It’s fascinating and hilarious in equal measure how so many football fans are incapable of enjoying the most exciting months of the football calendar. Do you remember Zimpaul comparing a season with an 800m race? He suggested a few months back that we were approaching the final bend, runners jockeying for position and preparing for the home straight. We the spectators, inching slightly up from our seats, anticipating the finish and wondering if our chosen athletes had anything left in their legs.
I thought then and I still feel now that it was a perfect analogy from one of our very best posters. I wonder if you will indulge me as I stretch that metaphor to the section of the race when the finishing line is in sight. Can you even begin to imagine the spectators and supporters in an athletics stadium screaming abuse and throwing up their hands in horror, turning away in disgust to argue with those around them while the race is still in progress? Or stamping on their hats and wailing ‘It’s all over’ as the competitors charge flat out, neck and neck, giving it their all for the few remaining metres of the race? It’s a laughable scenario and one for which I apologise. They would of course be screaming and cheering and doing every last thing in the hope that by sheer effort of will they could encourage a tiny fraction more speed or stamina from their favourite.
This is where we are now in our season. It is absolutely the best part of the whole shebang. Every decision, miss-kick, flukey goal, each unpunished foul or arbitrary decision not to grant an appeal in any number of games is magnified and so very very significant. I even enjoy watching Spurs right now. Yep. And I know a whole load of other people watched the events unfold at the DW Stadium yesterday. But a glance at Twitter and doubtless in the comments section of various Arsenal blogs showed people putting themselves through some kind of self flagellating agony. An ecstasy of misery and convinced despair overwhelmed people, when they ought to have been enjoying a closing scene in the finest drama the Premier League has to offer.
Allow me to lift an example from a popular social networking site. The Spuds had been awarded a free kick on the edge of the Wigan penalty area. It was the last chance in a game of so much theatre and the pressure was on both sides desperate for a result at either end of the table. As the rest of us thrilled at this moment of decision an Arsenal fan groped for his keyboard and typed
Instead of sitting back and enjoying the final act in a totally unpredictable drama with goal mouth action at both ends, the lead changing hands, mistakes, skill, violence and bad haircuts this joker couldn’t wait to spread his negativity, so convinced was he that the Spuds would score. As it transpires they nearly did but didn’t quite and it was all terribly exciting. Also things ended with the right result for us with them dropping another two points in what is at best a faltering stumble down the back straight.
As the final whistle approached some people were even screaming for Wigan to defend, get back, hang on for the point. I loved the fact that quite to the contrary they wanted to and tried to and very nearly did win the game. After all, we wanted them to win didn’t we? We want our rivals to lose, surely? If you cannot enjoy the run in where so many teams have so much at stake and where other matches suddenly matter to us like never before then you can’t hope to enjoy competitive football at all.
So where does this all leave us? I’d say on a Sunday facing a four o’clock kick off against the newly crowned champions of the Premier League. In a game many think of in that loathsome, meaningless phrase; a ‘must win’. Which can only mean they already know Spuds and Chelsea’s results between now and the end of the season. Of course it’s a big game and one we most want to win. No game is bigger than Arsenal versus Man United. If both teams were safe from relegation but out of the running for European places it would still matter. It would still hurt more to lose than any other fixture. As such this is probably the only game of our ten cup finals where league points and positions and the impact on the final places is actually overshadowed by the bitterness and rivalry between the two clubs.
I’ve dealt with my detestation for them by pretending they don’t exist for the last few seasons. It’s been working like a charm. Whereas I used to be able to name their first team squad, with my lip curled and special vehemence reserved for particular bêtes noire, these days I actually don’t even know half of their first eleven. But of course,he is still there. No I don’t mean this generation’s Frank Stapleton. I mean the manager. The man who has consistently tried and failed to get under the skin of our infinitely more assured and intelligent talisman. The man so beloved by the British sporting establishment, an establishment which so despises us that we couldn’t fail but to wish ruin upon their darling.
