By Tony Attwood
What to make of that?
Well, block 110 front row had enough humour to keep us sane, and remove life-threatening situations from any cats that might be lurking at home.
But maybe that was because a) none of us owns a cat and b) we had seen it before – just as regular supporters who go to matches and don’t believe in the reportage have seen it all before.
And I don’t just been Arsenal supporters, I mean supporters of every club. Every club has ups and downs like this, and then (if they are very, very lucky) the occasional time when it doesn’t happen and they win all the important games. So some of us learn to find some way of living with it, and others utilise a way of expressing deep anger.
The problem with the anger of course is that although it lets out some of the emotion and gives immediate relief, it doesn’t actually stop it all building up next time, and the time after. Those who live with a sense of humour, not to mention an ability to see broader pictures, get a better sense of ease throughout, and less chance to descend into regular bouts of anger, which really are not very good for you. (You can trust me on this, I’m a writer).
I thought, as the match drew to a close, the “Bould over” and “Bould out” slogans that emanated from my pals in the front row, were particularly amusing, (although I suppose it makes the most sense if you are familiar with English idioms and cricketing terms. Sorry to readers for whom cricket is not their first language). (And I really ought to say, for the benefit of Blacksheep who will be looking out for it, “rather droll”.)
Any answer to why it happens that only takes into account last night of course is silly – which is what makes the newspapers so silly. Try these for size:
Arsenal fans want Steve Bould to take over as manager as he leads Gunners to 5-0 win over Southampton in first game of Arsene Wenger’s ban
The Sun · 3 days ago
Mirror · 3 days ago
Metro · Yesterday evening
Notice it is not the perfidious journalists who changed their tune – oh no, of course not. It was the dinky-winky fans who don’t last more than five seconds with any consistent framework of thought. But really such journalists don’t fool many people.
It is the journalists playing the stand them up and knock them down approach for one simple reason – it makes scribbling out newspaper stories easier. Blame the fans, express emotion. Right, that’s today’s column written.
Anyway, I do have the solution.
I am about to go to Australia to visit one of my daughters – I fly out on Friday night and will actually not be on planet earth during the Chelsea game. Now normally what happens when I leave the country and miss a series of games is that Arsenal really do start winning. This has happened with each of my previous trips to Oz, but the biggest effect of all came when I moved to Algeria for a year. We won the double.
My visa doesn’t allow me to stay in Oz that long, but I’m hoping my period of walking upside down will now push the club forward in the right direction.
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In the news
- Arsenal – Watford 1-2: a costly defeat in points and personel
- Referee Appointments and Results
- Sutton v Arsenal: will the tie be reversed to be played at the Ems?
- Arsenal face new midfield injury chaos as transfer window gets ready to shatter.
- Why being a thick-and-thin positive supporter who takes exercise is better than moaning.
- Mr Wenger v The FA – the full 20 year history. And the world of the fake innuendo.
From the History Society
- Exclusive: One of the most iconic tales about Chapman at Arsenal may not be quite what it seems
- Sidney Cartwright: a member of the 1930s Arsenal team of whom we know so little
- Arthur Gilbert Biggs: only three games for Arsenal but a varied football career
- Arsenal in the summer: the overseas tour of 1937
The picture above is of The Untold Arsenal Banner is on permanent display inside the Emirates Stadium
Every team can have a bad game as you say and we did last night. My issue is with the strange tactics in the 2nd half. We were dangerous for the first 20 mins with most of the danger being created by Iwobi on the left he basically had the right back on toast. What did we do move Iwobi to the centre, danger pretty much over from that point.
Every corner was launched into the box and we were playing the biggest side i have ever seen. We never had a chance of scoring with those corners and everybody in the ground must have thought pretty much the same thing except the coaches and players of Arsenal. Some things are so obvious you don’t need to have 20 years management experience to see them
9 points off when we lost back to back against Everton and Man City. The ‘kind’ run of fixtures we had after those games was where we were meant to claw back some of that deficit before playing Chelsea. We now go into the Chelsea game 9 points off still. Nothing has changed, same predictable outcome and I’m sad to say that I have no hope whatsoever for the weekend or the remainder of the season…..
