“It was utterly moronic and shows that, for some people their time in the spotlight has become more important than the good of the Club…We fans have a huge role to play in getting behind the manager and the team for the rest of this season and beyond.”
Following on from Matt’s excellent post yesterday and in preparation for this afternoon’s fifth round FA Cup clash I thought I’d offer us all a bit of comfort. The above quote is the kind of comment we might expect from one of the PA crew, beset as we are by organisations who purport to represent us, vehemently anti Arsenal blogs who claim to be like us and bannerwankers who apparently just need a hug and understanding. But it may surprise you (it may not after all I have no special insight beyond my glass balls, you can find this stuff on the net just as easily as I can) to hear that this is taken not from an Arsenal fan but from the first response of a Blackburn Rovers supporter to news that his club’s resident ‘action group’ are miffed at the appointment of their new manager.
The dickheads we all have to put up with on the internet and for some of you sadly in the stadia where our boys go into battle might genuinely have some cause for alarm if our club had endured the recent history of today’s opponents. I’m not talking about the managerial merry go round, the owners and meddling back-room boys, nor the fact that the club is being sued by a former manager or that horse meat is being served in Lancashire schools. Oh wait, sorry over enthusiastic scanning of the headlines in the Lancashire Telegraph there, disregard the last bit. No the utterly horrifying news greeting Blackburn’s fans this morning is that the club have failed to keep David Bentley from returning to their playing staff. The midfielder who once compared himself to Dennis Bergkamp… Oh Jesus. Give me a moment. Just typing that makes my spleen start to hurt. Ahem. Right here we go. The midfielder who once thought he’d be as good as Dennis Bergkamp…
Aaaaaaaaaaaargh.
The young footballer who once set his sights on emulating the inestimably brilliant Dennis Bergkamp, but who ended up not good enough even for Spurs, is returning to Ewood Park on loan for the rest of the season. You see, some people think we have it tough but the guys who George shares a bus with have to digest not only the fact that their kids are eating Shergar but that their home town club has to have that rodent faced little underachiever in their side not just once but for a second go around.
Don’t you feel just ever so slightly better about your life now?
If not, just the simple fact that it’s FA Cup fifth round day should give you a scintilla of pleasure, a slight shiver of spinal sensation at the prospect of a home tie in the country’s premier knock out competition. There’s a whole lot of guff spouted about the devaluing of cups and Arsene not caring enough about this particular tournament but our record in it is second to none. Apart from a team I refuse to acknowledge that is, so second to none as far as I’m concerned. Arsene always looked pretty chuffed at winning the thing and while the Champion’s League and the way qualification for it is organised has altered the balance of power so that in our minds we have to shoe horn in a top four finish to the old hierarchy of European Cup, League Title and FA Cup, there is enough history to keep the pursuit of the old trophy an exciting prospect.
I’m trying desperately not to slip down memory lane into one of my nostalgic diversions. I haven’t mentioned Ronnie Radford, Wrexham, Jim Montgomery, Bobby Stokes, Dave Beasant or Bournemouth in ’84. I’ve been good haven’t I? We have of course been on the receiving end of our fair share of cup upsets and we have to take them on the chin, they are for many old romantics (whatever happened to the new romantics? I suppose they became old in their time) what makes the competition special. I’m not mentioning any of the above mentioned because I’m sure you all have your own FA cup memories both happy and sad and don’t need to read of mine. We can share in the comment section. This flim flam is really only the lure to draw you all here, the light around which us Positive Arsenal moths can gather, the real meat is in the comments as far as I’m concerned.
There are of course FA Cup memories which will bind us all together depending only upon our age. Charlie George lying flat on his back and gazing down at his erection after one of the best ever FA cup final goals and poor Geoff Barnett unfairly carrying the can for letting the loathed Leeds beat us the following year. The sense of utter disbelief when we lost to Ipswich being wiped out by the crazy ending to the 1979 final against United. And the bitter return to Wembley where we somehow contrived to let West Ham score their ping pong goal and beat us the following season. There have been finals which didn’t concern us but nonetheless stick in the mind. I’m certain I only need say Keith Houchen and Gary Mabbutt and many of us will remember diving header and own goal with a warm sense of satisfaction.
As I say I shan’t meander down the roads of my memory for that is a sad habit into which us old men must take care not to fall. I merely wish to set the scene so that you all can relive and share past glories and failures in this venerable competition.
