CL Reaction: Do We Enjoy a Rival's Loss As Much As a Win for Our Favorite Team?

Listening to the voices of Tommy Smyth and Derek Rae commentating around the world, football fans were gifted with one of the most compelling and controversial ties in European football for quite some time when Arsene Wenger's men were eliminated after several dubious decisions during their second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Liverpool away at Anfield.

Sitting in a room full of so-called "soccer fanatics" in my soccer option class (don't ask) at school, you would think the room would have been electric when Arsenal took on Liverpool in the quarterfinals of Champions League.

And for the most part it was.

The majority of my classmates were watching intently and keeping a close eye on things; with the occasional kid sitting aside looking totally disinterested of what was going on in that tiny 24 inch TV screen.

They probably couldn't tell you the starting eleven of Liverpool or Arsenal, but they sure knew a good match when they saw one!

Following two quick fire goals from unlikely sources in Abou Diaby and Sami Hyppia, the match was already off a cracking start. Contrary to the first leg at the Emirates, things were about to pick up well after the 1-1 score line.

The Kop was rising and singing their hearts out for their Reds as the second half got well underway. It wasn't the most pleasant thing to hear for 90 goddamn minutes being an Everton supporter, but I managed, up until the very end.

I had no problem with the Fernando Torres strike as it was a wonderful shot and Almunia really had no chance of saving something like that. It was pure inspiration from El Nino and even while I was sinking with bitterness at the time (yes, I admit it), I knew the goal was well deserved.

Liverpool was putting on decent pressure and the Arsenal defense seemed to have lost a bit of shape without Mathieu Flamini, although I'm not blaming Gilberto for anything, as he is still a world-class player.

But for a moment at Anfield, Liverpool fans must have thought that their side was about to crash out of the Champions League after Theo Walcott's amazing dash down the right flank.

Beating a couple of defenders on his way to the by line, the English wonder kid slotted a perfect cross for Emmanuel Adebayor as he pushed the ball past Reina. Gunners fans were screaming at unprecedented levels and there might have been already a tear or two streaming down a Liverpool fan's cheek.

I, of course, being someone that admittedly resents Liverpool, was standing up and pumping my fist as if I had been the one that scored the goal.

I'm sure a lot of fans were either gutted or ecstatic at this point and nobody could really blame you, it was some exciting football!

It was the same type of emotion that I felt when my Blues came back in their second leg tie against Fiorentina about a month or two ago when Mikel Arteta equalized from 25 yards out to tie the aggregate score at 2-2.

Regardless of the result later that night, as a fan, that was my highlight of a highly successful year at Everton Football Club.

Let me tell you something, from that point on, I really thought that nothing was going to stop us. We were about to knock off the Italian giants and be headed for another exciting round of European football in the UEFA Cup.

Because after all, what did the Italians do that we didn't do? We made up for our lack of performance in Italy and we did far more damage at Goodison than they ever did during the first leg.

And for Arsenal's case, I don't think anyone could have forecasted what happened afterwards. The game was there for the taking after yet another dramatic conclusion at Anfield in the Champions League.

After barely touching the Liverpool player, I think we can all come to a general assumption that it wasn't a penalty and Kolo Toure can feel hard done by. It didn't help when Ryan Babel went down the way that he did but that's not necessarily why I was left incensed—unlike most Arsenal supporters or people pulling for the Gunners.

Being in the room with my friends and classmates, nobody around me could really understand why I was so upset after Steven Gerrard converted his penalty but it really didn't matter to me whether they did or not.

It was the same type of gut wrenching feeling that I had when I saw Everton get eliminated on penalties against Fiorentina.

As you can probably tell, I was disappointed for Arsenal, but I couldn't understand why I was acting in such a way. I mean, after all, it wasn't as if Everton had lost in the Champions League quarter final, it was Arsenal.

Whilst I respect the work done by Arsene Wenger, I don't exactly classify myself as a Gunners fan or anything close to it.

I was angrier about the fact that Liverpool had won the match.

Believe me when I say that I really do respect Liverpool's illustrious history and quality over the years, but let's not kid ourselves: a rival is a rival. I'm sure a lot of football fans could relate to that and understand where I'm coming from.

Because let's face it, if it were a Manchester United fan watching that exact same game, they might have been feeling the same way I was.

Which brings me to my point: Has it really gotten to the point where I would enjoy a rival's loss as much as I would if the team that I supported won a match?

Or how about when the rival team wins and my team loses?

I know it sounds Machiavellian, and it is, but I'm sure a Liverpool supporter would feel the same way if a big match like that featured Everton. I know it doesn't sound right but really in my head that's how I honestly felt when Gerrard ripped millions of hearts out (including mine) with his penalty.

That's the great thing about rivalries and how they can add to the atmosphere of a match.

How dull would the Merseyside derby or even the Old Firm derby be if nobody came out singing for his or her own club? It's the passion and intensity that adds to the experience, which makes football the most beautiful game in the world.