Please accept my apologies if my by now customary flights of fancy are a little more fanciful than usual but yesterday I awoke with a migraine. The only efficacious pain medication I’ve found in these circumstances sends me a little, not to put too fine a point on it, doolally. I’ve been returning slowly to planet earth but it’s been a circuitous route and bits of me may still be out there somewhere.
Imagine my surprise therefore on throwing back the curtains, sipping my coffee and opening the sports pages of Večernji List to find renowned Croatian football correspondent Robert Junaci in a lather over the anticipated visit of Arsène Wenger and his Arsenal team. We have a match today? This calls for decisive action. I resolved then and there that I’d better put down my Croatian phrase book ( Where is the nearest philatelist? : Gdje je najbliža filatelista? ) and get straight on with the job in hand, viz. producing a knowledgeable and above all relevant pre match piece for Positively A.
Before I pushed my favourite Zagreb based daily aside however, my eye fell to an interview with Marko Rog wherein the young midfielder’s views were solicited upon the prospect of facing the North London giants in the Champions League. He was asked a series of penetrating and incisive questions of the ‘What is your favourite colour?’ variety so beloved of Smash Hits journalists but did reveal that he rated Mesut Özil the most dangerous of the Arsenal players. Sounds like a sensible young man to me. He deftly deflected the question as to whether he’d like to play for Arsène Wenger by protesting that, having only just arrived in Zagreb, now wasn’t the time to talk about leaving. Given that almost all the best players at the Emirates are only there for the opportunity to work under the great man we could all have answered the question for him.
Before heading to the old Smith Corona and spooling in a fresh sheet of foolscap to write this piece, another snippet caught my eye. Per Mertesacker will be missing tonight after making an unscheduled stop on the way home from training. His car apparently came to rest in the remnants of what had been, only moments before, a roadside fence. The unfortunate incident itself wasn’t news but what amused me was the opening sentence which loosely translated read “High guard Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker, who avoided military service in Germany because it does not fit in the tank,” It does not fit in a tank? Really? Wow. BFG indeed. One wonders whether the Deutsches Heer couldn’t have found him some other employment where he’d be less inhibited by his generous dimensions. I’m guessing being the peaceable, gentle soul that he is Per didn’t mind not being squashed inside a 43 tonne Schützenpanzer Puma death machine.
With Hector and Aaron not travelling, and if my Croatian paper is to be believed, then those two and Per join the short but acute injury list as non travellers. This leads me, Sherlock Holmes like, to assume the team sheet will feature M. Debuchy among the back four and an attacking midfield berth filled by A. M. D. Oxlade-Chamberlain. I am as you know averse to team selection predictions. One had just as well predict the likelihood of snow at Christmas 2022 for all the good it does any of us but I wonder if those left waving their pals off on the runway at Heathrow haven’t made the changes more obvious. One doesn’t want too many alterations to a winning team and with a few enforced ones already in place there is less room to chop and change elsewhere.
All shall be revealed in good time but whichever side the manager selects will need to be on its mettle against a very confident team who are super excited to be playing in the Champions League and are acutely aware how easy it can be to slip through the cracks of the group stage. My Adriatic sources assure me that the Zagreb players have woken every morning for months now thinking only of the Champions League. These guys are motivated. They have a fantastic home record and would love to add such a prodigious scalp as Arsenal’s to their collection. Now one can only assume that my sources spoke metaphorically when using such bloodthirsty imagery. This may be a club who’s CEO and manager are awaiting trail on bribery and corruption charges and who’s fans have a reputation for fiercely partisan loyalty to their team but for goodness sake they aren’t Stoke City.
So, while we should be safe from losing our heads, or any part thereof, we still need to put in a good shift to come home with the points. I expect the experience of Captain Arteta to be crucial in negotiating the rapids of the Sava. With his steadying influence and Theo’s pace on the counter we ought to be able to get the job done. Certainly if the enthusiasm of the home team overcomes their cautious instincts then our first goal against Stoke at the weekend may make a tasty template for tonight.
Tell me, can you experience an anti climax in advance of an event? Does the concept even exist and if so what does one call it? The Germans probably have a long convoluted word comprising several shorter ones to describe what I’m getting at. A sort of ‘looking forward to something even though you know it will leave you strangely unsatisfied’ feeling. Something like freutsichaufetwasobwohlsiewisseneswirdihnenseltsamunbefriedigtverlassen sounds about right.
In any event this is how I feel in the run up to these matches. I am quite naturally excited beyond words at the prospect of my club competing at the highest level of European football, as every fan must be. I am equally conscious of the debt we owe Arsène Wenger for getting us there yet again. It really has been a phenomenal achievement and we should be eternally grateful. However the group stages, and to an extent any competition where there are two legs to a tie, leave me knowing that whatever the outcome I cannot cheer too loudly nor sink too far into despair because nothing will have actually been decided. Unlike a straightforward knock-out tournament the early games in a group stage or the first leg of a knock-out match leave one playing all sorts of future possibilities out in one’s mind. Did we do enough? Can we overcome the deficit? Maybe someone else will slip up, maybe we made a great start but could stumble later. The thing is so nebulous, the outcome so equivocal it leaves me feeling all freutsichaufetwasobwohlsiewisseneswirdihnenseltsamunbefriedigtverlassen in the build up to tonight’s match.