‘If you don’t want games like that to happen, don’t support a football team. It is part of the deal’
Nobody who supports a team wants games like that to happen, but if they’re a good supporter they continue supporting the team. At least that’s my understanding of what being a football supporter is all about. It’s held me in good stead since I started supporting Arsenal in 1950.
This comment contained material lifted from elsewhere which is against our comment regulations, and so has been deleted
When’s Santi back?
Yes, I know the answer is probably next season. It can’t come soon enough; we are utterly reliant on his scurrying to propel us onto the front foot. On nights like this, you appreciate him even more, if that’s possible.
The goals were appalling to concede. At their heart was sloppy play by Aaron Ramsey; a nineteen-minute cameo from hell for the Welsh midfielder. Being Aaron Ramsey, he bore the brunt of criticism while others who I feel more culpable escaped similar opprobrium.
Mustafi, for example, gave away the free kick for the first while Gabriel’s appalling throw-in was the root cause of the second. Ramsey contributed a deflection and gave away the ball cheaply; harsh to criticise the first, I think fair for the second.
This side is beset with the same problems which haunted those before it. And there is one consistent factor in that timescale: the manager and coaching staff. Something in the players they sign or the way they prepare their teams leaves performances like this bubbling under the surface every season. Every team dips in form but those with genuine title ambitions recover quickly and don’t repeat the mistakes. We don’t seem to learn with slow starts giving us headaches before last night.
What damage this defeat has done to the squad is anyone’s guess. Certainly, we lack the momentum of a confident side for the weekend and god knows who will play alongside Coquelin. It’s not as if we’re playing a team with a strong midfield, is it?
Rayan has three fathers.
Their names are:
Mariner, Atkinson and Riley. Clattenberg, and …… and……and……. are his brothers.
Ryan you’ve missed the point it was the refs fault .
Walter and team will prove it in the next few days . They always do maybe Mr Wenger reads them , would give him heart to carry on
Shoot
Being sarcastic is not needed and not clever.
You obviously disagree with the fundamental principals of this site so why do you even bother wasting your time here.
Pathetic really.
Who will run this informative site in your absence Mr Tony? Enjoy Australia but make sure you wear your Arsenal hat in the sun. Iwobi put in perhaps the best performance last night and is proving much better than many of his attacking midfield compatriots. Contrast with Ozil who looked decidedly unwell. Gabriel was certainly not ready and should not have playing. I see nothing wrong with fans demanding moore from their team when they aare paying such inflated prices.
Because people like you make my day your all so funny . Please keep up the good work , much appreciated .
Shoot
If Tony is to be believed then the club does in fact read his blog, so there’s a good chance that Wenger will take notice (even read what you say).
Then in that case Hi Mr Wenger keep up the good work , if poss could you get rid of that shite Tetley bitter and put something better in . Suggest London Pride might improve Ze mental strength
Shoot enjoying our defeat to the maximum. Well each his own…
Tony much as I agree wit ur post contents I wonder why our team always disappoint wen espectations are on d asedancy! Those early mistakes cost us d match ; for god’s sake were our players in a slumber ? Over d past 1 month D start of our matches hve left so much to be desired only to raise their game in d 2nd half but it failed woefully last nite; why cannt these players start matches on d front foot? D Team dat played against southampton Got off d block At d whistle, I bet u d team wuld hve beaten watford last Nite if it was fielded; lesson for chelsky match dis weekend please! Shalom!!!
Ryan. If you are going to cut and paste from the online gooner then at least credit them
I don’t know about you Tony, but I found my dreams tortured with last nights defeat. Perhaps it is because it was the last meaningful thing I watched before going to bed, perhaps not. It is clear the emotions immediately after a defeat are high. The media writing these stories have a source- an easy one at that: ArsenalFanTV. I am not a big fan and haven’t watched many of the critically acclaimed rants, but have seen enough that this provides today’s media with a legitimate source of ‘fan views’ much like the any other referenced piece.
