Top 10 football comebacks and what those involved had to say about them, after Arsenal's epic 7-5 win at Reading Tranmere Rovers 4 Southampton 3 FA Cup 5th round replay 2001 In an 18 month period in which Tranmere dumped nine Premier League sides out of cup competitions, this result stands out as the most dramatic. Going in at the break 3-0 down, a Paul Rideout hat-trick was central to John Aldridge's men continuing their epic run of giant killings. Southampton manager Glenn Hoddle: "If there are any lessons to be learned from that we'll make sure we never do it again. But it's too late - the horse has bolted and we're out of the Cup ... this is the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with ... the players are a disgrace to the club. Tranmere manager John Aldridge: "This great Cup result against Southampton should really make the lads look forward to next week against Huddersfield." Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4 Premier League 2011 Take a comfortable four goal lead, add a half-time break, throw in a sending off and long held defensive brittleness and you end up with an incredible match. After a barnstorming first 45 minutes Arsenal looked like champions in the making - Theo Walcott gave them the lead in the opening minute before Johan Djourou doubled the advantage almost instantly. Just 10 later minutes Robin van Persie had made it three; then four before the break. The game changed after Joey Barton provoked Abou Diaby in to lashing out and seeing red. Barton scored twice from the spot with Leon Best, in for the recently departed Andy Carroll, also on target. The stage thus set, Cheik Tiote levelled with an 87th minute screamer. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger: "We panicked a little bit in the second half, we have dropped two points, but psychologically the damage is bigger. We have a very disappointed dressing room. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew: "I told the players at half-time I wanted aggression. We needed to show we cared. They went out and played like lions ... When you're 4-0 down after 26 minutes and you haven't made a challenge you have to fear the worst, and I did. Cheik Tiote: "It is the greatest goal I've ever scored and the greatest moment of my career. Unbelievable. Liverpool 3 AC Milan 3 Champions League final 2005 Some Liverpool fans had started to leave the Ataturk Stadium at half-time after a first minute goal from Paolo Maldini and two from Hernan Crespo had given Milan a 3-0 half-time lead. But the game was spun on its axis in a frenetic spell that saw Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso level before Jerzy Dudek gave it the 'spaghetti legs' in a penalty shoot out before saving from Andrea Pirlo and Andrei Shevchenko to complete the 'Miracle of Istanbul'. Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti: "We had six minutes of madness in which we threw away the position we had reached until then." Paolo Maldini: "That was one of the best finals I ever played in. We played really well, much better than Liverpool, and we really deserved to win much more than them ... but that's football. Charlton 7 Huddersfield 6 Divison 2 1957 Charlton manager Jimmy Trotter pulled off what has to be one of the most effective tactical changes ever seen when he moved left winger Johnny Summers across the front positions through the duration of the match in this second division game. Summers had already scored once before the first change, but 10-man Charlton still trailed 5-1 with less than half an hour to play. He scored four more after the break and had a hand in the two other Charlton goals. Charlton manager Jimmy Trotter: "Things had not been coming off for [Johnny] Summers so I moved him from inside-left to centreforward. As a last resort, I switched him to outside-left, his last chance to make good. How well he took it! Leeds 4 Preston 6 Championship 2010 Preston actually took the lead through John Parkin at Elland Road before Luciano Becchio and Alex Bruce and a double from Davide Somma put Leeds in charge. Preston drew level when Callum Davidson converted a penalty before a Parkin double completed his hat-trick and Iain Hume ended what Leeds resistance remained with a late header. Leeds manager Simon Grayson: "I'm drained and hugely disappointed. You work hard to do things but sometimes football kicks you where it hurts ... Hopefully it doesn't come along again, because otherwise it could be a long season. It's unbelievable and embarrassing. Hungary 2 West Germany 3 1954 World Cup final The Germans had been thumped 8-3 in the group stages by a Hungary team unbeaten in 30 oddd matches and the clear favourites for the final. The game appeared to be going to script when Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor put Hungary 2-0 up inside eight minutes. However, what became known as the 'Miracle of Bern' was completed by a dramatic comeback in the rain by a German side that acted as a focal point for post-Second World War recovery for the nation. Herbert Zimmerman, German commentator: "Headball! Blocked! Rahn has to shoot from the background. Rahn shoots! Goooaall! Left-footed shot from Rahn! Schäfer pushed his way past Bozsik. 3-2 for Germany ... You may think I'm crazy! You may think I've cracked! But even football players should have a heart! Tottenham 3 Manchester City 4 FA Cup 4th round replay 2004 Going in at the break 3-0 down away in an FA Cup tie is bad enough. But when one of your players, Joey Barton in this case, talks his way in to a red card when leaving the field you know it isn't going to be your day. Well, you almost know. Sylvain Distin got a goal back and Paul Bosvelt gave City hope with a deflected shot, Shaun Wright-Phillips levelled before Jonathan Macken headed a late winner. Tottenham manager David Pleat: "We have let ourselves down and the supporters will be gutted." Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan: "We're 3-0 down and a man down," Keegan said to his coach Derek Fazackerley as they came back out for the second half. Where's the nearest jobcentre? ... It was the Cup tie of my lifetime, really ... At half time we were playing for pride ... and looking for a miracle. Reading 5 Arsenal 7 Carling Cup fourth round 2012 Reading were well worth their 4-1 half-time lead before Arsenal capped a much improved second period of normal time with Theo Walcott's late, late equaliser. Arsenal took the lead for the first time through Marouane Chamakh in extra-time, Pavel Pogrebnyak levelled to set up penalties ... but then ... Chamakh and Walcott repeated their trick. The Arsenal fans who left early really missed a treat. Reading manager Brian McDermott: "We dominated the first half. Will he watch the DVD? No, I'll probably throw it in the bin. Juventus 2 Manchester United 3 Champions League semi-final second leg 1999 Having taken a 1-1 first leg result to Turin, Filippo Inzaghi made the task in hand a difficult one with two goals in the first 11 minutes. With Roy Keane booked and set to miss the final, should United make it, the English side were up against it. But Keane rolled up his sleeves, produced one of the most inspiring of European performances to drag his team back in to it. Dwight Yorke and Keane levelled the match before Andy Cole scored late on to put the seal on United's return to the biggest stage of European football after a 31 year absence. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson on Roy Keane: "It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass competing if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose he inspired all around him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player.