Gf60 writes:

With our season about to start later this week I’m sure that many remember moaning and groaning about some of our starts to previous seasons. Perhaps it would be fun to contemplate our navels for a moment and reflect that back before the war, Manchester City won the championship and were relegated the following season!

I mean how about this as a start to the season from the champions?

P10 W1 D2 L7 including no less than a 7-1 whipping at Sunderland.

Whoops! You thought I was referring to Man City? Ah sorry, slip of the two fingers. It was us actually in 1953/4.

Oh as a new boy at a school with distinct scum leanings, it was painful. In those days, our first win of the season, in about our 8^th game, Chelsea away 2-0, meant so little! I mean a blind man and his dog expected to beat Chelsea.

Bad starts are not uncommon …we’ve had at least 6 with no more than 2 wins out of the first 10 games…. but which is the only club to have gone nearly 100 successive years in the top flight? Everton believe it or not come closest to the Gooners….63 odd years and after them, our nearest rivals will be……??

That’s your Quiz question.

And then there’s just straight old losing and /or not scoring. How about 7 straight losses in 1976/7? Even in our real hey days, in 1998/9, we had a wonderful early season spell with 3 goals in 5 games and that was the year after the double.   Better still, 1 goal in about 8 successive games (It really is too painful to track that season back so forgive me) in one glorious Jan/Feb spell when we had been 1st or 2^nd for most of the season and banging it in like sailors on shore leave.

So goal starvation is also not something that is uncommon to the faithful.

So keep the faith. Ye shall be rewarded.

A guest post from Rich @AlternativeArse

Everyone, stop the press.

Our most hated manager has finally dipped way down into those deep, deep pockets, battled past the moth hordes and opened the war chest of squillions to purchase a player who is going to win us, well, everything.

 It’s bold move, a real statement and one that will hopefully give the squad that outlet for the weekly goal-a-thon we all pine for, especially against Huddersfield.

 Lacazette score an impressive 27 goals last season in the French league. The season before he netted 21 and prior to that in 2014/15, he put away another 27. That is some impressive striking, French league or not.

 I’m excited. You’re excited, we’re all excited. We might win something….again!  Ozil might find an outlet for the 98 ( yes ninety eight ) chances he created last season in the league. The potential is great. It’s the player that we have needed, he’s the keymaster, the one to unlock all the doors and turn our library into a performance theater.

But what if he doesn’t?

What if he gets to Arsenal and bags an injury? What if he doesn’t score for 10 games? What if he takes a whole season to settle in? What if he doesn’t settle in?

As exciting as it may be, we have to keep our feet on the ground. We have a quality squad and Lacazette is a handsome addition; an exciting prospect of great potential. But in reality, Arsenal have just spent £50 million on potential.

That’s a lot of money to invest in something that might not work.  Then what? What do we do if it doesn’t?

Well, we have Giroud.

You may scoff at that. Lacazette is far better than Giroud, he scores more goals and cost more money.

Yes he did and yes he does. But please be a little more savvy, oh connoisseurs en football.

Giroud wasn’t just a stop gap.

Giroud is quality.

Olivier was a steal of a purchase in a transfer market that Arsenal have inevitably had to link arms and play along with – played perfectly in a wonder deal by Wenger. You only need to look at the beautiful man’s form for France as explanation. In 67 games he’s netted 27 times. Over a period of 6 years.

Lacazette has netted once in 11. Over a period of 4 years. World class striker?

And let’s not gloss over last season statistics either. Believe it or not, Giroud was actually comparable to Lacazette in all match statistics bar one – His time on the pitch.

 You see for Giroud’s 1,209 minutes strolling the turf, he managed statistics that fall very close to Lacazette’s tallies, but the important factor that we must bear in mind is this:

He’s not as quick.

Giroud made 18 appearances as a sub, Lacazette made 2. Lacazette played for a total of 2408 minutes; Giroud only 1198. Effectively, Lacazette played over 1,3 90 minutes games more than big Olly.

No wonder he has better statistics, he had more opportunity.

Look back to 2015/16 and you get a better comparison;

Giroud played for 2431 minutes – Lacazette 2962 (an advantage of 5 games )  Giroud scored 16 – Lacazette 21. Giroud’s shot per game 2.7 – Lacazette 2.8 However, look deeper and for every 90 minutes played in 2015/16 and Giroud led Lacazette in shots taken 3.7 to 2.9

Sure, Giroud doesn’t appear to be as good a finisher, but his footballing prowess is comparable. Different, but comparable.