I’m not going to bother with any more talk of honour guards or reactions to ex players, I made my position crystal clear on Thursday. In any case I know you’ll do all that in the comments section. I am however, in contradistinction to my modus operandi, going to force myself to watch the whole thing live. After all it is long overdue. Maybe I’ll like their new players. I hear someone called Cleverclogs is as good if not better than Jack Wilshere. It’ll be fascinating to see if that can be true. Also long overdue is us outplaying and beating them, but I don’t feel in the mood for rash predictions. Apart from anything else the pressure cooker our players are trying to perform in right now makes everything so difficult for them, add to that the disadvantage of being at home in front of people convinced we must fail and one can only foresee an uphill struggle.
I know we can do it, of course we can. I know this because Spuds beat Oil City against all the odds then dropped points to Wigan. Just because Man U have nothing to play for and will be easy and relaxed knowing their work this year is done, and we will be edgy and nervous with so much resting on the outcome doesn’t mean we are bound to lose. Football is an unpredictable game. Ask Blackburn, Bayern and Real Madrid. The crucial thing is we try to enjoy the three games after this one. Today we might enjoy the result, we cannot hope to enjoy much of the match with the poisonous red and black slime oozing over the pitch and befouling the sweet air of our lovely stadium. However we can put the visit of the evil one behind us after this afternoon and get back to enjoying the nail biting race for the finish line.
Remember it’s just a ride, and we bought a ticket because we hoped to enjoy the ride. So smile, sing shout and by all means swear but please spare us your endless doom ridden predictions of failure. Some of us will be trying to actually enjoy the entertainment.
Positively Arsenal 
Please score from this one, boys.
LikeLike
I think we should put Carl on..
LikeLike
Good game though eh? Can’t really call it. They look good on the break and we look pretty good everywhere
LikeLike
Evil, Arsene likes putting Ramsay back there when we chase games, bring on Ox or Gerv
LikeLike
Looks like crazylegs is on.
LikeLike
ooh, Kos
LikeLike
Unlucky Kos.
LikeLike
@steww
Great idea! We can still bring on Ox for Sagna and get Ramsey back there. I forgot about that. That’s the preferred option for me.
LikeLike
Theo having a right good go!
LikeLike
Evil he’s done it a couple of times lately.
LikeLike
Ha – what do we know? Swiss Army Knife off, unpredictable young talent on. Bac still in place
LikeLike
Hm Ox for Ramsey. I think we should’ve taken Sagna off. He is so close to getting sent off…
LikeLike
Sagna has come back strong, it seems.
LikeLike
He saved us just now when the ball was on the way to RVP and he just deflected it. Been pretty solid last 15 minutes in fairness. Anyway it’s done now. The dice is thrown.
LikeLike
Thank God for Merts.
LikeLike
We need to stop passing to Robin, he’s left us you know.
LikeLike
And Kos.
LikeLike
And thank god for Kos, I meant.
LikeLike
I love that we never hide against this lot. Never settle for a draw. Sure they can counter and nick it but fuck that we attack right the way to the end.
LikeLike
That was a great ball from Rooney. I have to admit it. The kind our players produce all the time.
LikeLike
Look at Arsene. He really wants this.
LikeLike
Out classed the champions. Can’t ask for any more. Well a win would help but this bastard is going to the wire. It always was.
LikeLike
damn damn – one mistake and we pay for it. So frustrating. Kos better remember to take RvP out of his pocket before he puts his shorts in the washing machine.
LikeLike
We are still in fourth.
LikeLike
@FG
He better leave him, might shrink the massive ego of the Skunk.
We deserved to win, we were the better team all throughout the ninety, can’t ask for more because the performance was splendid.
LikeLike
Still feels like 2 points dropped.
LikeLike
@ Evil April 28, 2013 at 5:57 pm
ha ha
and spot on.
LikeLike
Jack for Poldi would have been my sub.
Mozart would have played on till we scored.
100% effort though.
Kos was a monster.
LikeLike
Chelsea play ManU next week. Why do I have the feeling that Fergie’s men will play with far less intensity in that match?
LikeLike
Just checked some other blogs. Well, the knives are already out on Sagna. Truly forgotten the many years of fantastic service he has given us…
LikeLike
stunning saves from Chesney, too.
