There were moments last season when I just knew the FA Cup was coming to the Emirates. I didn’t say anything at the time so I can’t prove it, but this is a football blog – an Arsenal blog in fact – and as such I don’t need to prove a damn thing. The moments to which I refer occurred on those wonderful FA Cup matchdays when we beat Spurs and then Liverpool and later on an in form Everton; all strong Premier League teams, all potential banana skins. More than those results however the feeling that last year was our year really came over me on days like the fifth of January when Swansea won at Old Trafford. Also February the fifteenth when the clash of the Oil Men’s Private Trophy Teams saw Man City boot Chelsea out of the tournament. I also experienced a small psychic frisson when Mansour’s little vanity project was unexpectedly put out by Wigan in the following month.
There are certain teams you hope to avoid in the draw, and if those teams aren’t even in the draw then you’d be inhuman not to at least think to yourself, ‘Hello, if we keep our noses clean we could be in here’. Now I know that there are those whose glass is perennially and proverbially in a clichéd half empty condition, and such down at the mouth ne’er do wells will point to the Jacks of Swindon, Wrexham, Bradford and Blackburn and remind us of our experiences at having the beanstalk cut from under us. It of course goes without saying that we will need to do our bit, continuing at Brighton where we left off against Hull but the results yesterday were little short of sensational. Even the teams with nothing except the FA Cup to play for failed to overcome what should have been weaker opposition, both Liverpool and Man United managing to hold Cambridge and Bolton respectively.
So now it’s our turn.
I haven’t had any premonitions this time around. I’m not here as some kind of FA Cup Doris Stokes, in fact I’m only writing this because I was ambushed on Twitter by a geographically challenged George clearly labouring under the delusion that I would be an appropriate choice as I live down south and therefore somewhere near to the venue for today’s fixture. Brighton and Hove presumably having been washed away by the waves of the English Channel and ended up on the mud bound coast of the Severn Estuary. I don’t know how the simple folk of Somersetshire will cope when the Brighton Gay Pride carnival comes to Nether Stowey nor how Norman Cook’s latest live set will go down at The Rose and Crown in Huish Episcopi but I hope Mesut Özil finds his targets better than George can find East Sussex on a map.
Talking of which, Arsène conceded that our flawless Deutscher spielmacher doesn’t like playing on the wing but may begin his rehabilitation out there. It is a mouthwatering prospect to have him and Santi and Alexis in the same squad isn’t it? Add to that Theo easing himself back to full steam, the very, very promising Serge Gnabry returning to fitness and Aaron chomping at the bit to get back into the goal scoring groove he rediscovered just before suffering another injury and you simply have to be optimistic for the second half of the season. Given the teams knocked out yesterday I think we should extend that confidence to the FA Cup. People will be nervous of over confidence and a lower league opponent boosted by the feats of Middlesbrough and Bradford, but don’t panic I’m not taking this or any other away fixture for granted, far from it. In fact I believe the results yesterday and on Friday simply serve as a timely reminder that in a sporting contest anyone can have a bad day; it isn’t science, chance plays far too big a part in football for that.
The unvarnished truth is we are in such great form, so full of confidence and with key players at the very top of their game that we have no reason to fear anybody right now. If the players work as hard as they did at The Etihad they will create the platform for our free scoring forwards to finish the job. Sounds simple when I put it like that doesn’t it? At the time of writing I don’t know who will spear head the attack but I hope it will be Chuba Akpom with Mesut and Campbell either side of him. The youngster has been in such great form he must be desperate to show what he can do and with Wellbeck still out our sexy French pugilist may well be rested for this one.
As for Brighton, I have no personal experience of the place beyond attending a funeral there once. Friend or relative of a friend. Or relative of a friend of a relative. It was back in my drinking days so I’m pretty sketchy on the details to be honest. I played a gig in Littlehampton once but that’s West Sussex so hardly counts. Unless you’re George in which case they’re probably the same place. Oh yes, the Librarian at the college where I work went to university there and is friends with a Brighton coach driver, so there you go. My credentials to comment on all things pertaining to the town and its history are impeccable. As credentials go they’re certainly every bit as impeccable as any football blog’s are to teach anyone about tactics and they’re at that all the time.
In a footballistic context the name of Brighton and Hove Albion conjures, for people of a certain generation, the unforgettable image of Clough and Taylor in green sweaters and shirt collars. For me the greatest thing they ever did while at the helm of the South Coast club was to allow Bruce Bannister and Alan Warboys to share seven goals in an 8 – 2 hammering meted out by my local team in December of 1973. Brian Clough is the only non Arsenal manager I’ve ever had time for and in a move characteristic of the man he went into the Bristol Rovers dressing room that afternoon and congratulated the visitors saying to Alan Warboys that the eye injury he suffered that afternoon must have been self inflicted as the Brighton defence had got nowhere near him. I wasn’t at the game but Brian ‘It’s up for grabs now’ Moore was and I was lucky enough to be allowed to have my dinner on a tray in the front room that Sunday so that I could watch the Big Match. A rare moment of weakness from my otherwise strict Methodist mother.
