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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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GOODBYE GOODISON

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on April 5, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Saturday 5th of April sees the Mighty Cannon take the long and winding road up to Merseyside for a lunch-time clash against 15th -placed Everton FC. Kick off at Goodison is at 12.30pm western European time.

Well, this is our final trip to Goodison, a stadium (mostly) built/shaped by our old and reoccurring chum, Archibald Leitch. After this season Everton will be relocating at their brand-spanking new Everton stadium (eighth largest in Britain) down at Bramley Dock on the riverside in Liverpool. It’s been pretty interesting to watch how its been constructed as an Everton fan with a drone has been giving us a peak into the workings of it all during the last four years.

Of course Goodison existed before the Leitch design and there were several uncovered as well as a covered stand. Celtic park was inaugurated on the same day as Goodison although the site itself was grounded way back in 1892

By 1895 Goodison was being further developed, with various architects involved and our Mr Leitch turns up to add his touch sometime during 1909, and from then on all sorts of new stands were built using special types of trusses that now only exist at Goodison, Ibrox and Fratton Park. I wonder if some kind of museum might ask for when the demolition of Goodison occurs?

Goodison was bombed (like Highbury) during the second war but was easily renovated and floodlights were installed in 1957, followed by undersoil heating (like we also had a Highbury) in 1958. The Goodison road stand was partly demolished and renovated with some criticism in the early 70’s. Of course following the Taylor report after Hillsborough, the ground was renovated again to accommodate seating, and the Park end stand was demolished and rebuilt in the middle of the 1990s.

Goodison is oddly unique in that a church ( St Lukes) protrudes into the ground only yards from the corner flag and Everton don’t play matches on Sunday morning out of respect for those worshiping.

As a kid I quite liked Goodison, when the away fans were still behind the goal and not shoved in the corner so the cameras couldn’t see them as it seems now. The Merseyside derbies seemed quite a big deal and of course I always rooted for Everton. Goodison was also important as it often hosted the FAC semi-finals/semi-final replays in the days before the New Wembley began to play the semis, which in my opinion seemed to take away from the romance of ‘getting to Wembley’ as an Endstation. This last semi to played at Everton was back in 1985.

In 1894 they did host a FAC final and  FAC final replay in 1910. Later, many games in the 1966 world cup finals would be played at Goodison, including a semi and also many old home championship matches. Remember them ye of the long beard?

Everton have apparently staged more top flight matches than any other club, and have played there (with exception of for four seasons)

for one hundred and twenty-two seasons. It also held various military maneuvers pre-WW1 observed by the King George V and many rugby matches were played out as well a big- bout boxing (also as part of the Rocky film Creed) whilst also witnessing a baseball game between the White Sox and the Yankees.

Our first game at Everton was way back in 1905. All games inclusive its 225 played against Everton. So its roughly 112 games at Goodison. It amazing if you think back over those years and all those players, many forgotten except as treasured family photographs, players came into focus as you started to support and follow football and go out of focus as times and line-ups change.

Probably, altogether about 4,000 games have been played at that ground. From the first game against Bolton in 1892 to the last versus Southampton this coming May 2025. From Dixie Dean, to Andy King to Geoff Nulty to Adrian Heath and Peter Reid to Calvert-Lewin and Mr.Pickford. Adieu Goodison, thank you for all the memories!

Our chums at Statto HQ (at the time of writing) have given the Mighty Cannon a 55.6% chance of winning and the Toffees only 17.6%. So I hope we say a final goodbye to the grand old lady of Walton Park by giving Saka rest for the Real game and hitting them for five. 

Take of yourselves.

Mills

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EXPECTANCY AND FULHAM, IN APRIL.

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on April 1, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Tuesday the 1st of April will see the Mighty Cannon back in action playing the second of our two matches this season against Fulham FC of wild western London. Kick off at the Emirates is at 7.45 pm western European time.

Spring has sprung! Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote, the droght of March hath perces to the roote and bathed every veyne in swich licóur of which vertú engendred is the flour etc. 

Yet the spring-weather lore of our time bears little resemblance to that of Chaucers day. March (where I am) came in like a lamb and went out like a lamb, I don’t expect any April showers as I haven’t seen any for ten years. That’s the way of things for good or bad; all things change…

Well, we’re back again after the longest international ‘break’ ever. When it started I was 24 and now I’m 55. Can you hear the Kinks in the background singing: “where did all the good times go”..?

Everyone seems to be back without injury, phew. But perhaps any relief on that front is with an eye on the looming Madrid game rather than this encounter with Fulham or the up-coming game against Everton? 

Mr. Saka looks like he will be returning, and the outlets I’ve been keeping a corner eye on, seem to think he will be the new messiah. How do you feel? I feel a bit sceptical about messiahs who are supposed to suddenly change the whole dynamic of the team and save everyone not just from sin but from poor play.