The question is,  is Lacazette  better than Giroud ?

Giroud offers elements to the game that Lacazette doesn’t and vice versa. He just didn’t cost a ridiculous sum, and if Giroud does leave the mighty Arsenal he will be missed. Not just for his chiseled beauty of course, but for his part in some of the finest footballing moments we have witnessed in the Premier League in recent years if not history.

In no way has he received enough credit.

The goal against Norwich. The scorpion. The FA Cup. The other FA Cup and the last FA Cup and all those near post touches to mention but a few moments of splendor.

 Giroud wasn’t a stop gap.

 Giroud has been class when you actually look at what he does.

Wenger has never had a plan, got lucky with the back 4 and keeper when he joined, hadn’t they set a clean sheet record the season before?

He got lucky that he knew the French market and no one else wanted any of the players from France, like PV4 from AC Milan, like Henry from Juventus, beating Real Madrid to Pires.

He then got even luckier that these players ignored his instructions and tactics and won the games on their own to go unbeaten for a full league season.

Then lucky that we have a board that know even less than him about football and so refused to sack him, in fact they could not sack him as lucky Wenger actually picks the board, he is their boss.

Now, then the really lucky part, he goes and cons people again by winning 3 FA Cups in 4 years, because no other club was interested in the FA Cup.

Let’s not forget his biggest piece of luck, the Arsenal fans! They supported him and the team to the hilt, and of course any that don’t are only doing it to make him change his ways and do things the right way, the lucky old senile French bastard.

But they do say , lucky  arsenal.

Follow @edminton1966 

Gf60 concludes his series of Arsenal League triumphs with a look at the 26^th May 1989;

When the South African Broadcasting Corporation decided to suspend normal Friday night TV programming to bring us the match live, some magic just had to be afoot. Football in the then rugby dominated, white supremacist South Africa? Take off Afrikaans programmes for Pommy football? Pull the other leg!

But the rumour was true. My friend Mike and I made up one of the smallest contingents of Gooners watching the game. We were, still are fanatics. Moving to South Africa had never dimmed the anticipation of reading a favourable match report, or watching an occasional pirated copy of Match of the Day and, total bliss, a full showing of Cup Finals. (OK so we forgot Ipswich and West Ham)

Our wives were banished to the kitchen to natter. This was serious men’s business. We settled back, six packs of Castle lager, crisps and biltong ready at our sides. And the game started.

I can remember but one Liverpool shot in the first half, from Rush, which had it been a foot either side of John Lukic would have taken the net with it. Suffice to say it was a mean enough shot to empty the fifth of the Castles and open the last. Our normal intake was four for the whole game.

Replenishments were hastily summoned; the wives poor Annie and Sheila were still discussing knitting or whatever women talk about at times of great husbandly stress. We weren’t very communicative. 2 goals in less than an hour? Our external composure was brave. Internally we were cotton wool and Castle.

We looked at each other and smiled. What else but faith kept Arsenal supporters supporting through the barren years? And, prior to both the double in 1971 and today, there had been many years of despondency and unrewarded faith.

Why were the beers having so little effect? A sympathetic comment or an involuntary movement of the feet accompanied every pass. McMahon was roundly cursed on many an occasion. He was covering every blade of grass and putting in crucial tackles, single handedly taking away OUR League title.

And then Nigel swings in a left footed free kick from the right. Tony goes sprawling. Smudger gets the faintest touch with his head. Pandemonium. We didn’t quite kiss and cuddle but it must have been close. But, what’s this? The ref is chatting to the linesman, both looking very serious. They chat forever. What did they say to each other? I’ve watched a replay many times and the only thing I know for certain is that lip reading ain’t my forte.

The finger points to the centre circle. 1-0 to the Arsenal. And the time ticks on. One not enough but sufficient for some silly sod on the commentary to mutter words to the effect that Arsenal may take some consolation from the win but they won’t win the league. Kevin Richardson goes down injured. We go past 90 minutes. Rueful looks at each other.

And then…Lee to Smudge to Micky….

Collectively the two of us have covered more grass and kicked more balls and made more tackles and drunk more Castle than any player on the pitch. We try to stand but someone or something had cut our legs off at the knee. We just collapse and cry. We’d done it.