So what to do? Well, I think the only think we can do is hope for ninety minutes of entertainment. Either a nail biter that goes to the wire leaving us panting and weak like an ageing and unwisely over athletic lover, or a beautifully constructed performance of control and goals eaten slowly and with relish over the course of the evening. I think we should just enjoy the game as a one off and let the future arrive in its own good time. It’s going to anyway so why try to second guess it? Win, lose or draw all we can wish for is a good game, no injuries, nobody bribing the referee and the spectators all getting home safely. Not, you understand, that I’d be averse to a thumping great win. Theo is overdue a Croatian hat trick, after all, it’s been seven years since his last one in Zagreb. Now that’s a nice thought to savour as we all count down the minutes to kick off isn’t it?
Positively Arsenal 
Just the ticket.
Still on holiday day here but ‘bravo’ I say to the Great British Bake Off. The good lady and both daughters are keen to stay in and watch that and rather than be my usual “we’re on bloody holiday, turn the flipping TV off!” Self, I’m encouraging their appetite for televised baking competition and have identified a pub down the seafront that will be showing the football.
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Morning Stew or dobro jutro as we say down the Anglo-Croatian Friendship Institute
I am obliged for insight into our opponents this evening as Croat football is a blank to me. I shall try to do a bit of more checking before kick off rather than sit there like Lawrenson.
It probably does no harm that the Croats great record is being emphasised in the media as we go into the game. Clearly they have some decent players and confidence. The home crowd will be baying for blood, hopefully they will keep the volume of the monkey noises turned down. There will be a bit of settling to be done with our players switched and a couple getting their first run out of the season. As long as we have a solid first 15 minutes I expect us to row confidently past the winning post at the final bell, a welter of mixed sporting metaphor.
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Good for you Steve sounds perfect.
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And dobro jutro to you and yours too Andrew N. Hope Norfolk is prettier than the dull dank grey Somerset morning I crept into earlier.
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It started very grey but has brightened up considerably Stew – eldest daughter is home so a family fish supper on Snettisham beach before the Zagreb game
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Dobro jutro to you all. Not a damn thing to add to another finely written piece.
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Well. Not a lot of interest today. UCL first game thought people would be up for it. Like tumbleweed round here.
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Business is slow stew – couple of draws or a defeat and it will be like New Years Eve on here
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I’m buzzing!
Champions league! Not least because it’s a fantastic opportunity to see and to help the players at your club develop.
e.g.: Bellerin.
We’ve been expecting that Coquelin would show off more of his game this season following that awesome performance in the cup final. And he already has: been ambitious with his passing and he appears to be learning how to adapt his game on the day if certain facets aren’t quite clicking.
Fair to say most modern players dream of playing in the CL?
Where will Coquelin be after a few group games in the CL?
He might have to start off tonight watching his skipper/tutor from the bench which won’t do any harm but he could get the nod with other changes on the cards.
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Considering where Coquelin is at in his development it was important to keep a player of Arteta’s quality and character about.
I’m curious to see if any of the CMs will be rotated this week. Doesn’t help losing a player like JW. Saturday is a huuuuuuge game but then so is today’s.
That special agent facilitator who selects the staring eleven for the Gazprom Fulham franchise, he was talkin about the arsenal manager again during Gazprom’s CL press conference. Strange fellow.
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“Morning Stew or dobro jutro as we say down the Anglo-Croatian Friendship Institute.”
Hahahahaha!!!
My favorite comment anywhere today.
City fan: “Buy some strikers, don’t be a Wenger!”
This after they spent 28 million on Bony. Top class strikers don’t grow on trees.
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Fin: “That special agent facilitator who selects the staring eleven for the Gazprom Fulham franchise, he was talkin about the arsenal manager again during Gazprom’s CL press conference. Strange fellow.”
The way he reacted to Arsene’s comment concerning fear of failure, told us all we needed to know about that thin skinned psychopath.
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Another fine read you’ve gotten me into, Stew.
Yes, all quiet, calm before this evening’s storm. Hopefully Chelsea go the way of both Manc clubs to be followed by some kind of mid-life existential crisis for their much unloved manager. In the meantime a crisp 0-3 to the Arsenal will more than do me.
Tally-ho!
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Arsenal Under-19s to play Dinamo Zagreb: Keto, Moore, Pleguezuelo, Bielik, Bola, Sheaf, Willock, Iwobi, Hinds, Nelson, Mavididi
subs: Huddart, T Bola, Da Graca, Dasilva, Agyei-Tabi, Eyoma, Mourgos.
