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Terence Wood
Terence Wood is an ardent Arsenal fan, football Writer & Contributor for @VAVELcom @VoicingFootball @ByFarBlog @punditfeed http://arsenaldailynews.com and an occasional radio and T.V pundit. Twitter:@Terence__Wood

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"The Dutch Missed Penalties That Defined Two Eras: Arsene's Invincibles and Fergie's Treble"

Football, like any other sport, has plenty of exciting moments. Just as free throws are crucial in basketball, penalty kicks play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of football games. However, a long-standing question still remains: Is the art of penalty conversion a matter of luck or actual precision? The former argument seems valid, considering the number of talented players who have missed penalties. Take a moment to remember Roberto Baggio's infamous penalty miss during the 1994 World Cup final, which handed Brazil their fourth trophy. Or, recall the most agonizing moment of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when Asamoah Gyan's missed penalty kick against Uruguay in the quarter-finals still haunts a continent starved of semifinal success.

Insofar as managerial feats in football go, few accomplishments are as distinguished as winning the treble or going invincible. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger, two legendary managers of Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively, achieved these feats at the apex of their careers. For Ferguson, the treble consisted of winning the English Premier League, F.A Cup, and European Champions League trophies at the end of the 1998/99 season. Wenger's Arsenal, on the other hand, secured the English Premier League title in the 2003/04 season by completing the entire 38-game season unbeaten.


Revisiting Dennis Bergkamp's Penalty Miss (Arsenal vs. Man United, F.A Cup Semi Final replay) - 14/04/1999
After a successful first full season in charge of Arsenal, Arsène Wenger's men were seeking to defend their League and F.A Cup double. However, Manchester United, led by the attacking duo of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, had other ideas. They were sitting atop the English Premier League table. They were also in the Champions League and F.A Cup semi-finals, seeking to negotiate past Juventus and Arsenal, respectively. The first leg of the F. A Cup between Arsenal and Manchester United had ended in a stalemate, leading to the need for a replay. David Beckham opened the scoring for Manchester United in the 18th minute, but Dennis Bergkamp equalized for Arsenal in the 69th minute. Both teams were determined to come out on a cold night at Villa Park on top.

After Manchester United's usual red card suspect, Roy Keane received his marching orders for a challenge on Marc Overmars, the game seemed destined for extra time. However, in injury time, feisty midfielder Phil Neville brought down Ray Parlour in the 18-yard box, resulting in a penalty for Arsenal. Arsenal's Dutch maestro, Dennis Bergkamp, stepped up to execute the spot kick but saw his penalty astonishingly saved by Peter Schmeichel, ending match proceedings at a goal apiece. Deep in extra time, Ryan Giggs scored what many consider the most iconic goal in the history of the F.A Cup, giving Manchester United the win and a subsequent passport to the final. Despite Arsenal's valiant efforts, Manchester United emerged victorious on that cold night at Villa Park, leaving Bergkamp and Arsenal to rue the missed penalty that could have sent them through to the final.

The aftermath of Dennis Bergkamp's penalty miss was seismic. Inspired by their narrow escape against Arsenal, Manchester United went on to clinch the English Premier League title, finishing just one point ahead of their rivals. But that was just the beginning of their incredible season. United won the European Champions League, beating Ottmar Hitzfeld's Bayern Munich 2-1 in the final, before defeating Newcastle United 2-0 in the FA Cup to complete a historic treble. It was a season to remember for United and their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who the Queen subsequently knighted for his services to football.


Revisiting Ruud Van Nistelrooy's Penalty Miss (Man United vs. Arsenal, English Premier League) - 21/09/2003

The 2003/04 Premier League season saw Arsenal start in fine form, with their unbeaten run stretching to five games, while Manchester United had already defeated Southampton. The clash between the two giants of English football would always be a fiercely contested affair, with both teams known for their physicality and defensive strength.

The game at Old Trafford started with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances, and the match was heading for a goalless draw. A notable moment in the game was Patrick Vieira's red card in the 80th minute for an attempted kick on Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

But then, in the game's dying moments, Manchester United was awarded a penalty when Martin Keown brought Diego Forlan down in the box. It was a golden opportunity for the home side to snatch a win, but the pressure seemed to get to Van Nistelrooy as he stepped up to take the spot kick. His effort hit the bar and rebounded back into play, much to the relief of Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. The match ended in a goalless draw, with both teams settling for a point.

 Ruud Van Nistelrooy's penalty miss against Arsenal proved to be the catalyst for the Gunners' historic season. Arsene Wenger's men went on to make history by becoming the first team in the history of the English Premier League to go an entire 38-game season unbeaten. They were crowned champions with 26 wins and 12 draws, and 0 defeats. The team was hailed and given the name "The Invincibles". The penalty miss at Old Trafford was not just a missed opportunity to gain points. It was a pivotal moment in football history, one that gave birth to a legendary team.

Football is a game of fine margins, where a single moment can define a season or a player's legacy. The missed penalties of Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Dennis Bergkamp might seem like mere footnotes in the annals of football history, but in reality, they were season-defining moments.

To attribute Arsenal's Invincible and Manchester United's Treble-winning campaigns solely to these missed penalties is absolute malarkey. Both teams possessed talented players and hardworking tacticians who were determined to succeed. However, there is no denying that these missed penalties played a significant role in shaping the destiny of both moments.

Was it calculated or serendipity? That is a question that only time can answer. But one thing is for sure; these moments will forever be etched in the memories of football fans worldwide as a testament to the fine margins that separate success from failure in the beautiful game.

Twitter:@Nana__Akyin
Email:terencewood14@gmail.com

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