I’d be happy with a similar scoreline today but I’d also be delighted with a cut and thrust, end to end battle and a one goal margin. It’s the FA Cup after all, it’s all about entertainment and excitement and the plucky little cliché cutting the big man down to size. Let’s just hope Jack has tired of hacking at the beanstalk come four o’clock this afternoon, he has after all had a busy weekend. And while we’re at it let’s hope Liz is as forgiving as my Mum was back in 1973. I’d better finish up now, I’ve got to go and get my tray ready just in case.
Positively Arsenal 
Nice one steww. Would you mind adding to “a one goal margin” the words “to us.”
After all of yesterday’s frolicks and Bradford treading on Maureen Joe’s bolix, the world seems a bit peculiar.
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Steww
Another wonderful piece of free-flowing prose. Thanks
I sincerely wish you and your son the best…….
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Positively Arsenal at its very best.
I think Theo is nailed on to start.
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Nice job
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Great ambush George and a splendid precursor to our upcoming raid on the South Coast [is this right, Ed?], Steww.
Anticipate a lively match with a cup final atmosphere and would love to be there. As Steww says, confidence is high within the squad even if the mercurial, somewhat disfunctional nature of the Arsenal support may sometimes be somewhere else.
As a general rule, train stations aside, the away support is exemplary and their role as 12th Man will help to carry us through in contrast to the likes of, say, Chelsea yesterday, who’s own 12th Man clearly failed to make it through the turnstiles at the Fulham bus stop and went home instead, leaving Maureen to moan at them, the world at large, the players, the pitch, the refs and the ‘conspiracy’ – anyone, in other words, except himself.
It’s one thing for a manager to turn on the dressing room, but a hugely risky other to take on your own supporters, regardless of the tepid lacklustre beast it has evolved into during the Abramovitch years. Roman’s ruins, indeed.
Brendan Rogers is another flirting with danger though so far he’s only alienated his own captain. A couple more bad results and buried as opposed to merely sunk expectations could see his own hopes dashed on the rocks of post-Suarez disappointment. Tuesday’s appointment with the League Cup is a fiitting fall from their Champions’ League dreams. As I’ve said before, I blame Arsene for making this Top Four business look too easy …
At the moment, it feels only Southampton and Arsenal have the momentum truly behind them and yesterday’s results could yet reinforce this feeling (Well played to West Ham on the season so far, by the way). If only to maintain this surging confidence, a win with style could prove hugely beneficial, especially on the back of the City triumph last week.
Of course, 1-0 to the Arsenal would be more than sufficient.
Enjoy the game everyone!
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In case you didn’t hear Steww, it’s very likely Campbell would be going out on loan.
I believe any front three we put out there would involve Theo and Giroud.
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Top notch appetizer for this afternoon’s main course Stew.
I like Brighton, I doubt I could live there but it has a nice disorganised feel about it.
Hopefully it’s footballers will maintain that theme today. As often as Arsene mentions it I reckon a good start and a first goal will be the difference between a straightforward afternoon and a tense battle.
I hope therefore young Theo has been working hard on that bit of his game especially hard this week.
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it doesnt matter where you live Stew your writing is always excellent.
this Fixture immediatley takes me back to our 1-0 victory there in the cup in the early 90s with Kevin Richardson scoring the winner. Of course the victory was made sweeter by the spuds losing at Port Vale the same day. I got back from Brighton, very drunk, about two in the morning and my mrs didnt talk to me for weeks so it was win win all round really. My memory isnt that great so it might even have been 93 when we went on to win the the cup im not sure.
My only worry for today is with all the upsets from the last couple of days the brighton players confidence must be sky high, I think we will need to weather a bit of a storm early doors and our players who are just returning from injury may struggle to match the pace at the start and end of the game. Hopefully the rest of the players can carry them through and our superior technique will show and be decisive. I think TR7 may be very important today.
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Just remembered Kevin wasnt still there in 93 so must have been earlier
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I’ve always said George couldn’t find his arse with his hand Stew,sod getting in a car with him…fantastic write up as usual,like you,I had a feeling our name was on the cup at that Liverpool game-how good was yesterday by the way?
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Loved the Post, steww and certainly brought back wonderful memories from last season.
