So how did you spend the football free Easter break? Tiptoeing Wordsworth like through the sudden yellow rush of spring blooms? Blowing the cobwebs off the lawnmower and wondering if that Argos garden furniture was going to last another season? Perhaps you read a book or two, planned a holiday or just filled the empty days with endless pointless arguments on Twitter. If so I hope you won, on points. You’ll never actually win of course because nobody ever changes their mind based on the opinions of someone they despise, but, if it helped pass the time then I suppose that’s all you can hope for.
I’ve done nothing of worth or merit I’m happy to say. Frivolously tearing the days of the calendar into tiny pieces and scattering their confetti to the wind as if I will live forever. Yesterday I found myself in Paulton with an hour to waste. I wonder what the condemned man, his final sixty minutes on earth laid out before him and racing away too quickly to catch, would think of my casual frittering of our only precious resource. I’ll tell you one thing I bet he wouldn’t want to spend it in Paulton.
I had dropped my son off at the local hospital and decided to see what the adjacent village had to offer. Hardly the stuff of Bill Bryson never mind Alfred Wainwright but I dutifully passed through the graveyard of an uninspiring parish church, crossed the park and marvelled at the tiny fire station unexpectedly squashed between the village hall and the swings and roundabouts of a near deserted playground.
I then chanced upon a public house. It sits opposite an imposing Methodist chapel which advertises three different forms of exotic marshal arts and a baby and toddlers group. The pub is called The Lamb and at once a wash of Arsenal fuelled memories burst across my near somnolent synapses and brought me, miraculously, back to the land of the living. It was the first week in May, 2002. John Rench and I were pondering where to watch the big game. Arsenal were due to travel to Manchester where a win would seal not only the title but another double as the FA cup had, unusually, already been won before the end of the league programme.
In the end we decided to support an old pal. Tony Teal had recently taken over the Lamb in Paulton and had installed a projector and a big screen and managed to get the Sky to work. Despite it being a school night we got ourselves dropped off in that remote, Godforsaken backwater of North East Somerset and watched Arsène clinch another famous victory, breaking more records along the way. It was a strange night. Not many people there, John and I the only Arsenal fans and the title celebrated with a shrug and a little drunken jig on a sticky carpet.
You see, back then winning the league, while not commonplace, wasn’t an entirely unexpected outcome. As I contemplated The Lamb yesterday morning, with its two obligatory old guys waiting for the doors to open, I couldn’t help but wonder how things have changed. At the turn of the century we thought nothing of going unbeaten away from home, winning our last thirteen fixtures and beating Man United in their own back yard, despite the absence of such luminescent talents as Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Tony Adams – all missing on the night.
Nowadays we nervously bite our finger nails wondering if a near full strength team can overcome Watford, at home, and whether such a feat will be remotely enough to keep us in touch with Spurs and Leicester at the top of the table. In a way I can see how so many of our supporters, both the lowly humdrum types such as you and I and the immense über–bloggers on their golden thrones, paint this season as a disappointment. Despite it not nearly being over yet and despite us still being in with a shot at the title, many have already written it off. I realised as I wandered from The Lamb, passed the empty café and forlorn charity shop to the boarded up bakery opposite the site of the old boot factory, that to many, Arsenal, like Paulton, has seen better days.
The very success on which Arsène’s magisterial reputation has been built casts a shadow over his present day achievements. Achievements like back to back FA cup wins are instantly forgotten with the first home defeat of the new season. Memories count for nothing. With attention spans as short as that of a hyperactive four year old many modern fans see nothing but circling vultures in dark skies and dream of a magical new world where money flows from a bottomless transfer budget and a new manager leads a shining new team to endless success and prosperity.
Even though I’m sober these days and do not set foot in places like The Lamb I find myself content to sit among that delusional, carefree set of fans who are actually delighted to consider the possibility of another title this spring. As remote and unlikely as that possibility might seem right now, I’m happy to contemplate it and savour the spice it adds to every remaining fixture. While others take their joy discussing the break up of our team, who we must sell, when the manager must go – and that is their prerogative, I do not deride them for it – I prefer to revel in the run in, to delight in this welcome distraction from the woes and the humdrum of my real life.
In his latest column for the Guardian, Clive James, still with us despite being told by the doctors quite some time ago to get his affairs in order, writes “…for someone in my condition, even a good result is a reminder that you have to go on throwing a double six to stay in the game”. As I read his words I thought how well he summed up our position right now. Almost at once I felt ashamed for conflating a man’s tenuous grip on his very existence with the trivial diversion of following a football team. I read on and James spoke of his delight in the simple pleasures of unexpectedly being alive to see spring flowers and the birds and squirrels in his garden.
