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The Barcode reads “Cup Winners”

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on May 18, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Sunday the 18th of May sees the last game for the Mighty Cannon at the Emirates barracks this season and our visitors are the boys from the Toon, as we play Newcastle United. Kick off is at 4.40pm western European time.

Well, like you I’m hoping we won’t go 10 ply in this one. It looked against Liverpool that we might utterly collapse and let in six, but the lads came out grabbed hold of some dignity and got back in it, and perhaps could have won it at the end? The kings of the draw.

I’m sure having won the League Cup, and desperate for a stats facts and figures finish for the history books, the Geordies will be feeling very confident about their trip down south. I’m not so sure Arsenal will be willing partners in that configuration, there’s plenty of fight left in the Gun yet. A draw?

Yet this season it felt good (etc) that Newcastle and Palace won the pots instead of the same old same olds, of course like any biased fan I would have been irritated by a loss if it had been us in the final, but we don’t seem good enough to get to one at the moment. Must have felt good for both Palace and Newcastle fans to win, and they deserve it, and at the same time surely it can only do the game good as a whole?

Statto HQ phoned through to say that we have a 48.2% chance of winning and Newcastle 25.8%.

That’s it, see you next week for the grand finale against the Sotonists. COYG!

Take care of yourselves,

Mills

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NOT ’89. NOW.

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on May 10, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Sunday the 11th of May will see the Mighty Cannon make our last trip north this season, this time to Merseyside and play against Liverpool FC. Kick off 4.30pm at Anfield.

Liverpool are champions and the Arsenal having made for the exit in the Champions League are now literally fighting for second in the PL, having been in that position for most of the season. This has the whiff of Crisp in the 1973 Grand National?

Aided slightly tonight by Man City (oddly) drawing against relegated Southampton, we shall wait to see the outcome( hopefully a draw) between Chelsea and Newcastle. Arsenal have been the kings of draws at the top end of the table and now we hope for others to do the same! If we would have won seven of the draws then this would be one heck of a show down, similar but not the same as ’89. 

The points and positions are tight at the top, and Arsenal are going to have to dig deep after the bitter psychological cud that’s swilling around after the PSG game, and after this we face Newcastle. Lets hope revenge is served cold in these games and we can retain some dignity? 

I think Liverpool will not lie back like they did last week against Chelsea, and will be up for this because we are ‘nasty Arsenal’ the team to hate, shame and gain victory over. And Anfield is usually a horror trip for us.

I think Newcastle will also feel sense of high esteem going into the game against us (more sulphurous guff on that next time) so I hope we can show some fight and get something out of these matches. I don’t expect it though, it feels like the whole season has collapsed and I’m sure half the players are looking forward to getting on the beach? 

Our pals at Statto HQ have given Liverpool a 47.3% chance of winning and the poor old Guns only 26.6%. Grrr! to them! Probably fair enough though…that’s it until the one before the last.

Take care of yourselves,

Mills

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THE SEMI FINAL. PT 2

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on May 7, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Wednesday the 7th of May will see the Mighty Cannon back in action, this time in the second leg of the CL semi-final against Paris Saint Germain at the Parc des Princes. Kick off is 8.00pm western European time.

Well, we need a cheer. We need some skilful, cunning football. We need a concerted effort. We need every spark of intelligence, every last joule of energy. We need utter commitment, we need utter concentration, we need, we need….we need.

One of the main problems since the Real game, has been us witnessing the opposite? Punch-drunk our minds are confused, sang Ed Collins back in the Orange Juice days, certain seems that way Stanley?

Obviously we’ve dissected the lot, each and every game and as a fan/follower and it still doesn’t help. The helplessness of the long distance football fan.

The lads know what to do, whether they can, only they will know, once they are out there soaking up all the pressure, to set up and dictate, to react in a positive way, even if PSG make a second goal, only they can find a way. They can do it.

As for all this season; victory is utterly possible, but we could lose, and sadly a draw won’t hep us now. If we lose having played a 100% committed game, I don’t care, if we don’t turn up, the loud voices will be yelling in fear for sometime to come, wanting heads and for the named scapegoats to have a time in the stocks, and the last of the season will be little more than a damp squib.

Lets hope for a good and fair but controlled game for the ref, what with his historical activities, any poor judgement could see wrathful attitudes and the game losing all kind of meaning?

There all sorts of gossip about whose coming back from injury to boost us or whether Dembélé is playing, better just to wait and see, we will know soon enough.

Its odd, as many might say this is the most important game of the season, but it isn’t, every game so far has been important, otherwise we couldn’t have got here?