 Do you think this perspective creates too much expectancy and too much pressure? The Selector warned us about too much pressure back in 1980. Seriously though, its unnecessary, if a players been out for a while it doesn’t mean they are coming in better than before, Martins been struggling since his injury and hasn’t hit the form we were used to seeing, and once noticed the Queen of Hearts of mob rule seems to pop up and start shouting “off with his head!”, which, in my mind is way too extreme. But who cares for my bat-squeak of an opinion, loud voices rule the day, even if they are carried away and forgotten by tomorrow’s breeze.

Yet telling us all its raining when all you have to do is look out of the window and see for yourself is poor punditry to me. Whats more interesting is the suggestion of umbrellas, boots and raincoats and where some shelter is? Don’t get me wrong, Saka is a fabulous player and makes us much, much more exciting, but consciousness is a nightmare in football and being self aware messes up everything, and pressure of expectancy makes it even worse? But hopefully he will do the business and leave me with egg on my mush and a scolding for being too angsty.

It seems at his point in the season a cloud of melancholy floats in? Eleven games to go, the baseballs already started, the seasons winding down, sunshine is back again and we will all soon be overwhelmed by the competition of the transfer market.

What a long grind of a journey its often been this year, only because I feel we’ve been underachieving, however I still hope we can keep second, build on it and enjoy St. Totteringham’s day soon. And there’s always next season…

“shut up you Brooklyn bum”

The mighty Cannon has been given a 64% chance by Statto HQ of securing a victory, whilst Wolfie Smiths favourite team have been given a meagre 12%. So come on you Gunners, can we please have five or more.

Take care of yourselves, and power to the people!

Mills

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CHELSEA, MANGA & THE HAMSTER WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on March 15, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Sunday the 16th March sees a visit to Ashburton Grove from our west London neighbours, Chelsea FC. Kick off is at 1.30pm, western European time.

Years ago an artist called Hokusai (pron: Hock-sigh) made lots of small interesting sketches, these were know as whimsical pictures, or translated into Japanese: ‘manga’. There’s much debate about the linage of manga though, some think it comes down through old Buddhist didactic anthropomorphic scrolls from the 12th Century, others from the influence of the magazine Punch in the later 19th century.  

Anyway, however the system evolved, contemporary manga publications are now banging out 13,000 editions a year. Manga covers all range of genres; nookie, romance, cooking, sports, fighting, and manga is for old or young and in-between and it has many different styles (including Gekiga which translates as dramatic pictures).

Manga is sometimes a collaborative effort split between artist and writer and even sometimes many assistants. In Japan Fine Art is less of a big deal than it is in the west with animé and manga being basically less elitist and really for everyone and there’s none of the shame that persists in the west of image and text being coupled together, although the French/Belgians are pretty accepting of Bande dessinée (translates: drawn strips) as they name it with their own particular invention, Ligne Claire (clear line), for examples of which, see Joost Swaarte.

Western art has been controlled for a long time by theory and theory is only just starting to seep in manga now, but you can imagine, publisher restriction aside, that artists (mangaka) are often more libertine in that which they can explore and create.

Fine art looks uncomfortably over its shoulder at manga, knowing its technically more advanced and is more and more challenging its intellectual hegemony too, but its bouncers are still keep it out, but for how long? Already some blue-chip galleries are allowing artists who blend the two (Perrotin)…with interesting results, see the video animation ‘rebirth of the world’ by Chiho Aoshima.

Yet the life of a mangaka isn’t easy, long hours, hard work and anti big-wad at the end of it. Of course it has its stars and an underground just like any other system. But we humans are hungry consumers like never before, hence 13,000 manga publications a year, all jostling for attention and its a tough thing to deal with. Which is no different from our beloved football, for which we are so hungry and want to watch it like never before, eager to listen and absorb all aspects of the game. Will Newcastle re-vamp their new stadium plans in the light of the new stadium proposals in Manchester? As the great oracle ‘mystic Mills’ (translates: the tool) predicted in midweek, talk of the expansion of the Emirates was revived. I’m sure all sorts of news like this will come pouring out over the international break…115 looming too…

Its amazing how stadiums have changed, accommodating a different populous, often without regard for them. Was that our old pal Archibald Leitch’s fault, he seems to have designed a incredible number of stadiums, now being razed to the ground and replaced with state of the art structures? 

With the visit of Chelsea, it makes me think how the old Stamford Bridge looked. Its original massive earth-work diggings like a remnant from some early pre-historical forgotten ambition, the crowd far away from the pitch due to the old track on the outside. Of course there was the infamous Shed but that other oddball stand that was built in the 30s (the North Stand) and looked like it was always going to topple over and cause great injury was an eccentric addition to the mostly open-plan of SB?

