I bumped into Warren on Thursday, I was haggling in a camera shop, he was mooching about town with his daughter. We haven’t seen much of each other lately so we pressed pause in our respective schedules and brought one another up to date. As with most people in these circumstances it wasn’t long before the conversation strayed to that mutually agreeable safe ground of football. I suggested that the next time his team were playing and it was on one of the channels I have available on the old flat screen I should negotiate with she who must be grovelled to and fawned upon for the use of the front room, and he might care to join me.
Taking me by the elbow, he pointed out gently, with the solicitude usually reserved for guiding an elderly psychiatric patient back into the grounds of the home, that the next time his team was playing was in fact on Monday night. Against my team. Warren is, you see, a Liverpool supporter and I hadn’t looked to see when our next fixture was nor who we would be playing. I’ve never been particularly good at keeping up with current events and in my present befuddled state I confess this particular penny had entirely failed to drop.
A silence, gravid with unspoken meaning passed slowly and of course silently between us. Perhaps, we agreed, Monday might not be the best night. Could either of us really enjoy the game knowing the other was fervently determined that our side must fail? Could I glance upon my house guest with a benevolent eye knowing he wished disaster upon the Arsenal defence? Would he not struggle to maintain his own sangfroid in the face of my similarly hostile attitude towards his team? We parted best of friends as ever we were, him debonair and elegant, me shambling and dishevelled, but the brief encounter had set me thinking.
Was it ever thus? Before the days of the internet and especially blogs like this and social media like twitter, were we quite so fractured so determinedly tribal? I don’t think so. I used to go to the boozer to watch the match whether it be against Man U, Spurs, Chelsea or whoever and mingle freely with supporters from those clubs both friends and complete strangers. There were good humoured exchanges, legs were pulled, piss was taken and we all had a few bevvies after the game, no harm no foul.
Nowadays I wouldn’t dream of watching a match in public for fear of meeting the wrong kind of Arsenal fans never mind supporters of the opposition. How people sit in The Emirates with morons abusing our players and booing the team is entirely beyond my failing imagination. Please don’t conclude for a moment that I didn’t care back in those halcyon days, that defeat didn’t eat my insides and that the sight of Man United beating us didn’t make me want to eat glass. If anything I was even worse after a defeat then than now. But this particular divisive factionalism didn’t exist. I recall going to a flat shared by two Spurs supporting mates to watch a league cup match between our two teams and we all had a great night. Even them. And of course they lost. But not any more. It seems we have become so split, so utterly divided and so closed to the naysayers or those we deem antithetical to our way of supporting that we’ve lost the genuine community which once held football fans together.
Or perhaps it’s just me.
I don’t think so though. When I look at all the different blogs and their varied viewpoints, and I’m restricting this to just Arsenal fan sites, I am reminded powerfully of the Monty Python film The Life Of Brian.
Brian: Excuse me. Are you the Judean People’s Front?
Reg: Fuck off! ‘Judean People’s Front’. We’re the People’s Front of Judea! ‘Judean People’s Front’.
Francis: Wankers.
And so on. Before long I shouldn’t be surprised if I end up like the Popular Front, sat on my own with everyone else yelling ‘splitter’ at me as I write a blog to myself which only I read. But until that day comes I shall write it for both you and me and we can huddle together in the comment section looking suspiciously over our shoulders.
The blog has been late coming today in an effort to match the lateness of the kick off. About two days late if you ask me. Bloody silly time to play a football match but I dare say we’ll cope. A lunch time kick off for some of you depending on the time zone but a workday too so a mixed blessing – what you gain on the swings and all that. Anyway back to Warren.
When we left him he was outside Jessops contemplating tonight’s fixture. He proclaimed himself very nervous about the game, and that was about a hundred and three hours before kick off. We’re a bloody strange bunch us football fans aren’t we? Why the apprehension? I enquired. Liverpool are a pretty good team, they’ve enjoyed a winning start to the season and haven’t conceded a goal in their first two games. I’d have thought he would be brimming with confidence. When I put this to him he just smiled and pointed out that he was nervous because Liverpool would be facing, in his words, a very good team.
It’s always interesting to discover how other people see us isn’t it? It’s why Bill Bryson’s Notes From A Small Island is such a compelling read for us Brits. Someone who has taken us to his bosom shines a light on our strange ways and makes us see ourselves from a different angle. Because my social circle has become so narrow in recent years and my football circle even narrower I didn’t realise that opposition teams and fans might not quite relish a trip to the Emirates. That sides as successful and free spending as Liverpool have been over the years might experience a frisson of self doubt when they see our name on the fixture list. It’s probably because there are so many defeatist, negative, weak willed, cowardly or just jaundiced Arsenal fans surrounding our little bastion of calm and common sense, all backed up and supported by an Arsenal hating media that I’ve come to assume the prevailing mood in the country is that we’re no good. Far from it.
