I was reflecting yesterday on days past, football memories and others. The exercise probably the result of too little motivation to get on with real work on a sunny Friday afternoon. Some great days and vivid images flooded back. More often not the pivotal moments of a day or an event, but the incidental and personal details are what stick.
Having gathered my wits we come to a day that will, five years, ten years, twenty years (crosses fingers) hence join that pantheon of historic days with the long awaited FA Cup Final.
The paths to this final for our club has been challenging but comparatively smooth. Difficult matches against Liverpool, Everton and our neighbours but all at home and, even allowing for a slight rose tint to the specs, all easily enough won.
Plucky Coventry came and went, the highlight of the Friday evening a demo among the visiting supporters about something or other. At the Ems we are never a crowd to ignore a good demo.
Then….. and then ……. Wigan………. (frowns contemplatively). Obdurate opponents, yes. Well capable of causing an upset as Citeh know, it’s true. In the end put away through a combination of good keeping and penalties on our part, and poor penalties on theirs, indeed. Our performance that day on both sides of the ball did not however do us justice. I have formed fifty plausible reasons for the hiccup, and read and heard a hundred convincing explanations from fans, pundits and everyone in the global village who has access to a keyboard or a telephone. I am unpersuaded on cause. One of those inexplicable afternoons that as a fan I must accept as penance for my hubris. I believe there is an explanation when there is not. Still, better to have it at the semi final stage than find the engine has seized with the Cup with ribbons on and ready to go.
So today, the team(s), who plays where, who I fancy to score and who I see as our killer player and their weak link I shall say nothing as it would antagonise Fate. Anyway you can read that sort of stuff in 50 other blogs and in the papers, and to be frank most of it is factually better informed than I am.
Two final points.
First, I am determined to enjoy today, and drink in the reward our great football has bought this season. I hope to see a great display of football from both teams, a hard, fair fought contest decided by a flash of goal scoring skill or gravity defying keeping. I hope we win but if not, and the goddess has decided that it is Hull’s turn, then so be it. My day, and the small details stowed away to be retrieved in due course, will not be spoiled.
Second, somewhat off topic. I have watched Hull at Wembley twice before, the rugby league club and they won one, lost one back in the early 80s. The city is a great stronghold of the northern game with two sides, Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers, expending the usual family splitting mutual hate. You might think, just once and with the city’s football club stepping onto the pitch at Wembley for their first ever final, that the implacable detestation might be shelved for a few hours, set aside to cheer on their round balled cousins in their first ever final to land a real trophy. If not cheer then at least watch the game. Not a bit of it. The 222nd Hull derby kicks off today at 5 pm.
We shall speak later !
Once again we have Andrew ( @anicoll5 ) to thank for today’s article.
Positively Arsenal 
Come on Arsenal!
LikeLike
One Arsene Wenger
LikeLike
well done ANDREW
good morning all. Happy CUP FINAL. DAY.
lets do this…..
LikeLike
SHE WORE,SHE WORE!! There’s only one Arsenal!!! AFFA!!!
LikeLike
BRING IT HOME…….
CORRG.
LikeLike
Well done Andrew,enjoy the game wherever you are folks-lets win that fucking cup!
LikeLike
All my eggs are in the WINNERS basket, AA
Cannot see Hull beating us with the players they have available and practically all ours fit & on a 5-game winning streak.
The next chapter begins today
COYG!!!
Viva The ARSENAL!
FA Championes!
FA Championes!
LikeLike
Thanks Andrew.
Unusually for me, I don’t have much to say.
If Arsenal turn up and play the better football and the capricious lady isn’t having a tiff, then we will win. Simple as.
Getting to the final itself has been a real achievement for these lads, they deserve any praise they get tonight, some which will be grudgingly given.
LikeLike
Ha, Ha, Ha. “The 222nd Hull derby kicks off today at 5 pm.”
Andrew has it right, The world and its infinite contradictions will keep on spinning today and every day after. While the world will seem to have stopped for 2 hours later today as most gooners strain every mental sinew, willing our team to victory,
the rugby teams of Hull will resume kicking the shit out of each other. Such imagery!
So I will enjoy my 2 hours today dying to l see us lift the cup. If not, it won’t be the end of the world. That is the lesson from our wise friend Andrew. Excellent blog.
LikeLike
Huge Numbers already out and about in N.London, random arsenal fan next to me says North london is red!
Definitely different to a Carling Cup final.
Twelve pins is already rocking! I’m just about to head off to the giant white elephant dropping that is Wemberleee!
Good luck Gooners.