You are obviously a better man/fan than me, as each time we were drawn against another Premier League team I had a sense of ‘Oh, bugger!’ but that was later compensated by a fine win each time, but I never felt confident, and the next draw gave me the collywobbles again.
Things were no better nerves-wise during the Final until we finally nailed it — so at least I was consistent!
I have been to Brighton a few times in my teens, mostly with mates out on the booze, and like you, my recollections tend to be a bit fanciful or hazy, but I kind of liked the place.
My earliest experience was as an 11 or 12 year old, and I was desperate to find a machine that would show me ‘What the Butler Saw’, as I had been told it showed a lady with three boobies, but the machine must have been 100 year old, and the shagging butler must have been dead as I never saw him, and the ‘pictures’ were faded and crap and I saw nothing.
Let’s hope we come thru OK, today, in what will be a tricky tie, and as you can tell, I am still full of colly-wobbles — like last season — and I am happy to stay that way thru’ to the Final.
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Damn it, you boys from Blighty are having fun today, no doubt encouraged by the story-telling skills of Steww. Based on the convo on twitter yesterday he knocked out this blog in 1-2 hours, simply amazing for something so well-written. That is why I leave it to the pros, apparently the same advise George has given himself.
I must say the following line from Steww that had me guffawing uncontrollably:
“Even the teams with nothing except the FA Cup to play for failed to overcome what should have been weaker opposition, both Liverpool and Man United managing to hold Cambridge and Bolton respectively.”
Evidently, when it comes to football, he doesn’t have much time for the northerners. Now that it is a gooner.
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Yes Shotta, I know my place. Though in my defence I once wrote the definitive blog on Andrey Arshavin. Still. that was a labour of love.
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Thanks for all the kind words, and thanks for being asked back to write. I’ve been away lately while my mind is filled with other crap but I’m still around and enjoy writing for you guys so much. You are the best audience.
One thing I meant to add but didn’t is how poorly the other top teams cope on a single occasion when they are without a few of their first team players. We have stayed in contention on all but one front while missing key players time and time again.
The squad Arsène has built from the youth team players through to transfer acquisitions is truly a thing to marvel at. His management and coaching skills also are second to none. The evidence was there for all to see yesterday. As I said look how others struggle when they have to dig a little deeper.
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Hands up who got the title of the piece btw?
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Nice piece, steww. Brighton’s quite a lively place, actually. Only thing I have against it is that stretch of pebbles they call a beach. Where I come from, beaches have a much finer grain to them.
Yes, they’ll certainly be up for it – have a feeling they’ll also be buoyed by their good result midweek against Ipswich. So we need to be super-alert at the back – no early gifts please lads. Shouldn’t be a problem – but it’s the FA Cup.
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Stew. I know its preaching to the converted here, but how Arsene can be regarded as anything other than a genius, is beyond me.
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I still don’t understand the title !
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Morning, all. (as it is still morning here). I apologize for my absence from the comments section of late. Hectic days at work have meant that by the time I get a chance to sit down and read the blog, everything has already been said and most of you have long ago gone to bed. But, I have read everything that’s been posted, I promise. I’ll try to do better.
I set my alarm early this morning because ITKs on Twitter told me that Stew would be writing today. Special occasions call for special arrangements. I was not disappointed. Such wonderful prose to wake up to.
About today’s game. “Brighton and Hove Albion” is one of those gloriously British team names that we Yanks love but don’t get at all. I’ve figured out the Brighton thing, but what the heck is Hove? Another town? A geological formation? Who knows? And I won’t even ask about Albion. I’ve been wondering about that since the first time I watched us play West Brom.
I think the boys will be up for it today, for all the reasons Stew listed. It won’t be easy, but nothing ever is in this game. (Except our run to the cup last year, if you listen to the idiots on Twitter). Lower league opposition is harder to beat, I think, than we know. Terrible pitches, teams that kick and foul and don’t play the way you’re used to. It’ll take determination, but I think we’ve got more of that than the other giants who fell yesterday. The cup is ours to hold onto, now, isn’t it? And the boys have fresh memories of what winning it is like.
Anyway, another Sunday match means I’ll be at church during the first half. Hopefully, the young preacher isn’t long winded today, and I’ll catch the second. Enjoy the match, y’all!
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Thanks Steww, hope the West Country crew enjoy the game today.
You’re going to have to explain the title to us slow coaches.
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Shotta, the inability to write or spell never stopped me! Looking forward to your match review. Sometime.
Come oooooon the Arsenal!
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Alabama, Brighton and Hove are indeed two towns and were seperate teams in the southern league until their amalgamation in the early 1900s. They were then later elected to the football league as Brighton and Hove albion.
