When chaps of a certain vintage, that is to say elderly gents like yours truly, hear the name of Burnley FC a deluge of images at once swamp the imagination. Muddy, potholed turf, balding players, comb-overs streaming in the wind behind them, leather case balls, concrete terraces and, invariably, a dog on the pitch.
Burnley is one of a list of names once synonymous with top flight football, now faded and trying to plough a new furrow. Huddersfield, Preston North End, Leeds United, the two Sheffield Clubs, Coventry City all enjoyed their time in the limelight, all slipped quietly away. It is a salutary lesson for the dreadful, entitled fans of today who believe their club owes them trophies and continual success, who seem to regard it as a birthright. Clubs rise, build empires and those empires fall.
Sometimes the fallen can rise again. I clearly remember watching Manchester United at Eastville stadium, home then of Bristol Rovers, in a second division fixture. Nobody imagined for a moment they, Manchester not Bristol that is, might climb to the summit, dislodge the mighty Liverpool and dominate English football for years. It can happen but it is the exception and not the rule. Nowadays the only likelihood of seeing the likes of Huddersfield or Leeds challenging those at the business end of the league comes in the cup competitions.
Such is the case today as Burnley travel down from Lancashire to face an Arsenal side who, they might feel, could be ripe for the taking. How, you may well cry, can I inflict such jibber-jabber upon you? ‘Ripe’ forsooth? ‘For the taking’ egad? Well, I only say they might think this, not they do or they should. Taking into account the fact that we’ve failed to win in our previous three games it is conceivable that they could be forgiven for thinking this is as good a time as any to visit the Emirates. We shall see.
The dog eared Soccer Stars cards of Colin Waldron and Freddie Smith may have faded from all but the most nostalgic of memories, but Burnley FC hasn’t gone, far from it. In fact the mention of their name has garnered a more recent connotation. I for one cannot hear it without seeing this, one of my all time favourite Arsenal goals.
Set up by intelligent, urgent movement from Alex Song, physical battling by Diaby and tireless off the ball running from Arshavin before a mercurial assist by the man who started the move, the goal isn’t just splendid for its finish. It is also a beautiful snapshot of how utterly wrong the cliché racked moron brigade always have been about players’ abilities, strengths and fitness to wear the shirt. Always have been and sadly I suspect always will be. Imagine, for example, if Andre Arshavin really had been lazy and unwilling to chase down every lost cause. That wonderful goal would never have happened.
Of course the finish was sublime. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I watch it. That such a player with such composure, such class should have been cut down by a man with no right to walk on the same grass is heartbreaking, but at least we saw some flashes of what Arsène saw in him. I sincerely believe he could have gone on to be one of the very best.
These days Burnley are building again and are very strongly in contention for promotion to the Premier League. I don’t see today’s visitors as a team from a lower division goggle eyed and weak kneed in the house of the mighty. There is very little difference in this fixture than playing against a side in the Premier League relegation zone. Consider that we will have to rest players and possibly blood our new boy as well and the gap closes a little more. In short I don’t expect it to be easy.
However. Having said all of that I seriously believe that someone is in for a spanking soon. The manager and players will be hurting after the recent run of poor results and we all know that there are more goals in this team than we’ve seen lately. Will this cup tie provide the cathartic blood letting which restores the humours and puts us back on track? Or will we squeak through today and vent against Southampton on Tuesday? I don’t know but I feel it’s coming.
Even as I toy with ideas of a sudden goal rush reversing the recent trend of snatched, missed chances I have to be honest and say I’d settle for a calm professional performance of control, a carefully managed victory with no alarms and no surprises. But then – where would be the fun in that? This the FA Cup, our FA Cup and such a tournament demands excitement, drama, spirited resistance from the plucky underdogs, near misses and of course a glorious outcome for the worthy winners. Oh, and a goal or two to match the superlative effort of Eduardo da Silva’s wouldn’t go amiss either.
Positively Arsenal 
Ralph Coates Steww?
