On a night of tense, pulsating football drenched in skill and, at least inside the Parken Stadium, thankfully no crowd trouble, Galatasaray created history in becoming the first Turkish side to collect a European trophy. They did so in circumstances fitting the evening's rising drama, Gica Popescu drilling in the decisive penalty after an attacking game had somehow remained goalless.
Davor Suker and Patrick Vieira both hit the woodwork for Arsenal, leaving Popescu, the former Tottenham player, to score the winner in front of the delirious Galatasaray fans. After winning their domestic league and cup, it completed a treble for Galatasaray. For Arsenal it was also something of a treble: it was the third cup competition they have exited on penalties this season. Copenhagen joined Middlesbrough and Leicester.
As on those occasions Arsenal had their chance to have won the match before it even reached extra-time. In Claudio Taffarel, however, Arsenal encountered a goalkeeper in form, particularly in the added half-hour when the Londoners went in search of a goal that would have been golden to them. Moreover, Arsenal were aided in their attempt by the 92nd minute dismissal of the otherwise inspirational Gheorghe Hagi.
As he had been at Elland Road in the semi-final second leg, Hagi was brilliant last night but got himself dismissed foolishly for throwing a punch at Tony Adams. Yet, despite their numerical advantage, Arsenal were unable to exploit it. Thierry Henry, who had a mixed night, had a point-blank header clawed away by Taffarel in the second half of extra time and Taffarel then made a double save to deny Kanu. That meant penalties and Arsenal paid heavily for missing theirs.
Half the stadium erupted, the other half emptied. Hagi jigged on the winners' podium, the atmosphere lightened. That was most welcome given what had occurred in the afternoon and on Tuesday night.
The populace of this normally peaceful city woke up yesterday morning to television pictures of football fans from two other countries fighting viciously in their town hall square. One Copenhagen paper carried a picture of Arsenal fans coming to the aid of friend who was clutching his bloodied back. The headline was: "Fodbolfans Amok".
That's exactly what it was. It was possible to saunter through the boulevards beside the Tivoli Gardens yesterday lunchtime and not even know there was a football match about to occur. Turn a corner, though, and it was all too evident. Tens of thousands of unsegregated fans mingled in a confined area. Some of this was amicable but the undercurrent was unmissable. It was no surprise that there were sporadic eruptions of violence.
Thirty minutes before kick-off, David Davies, the executive director of the English FA held an impromptu briefing at which he tried to assess the situation in light of Euro 2000 and England's bid to stage the World Cup in 2006.
"Saddened and disappointed" by the trouble, Davies said that the FA had held talks with their Turkish counterparts. He did not know the number of those hurt but said that Paul Dineen, the Arsenal supporter stabbed on Tuesday night, had been visited by the club's vice-chairman David Dein and its managing director Ken Friar. Dineen was able to go to the game and went as Arsenal's guest.
What they witnessed in an entertaining if slightly fractious opening half - two bookings a team - were two quality sides of varied talents. Galatasaray had sublety, Arsenal had speed. They also saw Hagi at his impudent best. Much of this was nullified by the interventions of Martin Keown and Adams, indeed David Seaman did not make a serious save in the first half. There was an element of fortune about that as, three minutes before the interval, Arif Erdem had the half's best chance. Released by a combination of Hakan Sukur's control and Davala Umit's vision, Arif dragged his 15-yard shot wide.
In a match as tight as this, such opportunities had to be accepted. At the other end it was a similar tale. The breakaway pace of Marc Overmars and Henry distressed Galatasaray's defence but only once, when Taffarel scrambled to push away Overmars' near post drive, was the Brazilian goalkeeper forced into activity.
It was far from dull and the action resumed on the re-start. Within four minutes Hakan had struck a post and Keown had missed an open goal from six yards. In the 47th minute Okan Buruk jinked between defenders, slipped the ball to Hakan who beat Seaman but not the woodwork.
Two minutes later a flashing attack by Silvinho on the left took the ball to Henry; the Frenchman cut past his marker, slid the ball across Taffarel to the oncoming Keown. The centrehalf met it full-on. The ball ballooned over.
But Arsenal were surging. Henry poked a shot close from an awkward angle, then Ray Parlour put a volley on the run a yard wide. Seaman was rocked back by a Capone effort from distance but Arsenal regained the initiative with Henry and Emmanuel Petit going close again.
When Hakan stumbled when clean through five minutes from the end, extra-time was calling. Taffarel compensated for Hagi's absence. Ergun, Hakan, Umit and Popescu did the rest. Only Parlour scored for Arsenal. They had lost on penalties again. They also lost a European final to a former Spurs player again. Remember Nayim? Seaman does. He will not forget Popescu quickly either.
GALATASARAY: Taffarel, Penbe, Capone, Popescu, Bulent, K Suat (Ahmet 95), Hagi, Davala, Okan (Hakan 84), Erdem (Hasan 95), Sukur. Subs Not Used: Inan, Akyel, Mehmet, Marcio. Sent Off: Hagi (93). Booked: Okan, Bulent, Erdem, Popescu, Capone, Hasan.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Dixon, Silvinho, Keown, Adams, Vieira, Petit, Overmars (Suker 115), Parlour, Bergkamp (Kanu 75), Henry. Subs Not Used: Lukic, Winterburn, Grimandi, Malz, Luzhny. Booked: Vieira, Keown, Adams. Referee: A Nieto (Spain).