LikeLike
The usual fools on arsenalplayer. (sigh)
LikeLike
@FG 5:58pm
Because drawing against inferior opposition always does.
LikeLike
@ Evil
ha, yes!
LikeLike
Right result from two even teams over the 90 minutes
What a start though ? We looked like Bayern but faster – good performances all over the pitch.
No one I am sure more mortified by the error than Sagna
LikeLike
Oh and thank you Mr Dowd – you let Sagna off the second yellow
That will teach Ferguson to call you fat
LikeLike
Can’t really complain about Dowd. He did what other referee’s are afraid to do: card ManU players from the get go. Because they try to kick the living sh*t out of the opposition, it’s what Fergie wants them to do, and most referees are content of letting them get away with it “so the game can flow”.
LikeLike
Positives:
We ran rings around them.
We are going be fucking strong next year.
We were a class apart, both in football and mentality.
Great effort from the players. Clearly, this meant a lot.
Barring a few idiots, great crowd.
Every player was immense. Rosicky was…Mozart on the pitch. There is only one Ramsey, right? How the fuck is he everywhere in the pitch?! Arteta was a fucking awesome defensive midfielder. We dont need a tank of a midfielder, we need an Arteta. Kos added judas to his pick pocket collection (loved how he showed judas who the boss was time and time again). Mertesacker played with passion, calmness and made sure judas got a yellow card (judas kept targeting our BFG). Gibbs was great. Despite his moments of madness, Sagna got some vital blocks in. Szczesny will save, no matter what.
Cons:
A very flattering scoreline for united. A win might have drilled through their thick skulls how much we outclassed them.
I felt that Szczesny made his move too early in the penalty kick. Should have waited a bit.
A “fellow supporter” made the wanking sign in front of Sagna. Maybe he is letting sagna know what he is going to be doing tonight and how Sagna will be in his thoughts?
It was a horrific mistake, one that I hope he apologised to his teammates for. He is not suddenly shit though. I would still want him to sign with us and be there when we lift the trophy next season.
LikeLike
Hi guys. I slummed off to Twitter during the game. You’ve got to to have nerves of steel to endure some of the twattery but I survived. Once again Koscielny left the field with another great forward tucked away in his jock strap. MOTM by a country mile:
Kos made 5 tackles and won all of his 5 tackles & also 7 interceptions, 6 clearances and 8 long balls too. EPL Stats.
LikeLike
sensational arsenal
Aye!
LikeLike
@shotta
I’d argue that Rosicky is, at least, a close second. Especially in the first half he was immense and ran the show for us. Part of me wonders what would have been if he stayed on the full ninety — even though Jack did well when he came on.
LikeLike
Sensational Arsenal @6.35 – spot on.
LikeLike
“Now please, people – Passenal, G69, steww, SA, Paul_N, basically everyone who isn’t going to be at the game, please stay with me on the blog during the game. I’m begging you, don’t let me spend 2 hours talking to myself.”
Sorry Fun, if I’m not at the game I find it really hard to watch sometimes and this was one I decided to skip! In the end I just could not bare to look at that team and especially not JvC – my feelings are still too close to the surface. A point is better than nothing, but it so could have been 3. but I’m not going to dwell on what could have been and pray that it will turn out to be a valuable point.
LikeLike
Thanks Arshavin, Steww
George, I sent you an acknowledgement email.
LikeLike
Sensational Arsenal and others
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/gif-bacary-sagnas-tackle-on-robin-van-persie-penalty-awarded/
Is this a penatly?
LikeLike
Arshavin23 April 28, 2013 at 6:46 pm
My son in law thought ‘the guy in white trod on the other guy’ and he didn’t even know who was who…
LikeLike
If it was any other team the commentators would be talking about how he got the ball, which he did. But JvC is now a graduate of the slur alex diving school – if you feel any contact go down.
LikeLike
@Arshavin
I think the penalty shout we had at the other end was much more stonewall.
LikeLike
Evil @ 6 40
“Part of me wonders what would have been if he stayed on the full ninety — even though Jack did well when he came on.”
Part of me wonders what would have been if he stayed fit the full season!
(we will know season :D)
LikeLike
next season*
LikeLike