A guest post from Finsbury
I’m not sure where to start with a review of this football game between Arsenal and Southampton on Wednesday.
The post match comments here on PA were interesting and the match plunditry was very funny to read afterwards having been at the game myself. Thanks to all for that. Not sure I can add much, but for what it’s worth here are my thoughts. I’m going to focus on the booing of the substitution and I’ll explain why at the end.
A friend had offered me a ticket to the game late on. Someone in his family were still recovering from an operation. And going to the football was a welcome distraction for me as a member of my own family had been in the Heart Hospital in London for an operation as well, earlier in the week. It’s a specialist NHS hospital located in an older building, not a “progressive” PFI construct. The quality of care and professionalism from all staff were of the highest order inside an institution that as far as I know (not very far!) is not yet crippled by this modern format of medieval debt peonage. A model that is contrary to the very concept of the Hospital itself considering that most of the earliest charitable hospital type institutions were as far as I know, crazy as it sounds, built on donated land for a reason. Not paying extortionate rents to third parties who had been gifted land. I’m drifting off on a tangent here. Again.
A hospital for the heart
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Why did I want to reflect on the substitution? We’ve observed a pattern of some Arsenal fans choosing to repeat the drone from an extreme media (extremist in relation to the discredited and bizarre economic theories as above that they consistently propagate), words which can be observed to bare no relation to what is happening upon the football pitch. Lots of examples:
E.g. the tragic spectacle of people who invest a lot of time in football as Arsenal fans slagging off Mesut Özil, one of the most admired footballers on the planet (with flaws like all players!), on podcasts that were longer than a football match after his last game against Chelsea although anyone and everyone could see the player was injured and hobbling during that game. Strange behaviour. And then latterly the booing by the loud minority of Groaning Experts of Chamberlain’s substitution during last night’s game is unfortunately another example of this unflattering posture. Overall there was a good if slightly nervous atmosphere from the home fans to my ears last night. I had a good time and so did many many others. But back to the Ox.:
In his own words Chambo had only recently returned to top level fitness. For the first time since last August (when I had him down as my prospective nomination for player of the season. Another friend picked Ramsey last pre-season). He picked up a knock in the West Brum game and probably only started this game as it was against his old boyhood club. So with Giroud also having just returned for his first start and seventy minutes of top flight football on the weekend the swap between the two once the line ups were announced with another game coming up in three days was predictable before kick off.
We can see the impact of such heavy schedules, games every three days, upon players with the trauma experienced on the Southampton bench. Koeman taking a gamble or two that didn’t pay off. Arsene gambled on rotating the Ox with OG, and it worked. Tough luck Ronny.
The management of players’ fitness, of Khedira and Schweiny with their niggles, of Özil was the most impressive part of the German summer campaign for me. And it was central to their own planning too. With the Xmas fixture crunch coming up, with the Ox’s recent form, his own comments on his fitness, you’d imagine that decision would make sense to most football followers, or people that have played amateur sport at any level.
Of course people are entitled to an “opinion”. But we have observed that for a minority that their opinion is getting further and further away from the football pitch. An example of mass hysterical confirmation bias? Unfortunately so, that is what the booing by some of the Ox’s substitution was. And it’s not a good look. I don’t recommend it.
People do enjoy being a part of mobs, always have always will. But you do need to be careful that you don’t get trapped within the herd. That’s when it can be dangerous, the predators might eat your soul alive leaving your body nothing more then a zombies carcass. No heart left.
I don’t expect every football fan to have played high level sport in their youth or to have some or any experience of sports physiotherapy etc. why should they? But I do expect people who write about football every day whether by choice or for pay (whether they admit that or not!) to understand the basic demands and requirements involved in any top level modern sport. So, I’m very glad for this blog considering the proven and undeniable scale of the trolling of AFC fans in the media and elsewhere whatever the reason and also the poverty of the overall plunditry when compared with other sports. Who out there is surprised at Adrian Clarkes sudden popularity with all these podcasters after he replaced that bigoted buffoon thanks to an online petition started by AFC fans? Against a groaning employee of the club no less! The irony is too beautiful. There’s a lesson there. For some. But they’ll probably ignore it and groan away over the next few weeks with festive cheer as Sanchez rotates with Walcott (hopefully!), as the coaches juggle their way through the Xmas Crunch.
I’ve heard that those who used go to football in order to have fights used to save their energy for the opposition. But in the main I understand that traditionally people went to football games to to see friends, family, to watch some football because, well, because they like football. To relax. Sometimes a temporary rest or balance to any troubles. Not to have someone troll them into acting like a troubled soul in front of others.
I’m not concerned with transparent and lame agendas. I don’t like to see any Arsenal fans make fools of themselves and the club. Who would?
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“So long as they continued to work and breed, their other activities were without importance…petty quarrels with neighbors, films, football, beer and above all, gambling filled up the horizon of their minds. To keep them in control was not difficult.”