That Eduardo goal is beyond belief!!
Lovely read, great start to the day my friend. Just finishing my cup of tea and off I go to the ol’ smoke. Looking forward to meeting up with Anicoll, DC, Mel and Hunter?
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Happy belated birthday, PA!
Each of us has his(her) story of how this journey on the sunshine bus begun. Mine is no different. There was a site, that shall not be named, where I used to frequent for matters relating to Arsenal and on which I met the stalwarts of this blog. Needless to say, I was aghast at the amount of negativity and vitriol directed at these posters who were well in their right to be rational and defend the manager whose antecedents as a winner, and a sensible one at that, who wouldn’t get sucked into the black hole tha was silly spending was well known.
Crestfallen, I couldn’t understand the thinking behind this sort of, em, thinking. AKBs they baptised us. I could barely open the comment section of the blog that shall not be named without cringing inwardly or outwardly at the expected blackness I was to encounter. Until I read a reference to a “sunshine bus” and I went after the said bus. I have not regretted that decision. Although in the shadows these many years, I decided to crawl out last year to comment as regularly as my time could permit at the behest of AndrewArsenal. I have not regretted that decision.
I have witnessed the closely knit camaraderie in this house, like a one for all, all for one theme; I have experienced the ebullient theme of match day previews and reviews the day after; the excellence of the statistics made easy for dummies like me; the experience of belonging that knows no boundary of race, country or residence or origin, colour, political or religious inclination, profession or other dividing line people subscribe to. I have felt keenly the pain of losing a comrade at arms, ZimPaul; though I never knew him or met him personally, it felt as though I had shared a life with him, hence the sense of loss I felt.
All these in three short years.
The future is looking bright for us, for Arsenal, for Arsène. Special shout out to the founding fathers, foundation members, regular and ‘ghost’ commentators of this great blog. Here’s to many more happy years ahead. And I’m glad Hunter could pop in…missed you lots (banned smiley thingy!)
Victoria Concordia Crescit
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Great way to start the day, Steww. Thanks
Sorry for the double posting of my penultimate comment, by the way. Didn’t realise the new post was up by the time I hit the comment the button on the last post. My bad
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Always remember Ralph Coates but never know why! Memories of him feel synonymous with the era.
The long and lengthening roll call of clubs that ‘used to be big’ is never enough to sober up the “Wegna spend the wonga” crowd who prefer to see the Leeds plight as an exception rather than an ever-present risk. Sure, the money NOW streaming in should, in theory, reduce this risk although no amount of tv cash will see each season end without three teams being relegated …
Good article Steww, I have mixed feelings about today. Those clubs flying high in the league without the distraction of cup competition will hardly be hampered by the current holders cruising or slogging their way through to the next round. And surely, when we win the Emirates FA Cup for a 3rd consecutive time we’ll get to keep it – or win a gold version to go along with out gold Premiership trophy from the season unbeaten.
But a small sad little defeatist part of me would quietly prefer AFC to slide gracefully out of all distracting competitions to focus on the league.
Nothing would please me more than the sight of Arsene re-signing his umpteenth contract in the golden shadowy glow of another championship trophy in May.
Gutted I can’t be at the game today, it’s come a week too early but hope to catch the game-goers very soon.
Enjoy the match everyone.
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You saved me reposting that iDibs !
Great stuff Stew – Andy Lochead, Dave Thomas, Martin Dobson – some quality players although in some cases folically challenged. I guess they will give it a good go for an hiur today as they have nothing to lose. And if they sneak an opener ………….!
I shall banish such negative thoughts.
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Wonderful comment iDibs and I’m always so glad to see your remarks, and that you can still make time to join us as your challenging schedule permits. Friends of the blog, such as yourself and Kelly in Alabama, for example, are a big part of what makes the whole thing so worthwhile.
Thanks.
