It’s disgraceful, saddening and mournful to be writing about the death of Arsenal Legend Jose Antonio Reyes but if there’s is something I can thank myself and pay tribute to Reyes is by writing about the glorious days of unforgettable striker.
Jose Antonio Reyes, only 35, died in a car accident on Saturday. One of the greatest talents of football, Reyes was once a part Arsenal, more so of the “Invincibles”. Reyes joined Arsenal in 2004, only 6-months after 16-year-old Fabregas has stunned Emirates.
Reyes, in his footballing career had played for aplenty of clubs, Arsenal being one of the many. And the moment that made him a legend is literally indescribable. What it took for Reyes to become an eternal legend was a solitary game and enshrining strike.
During 2004, when Reyes had joined Arsenal from Sevilla, Chelsea and Arsenal were termed to be the arch-rivals of Premier League. Chelsea being called the “noisy neighbours” the same way Alex Ferguson announced Manchester City. Chelsea and Arsenal were two best teams in Premier League and were both looking for commanding supremacy in London.
Yes, it was Reyes’s goals against Chelsea that make him an everlasting soul in the hearts of Arsenal. In the 5th round of FA Cup when Arsenal faced Chelsea, Reyes scored a brace to take us through in the tournament where we eventually lost to Manchester United in the semi-finals.
WATCH: JOSE ANTONIO REYES MASTERCLASS AGAINST CHELSEA
In a footballing context, scoring a brace is not enchanting but the manner and time at which Reyes scored the goals make them ever longing. Within a month of Reyes’s arriving to London, he had played the game of his lifetime.
Chelsea were leading the game, come half-time courtesy a brilliant strike from Adrian Mutu. Then tables turned. Wayne Bridge and John Terry, two centre-backs of Chelsea were covering Thierry Henry which fled the space for Reyes only to convert the cross from Edu into a score. The purest strike Highbury had ever seen from outside 25 yards.
If first was beautiful, second was not bad either. A shot from Patrick Vieira’s pass was scarcely enough to gift Reyes his second goal and thump Highbury into fumes. Two goals that changed the life of a youngster at Arsenal.
Who knew that he would be remembered by those two goals!!!!!!!!
But there is a more to this guy than we remember him for. In the words of Fabregas:
“My first great friend in the world of professional football, my room-mate, who always wanted to sleep with the air conditioning even at minus 10 degrees.”
“A humble guy who always had a smile on his face, great footballer and great person. I could not wake up today in a worse way.”
“I will never forget when you and your family welcomed me at your home in my first Christmas in England when I was alone and 16-years-old.”
“Our connection in the field was also special, since it was always easy to find you between the lines so you could make the difference.”
“I always say that you have been one of the greatest talents in football and I know that I am not wrong. Two days ago I was talking about you in an interview, it might be a sign, who knows, to remember you, my great friend.”
