I was listening to BBC Somerset on the car radio yesterday. Not proud of it, obviously, but Radio 4 had decided to lead with Nigel Farage and I didn’t want him in the Hyundai with me so had switched channels in haste. They were interviewing some poor beleaguered soul from the Environment Agency or National Rivers Authority (an NRA I think we could all get behind) as people of my generation know and think of it. The subject was flooding. It’s a popular pastime in parts of Somerset, most notably on flood plains where rivers have expanded from time immemorial regardless of whether someone had built a house there or not.
The interview was interrupted by an enraged farmer and one could almost see the ruddy cheeked apoplectic countenance as he yelled inarticulate hatred towards the guy who had just assured him there was no danger of his land being inundated. ‘Hold fire on that ark Jethro’, I shouted. When the interviewer took aside the horny handed son of the sod and asked to see what was sufficiently bothersome that he would so berate a poor civil servant he had to admit there was actually no flood water to be seen and the moisture levels had in fact dropped.
“Don’t you think you were being a little hasty, unfair perhaps, had no grounds to yell?” these were perhaps obvious questions. “Yeah well maybe – but I got a right to an I?” came back the farmer with the kind of snappy repartee which has earned my home county a well deserved reputation for breeding great thinkers.
I can’t help feeling that farmer summed up much that is awry in our society and many of those who purport, at least, to support Arsenal. If they moan and yell abuse and complain with no obvious rhyme, reason or rationale, they almost certainly feel they are doing so because they have a right to. Now, no one wants to live in a society where one cannot complain, of course not, that system has been tried in many countries and has always been found wanting by its citizens. But the way our players and manager get treated just so these people can exercise their ‘rights’ is shocking.
As we ponder the senseless scapegoating of one of the best players the club has ever had, one of the other whipping boys of the Arsenal online family has seen his stock actually rise this week. Buoyed up by his decisive intervention at Old Trafford, Olivier Giroud was, at least at one stage, leading a poll of Arsenal Twitter followers as to who ought to open the batting against PSG this evening.
Part of me wants to rejoice that at long long last one of my favourite players is receiving the recognition he deserves. However a much bigger part of me dismisses such fair weather friendery for the fickle, false and febrile baloney it surely is. In fact suddenly liking a player for doing what he has always done just because he saved you getting a roasting from your Man United supporting pals in whichever asylum you are confined is not supporting at all. Not in my book.
Larry deserved everyone’s backing from day one and needed it most when things were not going his way. Moaning about Aaron while simultaneously clamouring for our Gallic heartthrob to lead the line again is a symptom of an unbalanced mind not of a person coming to their senses. It is the very act of scapegoating players, of leaping on bandwagons of disrespect and abuse the moment one rolls past you, that is the problem.
You can’t chop and change from game to game and expect things to always go well. Football doesn’t work like that. Are we supposed to think Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a hero now because of one cross, just like he should never have played for us again after a couple of miss hit passes in his previous game?
Thank goodness we have a manager able to withstand such capricious whimsy when it comes to team selection. Of course if a player is in form he deserves a run in the team. He also, I would argue, deserves to maintain his place if that form tails off a little. Surely his morale would only be improved by such a show of faith from his manager. It wouldn’t kill us perhaps as supporters to show a similar faith in the people we claim to be supporting.
I know I’m encroaching heavily on Kelly’s piece from Sunday evening but we here at Positively Arsenal are often motivated by similar emotions and really all I’m doing is extending her defence of Aaron to all of our players. We should be disappointed for them and not in them when things don’t go well, we should have their back and not get on their backs when they are struggling and above all we should stop, as Shotta pointed out, being such cry babies and realise that we have little right to celebrate the good times if we weren’t there for the team during the bad times.
Right, that’s better, now lets have a look at tonight’s match. Paris St Germain are on a fine run at present. Unbeaten in five they’ve won their previous four only conceding once in those five games. Like Arsenal they’ve amassed an impressive ten points in a Champion’s League group which shows an emphatic gap between the top two teams and the also rans. Billed as a decider to see who tops the group tonight’s match won’t necessarily be all that decisive as both sides have another game to play on December 6th.
