Andy - the sniper

Some nights are so improbable that they become possible. Inter began their 2003 Champions League campaign away to Arsenal. In other words: an impossible mission. Especially against that version of Arsene Wenger’s Gunners, known as the Invincibles. They would finish the Premier League season unbeaten in all 38 matches, a record no one has matched since. It had happened only once before, with Preston North End in 1888-89, two centuries earlier.

Arsenal had Ljungberg and Pires, Bergkamp and Henry, Vieira and Kanu. Inter had undergone a revolution in the transfer market. “We need wingers,” Hector Cuper had demanded. Four arrived: Kalilou Fadiga, who would never make his debut because of heart problems; Eriberto, who would soon return to Chievo; Kily Gonzales from Valencia; and then a winger from Ajax who, just a few months earlier, had dazzled in the Champions League, among other things scoring a fantastic goal at the Olimpico. It was his celebration that had earned him the nickname the Dutch Sniper. Andy Van Der Meyde.

At Highbury, Arsenal’s old, legendary stadium, he enjoyed his night of glory. Julio Cruz, who had arrived from Bologna to replace Hernan Crespo after his move to Ajax, opened the scoring. He looked like a replacement but proved to be a stroke of fortune: Julione would go on to win four Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and three Italian Super Cups with Inter. Arsenal started strongly, very strongly, but Toldo was having one of those nights that occasionally came his way in Europe in those years, like in Valencia a few months earlier. He saved everything. It was Inter who took the lead, through Cruz. Martins played a through ball, Cruz took it in his stride and produced a delightful touch to lift it over Seaman as the goalkeeper came off his line. Before the Londoners had even had time to work out what had happened, Inter scored again: Kily Gonzales crossed from the left, the defence headed it away and the ball looped up before slowly dropping. It looked as though it was about to hit the ground when a ferocious first-time right-foot strike sent it flying. Andy Van Der Meyde was the first to realise what had happened and raised his imaginary rifle. 0-2. There was still time for Francesco Toldo to cover himself in glory by saving a penalty from Thierry Henry. And there was still time to see Oba Martins steal the ball from Kolo Tourè and score one of those goals that are difficult to understand even in slow motion, with a unique but undoubtedly effective piece of coordination. Arsenal attacked in the second half, but the game was already over. In fact, Inter even came close to making it 0-4 late on.

“The Lions of Highbury,” some newspapers called them the following day, a nickname that had originated in 1934, when the Italian national team had gone down fighting, losing 3-2 to England in a friendly; they had been reduced to ten men almost immediately, as substitutions did not exist. The two Italian goals? Both scored by Giuseppe Meazza.

Today, after a career that failed to live up to expectations, Andy Van Der Meyde has become a hugely influential figure on Instagram and is involved in various ventures. He often talks about his career, and has never had any doubts about its brightest moment. That night at Highbury when, for one night in Nerazzurri colours, he was the Dutch Sniper.