Many of us will have spent our childhoods dreaming of scoring at Wembley, but it’s easy to forget that professional players once had those same dreams.
It’s even easier to dismiss the idea that a player in his thirties, with league titles in two countries, could regard an extra-time cameo against Wigan Athletic as “the greatest 15 minutes of my life”.
So reading Kim Källström’s recollection of his first (and only) Arsenal goal is a real breath of fresh air.
The Swedish international played just four games for the club after arriving from Spartak Moscow with a back injury, and spoke on the radio in his home country about his time in North London.
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Redditor ‘Zhongda’ has translated the transcript of the veteran’s comments, in which he details the “simple and brutal” penalty shoot-out that decided the FA Cup semi-final in April 2014.
“Penalty shoot-outs in football crown kings, and always a scapegoat,” Källström said.
“You must score. All the pressure is on the taker. I hear Wenger shouting in French: “Kim, do you take penalties?” “Yeah, I’d be glad to take one.” “Good. You’re second.”
“I decide early where to shoot it. When I walk alone to the spot, in a stadium with three times as many spectators as there are inhabitants of my hometown, Sandviken, I must suppress my smile.”
We didn’t notice him struggling to suppress a smile, but now that he mentions it…
“Although my contribution was small in the 120-year history of the club, it was a highlight for me,” the Swede explained.
“The greatest fifteen minutes of my life, and it turns out I don’t remember what happened. Where was I in that deciding moment? Trance, shock, delirium, coma, nervous breakdown, call it whatever you want.
“The only thing I know for sure is that sports and football are incomprehensible. That’s why we love it. As long as that penalty continues to end up in the net, my experience is true. I’m sure of it.”
It’s that boyhood glee of pretending your back garden is Wembley and you’re getting lost in the moment after scoring a penalty in front of thousands.
Except he was at Wembley, scoring a penalty in front of thousands.
11 or 31, title winner or wide-eyed youngster, that feeling doesn’t change.