In the late seventies Terry Gillian looked into the future (probably with some medicinal aid) and he saw the faces of Adrian Durham and those stupid enough to listen to him.
Positively Arsenal 
Should clarify, the short version:
A) Didn’t find booing after the Anderlecht game strange at all but Wednesday’s felt very odd. Maybe I should’ve just stuck to the footy but it was just too weird.
B) Some who like to talk a lot about the Arsenal after all these many years haven’t figured out that most substitutions are made for reasons of fitness, especially when playing in the CL midweek games/every three days. I could be wrong, but it seems fairly obvious to me.
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But as for the match itself, lots of people have said Southampton parked the bus, but I only felt they did that in the latter stages of the game. I could be wrong. For my sins I enjoyed the game though both teams were cautious. Especially as Arsenal won!
I have found a podcast outside of PA that didn’t make me want to cry – Mean Lean has been smart enough to get some others to do a show upon his behalf. Very smart. I’ve had a listen and the show for Wednesdays game was very good. The flip side to the negative side of social media, I guess, is that there is good stuff out there!
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Excellent Fins and your comments on the nervy mood and the booing illuminating.
With regard to Saints bus parking and dropping off in the final few minutes it is worth bearing in mind that they are not a club, and therefore not players, who have regular experience of playing a hard weekend game, as they did against Citeh on Sunday, then having to come out for an equally hard game three days later.
Almost inevitably in the latter stages of the game they lacked the physical reserves to match us, with our players who are used to following that demanding schedule week in and week out.
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Fins
My take on the booing was that it aimed at our manager for having the audacity to take off a player the fans like too much,
I can’t imagine any boo’s were aimed at AOC – and if they were that would be beyond shameful.
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One fan who was at the ground said on twitter that he thought it was the Southampton fans booing AOC – That seems highly unlikely.
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It wasn’t the Southampton fans booing – I was sitting near them and the sound was not coming from around me. He left Southampton a long time ago and they’ve never booed him before, why would they start now? Plus, sadly our home crowd have previous in this respect and I believe young Ox was also involved in that one when the greedy badger was still with us and he too questioned the manager’s decision and subsequently tried to tell the club how to run a multi-million pound business!
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Fair to say those booing the substitution were probably also groaning when the Ox was signed. A signing which signified the beginning of a new cycle (a statement if intent innit!), a process which the Groaners and booing buffoons still attempt to deny has happened. Which is why they have to try their best to ignore the signings of Debuchy, Chambers, Welbeck and Sanchez in one go.
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Thanks Fins: I enjoyed that. I think you are right about the Oxlade/Giroud rotation, and I am imagining a smug grin from you should the Ox come on 20 minutes before the end tomorrow! I am dreading tomorrow and could almost wish that Alexis developed a small niggle that kept him out of the clutches of the forces of darkness and forced him to rest until next week. It concerns me greatly that the match is not showing live on any UK channel, that RS has been publically talking up the tastiness of the fixture, and that the one and only Anthony Taylor has been chosen to ensure fair play.
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FH I was thinking we might see Sanchez on the bench, with Chambo Giroud and Welbeck starting this game. But I’m not sure they’d want to rotate a player after a late winner so maybe not.
We’ve all heard about today’s “they don’t like it up em” mantra rammed down people’s throats to be followed up with another “performance” from Taylor. Maybe it’s going to be OG and Sanogo up top hehe. No Plan B…
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Tyrone Mings? A Lefty. Young enough to be Chambers’ co-apprentice at CB (on the other side), the right age to provide incremental cover to Koscielny as he tries to manage those tendons going forward over the next two / three seasons?
Hmmmm.
Odds have always been that any new CBs will be a lefty. For the above reasons. That’s why I don’t think they looked at someone like alderweireld, though he might have his own contacts with Koeman anyway, or maybe they know he’s on the same level as the pant pulling Vertonghan (I don’t know much but alderweireld had a good game whilst i heard the Tottenham player had yet another mare on Wednesday…).
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Little Bit Uhlexees! @18DialSquare86 · 54m 54 minutes ago
So “Banner-Mike” reckons we should bring back David Dein despite him being Arsène’s best mate & would keep him at the club? Clues = 0 tbf.
Mean Lean @arsenalvision · 5h 5 hours ago
The banner guy thinks Arsene Wenger has changed the team’s style because of the banner. Wow, just going to find a place to lay down..
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A very well reasoned article.
I sat in my couch watching the match but couldn’t believe the boos when I heard them. I tried to suggest a reason for it but I couldn’t just find one. It’s so pathetic that some of our fans have lost it but they think they know better than the manager.
I hope the remaining fit boys are in top shape for tomorrow as I believe Stoke are there for the taking. COYG
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Super-Dooper Post, Finsbury, I enjoyed it thank you.