Whatever happens, its going to be an emotive night, ecstasy or humiliation or some kind of mixture of the two.At this point of time in writing, the tension feels like its starting to build.

It seems such a long way away looking back down the tunnel of time, to when I first scribbled some pieces for our first encounter with Bleu this season, when we beat them 2-0 in the league stage of this competition and now we are here facing our final hope of the campaign….like all life these days, how quickly it slips through our fingers?

Our mates at Statto HQ have quoted me PSG at a 45.7% chance of winning and the Mighty Cannon at 28.3%, but that’s 8.3% more than expected against the Real Mads…

Take care for yourselves. COYG, do us proud!

Mills

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THE ONE BEFORE THE NEXT

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on May 3, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Saturday the 3rd of May, sees the Mighty Cannon back in action, this time against Bournemouth FC. Kick of at the Emirates is a 5.30pm western European time.

As we enter May, the season slowly seems to start winding down and all eyes looking to final fixtures and beyond to their summer holidays, and further on to the excitement of seeing who will win the transfer market. Can’t wait!

Liverpool having been way out in front, deservedly picked up the number one spot, and congrats to them. It’s a shame we didn’t really get close to challenge them though.

Due to our conservative but steady system, I’m still hoping that the Arsenal can still be in the banter-line from Brentford fans, and stay second. But Newcastle and City look hungry? 115 looks as if its going to take a long time to come to the fore, but at least it claimed plenty of  time from the lives of the click-baited during the international breaks? City seemed to have weathered that storm, and look like picking up the FAC, despite the rest of the football-interested country who will be rooting for CP. 4-0 City.

I’m worried about Arsenal though, and not other teams ( well maybe the Spuds potentially winning the Europa league, grrr!) as the loss to PSG seems to have created the worst hangover I can recall since we lost the 1980 Cup final. I understand the euphoria around beating RM, but really PSG sat us on our arses, and we deserved it. I still believe we can win, but not by reacting to other teams? When we played RM we basically took them on, often, though not always our more disappointing results this season seem to have come from playing a more adaptive rather than dictating game? Enrique seemed to spy this?

Perhaps Heady’s observation about the CP draw having an affect was true, so one wonders about this fixture? What does Arteta do; call  up the academy? Why not? We can drop thee points and still claim 2nd. But the past dictates in some form or other (reaction/ continuation) so I think we will see many of the players expected to play in Paris run out against the Cherries. And we will hold our breath.

Not to great for the already season- shredded nerves eh?

Bournemouth will sniff a chance on this one, it won’t affect things league-wise too much for them, but will boost their self-esteem should they win.

I think we will grab a win though, we need it. Would be great to see some of the youngsters get a run out and a chance to prove themselves?

The Mathematical heads at statto HQ have given the Gunners a 44% chance of wining, and Bournemouth 28.8%, so looks like it will be a draw?

That’s it, see you in Paris for a cup touristic cliché and Croissant’s to discuss Existentialism and Post Structuralism, and hopefully a win for Arsenal.Til then…

Take care of yourselves,

Mills

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THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on April 29, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you? 

Tonight, April the 29th sees the Mighty Cannon set up positions at the Emirates as they entertain Paris Saint Germain for the first leg of the CL semi-final. Kick off is at 8.00pm western European time.

Well, despite the matches against The Tractor boys and FAC finalists Crystal Palace, our collective Arsenal minds have been fixed on this one since the final whistle of the Real Madrid game. A match where any after burp-like whiff of hubris needs to be blown in the wind and forget what we’ve done, this is an entirely different set up but equally a decent, star-studded and dangerous side. Two steps away from the final and the old minds already imagining it, but we need feet on the ground and minds in Ordnung. 

” who do you think you are mate, Arsenals tactical manager?”

Their match against Villa proves that any lack of concertation can be deadly, realistically Villa could have come away from Paris 2-1 down and stood a dang good chance of qualifying, despite PSG hit them quickly for two in the second leg. Villa did expose one or two weaknesses which I’m sure have been noted.

I’m glad though that we are playing Enrique’s PSG rather than Villa, we seem to play better when the vibrational match is on the ascendant rather than the opposite and our ex- manager seems to often have us sussed? Enrique himself has warned the Arsenal that they are a ‘different kind of beast’ since last October, when we beat them 2-0, well mate, we aint no different.

In the last two, Bleu have lost to Nice, and drew with Nantes, so a mini stutter for them and will perhaps spur them onto something else, yet the same can be said for the Mighty Cannon after the fart about with CP? PSG are twenty points clear in Ligue 1, and like us, haven’t ever won a CL final, despite binging loads of money in hope that it might come off. So both sides will be motivated for this one…

After the Real game, many ‘neutrals’ (what the heck is that, does it even exists?) were wooed by our play, spirit and composure, so I’m sure they will, like us be hoping to see a similar performance to our last outings, knowing that on our day, when it clicks we can beat anyone, even Barca, who looked great in the Copa del Rey. Gavi’s such a great player to watch, but like you I hope we won’t face Barca should we get through this stage. 