I don’t know about you but I’m emboldened by the knowledge that, with the possible exception of Swansea, no one really looks forward to playing us and that’s probably because they know that on our day we can take anyone on and, potentially, take anyone apart. We just need to be on our day more often and that feeling will surely grow. When opposition teams tip over that invisible edge from knowing we’re a good side into assuming we’ll probably beat them then our work is half done. We’ve experienced this a few times in our past and I believe it’s time to get it back. Of course we will only do that by winning some games. We held on against Palace which is a start but it would be far more useful to end Liverpool’s solid start tonight, break poor Warren’s heart and enjoy the kind of solidarity across the Arsenal fan base which only a win against a top six rival can bring.
I think we can do it, heck, I know we can do it. Liverpool are a much better team than we often give them credit for and Brendan Rodgers has done a far better job than we like to admit, but we have a squad which blends invention and tenacity, youth and experience into what I believe can be the perfect balance. The engine didn’t start against West Ham and may not have run perfectly smoothly at Palace but it’s still a beautiful machine. In many ways it doesn’t feel as if the season has really started properly yet, tonight could be the perfect time to kick it off.
Positively Arsenal 
As ever you write ever so accurately, however……. debonair & elegant!!……really??
Although I do think I mirror the silhouette of a certain German centre half in your picture.
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Big test tonight for many reasons. Liverpool are being dismissed by many. Not me mind.
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Morning Steww, Warren, everyone.
Great piece, thought provoking as ever.
You know it’s been years since I felt comfortable watching Arsenal play with fellow Gooners. Opposition fans, no problem, usually great fun. But Arsenal fans are, overall, a frustrated – and frustrating – bunch.
Frustrated by the years of watching very often the best unrewarded football in the country, at least until recently.
Frustrating – and I’m looking at match attending followers – in that way too much effort is squandered in in-game criticism as opposed to the unconditional 90 minutes of unrestrained vocal – and visible – support afforded by so many of the away fans pretty much without fail over in their allocated corner of joy.
And in opting for the passive-observer role we at a stroke hand an advantage – no matter how slender – to the opposition. It is almost as if the Emirates home crowd (of which I’m a part) hasn’t come across the notion of the role of the “12th Man”. Relinquish that role – as we all too readily and frequently do, and the job of our opponents – even the referees in ruling against us – is made so much easier.
Save the critique for the bar afterwards, lads and ladies, spare me from the murmur of the moaning prevalent at any time we are not actually ahead in the match, and just focus on backing the boys.
It’s very, very simple.
As supporters we have but one job.
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I like Andrew’s answer much more than my post. Brilliant stuff.
For those who think I invented Warren he is the centre back in the picture above. All in red of course! The best Number 5 Norton Radstock College Staff 11 ever had.
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The strange thing is, in my experience, is that you get a much better atmosphere in the ground if we are playing a side that are a genuine challenge, that are good and the fans realise that both the team, and they themselves, have to step up their performance to get anything out of the game.
The tutting, groaning, sighing and noisy eye rolling of the Scarifists and their fellow travelling Fence Sitters does not happen against the Citeh, the Chelsea and the Spuds but against the Sunluns, Baggies etc and equivalent perceived easy meat. If we are not 3-0 by the 30 minute mark a simmering pandemonium of frustration breaks out.
As I have droned on previously it is because we allow these people to simply become so called “supporters” of our club when a considerable proportion of them are not fit to be allowed in any football ground, much less claim allegiance to our mighty club. A total lack of moral fibre in my view. No fit to wear the shirt, not fit to claim to support the club.
The situation is akin to the British Army in the 19th century when any half wit with a few bob in his wallet or a rich Papa could buy a commission, and hey presto find themselves decked out in a bright uniform with a gang of Redcoats shuffling along behind them. And you can ask the Zulus how well that turned out.
Serious problems = radical solutions. No more pussyfooting Mr Gazidis.
I am sorry to say this as it chimes against the inclusive nature of modern sport but rigorous testing and selection must be brought in. For those who are incapable of controlling themselves then their incontinence requires permanent exclusion.
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I doff my hat to Steww for another fine preview. Like any good writer, this piece is like looking into a mirror reflecting our thoughts, hopes and fears, bad and good, as we look forward to a football game with a worthy foe. Warren is not an external enemy, he resides in all of us. Like many on this blog, I have pretty strong convictions that Wenger and this team are on the right track, ready to contend for the title but we have no illusion it will be easy. Just as we have our our beliefs and doubts, so do the players. We can only hope they are much better at mastering the enemy within as Arsenal Andrew so elegantly described in post #3,
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Agree with all that, Andrew.