A Spuds colleague of mine at work is a big fan (surprise surprise) because he finds the usual post game meltdowns amusing. ArsenalFanTV has pretty much hijacked Sky’s deadline day approach to sending correspondents to stadia across the country to find out what the fans want. Not that this in any way, shape, or form can influence any deadline deal at the 13th hour. Still the rants make good (Celeb BB-style) TV so well done to Robbie for finding himself a niche market. His interviewees and their rants might not change anything today but as a highly visible voice, it can only grow.
So blame not the media (on this occasion) for they actually have a source- whether or not it is a cross segment of fans misrepresented as a larger proportion. Responsibility lies with the editors of the ArsenalFanTV content to ensure a balanced view is heard. But that is not how you get millions of views and millions of fans, earning you millions of Google dollars.
What we need to do is win every game 10-0.
I’m not sure even that would be enough for some people though. Moaning has become a clinical obsession with some ‘so-called’ supporters.
All that are needed to be said in condemning Arsenal and Le Prof for our unexpected lose to Watford in the PL yesternight at the Ems must have been said by now. But I must confess that I was distraught after the final whistle was blown by the referee to end the game and Arsenal have lose. Not even a draw in the game were the Gunners able to salvage from the game. This is shocking and pathetic.
With that damaging defeat to Watford at the Ems yesternight, can Arsenal be relied upon to win this season’s PL title at all? With this singular lackluster performance by the Gunners occasioned by some of them(Walcott & Perez) fluffing their lines when they should have scored when Walcott was one on one to the Watford’s goalie and Perez hitting the woodwork instead of him to have hit the back of the net. Aren’t they coached? And what Cech that was caught napping with that Watford’s free kick? Was Cech asleep when the free kick was being taken or what? Was Cech watching the ball as it took off despite the deflection or watching the free kick taker? This is what he does in penalty kicks in Arsenal games that has made him not save penalty kick for Arsenal. At least, he ought to save that free kick that was a grounder. Would Ospina had saved it? Going by the general weak performance of the Gunners against Watford yesternight. it will be difficult for one to rely on Arsenal to win the title this season after such a promising chance yesternight to recovered some lost ground in the table as Chelsea dropped 2 huge points for them to gain. But they refused to grab the gain. What?
But haven said all these, what is the way forward now if Arsenal are to win this season’s PL title, more so with the current crops of Gunners at Arsenal?
Wouldn’t it be that, all the Gunners in the Arsenal first XI team now should wake up from their inconsistent game performances in the PL which is increasingly making them to look unreliable to win the title this season and start taking all their remaining 15 PL games by the scuff of their necks and break them to win all these remaining games unfailingly to possibly claimed the title on 92 points. Can’t they get these 92 points? Why not?
Let no one tells me that Arsenal cannot win all their remaining 15 PL games of this season. Why can’t they if the current Gunners at the club are mentally and physically totally committed to win them? Did not one team of Arsenal in the past won 13 PL games on the trot in a single season before? And have this Chelsea team who is now topping the table not won 13 on the trot this season already? Let all the current Gunners at Arsenal wake up totally from the haphazard performances in the PL and win all their remaining 15 PL games to have a chance to lift the PL trophy at the end this season if they seriously cared and committed in doing so.
People say that things happen and games are lost but when games are lost because of non preparation then it is not acceptable. 4-1-4-1 always causes us problems, and i knew from begin we would have problems, but thought we were strong enough to weather the storm.
//
On ArsenalFanTV:
It appears pretty ok to me. People can say their views positive or negative and can rant and rave but also apologise, i wished “official” tv was like this, no more “PC”.
//
We should realise that people are at different stages, have had different experiences in life and will mostly react in pretty much predefined human patterns, that is, to have emotions.
It is not good to bury emotions, everyone knows that, but it is also not good to let your emotions take control to a point that is beyond you.