But eyes front, and may the Cannon do its business!

Our old chums at Statto HQ have given us a 44.4% chance of winning and our visitors 27.9%

Its been a sixteen year wait, and it feels bloody exciting to be back. Especially if you get the date right. COYG!

Take care of yourselves.

Mills

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Dead Rubber vs Palace?

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on April 23, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Wednesday 23rd of April sees the Mighty Cannon host our south London neighbours, Crystal Palace at the Emirates, kick off 8.00pm western European time.

Despite our minds wandering in the caves and cervices of speculation re the PSG game next week, tonight we do battle with CP. In three days time they play their FAC semi-final against Villa so perhaps they too have their collective minds elsewhere? 

Both sides must be utterly fearful of any kind of major injury to their players, and certainly its felt a bit angsty against the Tractor Boys, and  the ‘tackle’ on Saka had us all holding our breath.

I obviously understand banter but the whole ‘same old Arsenal, always cheating’ bullshit seems utterly illogical, banter can’t really work unless its logical and succinct? Saka gets nobbled and is accused of cheating. Grrr! Anyway we won’t be seeing them next season and despite the hideous looking tackle it, wasn’t too bad a day out, really we could have scored many more goals than we did?

I can’t see Tottenham holding off Liverpool at the weekend, so the title is probably theirs, but there’s much for us to fight for what with Forest and Newcastle also desperate for a better looking stat to finish of the season. There’s no need for us to wander off course like Crisp in the 1973 Grand National and despite the taunts of Brentford I hope we finish 2nd.

Statto HQ have given us a 67. 9% chance of winning whilst CP have only 12%.

See you in Paris!

Take care of yourselves, COYG!

Mills

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EASTWARD HO!

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on April 20, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Sunday the 20th of April, sees the Mighty Cannon haul its Arsenal eastwards and onto Portman Road to play Ipswich Town. Kick off 2.00pm Western European time.

Well, I’m sure we are all chipper and dandy with a spring in our step after the nerve shredding, edge of the seat, (eventual) ecstasy of the incredible Real game in midweek. One that will become a famous landmark in Arsenal FC history. I’m sure old fans like Fred in the Shed would have loved to see that game, especially seeing Martinelli getting his confidence back, and taking on players like he did against Chelsea some years ago. What a night! But on we go, out of the night and into the daylight to take on what could be a tricky game in East Anglia.

Its been a tough season for the men from the east, and they currently lie in 18th position, with only two draws in eight, the last being a well played game against the aforementioned Chelsea. Despite that, I’m sure they’ve got their collective eye upon the outcome of the 115 charges against Man City, as they may well be spared relegation depending on the certain outcomes?

The Mighty Cannon have been given by our chums as Statto HQ a 68.1% chance of winning, whilst Ipswich have been given only a 12.4%.

I’m sure we can expect a few changes today, on the other hand who knows? We couldn’t beat Brentford but could beat Real Madrid( twice), so maybe we should expect a draw today? Only joking, here’s to a happy Arsenal Easter weekend. No fighting the rockers tomorrow, despite that’s what Bank Holidays were made for.

Take care of yourselves. COYG!

Mills

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THE EVEN BIGGER ONE!

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on April 16, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Wednesday the 16th of April will see the Mighty Cannon play in the second leg of our quarter final match-up against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid. Kick off is at 8.00pm western European time.

Its utterly irrelevant, but this week I found my old 1980 CWC semi-final ticket from the first leg against Juve at Highbury. I can’t tell you how chuffed I was to see it, I thought it had got lost in the various types of matter in the cold and violent universe. Ive only kept a few ticket stubs over the years and that was one of them. Nice!

Since the final whistle of the first leg last Tuesday, I’ve had this game on my mind. It been a long time since I’ve had that, you? The kind of game that is constantly there, your mind quietly speculating its outcome; hoping for this, dreading that. The old butterflies in the stomach.

Of course that’s what we all want as supporters, that kind of feeling was often there in my early days of supporting Arsenal, then not so much for a few years, more in the GG years but a constant after Arsène’s first season. To me, and I’m not saying its universal, but its what makes football; feeling excited and apprehensive about a big game. As a kid I would have hunted for every scrap of information pre-match, now with internet overload I don’t need to, but even with the overwhelming nature of reportage in our time, it still can’t dull my appetite for this kind of match.