I realised that taking delight in watching our favourite football team is perhaps not such a frivolous pastime. If passing time is in fact all we have to do during our brief moment here on earth then passing it in eager anticipation, pleasure and optimism is perhaps as good a way as any. If Arsène astounds everyone and pulls yet another success from his magic hat won’t the vicarious delight we take from his triumph be all the sweeter for having been on his side throughout? Perhaps. Either way I’m happy and grateful for all the memories and eager to see what more he will bring me however long he decides to stay. The future is neither bright nor dark, it just is. Enjoy the ride or don’t. It’s always been a choice, nothing more.
Positively Arsenal 
Remarkably good Stew
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Fantastic.
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Thanks chaps. Sorry if it’s a bit gloomy but events ‘off the field’ colouring my usually rosy tinted view.
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Another philosophical masterclass Steww, bravo, plenty of food for thought as I head for my breakfast!
One of those thoughts was how much I appreciate, alongside the emergence of Campbell, Bellerin, Elneny and Iwobi, the emergence of PA’s pre-match masterpieces. A tad unfortunately, they have proven to be more consistent than this year’s first team but no less enjoyable for it.
I always used to join in the Islington title and trophy parades and for a good while at the end of the ’90’s-’00’s it felt as though May might always be this way.
Despite the lengthy wait, celebrating the last two FA Cup wins, streetside, as Stew rightly states, felt all the sweeter for having been resolutely behind the club during the trophy-lite seasons. Especially those seasons when all around, so many were losing their head.
So bring on Watford, the start of an eminently winnable run-in which compares most favourably with Leicester’s far harder sequence of fixtures.
And don’t tell me the season is over until it is over. And until it is, like Stew I’ll be enjoying and anticipating every minute of it.
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Good Morning Steww.
What can I say, another A+ essay.
If people can’t enjoy the ride, why do they get on the wagon?
Every game our team play is something to be savored, enjoyed, remembered.
Even if they lose.
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Chapter 31 of this season’s Arsenal campaign was very simply great Stew. I missed reading these instalments most during the inter-lull.
Arsène said 8 out of 8 wins will give us a chance. I believe him. COYG
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I’ve felt unable to contribute for some time due to “significant” events, and I’ve therefore read but not commented on anything – here on PA.
Thank you all for the articles and comments.
Whilst I don’t entirely feel like resuming my oft irrelevant “chats”, today’s preview has so touched me – is so fantastically ‘spot-on’, I have to say Thank you.
Steww, it’s like you’ve given me a much needed and welcome hug. Thank you.
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Morning Stew, enjoyable as ever, and much missed during a tedious Interwank week which was only spiced up by Shotta’s great article,a week which reached a perplexing moment (or me ranting my butt off) when I spied a journalist asking “why didnt Harry Potter win an Oscar considering it was such a big film series?”. Im sure Stevie Marriot would have had an answer…
( I cut out a massive frothing rant here about contemporary mainstream culture )
Sad thing is we all think we have no choice,always a fight between thought and ensuing emotion but its not as easy to fight back those emotions.Better a touch of melancholia and interesting thought from Stew than the poop on offer elsewhere…
Thanks again.
COYG-Im on for us thrashing them today. FOYO!
ps what was the song you played in the first hour last week on S+D with the Louie Louie chords and lyrics about cowboys and Indians-I cant get that part of the show to replay beyond Jimmy on the 5.15 and Quoasis?
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Rantetta, I’m confused. Is there a problem?
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Rantetta – sounds to me like you may be going through similar stuff as we are right now. If so I send you my best.
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Millsay – was it this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jslzs0c1R8
If so I thought it was cribbed from Get Offa my Cloud?
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Yes, that was an outstanding piece by Shotta in the week.
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Thats the baby Stew,many thanks! Second listening it does sound like GOMC more than LL especially with the drums.Although Im sure LL was the inspiration for GOMC,and a million other tracks.
This ones for you and Rants! COYG!!!! Big hug to you both.And hope a smoother passage comes soon your ways.
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yesterday I seen a comment from one of those AAA/WOB types, in response to the view that there is a better chance of success for AFC if we all get behind the team and manager.