Hence there will be the happy ones, there will be the sad ones, the jealous ones, the silly ones, the thoughtful ones, the kind ones, and on and on, everyone moving through these emotions, to and fro, creating energy that propels us all.
Maybe that is why it is said “do not judge”, and “don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house” etc.
References to Conte’s turning Chelsea around in four months is the sort of bullsh*t we get from Bannon and Trump. Chelsea haven’t been turned around – they stopped playing under Mourinho. Anyone would if they had seen the team doctor sent back off the pitch by the manager. Who would risk a broken leg with Mourinho as manager after that?
Chelsea are playing to their potential. If Arsenal play to theirs, then it’s a win.
As for last night, beyond the PGMO antics, beyond the destabilising effect on a team that happens when the ref, who is supposed to guarantee protection, fails, there is this problem of a slow start.
It was vivid last night precisely because when Arsenal do start on their ‘frontfoot’ – Theo’s words after Southampton 0- Arsenal 5 – they are in charge of the game. Mr Wenger wisely allows his players to take decisions out of their focus and will knowing that they have the technical skill to do more than what is asked.
The slow start this season is perhaps more challenging. Stories are legion from the Zen monastories in Japan, the Zen master with a broomstick ready to wack anyone who falls asleep in meditation.
So Wallter your idea of dealing with defeat is blame someone else and have a sulk , each to there own I suppose
Yes Jake, I noticed this potential weakness at Arsenal midfield as Ramsey is suspect to bad playing often than not and also prone to picking injuries more often these days. And with Cazorla still sidelined and Elneny away, I opined on this site that Le Prof should reinforced our fragile looking midfield early in the last Jan window so that our PL campaign will not suffer as it suffered yesterday to Watford. But I think he counted on Elneny who will return later from the Afton and Coquelin mostly staying fit and him having the options play Chamberlain and the young Maitland-Niles at our midfield whom I believe he should start them for Chelsea now that Ramsey is down and Coq has become lacklustered.
Yes Jake, I noticed this potential weakness at Arsenal midfield as Ramsey is suspect to bad playing often than not and also prone to picking injuries more often these days. And with Cazorla still sidelined and Elneny away, I opined on this site that Le Prof should reinforced our fragile looking midfield early in the last Jan window so that our PL campaign will not suffer as it suffered yesterday to Watford. But I think he counted on Elneny who will return later from the Afton and Coquelin mostly staying fit and him having the options to play Chamberlain and the young Maitland-Niles at our midfield whom I believe he should start them for Chelsea, now that Ramsey is down and Coquelin has become lacklustered.
All that are needed to be said in condemning Arsenal and Le Prof for our unexpected lose to Watford in the PL yesternight at the Ems must have been said by now. But I must confess that I was distraught after the final whistle was blown by the referee to end the game and Arsenal have lose. Not even a draw in the game were the Gunners able to salvaged. This is shocking and pathetic.
With that damaging defeat to Watford at the Ems yesternight, can Arsenal be relied upon to win this season’s PL title at all? With this singular lack lustered performance by the Gunners occasioned by some of them(Walcott & Perez) fluffing their lines when they should have scored when Walcott was one on one to the Watford’s goalie and Perez hitting the woodwork instead of him to have hit the back of the net, aren’t the duo properly coached? And what of Cech who was caught napping with that Watford’s free kick? Was Cech asleep when the free kick was being taken or what? Was he watching the ball as it took off despite the deflection or watching the free kick taker? This is what he does in penalty kicks against in Arsenal games that has made him not to have saved a penalty for Arsenal this season. At least, he ought to have saved that free kick as it was a grounder. Would Ospina had saved it? Going by the general weak performance of the Gunners against Watford yesternight. it will be difficult for one to rely on Arsenal to win the title this season after such a promising chance yesternight to recovered some lost ground in the table as Chelsea dropped 2 huge points for them to gain. But they refused to grab the gain. What?
