Hello and how are you? Sorry for the blackout, I got ill and then just simply had enough of writing. I tip my hat to all those who can write about matches even at the basic level like I’ve been doing this season, for the whole season.
In various forms of cranky delirium, I thought about many things, most of which weren’t much more than kack. One thing I always get stuck on is the problem of liberty, what it is, who holds its meaning and who forces its application? There are different types of liberty, and it clashes with other important practices, like justice and equality. It really is a minefield and perhaps one of the problems is not being able to hold more than one idea to solve any problem at anytime?
When Ilya and Emilia Kabakov came out of the east and described their lives, some went mad, some ran away, and others noted the failings of yet another utopian idea. They then set their lives into the discussion around utopia, and how good intentions pave a road to hell. Of course, I understand some people like hell. I hate modernist architecture, it gives me the fear, as I was born into it.
Other people who were more privileged than I, criticised this in me, as they loved it, but when they moved to the bull rings in Hulme it was a choice, a choice to experience those social set ups, and take the consequences thus, but when its imposed on you that a different matter? Were those architects out of touch with the people it was built for originally, but did it work better for more middle-class people ( that was the status of the people I knew who lived there) or a certain personality type? Was it just historical bad timing? I don’t know I don’t have any answers except maybe to how organise my back garden’s layout, and even that is in constant flux due to endless cause and effect?
In fact, I wondered if by carrying utopian ideas as we can’t live by them (according to Moore himself), we immediately create a dystopia everywhere we go? But can we even get away from dystopia as we can’t live in utopia, but could we break through and put both ideas in the bin? But what then leads humanity? Various forms of problems? But which idea will solve this problem, the blood shed of the 20th century witnessed the imposition of a single ideas with a vast culling of human life. One thing for sure, my observations and ideas of life and how I would like it won’t be right for billions of others? And yet in an online world that is increasingly being taken over by bots and their programmed variable concepts, I miss the human, the ability to be fallible. Losing the League Cup final against Birmingham to the defensive catastrophe was horrible for us, but was wonderland for Blues fans?
At the end of last season I said I thought the world of blogs was dying and the vlog reigned supreme. I still think that, but what I didn’t get until recently is this; even if you hate what I write even if you dislike my opinions, it’s better to have that communication, a truly human communication rather than a programmed (sterile?) manipulative idea that’s destroying the online life, it is often in the YT comments merely bot versus bot?
Human fallibility, wasabi, we might laugh at these things and even lives can be destroyed by them, but they are us. Of course, I understand that bots are too, and the whole natural/unnatural argument, but without its own consciousness is the bot basically not much more than a lie? But then how do we define lies in an almost totally politically charged world when lies are de-rigour? Wtf is truth anyway? I can’t see how we get to any kind of objectivity without the human conditioned and struggling personality being intwined with it.
So where does that leave this piece? Without hope? Without a point? What is the point of life? But accepting that perfection has a tyrannical side, does that not open a doorway to more hope? Maybe not for some but maybe they have to accept that they must also suffer? But then imperfection also creates suffering? What doesn’t create suffering? Bliss here is suffering there and suffering here is bliss there? Are they the same?
Oddly why are laughing at any notion of unfairness, as if its infantile and immature to fit for fairness? But then one person’s idea of fairness is another’s unfairness..? It doesn’t end, so perhaps often squeezing a single idea into many problems doesn’t work? But I will take all the groping difficulties of human kind ( within reason) over a programmed idea that can’t evolve? It might not apparent at any singular point but evolution does carry a strange hope with it, but is it utopian? How we imposed the utopian as a human idea on the natural evolutionary process? If everything was perfect how would it look? Is there universal perfectionism when all we know are simple binary systems? How should I know? But I do see all of these problems and dilemmas in the world of planet Arsenal, online.
And with that The Arsenal take a trip over to Nord Rhein Westphalia to play against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the first of the knock-out matches in the Champions League.