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And bear in mind Stew some are missing with good reason. Young Mel is bringing London to its knees by padlocking himself to his cab in Parliament Square after a morning cussing Boris.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/black-cab-drivers-storm-mayors-question-time-at-city-hall-a2948831.html
Good on you Mel – don’t let the bastards etc
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HT: Dinamo Zagreb U19’s 0-1 Arsenal U19’s
Willock scored Arsenal’s goal just before half time.
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67 minutes Penalty to Arsenal as Willock is tripped, Sheaf scores to make it 2-0
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Arsenal FC @Arsenal 12s13 seconds ago
Willock receives a standing ovation from the Dinamo Zagreb fans as he leaves the pitch to be replaced by Dasilva (77) 2-0 #AFCU19
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Gazprom ring the changes ahead of the London Derby on Saturday.
(They have an easy group in the Gazprom sponsored CL)
Conversely a not short away trip might make a nice break from the hype hype hype of the PL etc. for the players selected, something to focus on as I guess the locals will be out in force in order to see the glorious Arsenal play their football. And support their team.
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It will be a long week in Fulham if Tel Aviv pull anything unexpected out of the hat tonight Fins
Surely not ?!?
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http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/16/chris-willock-scores-solo-wondergoal-for-arsenal-under-19s-v-dinamo-zagreb-5394446/?
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Full-time: Dinamo Zagreb Under-19s 0-2 Arsenal Under-19s
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Another excellent set up Steww, i get your feeling. I’m excited but with the shadow of Saturday hanging over us its more than just about tonight’s game. Everybody needs to come back in one piece and raring to go. We need to win tonight and Saturday and midweek and next week away at Leicester and so on.
It difficult to concentrate on just one game at a time but In know we must, so here’s to tonight COYG
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shocked to see so many(6) changes in the Arsenal starting 11 tonight
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Wellington showing his skill last night for Bolton
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Sam @samuelJayC 1h1 hour ago
Arsenal team in last trip to Zagreb (Aug 06): Almunia; Eboue Toure Djourou Hoyte; Hleb Fabregas Gilberto Rosicky; van Persie Adebayor
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A shame rozza an Wilshere are out otherwise they’d probably be inked in for some minutes tonight.
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Evening all – everyone sitting comfortably ?
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You may begin
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I just read that the extraordinary tumble Sergio Ramos took last night to try and deceive the referee into awarding the Spanish side a penalty led to the half wit dislocating his shoulder.
The referee was not taken in for one moment, and Ramos is expected to be out for 8-10 weeks.
There should be some award for the stupidest footballer in Europe each season
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Zagreb 1-0 up, an OG from Oxlade-Chamberlain, now Giroud is sent off – two yellow cards, both a bit soft.
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HT: Zagreb 1-0 Arsenal
not enough from Arsenal so far, and now down to ten men, a big second half needed from all
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all the Giroud haters out in force across Arsenal web world
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Unbelievably shameful behavior from the ref. Wow. But Giroud doesn’t really do himself any favors with his whining does he? That’s probably my main gripe with him. He is a talented player no doubt but he is having a rough couple weeks.
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Liam Brady just said OX unprofessional on the goal(not picking up the run of the attacker in time), and Giroud likewise with his sending off,(especially for complaining himself into the first booking)
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I remain quietly confident
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Fuck it. I’m going to have a camomile tea.
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So. We watch players swearing at referees on a regular basis and with impunity. OG dares to speak to one and is booked. Then dares to make a tackle and is booked again. And somehow as Arsenal fans we are supposed to denigrate our player and not the referee?
Parallel universe time folks.
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brady said AFC need more from Cazorla, Alexis, Ozil and Ox in the second half
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steww if the same thing had happened Alexis then gooners would be to a man blaming the ref, but its Giroud, so different rules apply
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Far from it Steww. He was just warned for a elbow and had been basically doing a lightweight Rooney impersonation with every call. There was some prior stuff going on before his avoidable booking. He has to be smarter than that away in a dodgy place like the one we are in right now. I just wish he would suck it up a bit more. We know our favors will be minimal if any
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2-0, a simple header at a corner,
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2 nil more naive defending. Bummer as we have been looking pretty sturdy. Another rough start to our CL campaign
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63 minutes Coquelin on for Arteta, Walcott on for OX, and Campbell on for Gibbs
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just seen the replays of the second goal, and Gibbs was awful on it, he actually ducked
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AFC been caught offside a lot tonight, don’t remember it happening so often before.
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Ospina just got lucky
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Walcott with a cool finish, 12 minutes left,
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Well I imagine I would not be too far off the mark in saying that I am probably not the only one who is quite surprised by the result tonight.
I shall reflect carefully on tonight’s events and report at 10 Bst
For those with sufficient fortitude, energy and interest
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Amazing how we see the game differently. Guardian’s Scott Murray thought DZ were by far the better team early on and deserved their first goal. At that point, I thought we were so dominant, it was just a matter of how many we would win by. Giroud unlucky with the first booking (unless it was for dissent) and dumb with the second. Alexis and Santi not really on song tonight – dodgy lasagna, anyone (or whatever the equivalent is in Croatia)? We’ll need two wins against Bayern to win the group now.
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