LikeLike
NO COMPLACENCY, NO MERCY!
LikeLike
Getting ready to head off to the Emirates for my first big screen experience and trying not to let the butterflies completely take over! I hope for a good performance and a win but like Andrew I just want to be able to enjoy the experience come what may. Hopefully see you guys later for the celebration. Come on you Gunners!
LikeLike
I don’t want to sound selfish, but we ( PA crew ) deserve a win.
LikeLike
Posted on the wrong page. Do keep up SA
Sensational Arsenal 4m
On BBC: FA – Cup live textArsenal vs Hull. I see that and click on it with excitement, looking forward to a cup final build up and pride at our name being one of the two teams in the final. Instead, what do I get? 8 years, 11 months….. even upto the seconds of time since Arsenal last won a trophy being repeatedly said. They have also included nice tid-bits of how many things have happened in this word since we won a trophy. Well, I can even say that the prime minister of my country changed since Man city last won a trophy. You can skew anything for your agenda. Especially if it is to mock someone or something. Fucking BBC.
They are not going to ruin my day. No-one is going to ruin this day. Not going to let myself see any fucking build ups. Just 90 mins of Arsenal playing.
Come on guys.
LikeLike
this is for EDUARDO , AARON & ABU & SAGNA.
Never forget the full sacrafices you made to the ARSENAL
BODY & SOUL
WE LOVE YOU ARSENAL.
ARSENAL , WE LOVE YOU……
LikeLike
yes… we start off a new trophy winning chapter today.. Am also disappointed in the BBC for that mockery but they re only being true to type… i imagine that when we win, we will start to hear Arsenal has only won 1 trophy in the last 9 years LOL
LikeLike
Mi dey ya!
(I am present)
What’s up family!
LikeLike
I think DC has hit the target Paul – what is there to say ??
Lets get on with the game.
And thanks for the comments boys and girls – you are a good crowd
( dodges pineapple)
LikeLike
At the Emirates, it’s the next best thing! Atmosphere is great. Met Calamity Jane missed A_or_B but hope to meet up later. Come on the Arsenal….
LikeLike
Agreed, let’s get the game started.
Strangely, I am at ease. To simply enjoy the game is the right sentiment.
LikeLike
Good morning, guys, from across the pond. I’ll admit to being a bit antsy. My daughter is trying to talk to me right now, and I am not being a very good mother (banned smiley). I am determined to enjoy this game, though. Up the Arsenal!
LikeLike
Sorry g p hope to see you later what’s the team ?
LikeLike
Can anybody calm my nerves? It’s only a game……
LikeLike
Very exciting GP – we’ve got this
They are falling back, back back and our fingers are gently curling round their throat
LikeLike
Nature and its infinite randomness. Bit us in the tush in the 1st half.
LikeLike
The ref just simply refuse to give us a nailed on penalty. Defender takes out Cazorla.
LikeLike
Goal. Try to rob us to no avail.
LikeLike
What about that handball by Livermore in the box?. Not called.
LikeLike
Probert is such a dishonest ref!
LikeLike
Gibbs! Come on!
LikeLike
Shocker? There you go again. Santi flattened in the box about to shoot and absolutely no called.
LikeLike
Shotta, yep, two pens should’ve been given.
The ref needs to tighten the heck up.
2-2 though.
3 pens not given.
LikeLike
Our Yaya has really changed the game.
LikeLike
Probert again. Yellow card for for Giroud for stuff he has been letting go all match.
LikeLike
Hi Paul. I thought I was alone on the blog.
LikeLike
Shotta, I have been waiting for someone myself.
LikeLike
Blow wow, that was close.
LikeLike
We are going to win Paul. I can feel it.
LikeLike
My nerves are frayed. I should find something else to try to enjoy …
LikeLike
Well I’ve had my hopes for an exciting final fulfilled
Last furlong
Let’s do it right
LikeLike
Come on Ramsey! No hero shots!
LikeLike
Yes Shotta, we just have to keep playing the Arsenal way.
LikeLike
How many shots have we taken in this 1st period?
LikeLike
Credit to the boys. That was no easy start to the match and they didn’t drop their heads.
LikeLike
Goal! Ramsey!
LikeLike
What a flick!
LikeLike
Keep playing the Arsenal way…
Mi seh!!
LikeLike
Paul. We kept believing because we stick to the way we play. Not done yet.
LikeLike
I said it wasn’t done yet as Mertsacker’s legs went from underneath him.
LikeLike
Arsenal beats 12 men.
All respect to Hull though.
Fancy another piece of silverware?
LikeLike