(This was originally published in an anthology of Arsenal supporters and players/officials thoughts “It’s up for grabs now”, compiler Greg Mitchell 2005)

And on behalf of all PA posters, commenters and the hundreds of daily lurkers out there I wish you a very happy 75^th birthday for June 29^th – have a virtual cake on us –

By popular demand Gf60 writes;

I’d not really come down from winning the league at WHL but already a panic.Having tried during my 4 week break with no joy, HOW to get a ticket for the Cup final? I finally conceded that tomorrow I’d be a box watcher. But, my luck continued. Late that evening, my uncle Ken, who’d been a ball boy for Arsenal in the 1936 final, came up with a ticket. Happiness was. I’d only been to one final before, Everton beating Sheffield 3-2, courtesy of the FA donating tickets to lower leagues and whilst that was exciting for a neutral, there was no passion. And passion was going to be on tap today.

So off to Wembley. But how did I get there? A lift; bus; train? Sadly that memory vanished as has the journey back.  I do remember though that a) it was bloody hot and b) there was no nonsense with either sets of supporters, indeed warm congratulations from the Scousers walking back up Wembley Way.

This was our side (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Biased as usual, I remember thinking when full time came around scoreless that we’d deserved to win but the cross bar, goal line clearances and good keeping from Ray Clemence had kept us out.

Extra time was going to be painful……..it had stayed hot and must have been agony for the players. Even greater agony and a note on my seat. I realised early on that there was a reason for the late ticket. It had to be just about the worst seat for viewing in the ground. Right in the corner, virtually pitch level and Steve Heighway’s shot past Bob Wilson early in the first half of extra time, would have hit me in the face had the net not got in the way. Bloody hell, I got a really good view of that. Frank McLintock ran around to us supporters asking us for more, keep up the noise level. Difficult Frankie,  we’d not stopped.

And then, our equalizer. “George took that chance so calmly” I said to a neighbour. Everyone saw “George Graham’s equalizer” only for subsequent showings to prove it was Eddie Kelly’s goal. Maybe George had taken Clemence’s eye off the ball but Eddie as he had against Stoke 2 weeks back, scored the all important goal.  And then the great finale, Charlie stepping on to Big Raddie’s pass and scoring a 20 yarder. Will his celebration ever be forgotten? It must have been screened hundreds of times since.

Gf60 provides the second  leg of his League trophy journey;

To this day, I wonder what made me think that I could go the flicks, watch a lunch time screening of “Get Carter” in Muswell Hill and get to the spuds in good time for the game? With some 40 000 locked out, the Gods were looking after me……I strolled in happily with about an hour to go. Only the following day did I realise my luck.

This was a game of more than a little import…if we won or drew 0-0 we would be Champions. A score draw meant that Leeds would take it…on goal average (no goal difference in 1971). No room for stress then.

Though the spuds were in 3^rd place, there was no doubt that we wanted it more but would goals come? Pulse rate  soaring but as long as it stayed goal-less we were OK. Only 3 minutes to go.

And then Ray Kennedy sored with a fine header from Geordie Armstrong’s cross that gave Pat Jennings (soon to be a gooner) no chance.

But now real fear. The spuds would do anything not to get beaten. One goal and we’d blown our first title since 1953. Ooh, those minutes were painful.

But at last, the final whistle. Like hundreds of other gooners go celebrate on their pitch. On my way I heard someone say “Look at those bastards. Dancing on our grave” I should have thought to say “that’s for fkin up my Christmas 21 years ago” but the chance was lost. What wasn’t lost though was the chance to take home a lump of the ground. Where to put this ultimate souvenir?

Was there any better place to plant it than where the dogs did their business? Haven’t thought of one yet and so it remains.

Gf60 writes;

Friday May 1^st 1953, 2 months short of my 11th birthday and I’m allowed to go unaccompanied to my first night game.

It is the last game of the season…… Burnley. A win makes us League champions. A draw or loss makes for tears. Burnley had feelings for their near neighbours *(Preston and scared the pants off us. Jimmy McIlroy, one of the best)* post war players, pulled back a goal with 15 minutes to go

I have the official entrance fee of 6d in the pocket, but split it 3d of the gate keeper, (and more importantly) 3d left in mine for a thing is to find another youngster and through we go.

Not a full house by any means, it was an early’ish kick off, maybe 5.30 (6.30) so many still many working.

Arsenal’s line up – no subs in 1953.
Goalkeeper; George Swindin

Right back Lionel Smith

Left back Joe Wade

Centre half Ray Daniel

Midfielder Ben Marden

Wing half Alex Forbes

Wing half Joe Mercer and captain

Centre Forward/Wing half Peter Goring

Winger Don Roper

Inside right Doug Lishman

Inside left Jimmy Logie

Tears not far away; the game had hardly started but on 8 minutes Joe Mercer of all people sliced a cross cum shot and it is tapped in by Stephenson for the visitors (0-1) but two minutes later Alex Forbes had a go from some 30 yards. I’m probably biased but am sure that ball was still rising. Doug Lishman edged up ahead on 15 minutes, Jimmy Logie sent us all doolally and half  time arrived with us having a 2 goal cushion.