“Managers and Players come and go, I support Arsenal”
So this provoked a bit of reflection from me, You see I just don’t get it, what does that statement actually mean. It looks reasonable enough, Managers and players do in fact come and go, yet Arsenal Football Club remains, often stronger than before. I can even understand the sentiment that first and foremost “I support Arsenal”, not any individual player or manager. After all I, myself, was a big fan of Cesc, and RVP, and Cole etc etc, when they played for us, but the moment they donned the shirt of another club, they no longer had my support in any way, I gave my support to Rioch, Graham, Howe, Neill, Mee, when they were our manager, and when Howe and Rioch went on to coach other teams I bore them no ill will, except when it directly affected Arsenal, same with Graham when he was at Leeds, but when he managed that lot over the road, he was akin to Robin Van Pursestrings and Cashley Hole etc. After all I’m an Arsenal supporter not a George Graham supporter, nor a RVP or AC supporter, I support Arsenal.
But here is the thing, while employed by Arsenal, Graham, Rioch, Howe, RVP, Cole, Cesc etc etc etc, had my support, why you may ask, after all its Arsenal we all support not a manager, not this or that player.
Well quite simply I do not separate or breakdown Arsenal into all its individual parts, Arsenal is the sum of all its parts, including its players, whoever they are and oddly enough its manager too, whoever it its at the time. Of course I like this or that player more than some others, I like them more some days than others, just as I do the manager, the CEO, the Board, the majority shareholder etc etc, I will, as all on here can testify, even be very critical of all of the above part of Arsenal, but I have never, and do not envisage the day I will never hate Arsenal FC, its players, its manager. If that day arrives I can not see how I could claim to support Arsenal.
If you only support Arsenal FC, and not its players and its manager, what do you actually support, we know these types don’t support the shareholders, the board, the CEO, they even bemoan us having the Emirates Stadium as our home, so what is left if you take away support for the players and the manager too.
Oddly enough the person whose quote evoked this post, uses the soundbite “I support Arsenal and on mach day I back the team”, but is this not a complete contradiction, after all what is the “team”, if not a collection of “players” who will “come and go”, put there by a “manager”, who will also “come and go”, so how can one support the Arsenal, and reconcile not supporting the “players” and “manager”, whoever they are at the time. Is there not a contradiction of gigantic proportions in the idea that one can withhold support for any AFC player or manager, but still be actually supporting the team the very players and manger are part of.
Is it just me that thinks this whole “Managers and Players come and go, I support Arsenal” is just a poor attempt to justify poor support, and over the top abuse of Arsenal, its manager and its players, by the very people who claim to love Arsenal FC.
The day a player leaves AFC, he is no longer of much concern to me(except when it directly affects AFC), and when the manger leaves it will be as it has always been with me, “the King is dead, long live the King”, and again the old manager will no longer be of concern to me except when it affects AFC, the new man will have my support, of course I will question his decisions, just as I have all his predecessors, and I will like him more some days than others, he will by and large have my support(I too can call for a manager to be gone) and it will be respectful, even if I disagree with his actions. You see I support Arsenal FC, and all its parts, players,team, manager, youth teams, ladies teams, staff, etc etc etc, even those that “come and go”,
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quote
“I have never, and do not envisage the day I will never hate Arsenal FC, ”
it should read
“I have never, and do not envisage the day I will ever hate Arsenal FC,”
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Lovely stuff as always Stew,think today is pivotal with regards to us and that lot up the road,as for Leicester,their recent batch of 1 nil victorys has been the stuff of champions,but you never know..
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Thank heavens for Stew. Life isn’t all about football until there is football.
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Stew Ive found the other half.
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AFCPressWatch™ @AFCPressWatch 34m34 minutes ago
The Gunners have scored just six goals in their last eight home games in all competitions, averaging 25 shots for each goal scored.
Arsenal have not led at half-time in any of their last 10 matches at the Emirates Stadium.
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aston villa 0-1 chelsea, as things stand cfc only 7pts of CL spot, and 6pts of EL spot.
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Thank you Steww
–
The Gazprom faithful only have the likes of Falcao oops maybe not I mean Pato to entertain them. Lucky them! Think I’d rather watch the likes of Iwobi over that tat. Or just sit in the sunshine whilst we await the glorious Gunners. Anything but spending my free time watching some genuine donkeys stomp and bray their way across the park.
If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and can’t play football (anymore after being forced to play through injuries, one too many cortisone injections etc. etc. etc. ) then it could be a Mendezian Mule. Which reminds me I think I remember seeing one Expert lose his grip when AFC didn’t sign Cissokho hahahahaha. It’s true that people will believe any old crap smeared across the funny papers fortunately we’ve got the football to look forward to.
I hope you all enjoy the match.
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Pardon me please, I posted my earlier comment, as was, because I wanted to say “thanks” – but without “hijacking” the thread with a long tale about what’s happening to me.