And Warren is indeed debonair and elegant!!
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I note the rumbling among the Scarfists and fence sitters this morning to the effect that Citeh have all but run away with the PL title and we are already far too far behind to make up the ground. And the man responsible for this calamity is, as ever, Mr Wenger.
Interestingly it was these same no-marks who two seasons ago were gleefully dismissing the fact that Arsenal had topped the table for month after month, only to be pipped in the final furlong by Citeh with a late run up the inside. That we had led the table for so long in 2011/1012 was again claimed to be evidence of Arsene’s total incompetence.
Well you cant have it both ways boys.
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Talk to most neutrals and supporters of other clubs and you generally find detractors of the club, amongst our own fan base, are something of a laughing stock.
A gift that keeps on giving, if you will.
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Turning back to football as one eventually does with a mouthwatering clash tonight one point that struck me about yesterday’s Everton Citeh clash was the difference between each sides accuracy and speed of passing around the opposition box.
Citeh were very slick and although they had ti rely on a lightly fortuitous goal from full back Kolarov to break the deadlock every time hey were on the edfe or in the Blues box they looked dangerous.
In contrast Everton had a lot of the ball in the final third of the pitch but never convinced. Hart had little to do as the final ball was misplaced or cut out.
Could well be the game tonight, and if we can get out passing A game into motion then the net should bulge.
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Excellent blogpost as per normal, Steww.
A word on eddy’s yesterday’s post, an excerpt from Per’s interview. Alabama did mention something about this and i would wish to elucidate further here…with your kind permission, of course. It would be important to note that the quote was in reference to his time spent caring for the mentally ill and the effect it had on him. It was in no way referring to Arsenal fans, as the post made it seem. But one can see why it was used the way it was. The words hack, click bait, rile amongst a host of others easily come to mind.
Anyway, enough of this pedantry. So where was I? Aha! Excellent blogpost, Steww. Didn’t disappoint. Here’s to another beautiful exhibition and the three points to go with it! COYG!
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This line cracked me up
“…she who must be grovelled to and fawned upon for the use of the front room, and he might care to join me.”
Seriously does this happen with age? Is it so engraved into the persona of wifehood?
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The last game I watched in a neutral pub was the 6-1 drubbing at manure. Unfortunately I let the utd fans have it when we equalised at 1-1. Never been since.
I struggle not getting back into fights at Emirates so other supporters would be a nightmare.
Tonight will be close and first goal important again.
Another great post Steww COYG
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iDibs, I believe that “quote” from Per was lifted from Twitter, where someone mocked it up to make a joke about the Arsenal fan support. It was, as Stew’s excellent post today reinforces, not completely wide of the mark. I just wanted to encourage people to read the actual interview with Per. That particular story told me something about him that I didn’t already know, and that’s rare in footballer interviews these days. By necessity, the boys often keep their personal lives close to the vest.
As to the point of your second post, the one who knocks everyone out of the way to watch Arsenal in my house is the wife. (banned smiley)
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As ever, Stew, good stuff. However….
I do think the online world is a skewed view of how things are. I go to games and, as I will this evening, meet up with people of differing views about what’s occurring player-wise, who should or shouldn’t play, where they should or shouldn’t play etc but it is as it always was to my mind. There are people who sit near me who moan about anything and everything but there always have been.
I’ll meet up, share a pot of tea, attend the game and leave the game with the same mix of moaners groaners and the more positive ones that I always do and know that everything I have just experienced is part of the package I’ve always enjoyed.
Don’t let your perceptions deprive you of not attending for fear of meeting some cock in the flesh, as it were, they are as easy to ignore in reality as they are online.
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Anicoll5 @ 11:58pm:
“I note the rumbling among the Scarfists and fence sitters this morning to the effect that Citeh have all but run away with the PL title and we are already far too far behind to make up the ground. And the man responsible for this calamity is, as ever, Mr Wenger.”
– They think this is a no lose position. An Arsenal win and they roll with the tide, Arsenal loses and they can be the first in the feeding frenzy.Yes, it is naked opportunism but it is more common than we are willing to concede.
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Alabama, I’ll post the excerpt from the Interview on the Guardian someone posted on here…
One of the most fascinating aspects of Mertesacker’s story is that he spent 12 months working in an institute for the mentally ill before breaking into the first-team at Hannover 96. A youth player at the time, Mertesacker chose community rather than military service when a decision had to be made and he could hardly have taken on a tougher assignment. “It was challenging – much more so than I thought – but a great experience,” he says.
“You trained in the morning and went to the mental hospital in the afternoon. I did that every day for a year. You had your own key because everything was locked. You went in and had to help them get up, change their clothes, go to the toilet, make their daily routine, their food, everything. It was a different world. Some were just in the room on their own, someone had socks on his ears but played chess really well. How do you cope with these people, how can you deal with that?