It is hard to say if finishing first will guarantee an easier fixture in the next round with this year’s competition throwing up some curious results. Overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy this season and everybody’s most cherished team, Spurs, won’t even be seeing the knockout stages. It’s a funny old game.
It’s not often Arsenal receive any help from officials but someone at the Home Office must like us as Serge Aurier has been red carded by the visa panel without a ball being kicked. Whether his absence will have as big an impact as our injury list remains to be seen. Hopefully we’ll have a good match to entertain the faithful and this time it’d be rather nice not to gift them a 1 – 0 head start.
Anyway I’ve got to go put on my wig and false beard in the hope I’m not recognised by an angry Spurs supporting farmer. Enjoy the occasion if you’re lucky enough to be there. If not don’t forget to get on the internet and slag off our useless players at every opportunity, after all, you’ve got every right to do so haven’t you?
Positively Arsenal 
A ‘right’ to complain ? Many seem to regard it as a ‘duty’ Stew. The mission to expose weakness and subject any defect to the searing glare of public comtempt defines them.
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I know. It clogs my arteries just sharing a planet with other humans.
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Fine piece Stew and a good morning to you, Andy and the rest of the Positively speaking world.
I think all this faux rage and pant-wetting the moment something goes wrong is, like your farmer friend, as much a Pavlovian habit as anything else. In other words, an automatic reflex largely devoid of thought or rigorous analysis but has the happy spin-off of playing to a similarly vacuous crowd.
Tough game tonight but one anticipates the final clearing of the interlull hangover and the shock of finding oneself so far north so early in the day, will be mere memory rather than the scar tissue of regret that might have resulted had it not been for Mr Giroud’s timely bullet-type header.
The type of header, incidentally, 99.9% of his former critics would never have been capable. The type of header, alas, that won’t stop them kneejerking-off in future the moment he fires a dud.
I guess duds attract duds?
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Bleedin’ toothache innit. All effin’ night.
Therefore, your article has put a temporary smile on my lips.
“the kind of snappy repartee which has earned my home county a well deserved reputation for breeding great thinkers.”
Only I – in my present condition – have the right to moan, and it ain’t about our players.
I watched ‘you have to be a [special/proper] person to play for Arsenal’, with undeserved pride. Later I gathered all possible derision for Kyle Walker’s Euro anthem rendition.
I may be deeply phobic about dentists (and those I’ve visited appear deeply phobic about me), but the DP anti-Ars mob can go swivel!
Ta Steww.
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… referring to Hector’s interview following his signing of a new contract…
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Hope the game relieves the tooth ache Ran. Up till then try Oil of Cloves. Thanks Stew for another joyful read.
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My word I do love this blog. I don’t care what anyone else thinks, it’s the best oasis on the internet.
Brilliant Stew. Just brilliant.
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Thanks Stew: top work as ever. I’ve always liked Giroud since he arrived to fill the spot so heartbreakingly vacated by rvp, and he so nearly started with a real bang, but lacked a little bit of luck in his first couple of games. But I reckon he has done really well, and I reckon too he’s the sort of player that supporters of other clubs end up thinking “bloody Arsenal – and of course that effing Giroud scored, he always does”. I can’t know this, of course, but he also seems like a decent fellow – which as Ranti picks up is a quality recognised by young Hector as important for a gunner.
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I recently discovered the TV show “Derek” .It’s a work of art,the way Ricky Gervais tells his story is similar to the way Stew tells his, the simplicity of the message is put over in a way that leaves you wondering why you can’t just be a more decent human, or Arsenal fan, in Stew’s case.
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I love you Steww. I really do. Bromance almost.
Up the Arsenal!
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well as far as topping the group goes, a win means that team tops the group, a 0-0 draw means Arsenal need to match PSG result in final group game to top the group, a 1-1 draw means it will come down to goal difference, with afc being at this time 3 goals better off, but have the tougher looking last group fixture. a 2-2 or bigger draw means PSG only need match AFC result in last group game to top the group.
as mentioned in the main article finishing top this time around might not see us get any kind of easy draw in the last 16, as it could still see us get Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, or even Barcelona or Juventus depending on their final results.
