- The light at the end of the Arsenal tunnel is just the express train heading right at us
- Why is there no asterisk whenever a league table is published?
By Tomy Attwood, with a grin despite yesterday
If you are a regular reader of my ramblings, you will know that I ceaselessly, endlessly, and then some, criticise the media for the way they report on Arsenal. And of late, I’ve been criticising some of our fans who are joining the media’s side of the equation (I can’t call it a debate, because name-calling and accusation-making are not debating points).
But now at last I am delighted to say more and more fans are fighting back – turning away from the appalling anti-Arsenal media and indeed those who proclaim themselves to be Arsenal fans but spend most of their time moaning and complaining about Arslena.
I was particularly taken today by a piece from Scarlet Katz Roberts, which the BBC published in its Fans Voice section back in February. I know I am late in coming to it, but that often happens. Events overtake me, and I have been living in a strange fantasy land in which I somehow imagine that fans will eventually turn on the media and say, “Stop this anti-Arsenal approach now,” and they will listen. Of course, they don’t, but maybe that article from a couple of months back still has a chance to make an impact.
The piece begins, “Arsenal as a club and a fanbase have been at the sharp end of criticism from some media outlets who tell us we want it too much, subs shouldn’t be running onto the pitch after a League Cup semi-final victory! Why is Arteta so animated on the sidelines? He must be a fraud. Why is Odegaard taking a photo of the team photographer? Etc etc.”
Now what I particularly liked about the article was that it didn’t just ask the questions, it also answered them by saying…
“To those who might describe Arsenal fans as ‘insufferable’, I would say 1) Maybe you’re right and 2) So what?”
I do write about the way Arsenal and Arsenal fans are ceaselessly criticised by the media because when I started doing that, I was pretty much on my own. Now I find that others agree. Scarlet Katz Roberts writes about the “celebration police are joined by the decorum police, because Arsenal fans are annoying.”
And as Scarlet Katz says, “whoever thought it was going to be pretty to watch a fanbase who have just missed out on the title three years in a row, after a period of ridicule that has stretched 20 odd years, is absolutely deluded.”
I guess I am lucky myself because as a) an old man and b) a guy who, if he is known to anyone for anything, is known because of a string of letters I am entitled to put after my name, and yet who can scream and shout with delight as much as anyone when Arsenal do something wonderful.
And when not screaming and shouting, I am happy to reflect on the table below. And yes of course, I would be happier still if in the “Arsenal today” line it read 22 wins and 73 points, but I’ve been supporting this club for multiple decades, and shit happens. I have grown up enough to know that. I would love it if it only happened to ManC and the rest and not to “my team”, but that is not how it goes.
| Pos | Date | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal Today | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 62 | 24 | 38 | 70 |
| 2 | Arsenal a year ago | 32 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 57 | 27 | 30 | 63 |
For various reasons, associated with where I was brought up in the 1950s, and the club my father and grandfather supported, and so the club I was taken to as a child, I support Arsenal. And now, with my parents sadly passed away, part of that support is an emotional attachment to my origins.
So I don’t go around knocking Arsenal because the team didn’t beat Bournemouth. And I don’t start saying we are going to lose it and come second again, any more than I demand that Arteta should go. Of course not – he’s a lot better than the last manager we had, and as the eternal
I am not quite sure of the numbers, but I think seven PL clubs have changed managers this season, and some of them have changed managers several times. And the club that is top of the league is the club that hasn’t done that.
And yet there are people out there saying we should change the manager! And the worst of it is that because the media will always boost such nonsense, and there is just a chance that Arteta might say, “Fk this for a laugh” and leave for a more pleasant, less infested environment. And then, like Totteringham, we’d end up with someone not just worse, but far, far, far worse.
That light at the end of the tunnel is waved by journalists, tempting the club into the wrong move. Just remember that.
Premier League table as it stands now
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 62 | 24 | 38 | 70 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 32 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 40 | 57 | -17 | 32 |
| 18 | Tottenham Hotspur | 32 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 40 | 51 | -11 | 30 |
| 19 | Burnley | 32 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 33 | 63 | -30 | 20 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 32 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 24 | 58 | -34 | 17 |
13 minutes and Rodri’s caution immunuty has already in operation
Is
Also the “offside” for disallowing the Chelsea goal seemed highly marginal, as best.