However, having seen replies (tears rolled freely as I listened to “cha cha cha”), I hope you won’t mind if I explain:
A neighbour’s wife had various cancer problems for a few years. A couple of months ago doctors felt she had up to a year to live. About a month ago things took a turn for the worse. My neighbour and his partner had been together for 39 years and with her passing now suddenly imminent, they decided to get married. The ceremony took place in the hospital chapel, Patsy having been wheeled there in her ward bed. I was privileged to be a witness. After the wedding we all went up to the ward and partook of champagne and cup cakes. Laughter and tears aplenty.
A few days later Patsy passed away.
More recently I was invited to a meal with my family. When I arrived expecting a cosy meal for four of us, the first thing I saw was a stunning, beautiful bespoke birthday cake – for me! The person who made it was there. (She’s the daughter of my brother in laws friend, and after so much discussion with my sister as to how this cake should look, she’d hung around to see my reaction, which she enjoyed to the extent that she stayed for hours).
This was all such a shock I had to go to another room to cry. Once recovered I returned to the dining room to find the music was coming from a record player. (They’d dug it out from the attic to help me celebrate. I’m welling up again).
Friends I’ve known for decades turned up. They’d sent me greetings in the morning and I’d boasted how I was going for a nice meal with family. So I was the only one who didn’t know we were having a party. For me.
I was asked to go visit my sister last night. It seemed a bit strange because we’re gonna meet up tonight to celebrate another family member’s birthday.
Leaving home, as I got to my car, my neighbour appeared and we had a chat about his wife’s funeral, which takes place this week. I was now very late, and found myself wondering, how old can you get and it remains acceptable to never be on time?
Talk about “fool me once, fool me twice”, this visit turned out to be an excuse to give me more beautiful presents.
You’ll likely have picked up – I’m a man with emotions. Sure, all humans have them, and they go up and down and side to side, yes.
I didn’t know Clive James was still writing, or even alive. Clive walked past my home about 10 years ago. To read this preview, with references to Arsenal’s achievements, interspersed with personal memories, wisdom and wonderful support… I just had to say Thanks.
Thanks to PG, Steww & Mills for your concern. I’m really very well, and blessed.
Your site, writing, and comments from all further Allow and Enhance ‘my emotional me’.
COYG
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My you’ve been through the mill Ranty. But you obviously have some very caring family and friends.
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And a stack of mates on here.
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Rantetta – you should never worry about thread hi-jacking; we are always doing it and it’s never personal.
I say the more the merrier and great that today’s post should ring particularly true for you at the present time.
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What Andrew said
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What George said
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Very emotional but heart warming Rantetta. We all have our issues outside of football, some more than others. At least there is a mostly mature, caring group at PA.
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Stew what a lovely piece to wake up to this morning. Being such a recent convert to Arsenal, it’s sometimes hard for me to understand why there is so much anger when we don’t always come out on top. I mean, isn’t that the way sport works? But with this piece, you’ve painted a vivid picture of what it was like to just know the wins and trophys would come. It’s hard, when you’re on top, to remember that harder times will also come, just as sure as the sun rises every day. It’s a little easier for me, I suppose, having come in on (I hope) the rising side of the curve. I shouldn’t brag too much about my ability to support until I ride out the falling side at least once.
Hugs to you, Rantetta. How wonderful it is to have such loving friends and family.
Now, must make the coffee, it’s almost time for kickoff. Come on boys!
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COYG! FOYO!
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“What you said”…
is beautiful.
Thanks again.
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Oh Rocky rocky!
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Iwobi is some player isn’t he? Silver lining around the injury cloud.
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Any links Steww?
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As for the football, I want to share a tweet that popped up on my TL during AVFC vs CFC. It is a metaphor for the careless, feckless thinking of the majority of football fans who think owners are only good for spending. “….take the £300m hit – and get OUT” indeed:
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
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Andrew – do you use Sopcast?
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ooooooooooooo coyg! Iwobi!
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No, I’ll give it a go, thanks Stew.
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If not enable adblock plus and try http://cricfree.tv/watch/live/arsenal-vs-watford-live-streaming
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If you don’t already have it installed it’ll take a while to get it all set up but I have a solid link if you do get it running. Works best on Linux but Windows sometimes works.
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Iwobi turning on the style. Coquelin really up for this.
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Welbeck is bloody quick isn’t he?
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Toral has scored for Brum
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Coquelin not content with kicking opponents just kicked Gabriel there.
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get in there Iwobi!
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nice build up, alexis cut back and Iwobi scores his first home goal. 2-0
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at this rate it won’t be long till Okocha is described as as Iwobi’s uncle and not Iwobi as Okocha’s nephew.
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HT: Arsenal 2-0 Watford
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doing alright so far!
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does the first goal go down as an Iwobi assist
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