I was lying in my bath last night reading a yellowing, dog eared paperback when something unexpected popped up. The tome in question, I should add, is the rather excellent To Sea In A Sieve by Peter Bull. First published in 1956 it is an unvarnished account of the author’s experience in the Royal Navy throughout World War Two.
I enjoy these little known, unfashionable books for their own sake and for the necessary colour and detail they bring to our understanding of that terrible conflict. One cannot properly appreciate the almost abstract nature of historical accounts when they glibly speak of hundreds of men here and thousands of men there, but when you read an everyday and above all ordinary tale of the day to day experiences of just one of the combatants it puts flesh on the otherwise cold statistical bones.
Anyway, the thing which popped up you’ll no doubt be delighted to learn was a coincidence and nothing more shocking than that. The author was recounting time spent in his tiny craft at anchor in Anzio Bay, almost entirely defenceless from the shelling of shore batteries and surrounded by air dropped mines. He was understandably completely terrified, and, as the days dragged into weeks, he staved off the urge to leap into the sea and swim away by, among other things, games of patience.
He would make appalling bets on the outcome of these games. If I fail to get out this time we will be sunk today, if I succeed we’ll survive, that kind of thing. It struck me how similar our behaviours can be in times of dreadful torment as in times of relative comfort and tranquillity.
I have, for as long as I’ve followed football, been prey to silly superstitions which I would laugh at in any other aspect of my life. Go to the toilet in the pub during a game and I am guaranteed to miss a goal. If my wife enters the room and the opposition contrive somehow to score then clearly it is her fault. This last has become so ingrained that Liz happily accepts responsibility now whereas once she may have protested. She claims it’s worth it for the times she causes an Arsenal goal to be scored by walking in or phoning at the decisive moment.
I too have played games of chance or skill before a match convinced that the outcome of one depends upon my fortune in the other. It’s ridiculous I know, but reading of that poor man, an actor in civilian life who found himself suddenly faced with the prospect of not only his own violent death but also that of those men he’d grown to know and revere above all others, behaving in the self same way reassured me that perhaps I was, if not sane, then at least not alone.
I don’t know what rituals you may feel necessary to bring about a return to winning ways after the rather damp squib of a game on Wednesday, but I hope they prove successful. The end of an unbeaten run is of course a depressing turn of events and I wonder if we don’t feel every disappointment a little more keenly in 2016 given what a dreadful year it has been. The obituary writers have been working flat out, the political landscape has been painted in dark and drear tones and at such times the distraction of sport seems like a convenient piece of buoyant flotsam to a man adrift.
In many ways I find the contrast between the life and death struggles people endure now and those others have endured in the past shines an unflattering if not downright embarrassing light onto our silly tantrums over what is at the end of the day just a game. It’s not much of an excuse to say that we have invested a lot of years or much money in our fervent support when truly we ought to be grateful to have lived lives so free from genuine harm to enable us to indulge ourselves in such frippery.
But then I read how passionate were the games of both baseball and cricket between the crews of the British ship and their American allies during moments away from the action, and I realise that they took their sport every bit as seriously as we do now. So as you fill your lucky mug, wonder if a late kick off is a charmed or unlucky thing, put on your lucky socks or offer up a sacrifice of burnt toast this morning don’t be alarmed at your palpably loopy behaviour. It is perfectly natural.
When the outcome of that which we endow with great importance is beyond our control. When we feel powerless. When our own pathetic insignificance in the grand tragedy of human existence is brought forcibly home to us. These are the times when we turn to the supernatural no matter how rational we might prefer to think ourselves to be.
We happy few cannot hope to influence events at the London Stadium today. Not beyond countering the negative miasma through which the players must peer if they make the mistake of perusing the on-line Arsenal debate. Maybe one or two will be able to raise a cheer of encouragement from the stands but otherwise we will not be of much import when the teams face off at five thirty this afternoon.
You know and I know that it is down to the eleven men on the field to get the job done today and put that smile back on our faces. They won’t do it for that reason – of course not – they’ll do it because they’re professional sportsmen who hate to lose, because of camaraderie, team spirit and for the manager who has placed his faith in them.
None of which is actually far removed from the reasons Peter Bull gave for the stubborn refusal to break which he and the young men under his command displayed as the shells fell around them in that beautiful Italian bay all those years ago. Win or lose today we can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that it really isn’t life or death. There are no ‘must win’ games and perhaps we might count our blessings that the happiness and despair of our lives hinge on such indescribably petty and above all transient events.
Positively Arsenal 
Best thing I will read today – thanks Stew.
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What – no team prediction?!?!
What sort of blog is this, anyway?
Nice work, Stew.