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Thanks Steww, you always write gripping write ups. I enjoyed this especially today having read too many exhibition reviews this morning the kind written in a pseudo- intellectual/pseudo-scientific- pseudo philosophical style this,usually “explaining” (but for which read describing) what the banana shove in the dog turd means.Your review was a breath of mightily fresh clean air.
I saw Paul Kantner got off the airplane to make it another addition to the big band in the sky. And old Ed Stewpot “ell darlin urhhahahaha!” .
Anyway thanks again and hope youre around later for the Big Snatch.
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Coates, Bolwes, Curry, what an era. Great preview Steww to take us back to the time of long hair and short shorts. The Eduardo goal is magical and once again proves that had our players not been hacked by the clodhoppers of this world, we would have won the league at least once and maybe many other trophies as well.
I too think today will be close although we dont know if Sean Dyche will make changes as well as their programme is tough as well.
I cant see Alexis starting today with Tuesday in mind, so I would imagine we will see him for the last twenty. It is also going to be difficult to blend in the players coming back from injury, those who have just not had to much game time, our new signing and the youngsters on the edge of team. Arsene has to get it right and still keep the team strong enough to beat a very confident and caperble opposition.
Where is everyone meeting today as if I can make it early enough I,ll try to pop in.
COYG
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Glorious blog Stew, as ever.
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Stew’s post is a continuance of the last few entries in yesterday’s blog – showing those wobbles up for the pawns they’re in the media game.
January hasn’t been particularly enjoying in our PL run, but sandwiched between 2 FA Cup victories it wouldn’t be considered a write-off.
The first time I heard of Elneny was just before news of his imminent arrival at the Ems was made known. Going on Arsène’s all hits since the Özil signing some excitement has built up in me wanting to see him play. We’ll also be swinging our Coq back out today. So going forward there’s quite a fair share of thing to be excited about.
COYG
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Burnley always have a special place in my memory bank. 1st May 1953. For the first time, my 10 year old frame allowed to go to alone to an evening game. To play Burnley needing nothing less than a win (2 points) to win the Championship on goal average.
1-0 down inside a few minutes courtesy of an OG by Joe Mercer. Then 3-1 up by half time, one of the three by Alex Forbes (others from Doug Lishman and Jimmy Logie) almost taking the net with it. Then the nightmare. Burnley trying to do neighbours Preston a favour and Jimmy McIroy ( brilliant player) scoring to make it 3-2. I think it was then that I first noticed how slow that bloody clock moved when we were struggling. But we held out and the Championship won by something like 0.09 of a goal.
Bliss was the walk home.
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gf60 – wonderful memories. I wonder if you might consider a regular or semi regular spot on the blog. A review from a game gone by. I’d love to read it.
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AoB – Bank of Friendship
The WOBs are meeting at the Bank of Discord
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Ospina.Chambers. Kos. Gabriel, Gibbs. Coq, Elneny,Tomas,AOC Alexis,Giroud. .That’s my best guess.
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Something I noticed in the video of the Eduardo goal, that stunned me, as I was certain that what we seen last week v Chelsea, had never happened before(or so some liked to tell us), and if it had it would have cost us the game, just as it did v CFC, and that was one of our forwards, in this case Eduardo, for sentimental reasons wearing the captains armband, its odd that I don’t remember any fuss about it at the time, no whaling and gnashing of teeth, maybe it might actually be that the malcontents mostly react in hindsight and that the result is what forms their opinions.
by the way I will sometime soon post my thoughts on the whole “we’ve not had a great captain since PV4” rubbish.
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Lovely stuff Stew. George & Andrew-I’m not at today’s game as I am off to the O2 this evening to see the Libertines,say hello to Simon Cowell the doorman at the Freindship for me and hopefully we’re all celebrating a win later.
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Kelechi Nwakali @KelechiNwakali 19m19 minutes ago
Happy I made it this far, now the work begins.
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Reading this will stop me watching spurs. Win win.
Thanks Steww.
I’veanagwd to get to the Bank of Friendship, in case people have forgotten I’m the small guy with grey hair and glasses, and in a camo jacket for good measure.