Surely more to come? No, that’s not the Arsenal way. Burnley had feelings for their near neighbours post war players, pulled back a goal with 15 minutes to go and we started clock watching. That bloody clock. If we were needed to equalise, it sped up. I kid you not. But if we were under pressure, as sure as God made that night, it felt like it had stopped. One minute felt like 10. Joe and Alex working like Trojans, George relief and an oh so happy cry of “Champions” at the final whistle.

I thought it was about time, in keeping with other blogs, that Positively Arsenal released a manifesto with a clear plan of how Arsene Wenger and the club should proceed, in order to meet our requirements. I’ve brought all of my knowledge of football and running a billion pound company to bear. Of course this, like all the other bloggers, amounts to zero. But I won’t let that minor detail stop me from pontificating like an expert on all matters.

1. Formation.

We should use the “in vogue” formation of the season. So basically, whoever is winning the league, that is the formation Arsene should adopt. Last season we should have been playing  3 4 3 and the previous season 4 4 2.  I understand it will be difficult to copy this until a clear leader is established, but for now I’ll accept the 3 4 2 1 we ended the season with.

2. Tactics.

We should sit back and use our formation to hit them on the counter with pace and power. In order to best do this we should allow the opposition to control the game with possession, and lull them into a false sense of security. I accept that might be a problem with teams that don’t want the ball either, and have set up to sit back, but we can play out a nil-nil, and no damage done. If we are playing a top team and go a goal down, in no circumstances should we go on the offensive. We must bring on more defenders and make sure we don’t get “embarrassed” as our delicate fans can’t cope with this.

3. Rotation

Players should be rotated much more than previously. Better use of the squad should be made. This will never be a problem as no team has to play their best players and our fans never complain when the best players are rested. Should we lose a game that some of our best players have been rested for, that will clearly have been a mistake, but will never be used as a stick to beat the manager, because we fans would never do that. The simple solution is to have all backup players at the same standard as the best ones. I don’t understand why this isn’t the case. We are loaded as a club. Just buy more top players.

4. Injuries

Injuries are unacceptable, especially long term ones, and should not happen. In 2014 the club hired Shad Forsythe as the new head of athletic performance enhancement, I have noticed we are still getting injuries, this can only mean Wenger is interfering in some way. We hired the best man and yet we still get injuries. This can’t be allowed to continue.

5. Coaching Staff

I have no idea what any of the coaches do, but I’m convinced someone else could do it better. I mean what does Steve Bould do? We keep conceding goals so he must be crap ! Unless he isn’t being allowed  to do anything by a manager that insists on having 600 staff, but does everything himself. I suggest we bring in someone with a proven record, Tony Adams perhaps? His teams never concede goals.

6. Director of Football

We should hire a DoF immediately. He should be a “real football”man,  someone that knows better than the manager what players the manager wants to work with. He should be able to “get it done” even when up against clubs with greater resources. We are after all – The Arsenal.

7. Transfers

Transfers should be done quickly and efficiently, preferably before the transfer window actually opens on the 1st July. The club should publish a list of our targets, with details of fees and wages, so we can understand and approve them. If we have more than one target a Twitter poll should be run so as to help the club know who they should prioritise.

8. Deadwood Players.

When , through injury, loss of form or another player becoming 1st choice, a player should be deemed “deadwood” they should be sold. It doesn’t matter who wants to buy them, or what wages they are being offered, they should be somehow forced to leave. We can’t be paying wages to someone I’ve decided I don’t want anymore. And don’t give me any lame excuses like “he has a contract”. Get deadwood out of my club.

9. Ownership.

The majority shareholder should either spend his own money subsidising us, or sell his shares to someone that will.

10. Transfer Spending and players wages.

The accounts show that the club basically breaks even every year. So this would indicate that spending is in line with income. This is rubbish, we could and should spend more. Who cares if we are in debt? The club should be spending like drunken sailors because I don’t care about anything accept results on the pitch. A board full of football men with no idea about business would surely be better than the bunch of educated “conservatives” we have now.

Ok, that’s 10 to be going on with. I have no doubt you all thoroughly enjoyed my pearls of wisdom. Clearly I know my stuff, I’m a blogger after all.