Bayer are currently 6th in the Bundesliga. They have gone 12 games with one defeat in all competitions. Bayer also have a solid defence, and Grimaldo and Schick are dangermen to watch out for. Die Werkself have drawn with Newcastle and beaten Man City (at City) already this season, and apparently have no fear of the Mighty Cannon.
Statto HQ has another view, Bayer Leverkusen have been given 16.7% chance of winning and Arsenal 60.6%.
Next up Everton at the Emirates. So COYG!
Mills
Thanks Mills, that was different, interesting and informative, although I have yo admit that some of it was beyond my paygrade, like who the hell are Ilya and Emilia Kabakov?
Right, we march on in all 4 competitions that we could have one when the season kicked off, so do City by the way, but at the moment they are at the back of our column.
I suspect this tie will be more difficult than many of our fans think, but even so I expect us to progress. On a personal note, as we get nearer the finishing line on all four fronts I find it increasingly difficult to be critical of Arteta’s set up and playing style. Of course I long for peek Wengerball, but Mikel could no more feed us that than Arsene could have stopped entertaining us. It doesn’t matter how much backing Arteta has had in the transfer market or how how little I have enjoyed watching most of our games, if Arteta picks up some of those titles, the bigger the better, all will be forgiven and most us us will say “roll on next season”.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
Sorry, Ukrainian artists, (b.1933-2023 and 1945) he survived as a childrens book illustrator( it was banned to make your own private work) and how hard it was to get even in that genre anything past censorship but was part of a group that held secret exhibitions that were illegal and he lost his job for a while becuase of that and had to work under his friends name. He said in Stalins time he would have been killed.
First artist to come out of the east, made lots of installations about what it was all like (museums with leaky ceilings/poor lighting) and were always talking about utopia and the persuit of it, which was my angle ( we want it to work out but it doesnt seem to etc).
He also made a lot of works about characters, which isnt normally allowed in the west, but these were like short, whimsical sequential pictures about people trying to survive. He made a lot of work about obscure artists who make projects that nobody ever sees. Then the just vanish. I think a lot of it was influenced by Daniil Kharms ( my favourtie writer).
He stated that he saw himself as the last Soviet artist. Much of what he made was about wanted to fly away ( the man who flew into space from his apartment) or how things were (the Red Wagon). The works arent overly anti political or critical more just how is it to be an ordinary person in all of that. He died several years ago. They collaborated together i think since 1989.
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Arsenal have in recent days been linked with 3 Bosman Free Signings for this coming summer, Goretzka(31) Brandt(30 in May) and Rudiger,(33) reports suggest that initial contact has been made with all 3 and that the signs are that all 3 are open to joining Arsenal. It might all be just paper talk as it might be odd to sign 3 players of that age.
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Hope you are feeling much better, Mills. That was quite the post and worth the wait.
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And a very good Journalist,Excellent to see you back Millsey, like some of our players coming back from injury your recuperation has obviously tripped the synaptic nerves and resulted in producing a fantastic piece of prose of Champions League proportions.Ed, I would imagine only one of the three will be taken on.This evening’s game is difficult to gauge because a lot of the stats get lost in bayer’s hot and cold season. Right now they are obviously well organised defensively but are suffering from injuries with striker Schick and keeper Flekkan both missing. They have a good manager and the bases of a good squad but they are not reaching the levels of a few seasons ago.Our performances so far in this competition have been excellent and a continuation of that style and substance would be brilliant. If everyone is fit I think we know Mikels preferred line up but I think the left side will probably be Hincapie and Martinelli and with five days until the everton game we can probably field our strongest eleven. Although I am so nervous about the league I would accept a few players being rested.
We have to remember however how good our squad is COYG.
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Many thanks Amy and Ian for the kind words! Early KO tonight. COYG!
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Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Ranson, White, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Salmon, Norgaard, Madueke, Dowman, Havertz, Jesus.