There is a phenomena that occurs with crowds, and that is the subjection of individuals by group ‘hysteria’. A bit unkind, but in its worst form it is like sheep following the leader really.
For example, it is well documented that the ‘wisdom of the crowd’, which is basically taking the collective knowledge of a large number of people [averaging] it is inevitably the case that they are usually much more accurate in problem solving than a specific individual expert would be.
There is nothing wrong with that, altho’ it is surprising at first glance. But there are other crowd reactions that are not so beneficial, and altho’ it is not proved as such, it is my opinion, that boo-ing is infectious, and even normally rational, mature people can easily be swept along and join in with the rest of the crowd doing it.
In the UK boo-ing is an understood expression of dissatisfaction, whereas in other countries that dissatisfaction is expressed differently, such as the mass waving of white handkerchiefs in Spain – altho it can also be an expression of approval. Yes, well they are Spanish.
Whatever the chosen form of abuse — it is unfathomable.
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Great post Fins, however your assumption, also one made by many, that everyone is entitled to their opinion is just wrong. We make the same mistake letting people vote who have no idea what they are voting for ( I actually think you should take an exam) . Why do we let people who are just hateful and have no base of knowledge air their views. How many times do these banner wankers need to be proved wrong and with what right do they believe they can represent all ARSENAL supporters. Unfortunately it not just at our club that these morons make a fool of themselves what happened at Leicester is unforgivable. I know bates is a madman but maybe we could find a use for his electric fences afterall.
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What do you actually do when you Boo? I mean, do you really say Boo? And how do you say it? Presumably not as in Boo! (I surprised you). How long should the oo bit be in a really disapproving Boo? Should it be one continuous Boo, or should there be a number of shorter Boos all strung together? Can you Boo sitting down, as in Poo, or must you stand to Boo? Who determines the pitch of the Boo, or is it always the same tone? Are there scales of Boo. And how, as a grown adult, can you actually do it without feeling ridiculous? Go on, try it now: go into a quiet corner and boo. And having done so, ask yourself if you could ever take seriously the view of those who boo.
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I’ll definitely be booing Apprentice Antony Taylor. Probably before kick off. The lame bungler that he is.
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17 year old midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles has traveled with the squad, might mean he will be one of the subs. He has this season switched from being a winger to central midfield with great success. He has been a regular member of first team training in recent weeks.
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Lovely stuff Fins just what I needed after listening to Mickey of the banner on that awful Bergkamp Wonderland podcast. Eduardo has also commented on the most deluded, arrogant notion that Arsenal buck their ideas up and go on unbeaten runs after he unfurls his banners. Well, I’m not at work so I can truly express myself….well FUCK ME….
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Great post, Fins!
I was a bit baffled by the boos as well but initially thought it was calls for Giroud who had been sung for. It was just a smattering of boos, though. Shouldn’t really happen but it quickly turned into applause for his efforts and welcoming Giroud.
Perfect game. It was a bit nervous and not as enthusiastic as the Dortmund match but I especially appreciated the a North Bank chanting Red Army for about 10 minutes straight at a crucial time before the goal came. Tension building to waves of attack and flurries of chances but frustration starts to creep in and then is dissolved at the death by a fantastic winner! Good times! The players were very appreciative and saluted the stands. They knew it was a very good, big victory.
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The booing folk need no explaining or justification because, quite simply, they are idiots. They are clueless and insightless.
That is all I have to say about that.
Good post.
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Listened to dt podcast involving Geoff and the banner wanker. I can’t just stop laughing at the level of the stupidity of some fans for them to have believed the banner had so much effect on Arsene that he changed his tactics and we started winning.
As far as I can remember, the banner was unveiled at the end of the Wesbrom game and that was the second of the 3 wins we’ve had on the bounce now. Does it mean that the banner was the reason we were able to beat Southampton or his d banner man claiming Arsene has seen d banner somewhere before the dortmund game hence the start of the winning run.
I hate to say it but the fact is just that the stupidity of these people knows no bound.
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Nice one Fins, thanks.
Booing your own club, during any game let alone a tightly contested one will never, ever make any sense to me.
Vile, reprehensible behaviour.
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I’m still metaphorically reeling after hearing Mikey of the banner claim his actions stimulate Arsene and the team to winning runs……
I have also developed an allergy to “everyone is entitled to an opinion”, “we have free speech in this country”, “my grandpa fought the nazis so that we can all be free”..,yah di yah di yah!!!
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Good article Fins.
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Morning Positivistas – cloudless sky over Norfolk – what a day to be alive
And football at 3 !
To get you in the mood the Times this morning has a great interview with Alexis – his first in the Uk to a paper it says with background about him growing up – I can see why he smiles a lot
Unfortunately it is behind the paywall in the uk online but I believe those outside these shores can access it on line for nothing, for hardworking British families however the Times on Saturday is a princely £1.50 !
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New post http://wp.me/37nXa
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