The day I got "Arsenalled."

For those of you who don't know the meaning of the word "Arsenalled," don't worry. I'm here to enlighten you.

Arsenalled is a state of being devastatingly heartbroken by the kings of heartbreak; Arsenal. Arsenal is an authority in this field. They have a fortitude to it. In fact, if there were a course like Heartbreak 101, Arsenal would be the best suited case study. I'm not kidding.

For those of you who have not experienced it before, let me just tell you, its not pretty. If you haven't experienced it, just know you're blessed. And run from any opportunity to experience it. I repeat, run! Run for your dear life. Anyway, it's not that bad as long as you don't expect much from them.

And contrary to popular belief, I actually love Arsenal so this isn't bile talking. I'm only being honest. Besides, If I weren't a Chelsea fan, I would definitely be an Arsenal fan. If not for anything but because of their entertaining style of play and for the other reason which I won't divulge (its best known to me, myself and I😁). If you have followed Arsenal for quite sometime, you'd definitely know my other reason, even though of recent, it's dwindling.

So back to that day. It was the UEFA Champions League final between them and Barcelona. I must confess, my memory of that match is quite fuzzy so don't expect much details about the match.

Before the match kicked off, we received an interesting information; Messi was excluded in the starting line up which was a heart-warming good news for Arsenal and their fans (both original and borrowed fans). That night, I was a member of the borrowed fans' community😁.

Arsenal players began the match in high spirits. I don't know what was told them in the dressing room but it sure got them pumped. They were feeling like champions already.

Shortly after the match began, Lehman decides to tip the balance in Barca's favour by getting sent off for his foul on Eto'o which meant that Arsenal had to sub a player in order to replace the goalkeeper. So they were down to 10 men.

But some minute later, they overcame their numerical disadvantage to break the deadlock through Sol Campbell . It was a beautiful header🤭. I celebrated the goal with a fist pump😎. Yipeee! We are definitely bringing back this trophy to England! Or so I thought☹️😩.

Eto'chukwu almost levelled the scoreline few minutes after Campbell's goal but Almunia tipped the ball off and it hit the bar. Phew!😬 That was close😥. "Bia Eto'o, mindikwa onwe gi. Just jidekwa onwe gi there," I muttered under my breath😡.

Arsenal held on to their lead for a long time and I was so proud of their performance. In my mind, the trophy was theirs already. Alas, I was wrong. Barcelona still had a fight in them. They weren't going to give up.

The fact that Arsenal held on so long made me believe they would deliver the trophy. I think their lead lasted till the one hour mark or thereabout. But in the game of football just a second is more than enough to alter the result of a match. And that was exactly what happened.

I really can't remember how it happened but all I can remember is that Larsson found himself in a good position, from where he rendered Eto'chukwu a wonderful assistance (its actually called an "assist" but in this case, I decided to call it an "assistance" because o di very superb👌). And Uncle Eto'chukwu Samuel wasted no time in tucking the ball away. Immediately, that ball crossed the goal line, my heart skipped a beat before it started racing like those fast-paced Nascar cars. Osuso just si from nowhere jum aru😥. Just negodi. Few minutes to go and Arsenal could not just hang in there.

We all thought the match was heading to extra time but Barcelona had one more surprise up their sleeves. A few minutes before stoppage time, Larsson again, provides a breathtaking assist to Belletti. I think it was a "one-two" (can't really remember). Belletti latched onto that ball and rattled Arsenal's net, "yorrri yorrri!" Chei! Belletti Nwafor etikala net Arsenal!😭🙆‍♀️

Kai! It is finished! I have been Arsenalled!🤦‍♀️ Why did I carry myself to goan support Arsenal? Didn't I know any better? 🙄 Yes, I love Henry but not enough to subject myself to heartbreak. Mbanu! And If Arsenal had not scored first, it would have been better. Or If they had lost their lead sometime in the first half or a few minutes into the second half, it would have been better but now they gave us hope, only to dash that hope a few minutes before stoppage time. Arsenal's near success syndrome has caught up with them again.

I was so crushed. I didn't even wait for the match to end. I just stood up and walked up to the door to go home. Immediately my hand touched the door handle, I heard dad ask, "Gozie, where are you going by this time of the night?" I quickly replied, "I'm going home." Immediately, I made that statement everybody in the sitting room erupted into hysterical fits of laughter. That was when I realised that I was actually home🤦‍♀️. I never left.🤣😂

Just negodi somebody's daughter? 🤦‍♀️Chai! Look what Arsenal caused! Ndi JB! Mana ya diba☹️! Heartbreak can really reboot someone's brain. The way dad was looking at me eeh, I bet he must have been wondering whether I had lost it. As I walked away from the door, I met mom's gaze, only to see her shaking her head as if to say, "kedu udiri onwunwa di ife a?" 😂Chai! My mom saw things for me sha🤣🙈.

After this experience, I respected myself when it comes to Arsenal. Na match I wan watch, no be HBP I wan get. Mbakwa! Obi m di precious.

All these my Arsenal fans, bikonu, bianu nga. I have a question for you guys. Please, how do you guys do it? Is it that your hearts have been conditioned to heartbreak from the foundations of the earth or you guys learn on the job?😆🤣😁 Biko, ayam not understanding. Enlighten a sister biko. She's asking for a friend😁.