A season which I have been reliably informed is a disaster, best forgotten, a total shambles, and a sad the end to Arsène’s reign has somehow contrived to find Arsenal in an FA Cup semi final. I had to check the fixture list twice to see if I was dreaming, but it appears that while I’m working my way through a twenty five hour shift for wages which would insult a paper boy, the rest of you will be settling down to watch Arsène and Pep and their proxies on the pitch duking it out in the world’s most famous cup competition.
Funny old game innit?
Spurs, as I discovered when I got home from work just in time to see the final kick of yesterday’s game, failed to make the final by what appeared at least to be a convincing margin. It’s a gut wrenching experience to lose in a semi final as only the older Arsenal fans will know. No one remembers the also rans, only the finalists. You almost wish you’d bowed out quietly in the sixth round rather than face the drooping despair of a lacklustre semi.
I’ve never enjoyed these penultimate occasions. In my memory they seldom produce the best games nor the most convincing of performances. I’m also of the generation which grumbles about any qualifying round of any tournament being played at Wembley. Keep the final sacred I say. I don’t say it very loudly nor very often because it’s silly and pointless to moan about such things. Only the very old and enfeebled like me and possibly George can even remember semi finals at neutral grounds, never mind care enough to mention it in a blog.
It’s always difficult to predict the outcome of a football match and only a fool would attempt it. This year, predicting the likely performance of this Arsenal side is all but impossible. In a patchy end of season run of matches the most recent game against City was actually one of our better displays. Granted the wheels fell off again only eight days later but we’ve seen enough to know that on their day this group of players can go toe to toe with the huge mega rich clubs and emerge with their reputations intact.
We didn’t ought to be able to compete with City, United and Chelsea but time and again we prove we can. It would be rather nice if today was one of those days. It would put a smile on a few faces, both of people who’s emotional well being I value as well as many who’s entire existent is a matter of absolute indifference to me.
This is the big problem with being part of the elite echelon of the ultra positive Imperial Praetorian Guard of Arsène loving Arsenal fans. Any success has to be shared with all Arsenal fans everywhere – even the ones who hold up bits of paper with negative career advice for the manager. Doesn’t seem fair when the reward for staying resolute and loyal throughout the one disappointing league campaign in Arsène’s entire tenure is precisely the same as that enjoyed by the most spiteful and disloyal of supporters.
This ought to make me realise how little difference all this makes and hang up my hat. It really ought to. We had just as well get into verbal spats with people who disagree as to which cloud will pass overhead in the most pleasing shape. Guess what? The clouds will pass in any shape they please and in any order no matter what fights are taking place on the ground beneath them.
Anyway, for many people today will be a lovely day out at the spiritual home of English football (in name at least) and a rousing occasion at the fag end of a confusing and at times frustrating season. Both sides are chock full of talent and have famous footballing men at the helm. It ought to be a fine feast of footy and I hope it’s one everyone enjoys. I just want the Arsenal fans to enjoy it a little more, that’s all. If you’re going I’m sure you’ll have fun and if any of you see me cycling back from work tomorrow morning there is an outside chance I won’t have heard the score so please don’t spoil it for me will you?
Positively Arsenal 
Morning Stew, everyone and a happy FA Cup Sunday to you all.
Only a crazy person would attempt to predict the result, both sides beset with unexpectedly high levels of consistent inconsistency, both expected to do so much better at the start of the season. Hey ho.
On the upside, Spurs, despite having their very best season in about four generations end up spanked at their new home from home; how they must be looking forward to fixtures played there next year.
Have to agree, I miss the semi’s being played at Villa or Manu; Wembley was once a very special place and only a relatively few got to play there. By the time Spurs return to Middlesex the whole world plus there dog will have soiled the place.
I want my old Wembley back.
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What a grand and unexpected start to the day. But can you tell a hawk from a handsaw Stew?
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Morning Guys and Gals,
I must be a crazy guy the AA as I think we will win 2 : 1 …… or 1 : 0, then maybe it might be 3 : 1.
Look I am open to persuasion, provided it is an Arsenal win!! lol
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Well, it is no surprise (how often have I said that?) that you have produced another fine and interesting article, Steww, and perhaps added a soupçon of spice by being rather more introspective than usual.
In the same way as it is pointless trying to change the shape of the passing clouds, it is equally pointless trying to convince anyone else that they are barking up the wrong tree regarding the Arsenal — but then why would you want to? lol
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…the drooping despair of a lacklustre semi.
Finbarr Saunders would be proud.
I’m fortunate enough to be Wembley bound today and will shout and sing a bit extra for any who won’t/can’t be there.
As our own arse or brain from this very forum shouts at start of each half… “Come on you rip-roaring reds!” Fnurr fnurr.
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This team are going through a lot, I still think the fact they are unsettled , rather than poor, badly coached, or the rest of the shite the media come out with. It looks like they are genuinely unsure as to the future of a longstanding manager….and coaches that I am sure many, if not all are very attached to.
But, all that aside, I think they can turn things around today, in what could be an attractive free flowing game, good luck to them.
Watched the WOB Derby yesterday, certainly entertaining, some Good goals , blood and thunder stuff, but I thought , ultimately, lacking in technical quality until Chelsea bought those subs.
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Another pre-match masterpiece. Thanks Steww. Hope Henry B is correct.
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Morning Stew – may we play to our full potential – I ask nothing more.