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this if the first time Ranson has been named as a sub for the first team. The young goalie has made steady progress at AFC since signing as a scholar in 2024
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testing
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Arsenal have appointed Pamela Ibarra as their new Men’s First Team Nutritionist. She joins from Manchester City, where she spent two years working in the academy setup before earning a promotion
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that should be a second booking for the defender
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Martinelli smashes the ball off the crossbar
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Martinelli booked for a silly pull of a jersey
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we are once again so lacking in creativity
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HT: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
not been good again, Saka has been a real disappointment and Eze keeps losing possession. We are so slow in possession its unreal. there CB was booked in first few minutes for a foul on Gyokeres, should have had a second minutes later and since then we haven’t even tried to get a situation where Gyokeres can have a run at him. We are so slack.
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raya with a big save in first minute of second half
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the resulting corner sees Bayer Leverkusen take the lead, the guy had a free header, no one marking him, eze asleep
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this is woeful stuff from Arsenal, badly need to bring on something different, I’d take off Saka and Eze and bring on Madueke and Havertz, I’d even consider bringing on Dowman for Martinelli
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Saka off, Madueke on, not before time
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Havertz on Gyokeres off, the usual bullshit like for like sub, why not have both Havertz and Gyokeres on at the same time. This football is like watching paint dry. slow static with no one even looking to do something off the cuff, no one looking to take a shot.
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come on Kai do the biz. COYG!
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Jesus on for Eze, at least its not a like for like sub for a change
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Timber heads way over from five yards out
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penalty to Arsenal, VAR will check, looks like a dive from Madueke
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penalty given
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get in there!
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Havertzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz only just, 1-1, I still think Madueke dived, but just seen another angle and maybe just he was clipped
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Havertz booked at a corner
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Thought we might nick it at the end. Not what we wanted, but at least we didnt lose. COYG!
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FT: 1-1
we stole a draw after a woeful performance, Madueke made us more unpredictable and it paid off, still can’t say if he dived or was fouled for the penalty, but would be furious if that was given against us.
Arteta needs to take the stick out of his arse and give this team mroe licence to attack or we will end this season potless once again
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I’m going to use a description for our football than any Irish Gooners who are into GAA Football will recognize, as Pat Spillane would say its puke football.
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i see the EFL are considering really screwing over Sheffield Wednesday, not content with the points deduction that they handed out to them this season that has seen them already relegated and looking like the will end the season on minus points, they are now said to be proposing a 15 point deduction for next season, but not only that, but a transfer ban and to cap their wages at a very low level which would see any of their better players leave, and them be unable to replace them, almost certainly seeing them drop down to lower level again. The fucking owner who caused all this is gone, so why are they still going after them.
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What did we learn tonight.
Bayer showed us how to play quick one touch football.
Playing the ball to a strikers feet and supporting him with many players in a wheel and spoke motion will cause the opposition trouble.
Having nearly got a player sent off after four minutes you should target him.
If Saka can’t kick with his right foot he should be put on the left.
Both full backs looked beatable and weren’t attacked until the final ten minutes.
It doesn’t matter how good you are from crosses and corners of you don’t get any.
Leaving a defender one on one with an attacker will leave you vulnerable.
If you play the ball slowly in front of the opposition they will find it easier to defend.
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Real Madrid are playing football v Man City that we could only dream about, the speed, the invention, the attacking purpose
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Our “Functional Control” that football analysts from all over the world were raving about, and indeed were trying to work out, earlier in the season has started to control us.
The longer the season has gone on and the more jeopardy there is on games the more restricted we have become.
Even the senior players are uncharacteristically struggling with decision making recently. I don’t necessarily think it’s pressure it looks more fundamental than that.
I think we need to seriously ask ourselves and maybe Mikel needs to ask himself “are ARSENAL brave enough to win the title or anything this year?”
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PSG 5-2 Chelsea
Real Madrid 3-0 Man City
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yeah ian as I have said many times recently Arteta’s obsession with the small details has consumed him to the point he has forgot the big details.
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Bodo/Glimt beat sporting lisbon 3-0
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PSG and Real looked really good, we seem to have become GG (92-94) mark 2 (?) of course that doesnt mean we wont win anything those GG sides picked up a bit of silverware for sure.