Of course the cup isn’t all about traditions and the past. These days it has a different but no less important attraction. It is a chance to slip out of the suffocating “3 Points A Must” straight jacket of the Premiership and experience life in a different arena. Points are not at stake and a defeat elsewhere for a hated or feared rival means they can be scratched, torn from the wall chart and need not pose us any future threat. Today we are likely to see a different side take the field. There may be old faces returning to the line up from the treatment table as they rehabilitate or youngsters staking a claim in order to alleviate an injury crisis. Fringe or bench players have a chance to shine as their first choice colleagues are rested ahead of supposedly sterner tests. This all gives the FA Cup a feeling of being in a different place, of stepping outside of ourselves for a day and seeing the world through an altered perspective. Of course we want to win, I’m not for a moment suggesting otherwise. I don’t care too much about the league cup but I sure as hell want to win it every year. But there is a tangible relaxation of the weekly grind, of the usual pressures and it is replaced with the allure of cup glory, the promise of a May moment in the Wembley sun. There is the chance of something special at the end of the season, a way of forging a link between these players today and Charlie George’s hard-on and for that reason alone today is a special day.
Positively Arsenal 
Andrew – switched streams and this one is way behind (at least 5 min) so my reports are not contemporaneous,
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B’burn understandably not attacking much. Quite a bit of experience in their bus so hard to break down. Patience required methinks.
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This is football!
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Gervihno doing well.
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We’re starting to pass it nicely now.
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great header from Abou. Shame Robinson wasn’t in goal.
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Yes, the passing is crisp. Just a matter of time before we get a goal.
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All out attack at the 25 minute mark. B’burn like a boxer on the ropes. Covering up and taking punishment.
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and I agree, Gervs is looking really good.
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Thanks Fellas – I’m following it through your comments, mucho appreciated – GREAT that Gerv is playing!!!
Sounds like the BR bus is firmly parked …
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Le Coq doing admirably at RB.
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Goalie keeping them in it.
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Rare break out from B’burn snuffed out elegantly by AD2. Ox rushing his final ball. A little more composure called for but he looks bright and keen.
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Did you see how Diaby controlled that high ball? and then he goes and at gets a brilliant tackle in. Di yute is class!
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B’burn weathered the storm and baled out the worst of the water. We’re regrouping for another assault. 38min
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They are coming into the game a little. Come on Arsenal!!!
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Diaby fouled, glanced up, saw who was referee and wisely maintained possession whilst on the ground, got up and played on.
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Le Coq obstructed in the area, a little theatrical in his reaction. Not with Jasper Carrot refereeing Francis.
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Starting to control things again.
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TR7 pirouetting like he was on ice skates.
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Gervs clean through after fast break, puts it just wide. Thought he would score.
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Free kick on stroke of half time Long way out Arteta picks out the keeper.
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0 –0 at half time. We did enough to be 2 or 3 up but combination of missed chances and good keeping kept it level.
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Good first half, deserved a goal but such is life. I fully expect more of the same in the 2nd half but with goals.
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played well first half were getting behind them started doing well at corners unlucky not to be up already professional second half and we should be safe
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Good first half. Le Coq and Oxo have been our biggest threats. Le Coq in particular looks the neatest and tidiest of them all. I knew he was a good right back, but damn. The touch, the passing, it’s all very good.
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Just before his recent injury I thought Le Coq had his best game for us. he seems to have come of age.
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Rosicky is head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch.Which bodes well for the run in.
If he and Abou can last 90 when Podolski and Theo come on we will score 2 or 3
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COYR
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You get the feeling it’s just a matter of time (fingers crossed so as not to jinx us). Please keep up the concentration, boys, they don’t deserve a soft goal.
@ shotta
My short response is that footie fandom is like music fandom. Here we want to listen to jazz. George is entitled to set up a club devoted to jazz and not to play r’n’b or country music. A bit of jazz-funk or fusion might sneak in, but no-one has a right to insist on playing r’n’b or country or anything else in the club. If that is their music of choice, there are plenty of other clubs to cater for them.
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Le Coq isolated against two there. Need’s cover from the Ox
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Mike Riley’s a tool.
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Interesting comparison there between TR7 and The OX. One spinning and darting about bewildering the opposition, the other very direct.
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It’s Mike Dean – Mike Riley is the head of PGMOL.
Stand strong, Arsenal.
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Bus parked, broken down and has plants growing out of it.
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FG but either way they’re both arses
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It’s a joy to watch Rosicky again.
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Abou gets fed up and tries to break the bus with a very long shot still 0 – 0
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@ steww
oh yes, no argument there
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Yep, Mike Dean. My bad.
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Giroud doing his thing with back to goal but so many defenders in the way hard for the runners to get on the end of his flicks. Half an hour to go.
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Bentley coming on to try to pay me back for today’s post. 63 minutes gone.
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Rosicky’s control is instant. One touch pass or acceleration away as soon as he receives the ball
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Here come the subs.
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Oh, Tomas! So close!
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rosicky with the shot of the match. had me off my feet. Stunning but hit the woodwork
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What a shot by Rosicky. Off the bar.
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Gervihno unlucky last ditch saving tackle after excellent approach from TR7
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20 to go keeper saves from AD2
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they look so close to getting it done.
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