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On the semi finals at Wembley I’m less misty eyed than most – I remember what a pain in the arse getting to Sheffield was, and as for playing Orient at the crumbling Bridge do leave orf.
The best transport links by road rail and pogo stick from anywhere in England are to and from Wembley – admit it. If people want to see semi finals played in grounds with a max crowd capacity of 40-50k, compared to 90k at Wembley, then I can’t see the attraction for the 40,000 fans who miss out
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Top, top preview. As always plenty of food for thought.
For whom will the cloud burst? Cautiously optimistic. City is an excellent possession team with very good players. But as we proved a few weeks ago we can make thinkgs difficult for them. I am sure the players will be up for it. How can they not?
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Great again Steww, and enjoy yourself today Steve.
I hope we start with Alexis up front and the Ox and Theo on either side so we can really use the the whole big Wembly pitch.
Carrying on the Finbarr Saunders theme I dont care whether our semi is Pulsating or lacklustre as long as we make it through to another final although I hope my heart doesn’t have to take to much stress COYG.
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Yet another Vengarrrgh vs Young Pep contest.
Feels like Groundhog Day! At least that’s what Young Pep probably thinks given that the record of his against the arsenal football club which is always the (financial) underdog against his teams is quite good, for the Arsenal…never mind the anti arsenal/football gibberish pumped out 24/7 by luminaries that will soon if not already be comparing such great players as Kane and Alli with Messi.
The Pellegrini vs Wenger run of matches, now this (plus better and better coaches in the league). We’ve been spoiled. Another fascinating and unpredictable football match to hopefully look forward to.
A shame the football plundits can’t even move beyond discussing the weight of the keeper when trying to save a shot, that’d be the equivalent of listening to cricket commentators incapable of explaining to their listeners how a top level batsman found himself on the wrong foot when facing a 90mph bouncer. Amazing when you think about it like that, eh? Haha!
It’s not the poverty of the 24/7 football media coverage that keeps us all coming here but the quality of Steww & others. Thanks! Hope you all enjoy the match!
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Martin Keown says Arsenal will get hammered by city if we stick with 3 central defenders,
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1886 @1886_blog 3h3 hours ago
Judging by what I have seen in the media today, the winner of our game will go on to play Spurs in the FA Cup final. Laughable.
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I see Agent Taylor reffing the Mancs again today. Blatant yellow card for bog brush head not given, just a quic word. Fouls going uncalled for Burnley and called for Utd. Same old same old
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But the foul was on Joey Barton mark – the bigger kicking Joey gets the better
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Ah yes, mitigating circumstances, I take your point there, clear foul in Giroud completely ignored by the bloke with a whistle just now.
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good god, lose the ball on edge of their area and they go the full length of the pitch and score,
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Ramsey going to get the blame for that goal as it was he who lost the ball, but how were we one on one on aguero at the back
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Monrealllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
ox with a fine cross, and monreal with his right foot blasts the ball home
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cech fingertips a yaya shot onto the post
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city header onto the bar
giroud off, welbeck on
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welbeck with a rush of blood, both ramsey and alexis there for a tap in
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3 minutes stoppage time to be played
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extra time to be played
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man utd won and liverpool are winning
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Holding heads just over
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alexissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss 2-1
scrappy at a freekick, welbeck mishits, and alexis fires homes
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gabriel not for the first time just gets a crucial foot on the ball,
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Bellerin on for Oxlade-Chamberlain who has been good
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welbeck misses a great chance from an ozil cross
ht in ex 2-1 to the arsenal
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xhaka booked for sweet fuck all as usual, disgraceful from the ref
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what the fuck are we playing at, we are getting caught out on the break, we are ahead, no need to over commit
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otemendi has been very good for city at the back, he has cut out so many of our through balls
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Coquelin on for Ozil
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one minute of stoppage time to be played
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yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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come on you gooners
FT: Arsenal 2-1 Man City
a great comeback win, no trophy for pep this season, old has been wenger still with a chance to set an fa cup record
for me Gabriel led the way for us, a real warrior, ox added the buzz, holding impressive again, alexis with the big winning goal, welbeck added lots of life to us, but his finishing and decision making was a bit off. And what a finish by monreal for his goal.
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Oh my goodness! I’m breathless!!!
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that win is really going to piss so many people off, pundits, journos, even some who claim to be arsenal supporters, and I love it.
well martin keown said we would get hammered if we played 3 at the back, proper expert pundit that lad
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I can’t defend Welbeck anymore
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its just not fair, spurs played so well yesterday, dominated I’m told, but no final, and here are Arsenal playing 3 at the back, and getting a comeback win, against the great Pep’s team, needs to be an FA inquiry
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Woah. Not felt that good after a football match* for a while.
Really good game after half-time. Luck was with us, including the ridiculously close call which went our way for disallowed goal, and ref was almost bemusingly decent.
especial shout outs to Ramsey, Ox, Gabriel, Holding, Monreal, Cech for that one great moment.
Cracking day
*or at all!
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Richard Dunne doing his best Jermain Jenas impression now, almost crying, lovely stuff
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Lots of whinging about the disallowed goal for city on BT sport
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They’ll go on and on about the disallowed goal, and it is bad luck for City, but there must be only a cm or 2 in it. Certainly most of the ball is over the line.
Also some bleating over the pen, while forgetting we had at least as good a shout, though neither were pens for me as both players went down far too easily.
Did I mention Rob Holding? Love that guy
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