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The mentality you somewhat brilliantly describe – and the reasons for it – probably go some way to explaining the emergence of religion as a thing. That the dynamic practising of faith, of one form or another, can command as much kudos, respect and following as more evidential based behaviour is doubtless a part of the human condition – a massive coping mechanism.
Fear is of course a great motivator but a quick scan of any day’s newspapers can lead one to wonder whether the Renaissance ever actually happened. That the great thinkers even attempted to overcome the superstitions underpinning the governance of their world is, ironically, something of a miracle in itself. The scale of their achievement is made more staggering when you consider how, despite our modern ability to gather evidence, so many of our own contemporaries willingly eschew its rigorous conclusions in favour of their own feelings or the hunches of others.
Of course none of this absolves Liz of responsibility for ‘coming in’ at the wrong time, clearly, but at least she recognises this, so maybe there is hope for all of us. If someone as eminently sensible and intelligent as she can be persuaded she possesses such powers, then lesser mortals can surely be persuaded of the reverse.
Fingers crossed, anyway.
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Oh Stew, you hit so many highpoints there. Thanks. For those who may be interested in getting a copy of Bull’s book, https://www.abebooks.co.uk/awesomebooks-wallingford/51737811/sf and also at http://www.worldofbooks.com/contact-us. Price with post about 5 quid.
Superstitions…how many have I had over the years? My best though was the day I decided that wearing red attracted the bad fates. A pair of socks that had been in my cupboard for about 5 years unworn (a gift from a niece) bearing comets, meteors and varied squiggles, with no shade of red whatsoever, became the hosiery of the day. A win against ManU followed…2-1 with great goals from the chinless wonder who went to City. Bliss! It only lasted for a few weeks but it was a good memory of another nut-case phobia.
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Ha. I was asking myself yesterday- after buying the lucky beers I was a fool not to get in for the last few games- whether a person can still claim to be rational, overall, if they have just this one little area where rationality fails and superstition thrives.
It’s the same thing as goodness,really. Do stirling charity work all day, then stick a cat in a bin on the way home, and you’ve not been good. Get publicity for your generous donations to charity, while diddling the tax authorities for far greater sums. Not good.
But, ah, at least my.. domain specific irrationality doesn’t involve hurting anyone else, though it does mean I’m not as far removed from those who use irrationality and superstition to justify hating and hurting as I’d like to think.
Anyway, should be alright today. I won a few quid on a scratch card, and with the beers as well, everything is pointing to victory.
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Steww
Good book from that time, from a very different angle, Diary of a Man in Despair, by a german watching in horror as the Nazis came to power.
‘My life in this pit will soon enter its fifth year. For more than forty-two months, I have thought hate, have lain down with hate in my heart, have dreamed hate and awakened with hate. I suffocate in the knowledge that I am the prisoner of a horde of vicious apes, and I rack my brain over the perpetual riddle of how this same people which so jealously watched over its rights a few years ago can have sunk into this stupor, in which it not only allows itself to be dominated by the street-corner idlers of yesterday, but actually, height of shame, is incapable any longer of perceiving its shame for the shame that it is.”
― Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen’
Has anyone not felt similar after spending a little time reading the Mail these days?
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I have to say the picture I formed of Stew and his pop up, wasn’t the best start to the day I’ve had..
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Lovely stuff Stew. We’ll be alright today mate because things come in 3’s,and I used all 3 of my bad luck incidents up last night despite doing a good sparking it all off. Loopy innit?..
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Brilliant work Stew – and if the team are as imaginative, controlled and skilful this afternoon then all should be well.
And thanks George: you have restored a little faith. I thought I was the only immature one here…..
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Apparently you can buy software to deal with pop ups.
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arsenal u18’s losing 2-0 at home to chelsea u18’s
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Matt Upson on football focus – Alexis does a great job but arsenal need a top striker that would give them the same punch as the other big clubs – he really does have a future in the pundit arena with bullshit like that.
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Great stuff, Stew.
Anne (my Liz) now leaves the house if I’m at home for an Arsenal game, so readily accepting her responsibilities with the not walking in front of the screen, asking the wrong question at the wrong time, she takes it upon herself to remove the risk. (I think that’s why she goes out anyway)
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Chelsea Youth @chelseayouth 7m7 minutes ago
Full Time: Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea. Disappointment for the Blues as Nketiah and Willock cancel out goals from Ugbo and Taylor-Crossdale.
what a week for Eddie Nketiah has had, 3 goals for the u23’s on Monday, trained with the first team on Friday and scores one of our goals to help the u18’s get a 2-2 draw after being 2-0 down.
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Brilliant again Steww, my mrs is aware of exactly the same consequences if she strolls in or tries to do the unthinkable and talk to me during a game.
