Before the season started, our beloved Cesc proved that he was still a boy. Na$ri left? Meh. However, there was one thing that gave me a bad feeling. Judas was muttering that he would wait until his aunty’s cold became better and after his car started giving good mileage, etc., before he would even think the contract, but he “loved” Arsenal. Obviously, he was toying with the club and making us wait. All of this combined with the glee at Arsenal’s fall (oh false it was) both outside and inside the club put us in turmoil. This is when I saw Wenger’s true strength. The man was down and kicked, but never beaten. He has said that Frimpong is the kind of guy you want to go to war with. For me, Wenger is the kind of guy I would go to war with.
The 8-2 defeat was one of the two Arsenal matches I have stopped watching mid-way. It felt like luck was smirking as she twisted her knife in us. Everything they tried went in. After the match, we had to pick ourselves up either quickly or suffer for a long time. Credit to the team for doing the former.
In the 2011-2012 season, we showed glimpses of our potential. We even had unforgettable moments. My personal favourite was how Rosicky & Co. spanked the team who were apparently “better than every Arsenal player except Judas”. The second one would be the game against Newcastle, when Vermaelen charged down the length of the pitch in injury time and won us the game. I am glad Rosicky and Vermalen are still with us. Last, but not least was the return of the king. I am unfortunate to have missed his and the golden team’s reign but I got to see Henry playing in an Arsenal shirt. The words “Henry! Chance! GOAL!!!” will forever send shivers down my spine. Those words were followed by, “He maybe cast in bronze, but he is still capable of producing truly golden moments”. That shows you what good commentary can do. My brother’s reaction was “meh, it is not a great goal”. My reaction was incredulity at his comment. Now I realise, that moment is extra special because only gunners like us can feel that emotion. I feel privileged to be a part of this club and for this club to be a part of my life.
Then Judas had to try and overshadow it all in the summer. Make it all about him! The club has no ambition?! You have no ambition mate! You have no stomach for Arsenal’s fight! Thank god you are gone! We are better for it and now have a group who have shown class and steel in equal measure. This group is on the cusp of something great and I am truly glad you are not any part of it.
Needless to say, the exit and the manner of it brought us all down. However, I was glad to see the wise Arsenal supporters online say, “Fuck him! We are Arsenal!”. P.S. To all the doomers and moaners out there, this is where you say we are Arsenal! Not as a desperate attempt to justify your moaning.
With the talent Wenger brought in, the players already here and the return of Diaby, preseason 2012-2013 brought anticipation and excitement. The group looked to be solid and of sterner stuff. To me, Vermaelen looked affected right from pre-season. This is entirely my speculation, but I think he was affected by what Judas did. Maybe he took his side of the friendship seriously.
Every season of watching Arsenal is rewarded with glorious moments and feelings. Many times it is sub plots that the world doesnt know or doesnt care about that bring us a lot of cherished joy. Only gunners like us get the premium Arsenal ride. Enjoy it!
By Sensational Arsenal
Positively Arsenal 
As one who has more seasons to look back on than look forward to (I think the Arse should give pensioner’s rights after 65 years of support!), I can only say that next season has so much promise that the “premium Arsenal ride” will be enjoyed to the full.
The steel is back, the skill has always been there and I’m looking forward to it. Keep the faith.
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Top quality post written from the heart…I’m with you mate….I’m by your side….
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What Georgaki said. And then some. Nice one..
And for anyone here who hasn’t seen the Arsene interview, here it is:
http://www.en.aljazeerasport.tv/OurProgrammes/clip/2216730
Hopefully that link works (technology and I are not natural bedfellows).
Fascinating interview, as you would expect.
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Harry
As you know Yogi banished me from ACLF. But I have been enjoying yours and Anicoll’s exchanges…I could have written everything both you and he have only not so eloquently…it’s remarkable….
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You are way way too kind Georgaki! Anicoll is the real one with the brain cells though, and the ability to argue over the minutiae, and he doesn’t mind getting stuck in if necessary. Generally I can’t be arsed with endless pointless debates, that are usually based on nothing but conjecture.
Horses for courses and all that. I just like to get along with people if I can. Unless they are fascists, wind-up merchants or irredeemable idiots (or all three). Those are the extremes though. I’ve always avoided the sites that attract those kind. Life really is too short.
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A very good piece George and brought to a conclusion on the right theme, that we love football and love Arsenal because we enjoy it – it has the occasional moments of anguish and your stamina is tested but rather like clambering up and down big mountain it is really only the good that sticks in your mind.