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don’t forget guys that our u19’s play psg u19’s today, kick off 1pm/ its live on uefatv. Sadly I will only be able to see the first 20 minutes of it. Our u19’s need a win if they are to progress to the knockout stages, as they are currently 3rd in the group.
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WozTheGooner@wozthegooner
If Wenger isn’t willing to pay top money for top CF’s why is he allowed brilliant additions like Vincent Janssen go to Spurs for £17m?
and the guy maintains he is still correct about Janssen, is this the “I’m entitled to my opinion” sort of thing that the article is about.
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I follow a Spurs fan, Julian Betts, on Twitter. His support of his team is a magnificent example of how a fan should behave. Full of joy when they do well, understanding and reasonable when they don’t.
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the u19 game is also live on bt sport
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Matt Spiro @mattspiro 3h3 hours ago
Anger in France that Aurier refused entry to Britain. Reason Aurier needed visa? French authorities refused him French nationality 5 yrs ago
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John Flip Flop Flip Flop Cross
John Cross @johncrossmirror 3h3 hours ago
One thing’s for sure, no-one should under estimate the consistency of qualifying year after year. Those who dismiss it are truly deluded.
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afcstuff@afcstuff
Alexis Sanchez last 12 months:
Premier League appearances: 28
Chile appearances: 17
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Arsenal Fixture News @AFCFixtureNews 19h19 hours ago
Mike Jones has been appointed the referee for Sunday’s Live Premier League match at Home to Bournemouth.
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Arsenal U19 v PSG: Keto; Johnson, Bielik, Da Graca, M. Bola; McGuane, Reine-Adelaide; Malen, Hinds, Nelson; Mavididi.
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Jeorge Bird @jeorgebird 14s15 seconds ago
Subs: Virginia, Osei-Tutu, DaSilva, Mourgos, Nketiah, Eyoma, Dragomir. (Chris Willock not in the squad.)
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Squawka Football @Squawka 1h1 hour ago
Christian Eriksen has scored just 2 goals in his last 24 games for Tottenham in all competitions.
They both came vs. Gillingham.
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Great Steww, not much more to add really COYG
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reports that Aaron Ramsey played v man utd with a broken toe, what a selfish glory hunting cunt he is, pity he is not more like alexis who is willing to put his body on the line for the club.
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17 minutes in psg take the lead, awful defending from Arsenal, firstly johnson miscontrolled a long ball, then Bielik had good chance to clear the ball but fluffed it, and then the attacker was not closed down quick enough by Degarca, and he fired home from edge of the area.
Arsenal have looked good so far, with several good attacks and maybe should have had a penalty too. PSG getting away with leaving the foot in, ref not interested in booking them
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First game I have been to since the Saints so the adrenaline is beginning to flicker. I will be in the Coronet probably 6.30 to 7ish if anyone is around ( other than Steve) I am an early attender though, straight to my seat, ensure all the angles are clear and the exits covered.
Be gentle in the morning though if the write up is rough at the edges. I shall not be home until 2.
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Ah, Stew, it’s glorious to start my five days off with a cup of coffee and this wonderful blog. Many great lines here, but my favorite is “we should be disappointed for them, not in them, when things don’t go well”. How you can claim to love something/someone and be not sad for them but angry at them when they’re struggling…well I’d say it means you don’t really love them, you love only what they can do for you.
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Ah, the Coronet. I became rather fond of that place when we visited. Nothing like that here in my neck of the woods. Enjoy the game Andrew (and Steve, and anyone else lucky enough to be going!)
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Thanks gf60.
Being me, I looked up How to make clove oil. Simples. Put cloves in glass jar, add olive oil to about an inch Over the cloves. Leave for 14 days. Drat.
Anyway, that pain went away, probably temporarily, and as I went to do summat, I got a sharp pain to my right side round about waist level. That went on for a couple of hours but has now almost gone.
A mate of mine told me: If you’re over 50 and you wake up without pain…
…you’re probably dead!
Edu
Re Cross John, did he really say that? I find him insufferable.
