. Cup-tie custard pie avoided.

 

3. Arsenal 4-2 Tottenham. Premiership, 2018.

This list wouldn’t be complete without a comeback against the old enemy. These are disturbing times. Tottenham spent the previous season getting into the Champions League final while Arsenal made do with Europe League, they have a slightly bigger stadium than the gunners and St Totteringhams day seems a distant memory.

The game came after a period of stagnation, and the love between fans and players was at a low. When kick-off came, it felt like the players and manager knew this was a chance to repair some damage. It was an electric, emotionally-charged fixture. There was a Dier-Lichtensteiner induced fracas, a late sending off, penalties, dives (Spurs) and a rollercoaster scoreboard, which swung Arsenals way with 15 minutes left to play. Thoroughly enjoyable game for a gooner.

 

2. Arsenal 3-2 Hull City, (aet). FA Cup Final, 2014.

Arsenal were in the midst of a nine-year trophy drought, once unimaginable in Wenger’s early tenure. The game, vs newly promoted premiership side Hull City, should have been a simple gift. But fans will remember losing to Birmingham City in a 2011 final. It is a Cup Final and anything can happen. After just ten minutes, Arsenal are 2-0 down after poorly dealing with two set pieces from Hull.

Thankfully, the dual-footed maestro Santi Cazorla powered in a free-kick from distance before half time. Arsenal dominated the game from here on in and with 20 minutes to go Koscielny bundled in the equaliser. Neither team could break the dead-lock before the 90 minutes ended, so into extra time we went.  On minute 109, Aaron Ramsey completed a neat little move and rifling the ball hard and low passed the keeper. The win saw Captain Mikel Arteta lift some much needed silverware, and gave the fans a victorious day out at Wembley.

 

1. Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal, Championship (old title before the Premiership brand was invented) 1989.

Does this one count? Arsenal were never really behind in the game, but it was all or nothing. At one point we had nothing, and then we had it all. That’s a comeback. Arsenal needed to win by two or more goals to leapfrog Liverpool to win the league at Anfield on the last game of the season. Doesn’t get any more crunch-match than that. Truly the stuff of comic books.

George Graham said he always believed Arsenal could do it, if they kept a clean sheet until half time. They succeeded and on 52 minutes Alan smith gave Arsenal the lead. One down, one to go. Into stoppage time Smith flicked the ball through to Michael Thomas, and with the Championship ‘up for grabs’ he pocked it over the keeper. Sparking retro, roly poly salmon-fish styled celebrations.

 

 

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