“Some of the guys just went at you, screaming because there was something in their mind. But you realised they are people who are ill, who need your help. When I went in I thought: ‘They need me.’ You can’t turn up and think: ‘I don’t care.’ It was something to put things in perspective. That privileged life we live is good but you have to respect what happens on the other side as well. When you have a high sometimes, just look back and think about that.”
I believe Mike is not as bellicose with the TV when Arsenal is playing, no? Banned smiley…why are they banned again???
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Banned?
Surely not.
😅
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“socks on his ears” ? It would hardly raise an eyebrow in Norfolk.
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You’re barred.
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This was a good night;
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I like to keep in with the publisher ( banned winkey thing)
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Well at least something good has come of it. A photo of my beloved ! 🙂
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As always, excellent, Steww.
Many of you have made superb replies, so I’ll leave it there, other than to say –
Thanks.
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But smiley is my friend George
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Seriously?
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He’s everybody’s friend. He’s so Smiley and happy.
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Well, never mind we’ll all just have to spread smiles and happiness without poor old Smiley.
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Its like a jungle out there;
It makes me wonder how I keep from going under….
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You might tip him over the edge Andrew
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Reblogged this on Geemee007blog's Blog.
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If you wanna appeal to the youths banning emojis isn’t the route is it? This blog is in need of a massive rethink. I for one look forward to our new smiley overlords
Great post as always, Steww.
I love Ozil coming out with the tough talk. Its already pissed off a few of our customers but if we know anything we know that Arsenal customers will moan about anything under the sun
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What no Smilies?
Where’s the ambition?
Where’s the Pashun?
The owners and manager of this blog need to update their game plan and get with te times and other young and hip blog sites like Goal, Football365 and other relevant and important sites.
Get. With. The. programme.
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some people use crystal skulls.
I prefer to use crystal footballs.
Can’t see any changes to today’s eleven. However they don’t have Toure at the back, could Liverpool’s changes Wffect AFC’s mood/selection. It’s nice to have options even with an important player like Welbeck out.
Could Walcott start? It’s a possibility, unlikely but we shall see.
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Fins: Dont be surprised if Arsene gives Skrtyl and Co a dose of walcott.
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Gah. George has the last laugh. I just posted a comment on one of my vegan recipe sites and my avatar came up as a hideous smiley. Forgot it would be altered on all wordpress sites.
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Well now I learnt that Mert and Kos are both injured. Forget the Walcott biz. Too many changes.
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*gulps*
Both senior CBs are out!
A big game for the second choice pairing and their biggest test as a pair to date. Wouldn’t be worried if it was Kozza with Chambo or Gabriel with the BFG. And two big changes at the back probably reduced the chances of inclination to juggle up top.
Apart from the two CBs as expected.
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Seriously?> Kos and Per both? That is appallingly bad luck.
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Here comes “I told you so” opportunistic brigade which I spoke of earlier. One such already posted on twitter:
“Kos and Mert out?!!! 😂😂😂 #toldyall”
Who the fook could predict both central defenders having an injury at the same time?
Chambers and Gabriel will be fine.
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WOWOWOW! I was buzzin before the lineup I think I could probably fly right now if wind was right! Wenger you little devil you. Victoria Concordia Crescit
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Lmfao at Goal.com, Fins. I think I looked at that thing one time as a youth and newcomer to Arsenal in like 2006 and never again.
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Squad players wait for a run of poor form from those in front of them or for an injury or illness to propel them into the team. We will have two guys at the back who will look to seize their opportunity, they will be right up for this. A bit like when Kos took his chance and displaced our captain.
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Hope we see some of that borderline suicidal high pressing the doomers so love and cherish
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Fooking cloudy crystal ball b*ll*cks, no hint or tint of both CBs and the skipper being out.
I’m sticking to Arsenal Tarot (available from my website at a special discount) for next weeks line up prediction.
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Loomer – if we do we have two faster centre backs and a lightning quick right back so it won’t hurt.
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Anyone surprised Debuchy didn’t shuffle across rather than Chambers? Just an age and experience thing.
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Chambo waltzed into the supercup game last season opposite Aguero etc. And played like a prince however he’s a little bit more rusty today.
Kozza an the BFG had Bentake’s number, I hope the others were paying attention during the cup final (I think they were)
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Arsenal team to play Liverpool: Cech, Bellerin, Chambers, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.
Arsenal subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott.
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150824/team-news-chambers-and-gabriel-start#LUTxuxpWhTWggzqL.99
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I trust Petr has spent the week studying the masterclass that Szcz gave at Wembley in neutralising Benteke. Get out there son and get your fists working.
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