A bit like GF60 the easier I find it to enjoy the football team and the club I have rather than worrying about what i could have
and thank you for your kind words on my efforts on ACLF – there are plenty on the site who fight the good fight against the unfaithful and the misguided
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If ever the maxim “club bigger than player” was illustrated with pinpoint balance, it is the departure of one exceptional player Robin van Persie, or JvC for some, for Fergie’s finale. Two things, so simple, so neat: (1) Arsenal are in a better position a season after this, the greatest striker to have graced our club since the greatest player ever in the EPL left, transferred out. Proof: we scored more and with more scorers, (conceded less too), and maintained our standing (2) He was an expensive pawn in a bigger game plan by another club, and AW saw through it; he produced the Fergie finale most surely, and so secured Fergie’s greatness and cleverness, not his; which he would emphatically have done had he stayed and earned greatness. And (3) for good measure, he now finds himself managed, at his peak (nowhere to go but down from here old chap), by Moyes and backroom team-Everton (truly no disrespect intended here, but Moyes is not exactly yet world-renowned, just outstandingly good at the Everton level of things).
While Rooney, United best player by a mile, is all but gone and United enter their own testing re-building period. Let us judge their accomplishments henceforth according to ours, it took us 2 seasons, re-build front to back, forfeiting our three best players (I don’t count Nasri) we didn’t concede an inch, humble, spirited, and very tidy financially too.
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I visit ACLF for old times sake and find its world collapsed into winners and losers (this in the most mean-spirited American sense of assessing human potential), despite wonderfully nuanced writing by ever-graceful and well-informed Yogi’s Warrior. It has became the George Graham of Arsenal football blogs, back and forth, back and forth.
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“this is where you say we are Arsenal! Not as a desperate attempt to justify your moaning.”
oh so brilliant …
harry i saw that. mixed feelings. obviously the manager is a tremendously classy person and so civilised in his words and thoughts and expressing them, but the first 10 mins eulogising ferguson i wanted to throw up ..haha… of course wenger is playing his cards right..he is still in england and cant exactly say what he wants about the whole thing. im sure he is willing to “play along” so as to ensure the establishment dont fuck his team again…
for me it is ridiculous to approve of ferguson when i have seen his teams and his antics the last twenty years. fuck him and his manchester united and everything they stand for and their success on ricoches deflections and penalties….all because they were the “brittish team with the brittich coach with the brittish spine” marketing their airplane tragedy around the globe and selling lunchboxes with rooneys faces on in continents where they dont even have shoes to wear. its easy to bully when youre in your own country with your own people and everyone licking your balls plus always having the money to purchase the best around. in any other country theyd laugh at ferguson and im sure he knows he wouldnt be able to bully italians french dutch or spannish players as well as he could them poor little fledgings there butties nevilles bechams and giggsies. disgusting times we had to endure. glad they are over.
moving away from awful things as that, his best comment is when he said ” when we built the stadium we had to sit back a bit financially and play with youth”
BINGO !!! of course something as logical as that neednt be said but unfortunately when the fans of arsenal are shitheads like bill and bob you need to feed them with the spoon like you do to babies.
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remember them barbie dolls…the b-b-bos …thats our fans right there 🙂
BBBo
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it took us 2 seasons, re-build front to back, forfeiting our three best players (I don’t count Nasri) we didn’t concede an inch, humble, spirited, and very tidy financially too.
but thats the brilliance of wenger that our fans cant see. exactly that.
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Yeah h13, I got a little bit of sick in my mouth with all the initial Fergie eulogising, however Arsene has indeed always been a classy (and shrewd) operator, so I expect nothing less. I probably could listen to the fella wax lyrical on football all day to be honest.
”when we built the stadium we had to sit back a bit financially and play with youth”
Now you were so right to highlight that. The most important thing he said for me. As if it should even need repeating, yet there it is once again, for the hard of hearing or, more often, those prone to wilful ignorance. How difficult can it be to actually grasp that fact? Arsenal were working under obvious constraints, because of to that magnificent stadium we love to visit. And yet still some will bang on about the “failure” of “project youth”. Ah well.
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However you shouldn’t refer to my friends on t’other site as “shitheads” y’know H13. They are far from that. Honestly. There are those who would will Arsenal to lose, just so they could be proven right, they are the cancer within the Arsenal support. I despise them. There is no one I converse with who belongs in that bracket. I believe George often fights the bastards on twitter, gold bless him. Infinite patience.
.
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Though having said that Bill does have an innate ability to drive even a slow to rouse soul such as myself me up the f*cking wall (insert banned smiley)
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100% on the money again George, the ball and chains that have been hampering our progress are slowly but surely rusting a falling away. We have survived the storm years and the sun is starting to shine.
Hopefully the one remaining factor, luck , is on side this season and a massive step forward can be taken.
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What’s up folks!
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Yes, the return of Henry was great, the first goal was special. Sure it was not even close to his best goal but the overall situation made it extra special.
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ahem, George…
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Sorry I have been out all day.This post was penned by Sensational Arsenal (as I said on Twitter)
My deepest apologies mate.A genuine mistake.
And a wonderful piece it is,thank you
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So it is Sensational arsenal, not George. It didn’t sound like the Pedantic One at all. Good job SA.As Zim emphasized we’ve been through a rebuild from back to front in two years. I really believe we need another creator at the minimum to complete this team. Santi needs some help in addition to TR-7.