I have many superstitions but i’m to superstitious to tell you what they are. The strange thing is i’m not religious in any way but totally understand Andrews link between the two.
Logic tells me my habits can not possibly have a bearing on the result but that will never stop me repeating stuff which seems to help at least ease my nerves.
Back to the game with carroll declared fit i’m thinking the decision to play Gabriel at right back will help negate the extra ariel threat. It will be important the two players chosen to play in front of our full backs work hard to stop deep crosses from raining into the area.
Up front I would imagine Alexis will return and so its the combination in midfield which will be the guessing game for most supporters. Personally I would go for Le Coq, Aaron and Xhaka with Theo joining Mezut when we break forward.
COYG
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Rational vs the Irrational. Data vs Emotion. Stew you have a wonderful way of relating these issues to our everyday life especially how we approach support of our favorite football club playing our favorite sport. Love it so much I will give it a second read.
PS: I am on my way back boys and girls. One more day of travelling. Hope I can pound out something for George next week but no guarantees.
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City players have lost it a bit, we will not be facing Aguero
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Disgraceful scenes at the Etihad – the Football Association and the Premier League need to come down hard and fast to stamp out violent incidents of this type. Chelsea have a particularly bad record in respect of these punch-ups.
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Cheating mccheaty cunts Spurs cheat for a soft penalty yet again.
Yet again the ref is only too happy to oblige them.
Deli Alley is a disgrace.
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As we know Andy, the FA have set precedents for those rum scenes at the ethihad.
Points deductions should be applied, but we all know they would only do that to Arsenal.
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JB™ @gunnerpunner 25m25 minutes ago
Spurs averaging a penalty every other game in the league this season. Every single one of them has been a dive.
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well I expected that team selection
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Spurs are like Leicester last season when it comes to getting help from the refs.
The question is why? everyone knows they are serial divers, yet these days, they get a penalty every week
European refs ….generally speaking….don’t buy their cheating, but our refs, it seems cannot wait to indulge them. Odd.
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Aaron is not going to be a happy bunny.
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predictions for the game
ox to be the main target of our boo boys – every failed dribble, misplaced pass, shot off target, lost possession, he will get the Ramsey treatment today
gabriel second in line – all criticism of him will be followed by blame for Wenger selecting him
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wenger has confirmed that Arsenal have the option of extending Cazorla and Mertesacker’s contracts by another year, and a decision will be made in January. He said on Cazorla that it comes down to fitness, he missed 5 months of last season and is now set to miss 3 months of this season, and that is the only concern on extending, there is no doubt about his ability and influence.
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any good streams for the game
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Andrew Allen @AAllenSport 17m17 minutes ago
Wenger not sure Ramsey is 100%, said he’d been struggling with a broken toe. With Elneny sick in midweek, Xhaka + Coq ‘obvious’ in his words
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6 minutes – whu sub, collins off arbeloa on
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what is our cb’s obsession with going back to the keeper, when all he can do is hoof it downfield as a 50/50 ball,
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monreal twice in a minute very nearly setting up an open goal
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arsenal inches away again, this time from a corner
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lanzini got in a bit too easy there
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arsenal have got into some great attacking positions so far, but the final ball has been lacking
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ref calls a foul for deliberate handball but fails to book the player, why
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23 minutes ogbonna had his pass blocked by coquelin and alexis is on it in a flash, he beat his man draws the keeper and slips it to ozil to pass it into an empty net. 1-0
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this is a very open game so far.
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good god ox, what a waste of a good chance, two team mates free and his shot goes out for a throw in, terrible decision making
coquelin booked for kicking the ball away, silly booking to get.
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ox with a great pass to put alexis through but randolph comes out to close the space, a spurs player would have gone down and got a penalty
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coquelin got booked for kicking the ball away, but arbeola gets away with hacking down coquelin, one rule for everyone else and a different rule for arsenal
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gabriel does well to put pressure on the whu attacker on a high ball, but he has stayed down looking in a fair bit of pain. Holding warming up
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HT: West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
arsenal much the better side and a 4 or 5 goal lead would not have been unjust for the attacking positions we have got into, the final ball has been a fraction off.
Gabriel got injured near end of the half and really struggled for last few minutes.
If arsenal can get the final ball right we could rack up a big score, but as long as it remains 1-0 whu are still in the game.
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xhaka was very good in the first half.
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Repeated success in opening the Ammers up, but precious few goslscoring chances created.
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Repeated success in opening the Ammers up, but precious few goslscoring chances created.
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Eh ?
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Mario @Limpar33 17m17 minutes ago
How is Arbeloa’s foul on Coquelin not a booking? That decision was Pawson…
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