But haven said all these, what is the way forward now if Arsenal are to win this season’s PL title, more so with the current crops of Gunners at Arsenal?
Wouldn’t it be that, all the Gunners in the Arsenal first XI team now should wake up from their inconsistent game performances in the PL which is increasingly making them to look unreliable to win the title this season and start taking all their remaining 15 PL games by the scuff of their necks and break them to win all their remaining games unfailingly to possibly claimed the title on 92 points. Can’t they get these 92 points? Why not?
Let no one tells me that Arsenal cannot win all their 15 PL games remaining this season. Why can’t they if the current Gunners at the club are mentally and physically totally committed to win them? Did not one team of Arsenal in the past won 13 PL games on the trot in a single season before? And have this Chelsea team who is now topping the table not won 13 on the trot this season already? Let all the current Gunners at Arsenal wake up totally from the haphazard performances in the PL and win all their remaining 15 PL games to have a chance to lift the PL trophy at the end of this season if they seriously cared and committed in doing so.
Tony-your description of Alexis’ movement around the pitch, reminded me ofthe NorthBank, Highbury’s chant for Bobby Gould:
“He’s here! He’s there! He’s every fackin-where! Bobby Gould, Bobby Gould..”
sung to the tune of ‘In the Quartermaster’s Stores’
Cheers!
Walter,
I don’t think there’s any joy from watching your club lose. I think it is the sheer frustration of the fans, of seeing the same failings season upon season – falling short of the title challenge. I know we have no God given right to win the PL but at least show some commitment and fight! Yesterday in the second half we saw it but the first was just shambles. And when you come out with this referee conspiracy it portrays you as a bit bonkers to be honest and that’s where the irk lies.
I read Wenger’s post match and he said we weremt at the races mentally. Wasn’t he saying before the game that we are mentally prepared for anything? You have the feeling Wenger isn’t setting up his team based on what he’s about to face. He’s setting up based on who he thinks the form players are. Giroud shouldn’t be anywhere near our starting 11 at the moment. Coquelin should not be starting against teams we suspect are going to play a deep block, or against teams that might pressure us in possession. I read somewhere that when he doesn’t play we win and when he does we lost. I am trying to find the stat….
I’d also hope that Wenger reconsiders putting Giroud in the front three. Sure he’s good for some goals, but at the highest level he hasn’t and never will cut it. We need to pressure Chelsea with aggression and speed. We need to cause them a headache. We need to win. Wenger needs to think outside his favourites and have a think about what he’s going to do against a Chelsea that are compact, well drilled and deadly moving forward.
If the worst happens at the weekend, do you think Wenger will sign a new deal in the international break? Would he have the guts? That could be the next bit of good news. Maybe he’ll realise the game is up.
I guess one of the poster here must of read this piece and jumped on board or maybe it’s the author himself.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/why-arsenal-under-arsene-wenger-cannot-make-the-leap-chelsea-have-made-under-antonio-conte-a7557166.html
Ando
My own thoughts exactly. I met him at a cricket fundraising event in Bristol about four years ago and reminded him of that. He’s a smashing bloke who brought much of his Wimbledon & Arsenal memorabilia with him and waived any fee for his hour long presentation. He does some football coaching still with Portishead and plays cricket in the Bristol area.
Just so there’s no misunderstanding, I’ll add a phrase to what I posted at 1.41pm
”References to Conte’s turning Chelsea around in four months is the sort of bullsh*t we get from Bannon and Trump. Chelsea haven’t been turned around – they stopped playing under Mourinho. Anyone would if they had seen the team doctor sent back off the pitch by the manager. Who would risk a broken leg with Mourinho as manager after that?
Now, without Mourinho, Chelsea are playing to their potential. If Arsenal play to theirs, then it’s a win.”
Tony – as you rightly say the trick is to mimnimise the number of mistakes each season.
The trouble is that at Arsenal this never happens anymore.
The same mistakes happen season after season after season.
It is now nearly 13 years since we challenged for the title.
You say that changing managers does not necessarily achieve anything, but really has the club got anything to lose anymore?