Laters!
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Mel,
You’re still supplying the gear to the Libertines? You are incoragable.
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Top, top quality by Steww. Am afraid that the images of Burnley as a big football club have no resonance except for Saturday afternoons in Jamaica when there was a funeral voice from the BBC listing all the results from the football league mostly for the benefit those who played the football pool. For years after independence the English bookies and their agents still did business in what was once their most profitable colony. But I remember Eduardo all too well and literally tears came to my eyes at how he was brutally chopped down on the run-in to what we all know was our most realistic title challenge in years. Unlike the Burnleys of this world, because of the wise leadership of the greatest manager of this generation, instead of being thrown into chaos and despair, since then our club has grown from strength-to-strength. Today’s game is hopefully one more landmark in a memorable season.
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Feel pretty green- eyed that you guys can meet up for the game! Have a good time!
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Tomorrow is a big big day for the Arsenal U16 players, it is the day that they will either be told they are being released by the club, or being offered a two year U18 Academy Scholarship.
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That’s it. No Tomáš in the starting line up. I no longer support the manager or the club.
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Rozza’s rustiness, Wilshere and Cazorla’s absence provides another opportunity for Iwobi to impress.
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Steww- Tomáš is the secret weapon; when they are knackered in the second half, the man who comes on and rips them to shreds…
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And Iwobi has impressed.
Wilshere is unlucky, if he’d been back early with Cazorla out he’d have been clocking up the minutes required to help get him back to his best.
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You not at the game today Fins?
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I’m delighted to see Alex start but the bastards have teased me with pics of Tomáš in training all week and now this.
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bloody good squad weve got at the moment…
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Arsenal starting XI: Ospina, Chambers, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Giroud
Arsenal substitutes: Cech, Monreal, Bellerin, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Campbell
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160130/team-news-elneny-makes-debut#VgylpyFBjeHl4U5C.99
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The only danger will be a lack of game time together. Understandings and instinctive partnerships lay at the heart of all great teams. 11 good individuals never the same as one solid, well drilled team.
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very true Steww, these guys train a lot together and get on really well too, so theres a chance that theyve clicked more than we know. But its a good point. My worry is that Burnley will park the bus and kick the crepe out of us as much as they can and try to stop our flow…also not having King Mesut is a big difference, so I hope that the lads will step up and Mo has a great game.
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Good starting XI. Giroud and Alexis in particular need to find a common wavelength. Interesting to see El Capitan on the bench. The good and the great said he was as good as dead.
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Arsenal’s U21’s are leading Stoke U21’s 1-0, Mavididi with the goal.
Arsenal U21 v Stoke: Macey; Da Graca, Bielik, Pleguezuelo, M. Bola; McGuane, Bennacer; Crowley, Reine-Adelaide, C. Willock; Mavididi.
Subs: Keto, Malen, Nelson, Eyoma, DaSilva.
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Shotts – they’ve been desperate to write off the great man for so long now. Big game for Gabriel this. I wonder if his reaction to the cheat at Stamford Bridge might have cost him a few starts.
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COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Koscielny the captain today.
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steww I would say Gabriels problems with learning English is the biggest reason he has not got more game time.
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First thing Elneney does is foul. Get rid. #deadwood etc etc
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eddy – you may well be right. I was merely speculating with no facts whatsoever. Just like I moan at everyone else for doing.
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so many empty seats, where are all those that whinge that they can’t afford the high ticket prices, todays game is Cat C, so lots of value tickets,
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kos and gab been poor so far, been hustled out of it a couple of times each,
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Played Ospina
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played Ospina again
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Cracking shot from Calum!
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I like the look of this team. Good blend of fast attacking players with hustling aggressive defensive minded chaps.
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fire and skill?
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facking have tthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaattttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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La frappe du monde!!!!
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what a goal by that useless cunt who is not good enough to wear the jersy, Chambers
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