Although its looking tough when you see how lethal PSG and Real looked. Pretty frightening. City looked lost but Chelsea created their own downfall with too many mistakes. But PSG looked well oiled and slick.
Bayer fans pretty irritated by the penalty, not sure how we got that one, looked like softer than soft, a bit embarrassing really! Plus we were really poor defensively for their goal, but I understand things can get lost in the fog of it all. Overall we looked knackered and bereft of ideas? I went into the game thinking it would be pretyt routine, two nil or so. Glad we didnt lose though, but they will come for us at the Emirates, they have to.
One thing is that sometimes (a lot) seem to go to sides and make them psychological superior and then play to their level rather than imposing on them, seems a bit thwarted? What also worries me is that we didnt look much like scoring. But we are so oddball that we could beat Bayer 4-0 next time around…
Could do with really thrashing Everton to get the confidence moving again? COYG!
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Respect to GG team 92-94, knew how to grind out results with no apology. That team won a European trophy as well.
My original era is GG so I am good with the football and the grind.
Hope we got as much to show when all is said and done.
My preference is Havertz starting games now if fit. We are missing basic link up and hold up play
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the GG 92-94 era won one fa cup, one league cup, and one cup winner cup. The GG 89-91 era won two league titles. I know which GG era was the better football and gave us the bigger prizes and it wasn’t the grinding out results one.
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well you could just say GG 89-94 was a great era as it was the same manager and a good chunk of the same team that had that success.
I will just try an enjoy the MA era.
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GG changed his tactics after the second title, and that was why we never challenged for the title again under him, he made the team a cup side, and the football was far more negative. Once he filled the midfield with water carriers we were never the same. And I will say that GG done extremely well to win those cups with the players he had, the defense was great and we had Wright, Smith and Merson who were real top level forwards.
gee we would all like to enjoy the Arteta era, but the football is far too often not enjoyable. We have the players to play a more attacking form of football. For example last night once Madueke came on our game went up a level purely cos he was willing to take on his man and do more than just circulate the ball. I don’t believe that Arteta is getting the best out of the team, I think he has them playing more like the GG 92-94 era when he should have them playing like the GG 89-91 era. We have an exceptional squad of players. We show glimpses of what we could be, the grinding out results should be the exception, not the norm, they should be for the off days, but they are the norm, which suggests that is our approach
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George, sent the preview over-COYG!
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GG’s teams were good until 91, but every signing or youth player was a defender or defensive midfielder.
Although we won two cups in 93 we were awful all season. George said after he left the club he just wasn’t backed in the market so had to go after bargain basement players.
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we scored 105 goals in all comps, only teams to score more this season are Barcelona and Bayern.
Whatever you think of the football it is effective for now. I have said all season il wait till it’s done before I make a final judgment but for now I am trying to enjoy what’s left of a very promising season so far.
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It was the 1-3 defeat to Benfica that made George change his tactics, especially in Europe. He said we were taught a real lesson that night.
The wait until the end of the season narrative, and I absolutely include myself in that, is an admission that nobody likes the football but we’re so desperate to win the league were willing to absorb it if we get over the line.
It was the same in 93, a terrible season but the joy of all those trips to Wembley made us forget the previous ten months.
I don’t think you could say that this season as the start certainly wasn’t the attritional stuff we are watching now. The other distraction is just how shit the spuds are.
I remember a lot of chelski supporters saying how fine it was in Maureen’s first season but they were soon farming out their season tickets as time went on.
If we win the league the “how” will be forgotten but it will be interesting to see the demands of next season.
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Just a quick addition, if we win the league and are known throughout history as the horseshoe of death side I really won’t give a shit, but obviously they won’t be anywhere near my favourite ARSENAL side.
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The bot vs bot observation is where this lands hardest. When both sides of a conversation are optimized for engagement rather than truth, the whole thing becomes performance. Human fallibility at least has stakes.
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