COYG
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from arsenal.com
Arsenal U19’s 2-2 PSGU19’s
SUMMARY
Our under-19s are still in with a chance of qualification for the knockout stage of the Uefa Youth League, after Stephy Mavididi scored a late equaliser against Paris Saint-Germain.
The visitors took the lead when Antoine Bernede capitalised on some hesitant defending to find the back of the net.
The Gunners responded in the 40th minute, with Mavididi drilling a low penalty beyond the reach of Sebastien Cibois.
Felix Eboa Eboa slammed a half-volley past Hugo Keto late on, for what looked like the winning goal.
However, there was to be one final twist, with Mavididi converting from inside the 18-yard box to keep our faint hopes alive.
SETTING THE SCENE
Andries Jonker opted to start Keto ahead of Joao Virginia, with Krystian Bielik continuing to captain the side.
Jeff Reine-Adelaide partnered Marcus McGuane in central midfield, with Reiss Nelson and Donyell Malen playing on the flanks.
Kaylen Hinds lined up behind Mavididi in attack.
FIRST HALF
The Gunners were first to threaten, when Malen drifted in from the right before dragging a low effort into the arms of Cibois.
PSG quickly made Jonker’s side pay for passing up that opportunity, with Bernede sending a low effort into the net via the hand of Keto.
The Finnish keeper made amends soon after, however, pulling off a fine save after the Parisians had been gifted possession in front of goal.
Mavididi ensured the half ended on a positive note, powering a low penalty past Cibois after Hinds had been brought to ground.
SECOND HALF
We were forced to endure an early spell of pressure from the visitors at the start of the second period, but came through unscathed.
We grew into the half, but were given another scare when substitute Timothy Weah stung the palms of Keto.
The Finn was in stunning form soon after, making four saves in quick succession as PSG peppered the goal before Bielik could hack the ball away.
Eventually, the visitors did get the ball over the line, but not until Eboa Eboa thumped past Keto with eight minutes to play.
Arsenal were not about to accept defeat, though, with Mavididi’s dramatic late equaliser rescuing a point for Jonker’s side.
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1617/post/under-19/u-19s-arsenal-2-2-psg-report#qb4wJSj63AwXpKFs.99
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yes rantetta john cross did indeed say it. Shows how two faced he is, but as you know excuses have to be made for spurs
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there will be some amount of moaning and gnashing of teeth from the malcontents with that team selection
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bayern munich just lost away to Rostov and are 3pt behind Atletico who play later and now only need a draw to be certain of top spot, Bayern are at home to atletico in the last group game
FT: FC Rostov 3 – 2 Bayern Munich
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PSG: Areola, Meunier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell, Verratti, Krychowiak, Thiago Motta, Lucas, Cavani, Matuidi
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sportingintelligence @sportingintel 21h21 hours ago
The top two wage spenders in each Champions League group are through or on course to go through. Apart from Tottenham.
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COYG!
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David S Mack @DboyMack 25m25 minutes ago
“Not sure about this team”
“Why isn’t X playing”
“Worried about this one”
Copy and paste before every game involving decent opposition
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is that kyle walker I hear singing before the arsenal game
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cavani makes it afc 0-1 psg
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Not what the doctor ordered.
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Good side though PSG, comfortable on the ball even when playing on ice.
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Aaron ghosts into the box. Another of his great talents.
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44 minutes arsenal win the ball back just outside psg area, ball into alexis who is taken down as he turns past the defender
cavani seemed to punch ramsey in the face after the penalty award
Giroud sends the keeper the wrong way 1-1
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Cavani still on the pitch?
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We earned that. Real pressure. Best I’ve seen us exert for a few games now.
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HT: 1-1
arsenal have struggled so far, and the goal from the penalty was not only our first shot on target, it was our first shot of the game. Need to step it up in the second half
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People on twitter on my timeline saying we were shit and didn’t deserve the equaliser. Unreal.
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We really stepped it up towards the end against a good side who were a goal to the good and so playing keep ball. We wrested the initiative built so much pressure that they conceded a penalty. How is that being shit?
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stew I’ve seen so called gooners claiming it was an unjust penalty, no contact, alexis dived etc.
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