Most clubs would be feeling pretty hot-dog about a three-nil lead, but I’m scared, what with the quality of their line-up, the noise of the fans at the Bernabéu and what may well be a towering wall of pressure and the eyes of the world watching. I’m scared that the ghost of game that Mbappé played at the Emirates will be exorcised by shame and humiliation and the urgency of their fans will propel him back to his peak form. I’m scared that Kiwior my not be up to it, I’m scared as I don’t want him to fail and get a slagging from the loud voices who proclaim all knowing. I want the kid to excel like he did in the first game. 

For those who might have missed it, Mbappé was sent off for an extremely nasty foul when playing against Alavés at the weekend, but it won’t affect his appearing in the match. Still, it does leave a question mark above him?

 Apparently Bellingham and Rüdiger have had some kind of falling out. I’m not buying it. None of this matters, its about getting out there and 100% concentration, maybe the old fifteen minute trick? And they are very beatable.I’m terrified of them going 2-0 up in the first half…even more terrified of penalties. I won’t be watching if it does go to that.

We can do this, when we want we can really step it up, and they like to attack and play and we thrive on that too. Just don’t think too much about it being Real, and making them even bigger than they are. Of course they are big. Everyone is in awe of CR7 and his longevity, but Modric, is perhaps even a bigger success story, ex-Spud aside, age wise, and a sign for all those following that careers can go on at top flight beyond the usual age-limit? Obviously Carmavinga won’t be playing who was red-carded at the end of the first leg, Jorginho won’t be playing either after his going kaputt in the Brentford game.

Our normally generous friends at Statto HQ have given us a mere 20.2% chance of winning, our lowest all season and the Reyes de Europa 56.1%. First time this season I’m up for a draw!

Anyway, fears aside, this is whats to be relished in the Champions League, its what we missed for years during our sojourn in the Europa League. Full-blooded excitement, competing with excellence, massive build up, utter fear, and hopefully utter ecstasy. 

Take care of yourselves. COYG!

Mills

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A Brentford Inconvenience.

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on April 12, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are?

Saturday the 12th of April and premier league week 32, sees the Mighty Cannon host Pocahontas’ local side, Brentford FC. Kick off at the Emirates is at 5.30pm western European time.

Well, now we must tackle the filling between the Real Madrid champions league sandwich, that being our friends Brentford from the western realms of London. And now that we are slowly descending from our collective seventh heaven of victory over Real Madrid, I’m sure we are all hoping for a) a comfortable win and b) all players coming through the game without injury, as all eyes are still on next Wednesday…

Brentford are in 12th place with 42points and I’m sure are safe this year. Head to head we are seven wins, one loss and one draw. Earlier this season we beat them 3-1 and I suppose we could expect something of the same, but as always who knows? They did hold Chelsea to a 0-0 draw in their last match, so we can’t be too complacent.

Arsenal have been given a 59. 5% chance of winning by our chums at Statto HQ and Brentford only 18%.

That’s it, no frills today. Take care of yourselves.

Mills

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THE BIG ONE!

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on April 7, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Tuesday the 8th of April sees the Mighty Cannon host Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarter finals of the Champions League. Kick off at the Emirates is at 8.00pm Western European time.

Well, we are back on Last stand Hill again, and are set up for the biggest name-game this season. Our stuttering PL form (aside of a dubious penalty) showed up again against Everton. It seems more and more a season blighted by draws, injuries and missed opportunities in front of goal? 

Our old friend ‘Hope’ laughed to see such fun as Fulham beat Liverpool and every Arsenal fan had that strange thought: ” hang on, we still might do this…what if Liverpool lose all their games and the final game is like ’89?”…

Hope, it loves a trip up the garden path doesn’t it?

However this is a game that surely must whet the appetite of everyone at Arsenal as the Real superstars are rolled out at the Emirates? To me, its a brave person who can call this one, the permutations for any kind of potential result are possible. That’s makes it exciting and frightening too; we can do this, but we can also get a thrashing. Or we can go for a draw?

Back in the early 1960s my Grandfather went up to Highbury to watch the Gunners versus Real Madrid, a team with Puskas and lead by Di Stéfano. The first half ended 0-0. He said the jokers at half time were saying; “we’ve got this” “3-0 you’ll see”. 

Real came out and beat us 4-0. 

However, that was then and this be now, and its a great game to be involved in and why everyone wants to compete in the Champions League.

Statto HQ have given the Mighty Cannon a 40.2% chance of winning and Real have a 30.6% of  victory. 

Here’s to a great game and a victory for us.

Take care of yourselves.

Mills

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