Arteta Must be sacked!!
I don’t agree with you wulo but even if I did, who on earth would take on the job and do any better? Managers are looking at Arsenal and thinking “with supporters like that I’d never go near the club.”
Arsenal Football Club – ‘boring cheats’ when we win, ‘bottling everything’ when we lose!
If Arsenal become Champions – ‘the worst Premier League winners ever in a poor League’ (even if English clubs win all 3 UEFA club competitions?)
If Arsenal finish Runners Up – ‘bottled this, bottled that, second again ole ole’
Arsenal’s first Premier League defeat in 3 months comes against the only team with a longer unbeaten run than us, including not losing to Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United, and still have to play Manchester City at home in the run-in (maybe after the FA Cup Final?)
Even if City win their next 2 matches, the 2 teams will be level on points, then Arsenal play twice at home before Man City go to Everton on 4th May; they still have to rearrange their match at home to Crystal Palace and face Aston Villa on the last day of the season!
The title race is FAR FROM OVER in either direction, exactly as it was BEFORE this weekend’s fixtures!
However, Arsenal won’t decide the destination of the title, nor will Manchester City – as is ALWAYS the case in the Premier League, it will be decided by PGMOL, both by the officials they will appoint and the decisions they will make in the games that are left!
I just saw a stat; in the Bournemouth match Arsenal passed the ball back to Raya 38 times! I thought their motto was “forward”. It was even written under the patch for the 125th anniversary shirt in 2017. I’m confused…and frustrated.
Gooner 72, you could always look at the league table – that is a little less confusing. But in essence the passing technuique of Arsenal has successfully drawn clubs that come with the idea of a packed defence, forward, thus allowing Arsenal more space to mount their own attacks.
It was not a great weekend that was . But the likelyhood that them Spuds might end in the lower division , made me smile .
It would be great if we win it and they get relegated with their new manager in tow !
Up the Gunners !
No doubt we will get Oliver as ref at Man City?
Or Manchester – based Anthony Taylor?
We do indeed get Anthony Taylor of Greater Manchester for Manchester City away…
It is almost as if it is ‘fixed’…
Interesting that you should mention refereeing appointments! Before the Everton game, I wrote down 2 lists of potential officials for the run-in based on home and away wins refereed (which is readily available on Transfermarkt btw): 1 was an ‘ideal’ list of appointments; the other was a ‘blacklist.’
My dream lists were: Peter Bankes, Chris Kavanagh, John Brooks, Tim Robinson and Paul Tierney for the home matches; Craig Pawson, Jarred Gillett, Andy Madley and Tony Harrington for the away fixtures.
The ‘blacklists’? Andy Madley, Jarred Gillett, Anthony Taylor, Michael Oliver and Craig Pawson at home; John Brooks, Tim Robinson, Thomas Bramall, Peter Bankes and Michael Salisbury away!
So far, I make it 2 out of 2 from the ‘blacklist’ appointed by PGMOL – Andy Madley did Everton, and Michael Oliver refereed Bournemouth!!
Therefore, Oliver shouldn’t be in charge on Sunday, while Anthony Taylor may be an option. With that in mind, I have now completed ‘PGMOL appointment predictions for Arsenal and Man City’s remaining fixtures:
Man City vs Arsenal – John Brooks (70% home wins)
Burnley vs Man City – Craig Pawson (41% away wins)
Arsenal vs Newcastle – Tony Harrington (50% away wins)
Arsenal vs Fulham – Jarred Gillett (53% away wins)
Everton vs Man City – Michael Oliver (41% away wins)
Man City vs Brentford – Peter Bankes (68% home wins)
West Ham vs Arsenal – Paul Tierney (57% home wins)
Bournemouth vs Man City – Tony Harrington (50% away wins)
Arsenal vs Burnley – Craig Pawson (41% away wins)
Man City vs Crystal Palace – Thomas Bramall (42% home wins)
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal – Michael Salisbury (50% home wins)
Man City vs Aston Villa – Tim Robinson (56% home wins)
PGMOL usually announce officials on the Monday afternoon before the matchweek, occasionally on Tuesday mornings – more easily accessible on Select Group – Premier League than on the Premier League’s website…