Albion is the earliest-known name for the island of Britain and lots of early clubs used it in their titles
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Warboys and Bannister = Smash and Grab
Alright I admit a light flickered somewhere but I had to check it
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Alabama
Hove is definitely another town, the posh part, whilst Brighton is or was a little bit more scuzzy.
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Thanks, AorB. I knew someone would help. Team names going back to the early 1900s. Another thing I love. And we do stuff like taking the Dodgers from Brooklyn to LA, and then slowly forgetting they were ever in Brooklyn…
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Thanks, Fins. The story gets more interesting…
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alabama – Dodgers from Brooklyn to LA. A bit like Wimbledon FC from Wimbledon to Milton Keynes (MK Dons)?
Or even Arsenal from Woolwich to Highbury?
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Until I was educated by prof Andrew Nicoll, I pretended the title meant something to do with our smash and grab of the FA cup last year. As for Brighton Hove on Albion, I have heard the name so often, I was too lazy to look it up. If askd I would have pretended to know it was really two towns amalgamated as one football team. Thanks for the heads up Fins. My Blighty knowledge is complete.
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http://twohundredpercent.net/?p=18250
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From Guardian MbM of Bristol City vs West Spam
“City’s fans firmly nail their colours to the mast …. as they sing ‘Stand up, if you hate the Gas.’
The Gas?
A reference to Rovers?
steww?
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Shotta – the mention of Brighton always brings back that 8 – 2 scoreline and the best ever Bristol Rovers strike partnership who were indeed known as Smash & Grab – but you are quite correct it rather neatly fits the the way we barged in and took the cup from Hull last year!
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dk – yep they are the Shit and we are the Gas, Rovers fans are known as Gasheads. When Rovers were temporarily located in Twerton Park the ground was in the shadow of giant gas tanks which is when I first heard the name. The official name is the Pirates but that is too wanky for a self respecting footy fan. Gas is much better.
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DK
Brooklyn to LA is the equivalent of moving Galatasary from Istanbul to London or I dunno swapping Fulham FC with Besiktas!
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Nearly KO
COYG!
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Steww… Always nice to read you… right after Moopay too… Come on guys write more often
AW is a genius oven those moaning just want to do something different for a change cos they have run out of ways to hail him… they will bounce back…
Today can surely not be a s weird as yesterday for the bigger teams… Anyway, Arsenal always stand out so we will still win
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So my hoped for front line wasn’t even close.
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Full team: Szczesny, Chambers, Koscielny, Monreal, Gibbs, Flamini, Walcott, Ramsey, Ozil, Rosicky, Giroud
Arsenal subs: Martinez, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Coquelin, Cazorla, Alexis, Akpom
the above team can not be accurate at all, seeing as journos, cult of wenger out and several bloggers told us that Szczesny would not play for Arsenal again
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According to various sources, Gilles Grimandi was at Stade St Gerland today for Lyon vs Metz, it is thought he might have been scouting Lacazette, who scored and then went off injured.
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Strong starting line up and an experienced bench
Not a hint of taking the opposition for granted – good man
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Very interesting line up, I am assuming Rosicky is the captain today. Theo needs a goal and hope we get to see Akpom at some point in this game.
This line up will (arm chair) football managers everywhere observing and analysing as I don’t think we’ve ever seen this line up before.
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If Lacazette is injured, we’re nailed on to buy him.
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Thanks Stew: top work. Brighton was were I first heard The Arsenal play. First game of the season, and Brighton drawn at home to the mighty Arsenal in their first ever top-flight game, the wizard Peter Ward having helped them jump from Division 3 to Division One in two spellbinding seasons. I was down the road at the County Ground that afternoon, helping repair a poor morning from our top order against Yorkshire. I batted for quite a while with Tony Pigott, and remember clearly the sounds of the football drifting over from the Goldstone Ground, before being stumped by David Bairstowe, who alas is no longer with us. 4-0 to the Gunners that day, and let’s hope for a similar score today.
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its the very dramatic and conclusive way they make these statements that makes you wonder. So what would be so bad that WS1 would never play arsenal this season again and yet he is sat on the bench as a potential sub
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Nice start Theo.
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Walcott with a great finish after a good run and cross by Chambers, 1-0 to the Arsenal
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That’s a cultured finish from Theo.
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Yes as he is listening what I meant to say was…Theo needs a couple of goals today…
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Oh one thing I should say The Rose and Crown in Huish Episcopi is a fantastic pub if ever you’re down that way.
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Ozil makes it 2-0,after a long bout of sustained pressure
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What a pass from TR7 for the second goal.
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of course no penalty given for a clear handball
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Come on Arsène – don’t be mean – give Akpom the second half.
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