Wenger is obviously a great manager, who has done and continues to do very well. But it is increasingly obvious that he has taken this team as far as he can.
Zedsaunt, They didn’t start the season very well at all, so I think it’s referring to the turn around during this season rather than last to this season. I suspect it would have taken them a few games more if they’d been playing any CL games (and getting the associated injuries/fatigue).
Top Guns, just have a look at the former PL teams in the lower leagues before making a statement like ‘has the club got anything to lose’.
PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, all after Arsene, so says the In house PR machine….. One decent result is all we need before the great one gets a new contract, not Bouldy.
Andy Mack – with respect your comment is a bit silly as Arsenal is a well run club with some of the biggest cash reserves in world football, and so to imply we might do a Leeds united is ridiculous.
I wouldn’t mind however if we have a couple of seasons down in mid table if we were then to come back and challenge. Look at Chelsea who finished 10th last year but look like winning the title easily.
What I am saying is that Wenger has reached his ceiling.
He is still very very good and it will be sad when he leaves….but to offer him another contract….I am really not sure anymore
We all have a right to feel downhearted after such a shitty effort against Watford following a dominant display last week against Southhampton and trying to excuse a loss based on a poor referee performance makes little sense, as we sucked horribly in the first half and missed sooooooo many chances in the game to equalize and go ahead, that it was evident this was NOT our day.
That said, those who bemoan Wenger’s errors and shortcomings should do him the honour of chanting his praises when we win 5-0 or whatever. Everyone who pretends that nothing has changed over 12 seasons have no proof and are simply pushing a very stale agenda. Rather the facts show we have gradually improved the quality and spirit of this team and begun to challenge for the title again, despite the occasional setback.
My guess is that we’ll see a different Arsenal come out to battle Chelsea and provided the officials do their job at a minimal level, the players show the cohesion and determination needed, and we start at full pace, then we can take the points.
Cannot see us up getting anything like a level playing foeld from the officials for a while unfortunately. That will be wengers true punishment
Top Guns, there’s plenty more ‘well run’ former PL clubs in the lower leagues and it’s a bit silly that you weren’t aware of that…
I’m waiting for the clowns to come out demanding that Mr Wenger gets his players ‘mentally ready’ for the game, as if he’s a genie and can slip into their minds, turn a wheel here, tighten a clog there.
Management of other people’s minds is the English disease.
I’ve seen some superb football this season from Mr Wenger’s players. I saw a brilliant Roger Federer win an eighteenth Grand Slam, a sublime artist playing shots that defied the comprehension.
Can Arsenal win anything playing superb football? Ask the PGMO.
Did Federer win his 18th grand slam trophy? It can’t be because most of the experts and many keyboard warriors said he will never win another grand slam and 2012 was his last. Same crap is saying about AW.
Andy I am fully aware that there are plenty of former well Run PL clubs in the lower leagues, I was merely giving Leeds as an example.
I am also aware that Arsenal (even before Wenger arrived) held the record for the longest unbroken run of any team in the top division. To suggest that Arsenal might get relegated should Wenger leave is quite frankly absurd. I repeat Arsenal now have nothing to lose, as the club is stagnating at best.
OMG Arsenal – you are deluding yourself if you think anything has changed over the past 12 years. If anything the continued stagnation makes things worse as Wenger now has more money at his disposal to spend than ever before.
One thing I will say about Wenger, he never blames outside influence..
Hardly ever totally blames the officials (although 96% of the time he’d be right);
Never blames the wind;
Never blames other managers;
Never blames the media;
Never blames PGMO or the FA or the EPL;
Never says that other managers are treated differently.
Maureen’s latest bleat about Klopp and Wenger being treated differently, is pathetic, given that our manager is in the middle of a 4 game ban.
Human society is based on lies, and unfortunately, our media spouts as many lies as any other countries’ media.
Nice one, Norman.
Have a good holiday, Tony. Hope as you suggest that your absence brings us good luck!