Geovanni’s Emirates stunner

Arsenal 1-2 Hull City, Premier League, 2008

Geovanni scored 13 goals in 65 games for Hull City from 2008-10, but the most memorable of those only happened because he did what any self-respecting man would do: listen to his wife. If it wasn’t for the Brazilian’s better half, the ex-barcelona midfielder wouldn’t have been at the Emirates Stadium on this September day.

“I had a fever the night before the game against Arsenal, so I called my wife and let her know that I couldn’t play,” he tells FFT with a smile. “At 3am, I almost asked a friend to pick me up at the hotel. I was so unwell that I couldn’t train in the morning after a sleepless night – I’d been shivering so much and didn’t eat breakfast because of a sore throat. But even after all that, my wife insisted that I play!”

That stern advice paid off 17 minutes after the interval. The hosts had taken an early second-half lead via Paul Mcshane’s scruffy own goal, but the newly-promoted Tigers immediately roared back through their new signing from Manchester City – and in some style. Geovanni collected the ball on the left, jinked inside Theo Walcott and unleashed a 25-yard rocket that sailed past Manuel Almunia. And he did it all moving away from goal.

“That meant a lot to me and to Hull,” recalls the Brazilian. “I pretended that I was heading towards the byline but then I went in the opposite direction. I’d always had good accuracy when shooting from long distance, and the goalkeepers don’t usually expect much when you’re so far out. I gave it a go and it was one of the most beautiful goals I scored in my career. That was a typical golaço – and even better against a giant club like Arsenal.”

Four minutes later, Daniel Cousin nodded the ball beyond Almunia from a corner to seal the Tigers’ first-ever away victory over the Gunners. It was the north Londoners’ second loss in 70 home outings, and their first since April 2007.

“We knew Arsenal hadn’t lost a home game for a long time,” continues Geovanni. “That day was absolutely unforgettable, not only for me but my team-mates as well. It was a remarkable moment; the game was David against Goliath, but we did it and stayed up by one point that season. Given my condition, I was barely able to stand at the end of the game! I overcame all the limits of my body – it was unbelievable.”

Caio Carrieri