So we go again. As the old cliché has it having fallen from a bicycle the best thing to do is leap back into the saddle and start pedalling. I’ve always taken a different approach where cycling mishap is concerned preferring to fling the painful contraption into the shed and sulk for a couple of weeks while I wait for the swelling to go down.
Arsène is quoted as saying that in his opinion it is crucial in the aftermath of defeat not to lose the following game. He says the effect on the confidence of a group of players can easily lead to a third consecutive loss and then a catastrophic slide in form. It might be seen as unfortunate therefore that we face the league leaders and clear title favourites away from home today in that very, not to be lost at all costs, follow up match. Couldn’t fate have given us an easier fixture? Watford at home perhaps?
The poet teaches us that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction, that which goes up must come down, and it’s a funny old game. In this spirit of contradistinction might I tentatively suggest that playing what is in the common vernacular referred to as a six pointer might in fact be the best thing for us?
If our team has aspirations to achieve the very summit of its ambition then poking the champion’s elect sharply in the eye just when we appear to be flat out on the mat is precisely the tonic any self respecting doctor would order. What better way to bounce back and say yar boo sucks to the baying crowd of doubters and detractors?
Of course I would say that. Being no more than an armchair fan I see things in simple monochromatic terms and so defeat to The Hornets is solved at a stroke with victory at Chelsea. In fact even with my poor grasp of the mathematics I’d say that would still put us a point down on where we ought to be. Given, that is, if we’re being honest, most of us would have taken a win on Tuesday and a draw today.
Arsène Wenger, wily old campaigner that he is, hasn’t the luxury of such amateur knee jerk thinking. He plays the long game, focussing always on the next fixture while his great mind simultaneously plans for the season as a whole and the future of his club for years to come. Note that he didn’t say it is vital to win the game which follows a defeat. Merely that it is important not to lose. He is all about stabilising the rocking vessel and getting the thing back on its charted course. The only time the season was won or lost in a single game, at least in my memory, was at Anfield in ’89. Otherwise the title has always been a long war of attrition.
Having said all that I was unnaturally affected by the defeat this week. I suspect that with the depressing state of the world today, the probability of war, the fact of the victory of the forces of darkness within the liberal democracies, I use football as an escape from the depths, the daily dread with which I live. This is of course a ridiculous thing to do but there we are. I hope for a couple of hours of freedom from pessimism and gloom, a chance to pretend that a game is actually sufficiently important to distract me and maybe even cheer me up.
So when my team engages in the most abject first half of wayward, suicidal incompetence as I’ve seen on a football pitch in many years I experience sensations strangely similar to those of the cyclist previously alluded to who finds himself unexpectedly detached from his machine. The heroics of the second half were not quite enough and my ninety minutes of reality avoidance crashed around my ears, which, to stretch the metaphor to breaking point, haven’t stopped ringing since.
Of course I shouldn’t berate myself for using sport as escapism. Surely this is one of its central functions. Didn’t those poor benighted souls climb from the trenches during the unofficial Christmas truce of 1914 and enjoy a kick about in no man’s land? Then just like us once the game was over they returned to taking pot shots at one another.
The problem is, in days like these, when I find myself getting my knickers in a twist over a simple game of football I can’t shake the image of the band on the deck of the Titanic. I feel like Percy Cornelius Taylor agonising over a bum note as the icy water lapped against the end pin of his cello.
I am, I suppose, merely human and as fickle and two faced as every other member of that species. Win today and you’ll probably see me strolling down the side of the A367 with my hat worn at a jaunty angle and whistling a merry tune. Impending and present environmental and political disasters entirely forgotten for the moment as I bask in the vicarious pleasure of a victory I have neither earned nor from which shall I profit.
A funny old game indeed.
Positively Arsenal 
“as I bask in the vicarious pleasure of a victory I have neither earned nor from which shall I profit.”
Genius Stew, just genius
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Wow, that was good.
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Wonderful Stew. You actually managed to raise a smile on my doleful fizzog. May we all be strolling down the side of the road with hats worn at a jaunty angle and whistling a merry tune.
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Brilliant Steww, although I suggest we all profit emotionally from a win it certainly changes my approach to the week.
Just as watford had no right to beat us the other night, as far as most pundits and fans are concerned our chances away from home, playing the leaders, a side recent history has not been kind to us, without four central midfielders are nearer zero than 100.
I say recent history because David O’leary used to say we could put out tye blind school against chelsea and still come away with a victory. Of course since the days of chelski our victories have been sparadic although enjoyed the greater because of this. A victory today would be imence and would get me thinking we could take on the world again. As was dicussed on the last post actually we can beat anyone on our day, play well and the opposition, officials and weather can be beaten. COYG.
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Perfect in every way stew.
Was there really a time when we were alleged to have too many midfielders? Suddenly we are down to the bare bones so today will be tough. Whatever the outcome, I just want to see the team playing to their potential, i.e. more second half Watford and none of that first half malaise.
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GOod morning Steww.
Arsenal certainly will not be heading to today’s match with any vestiges of over- confidence.
All I want to ask for is to see Costa in A stretcher, that would be enough for me.
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COYG
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Good afternoon Stew,
I am looking forward to us taking on the PL’s team to beat. All to play for.
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I really am feeling a bit sick thinking about this game,
Oh well, over the top, once more into the breach, dear brothers.
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Seems a damn fine opportunity to take the initiative back into our own hands.
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Very nicely done Stew and I have to say a defeat to Watford and a win v Chelsea would never totally surprise me, it’s just the nature of football.
So Arsene has gone with pace; if nothing else it will be an interesting and exciting game.
Hang on, what else is there?