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No worries George.
So people, form an orderly queue in taking turns to praise my post. Those who have mistakenly praised George need to repost and congratulate me instead.
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Stupid wordpress. Changing my name and putting me into moderation.
No worries George.
So people, form an orderly queue in taking turns to praise my post. Those who have mistakenly praised George need to repost and congratulate me instead.
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Consider yourself showered SA
So to speak
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I finally found you guys. Thanks for being so positive. I love it
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Ah Goonerwfe.Hello
They are all here.Pasennal,Team Spirit ,Fungunner.Welcome on board
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Nice one Sens.
Harry, I’m with hunter on this one, I can’t be bothered joining the discussions on ACLF, the last time I popped over to read stuff I saw ‘Wenger is out of touch with modern football’ and ‘wenger can’t do tactics’
FFS. It’s become the grove for grown ups – some of your debating buddies need to cop on. Repeating media lies and miss truths about le Boss is not on. Wenger makes mistakes now and then, every human does but he has been carring this club for a long time on his own back.
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Paul,
226, 227, 228!
Don’t forget the wee Russians wonderful cross for the King’s vital goal at Sunderland.
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DC,
S’ok. Hunter is a lot younger than me, and perhaps more headstrong and convinced in his opinions shall we say. More forthright. Take no prisoners.
Used to be much the same myself to be honest. I’ve mellowed a lot. I prefer the softly softly approach. I may never change people’s minds, but at least I can try and talk to them and find common ground. It’s football. Y’know. Most of ’em are good folk.
As I said before, I’l try and get along with most Arsenal supporters, if I can, unless they are total and irredeemable arseholes and/or eejits…….well George fights the good fight via twitter on that front.
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heh sorry maybe shitheads was too strong a word but they are a bit thick if you dont mind me saying. the things they moan about are so childish and the logic behind their arguement is so shallow too. they judge the surface ..cant see beyond the tree. first i find it disrespectful to think that they can judge him so harsh after all he has done, but then again thats because in my eyes he took a club in category C and turned it into a category A+ club in terms of class finances infrastructure brand name playing style etc but they dont see it that way.
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No.shit head seems more than reasonable
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Can I say that I really hate the media? Browsing the web today, I accidentally stumbled upon a Koscielny interview that was widely reported and made it out like he wants out. My heart stopped, fearing for another summer saga, until I came across the sanity that is Arseblog News, which did the nice thing of presenting the full quotes, in order, without anything added into to push forward any agenda. And somehow, that version doesn’t sound like Koscielny wanting to go at all. So, yeah, I really hate the media for twisting and turning player words, just to create sensationalist headlines and bullsh*t stories. Since you guys are already talking about people who have their heads full with crap, those journalists are definitely top of the steaming pile.
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Hunter!!!
Arsene hasn’t won us a bauble in Eight years!!?!??
I want my old arsenal back,,,,
Statistically 13 Leagues plus 10 FA’s plus assorted others in 126 years kinda works out at 1 in 5 average, but this discounts the extraordinary 30’s and Wenger era.
Keep bitch slapping the ungrateful mooks I say. You are right to be angry at the fuckwits.
Harry, apologies for any slight. Dialogue is always good with the lesser intellects, but as you said, you are head butting a brick wall with some of the negativism out there, and what really really pisses me off is they have got into their heads that tere is weakness in the Great Man and now they want him out, no matter what happens next season.
That’s sedition in my book, and a summary field firing squad.
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Evil
Someone on PA who’s UK based could give you a run down on the whole of British sport media. Murdock and a couple of other corpulent barons own most of it. Plus the fiasco called McNulty’s BBC ( an allegedly public service broadcaster).
Suffice to say that when it comes to Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger there is only two emotions.
Hate and Envy..
My mate who is an Arsenal historian advises me that AFC have always been hated by the UK press ( they have always been pro northern anti south when it comes to association football). Check out our friends at untold arsenal, they have some good articles from the the early days of AFC.
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Straight from the heart SA
sensational.
George , a few of the old timers in recent weeks have been asking of your whereabouts but the people they are conversating with don’t tell them about your blog. I’m sure you thought of them as friends last year. Far from it. Many praise the new environment of healthy” debate ” since you were excommunicated.
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Goodness me. I just thought of the poor moaning and groaning shmucks who will have the ” honour” of sitting in the same section HUNTER 13 will be sitting in next year. Hehehe. Poor poor souls will be set straight in no time flat and the black bin bag they will be carrying will also come in handy. Holy moly hunter. Hope you don’t get yourself banned from the NEW HIGHBURY mate. Keep a cool head.
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Dear Positivistas
Over breakfast I watched a bit of Arsenal TV. Now, listen, we are are seriously going to kick arse next season….just remember your heard it here first……
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