"There are the good Anfield European nights, there are the great ones and then, like this one, there are those remarkable occasions which fall into a different category altogether," says the Independent's Sam Wallace, and last night's 4-2 thriller at Anfield certainly falls into the latter category. In a night of "joyously chaoti" soccer Liverpool's men conceded a late equalizer that looked certain to dump them out of the Champions League, only for substitute Ryan Babel to make a determined run into the penalty area seconds later, prompting a clumsy challenge from Arsenal's Kolo Toure. Captain Steven Gerrard stepped forth to convert the ensuing penalty, and Babel added a fourth in stoppage time. What a fantastic game, and what a fantastic result for Liverpool, a club that just can't seem to be denied in the Champions League. Now, for the third year running, the Reds will play Chelsea in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, "poor old [Arsenal coach Arsene] Wenger," says Wallace, "left to scoop up the remains of Arsenal's season like the shattered pieces of a priceless vase. It was sad that it should end like this with him railing against the award of that crucial penalty to Babel." Indeed, the only positive takeaway for the Frenchman will have been the surging run of 19-year-old Theo Walcott to set up Emmanuel Adebayor for Arsenal's 86th minute equalizer-the goal that Wenger knows should have decided the series. Notwithstanding that individual moment of brilliance, Arsenal's team performance didn't merit such a victory.