Enjoy the game everyone; let’s say a pre-match prayer for the referee …
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That was just wonderful, Stew. I have walked around in a funk since Tuesday, and probably made everyone around me miserable. And I’ve been asking myself daily why I can’t snap out of it. Thanks for making me feel that I’m not the only one.
So, here I am, up at the crack of dawn on Saturday. I had considered sleeping in and saying forget it, but I couldn’t bring myself to abandon my boys. Come on, fellas. You have it in you. Do this thing.
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As I posted on twitter: Public opinion is usually a Contrarian indicator. Unlike the general pessimism today’s match vs Chelsea will be close. That is as far as I will go in making any prediction.
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Who is the ref AA?
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This is wonderful Steww. Thanks.
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Arsenal pressing early on, Chelsea using the Arsenal tactics to try and beat the press.
Interesting game of football so far
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Martin Atkinson
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Overlooking the odd held shirt is one thing letting dangerous play go is unacceptable whichever side of the debate you’re on.
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The Spanish commentators are all calling a clear foul and possible red card.
That is difference how football is seen outside of England
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According to five live an elbow in the head is good old fashioned physicality against a lightweight defender.
Yet again our players are not being protected
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Can’t tell you how much I hate these fucking referees. Cunts.
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The replays show Bellerin was smashed. How much of a foul was that according to the rules of the game? The data tells me Atkinson wouldn’t make that call.
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Someone do us all a favour and go in on Atkinson with their elbow. Fucking shit.
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Arsenal making a sub because a player wasn’t elbowed in the head and no foul was called.
because there was no foul and there are no guidelines on concussion, therefore no injury from an uncalled foul because there was no elbow, and no foul to the head.
Do I need to upload the YouTube video?
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Danny mills trying to dig himself out of a hole
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Mustafi making the classic error of making an easy trip (red for Xhaka!) when he should obviously have just elbowed hazard in the head:
what was he thinking!
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We don’t get a lot from Atkinson at the best of times, when Wenger has been having a go at refs, things will go down hill
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I saw the Burnley match and obviously elbows in the head against AFC are allowed.
Therefore Bellerin just needs to man up?
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I wasn’t expecting anything special today,
but bloody hell – that elbow on Bellerin was a disgrace.
Atkinson standard reffing.
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Gabriel making the classic error of not following through on Courtois with his elbow there, needs to improve his heading technique!
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DC stop exaggerating leading in with your elbow is allowed in all other PL matches! Surely? Like, you know, the Burnley game…
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The Anti-Arsenal bias on the BBC’s website is staggeringly bad.
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I take no pleasure in emphasizing the clear evidence from the unbiased data. Atkinson was never going to make that call vs Chelsea. If there was a video ref, AFC would make a challenge and probably win it. That is why I am never going to let the bastards crush me. We need to fight for a more unbiased method of refereeing.
I will do the research and let the data inform my readers.
PS: The pundits will do what all cowards do; defer to authority. History is written by the winners.
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dermot gallagher says no foul on Bellerin, nothing wrong at all with the challenge by Alonso, it was just a “coming together” in the normal run of play.
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Don’t worry everyone I’ve found the relevant video clip. Hooray!
Please pay close attention, definitely not a foul that didn’t lead to an injury:
https://mobile.twitter.com/arsenal_tickets/status/827870715672141825/video/1
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What was Coquelin doing there for that goal? He needs to show Hazard down the right rather than desperately lunging in.
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This one is out of reach girls and boys.
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Alexis is not here today.
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As we toil to exert some control in central midfield I hope it is clear to all and sundry why Santi Cazorla is critical to this team as a deep-lying playmaker. The decline in ppg is simply confirming data.
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Well, we knew it would be difficult, but when your players are allowed to be elbowed in the face and it’s no foul, it’s impossible
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Heads have gone
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No excuse for a goalkeeper with Cech’s experience. I had reservations about him before he came and kept quiet once he was wearing the shirt, but had that been Ospina…..
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Robbie will be able to buy another new house
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Sorry fellow travellers. Chelsea owned us.
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We will definitely be the talking point ‘Arsenal in crisis’ on Sunday Supplement .
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I accept almost all the observations Gary Neville made. Our wing backs were a problem.
I’m surprised at Chelsea. I didn’t rate them higher than Arsenal. Unfortunately, they were better. Not hugely better, but better.
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Oh well
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We gave absolutely everything. Proud of the effort. Wasn’t to be and, as it kills league chances and means these fucks are gigantic favourites, that’s an absolutely horrible feeling. Watched on mute and I think that helps to focus on every action. Seemed clear players were incredibly determined or even desperate.
Luck wasn’t with us; opportunities at crucial moments needed to go in.
It’s a simple truth, at least from our position of ignorance, that the result could harm chances of the great man signing on again; all you can do is hope that we keep fighting and get the results needed if it comes down to that. Atkinson was Atkinson. Wasn’t required to plumb the depths but did his bit.
Every SKY sight or comment tends to be like a little or big stab in the heart or guts on these occasions, but I try to fight back with the thought we will gain dominance over these bums again one day; quickly if Roman ever departs.
Money and nothing else gave them this last decade of success and one day there may be no benefactor for them.
Cue a week of absolute bullshit being talked about us, and plenty more all the way till the end. Fuck em all and on to the next one.
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Compare and contrast 1st game with Santi and today’s without. We toiled to control CM and push them back. Alexis, Ozil and Walcott were nowhere near as effective. We couldn’t create the chances in the box with a high probability of beating Courtois who btw was excellent. Two saves in particular and this game would have been much closer than it appears.
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*sigh* I’m very sad. Not for me, but for my boys. They weren’t miles behind. Not really. Hector going off ruined every plan. This always seems to happen when we go there.
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