But the Chelsea of the old Stamford Bridge is far away from todays outfit, long gone is the world of Alan Hudson and the workman’s ballet.This is Billionaire owned football played by millionaires. Ok, Chelsea are not what they were under the heavy financial doping years but are still a tough team on their day and full of pride when it comes to playing the Arsenal.

Currently resting in fourth, I can’t see this lot lying down and thinking of enabling a victory-through-harmony for the Guns. Yet they boast a team packed full of talent and I’m sure will be challenging with more intensity next season. Next season, despite all, it already feels like the collective Arsenal eyes are on next year? This February and March has felt like being trapped on a hamsters wheel, and I wondered if you felt the same toward the Arsenal this season: an endless ride on the hamster-wheel of fortune of almost achieving? Could be worse, we could be mid-table or snaffling around the old Hades end of the table like other clubs. No thanks.

I phoned up statto HQ and they’ve quoted me the stats and the Mighty Cannon has been given us a 52.7% chance of winning, and Chelsea, 21.8%. So statto thinks we have a spring in our step. May the stars be with you too statto.

Well that’s it, time to catch up on our hobbies during the international break. Take care. COYG!

Mills

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THE GUNS OF LAST STAND HILL Pt 2

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

Hello and how are you?

Wednesday the 12th of March will see the Mighty Cannon in action in the return leg of the CL last 16 and that  means a visit from PSV Eindhoven. Kick off at the Emirates is at 8.00pm western European time.

Well, after another blooming draw, this time against lowly Man Utd, we now face up to PSV for part 2 of our last realistic stand in any competition this season. 

I did like Mr Rice’s last-second tackle, and those top saves by Mr.Raya in the game at Old Trafford but drawing sometimes feels like a loss? I think we all hoped for more and to a degree expected more, tbh when we made it 1-1 I felt like we would push on and do it, but they seemed to up their game a bit, while we cooled off slightly, and of course, both teams had chances to finish the game off at the end. 

What do you think of the B.Wilson Smile-era-tent-stadium design that MU have swung out to the public? I wonder if it will mean we push forward with expanding the Emirates, which has been talked about earlier this season?

Of course this game against Eindhoven is /should be a dead rubber, however in my jellyfish-emotional world, I’ve already imagined various scenarios, and the worst is us losing 4-0 at HT and then they push on to the victory. The humiliation would be massive, and it would mean a life-time of shaming. Thanks mind for conjuring up that one! Yet how can it be, that we sit 2nd in the League, and I can still be brewing up such nightmares? Begone ye night- phantoms of fear! Begone Schrödinger-Marley-chains-Arsenal and grab us a nice! victory as we go onto play Chelsea…

Statto HQ, however wishes to sooth my nerves, and they give the Gun a 68.4% chances of winning and PSV 12.5%.

I’m sure we will see starts for Tierney, Jorginho, Kiwior and maybe White. Sterling, Martinelli and Timber! will miss a game if they get any more yellow cards, (three yellows and its a one game ban, but these aren’t wiped until the semis so this is another cloud that’s hanging over us, grrr!) so maybe cautious Arteta might be cautious with them? Not sure what I would do, and that’s why I’m a chimp writing this Crêpe and not the Arsenal manager. Phew!  But its a oddball game to play, due to the result of the first leg, so how do you play it? I’d be interested in your thoughts…

Well, that’s it for now. Take care of yourselves. COYG!

Mills

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THEM, BEING BLOCKED AND THE GUN

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on March 8, 2025 in All Posts

Hello, and how are you?

Sunday the 9th of March sees the Mighty Cannon haul its gun-carriage up to the northern marches of England for a visit to Old Trafford as we take on 14th placed Manchester United. Kick off is at 4.30pm western European time.

All week I’ve been stumped, blocked (not in the Mod sense) and feeling all dried up like a sundried tomato over this preview. I thought about discussing ideology and its role in society, its limitations and it necessity, I thought about discussing CS Lewis’  ‘Abolition of Man’ and despite its failing, pugilistic tendencies, all roads in such matters rest in the real dilemma: to believe not to believe.  But belief is conjecture and conjecture remains not knowing? I thought about discussing the film ‘Priscilla’ and how it barely scrapes the surface of its characters and despite some echoing of the same old Forest Gump tropes (conservatism versus New Left) its a film that does stay with you afterwards though, which is something most films don’t? For good or bad I can’t say, but haunt you it does. I thought about discussing the early spring I experienced this week, the warm air and bird-song cacophony, and the conflict of your inner human clock: its just way too early to be 20° in very early March? I thought about discussing how ‘time’ seems to go quicker than ever due to our relationship with technology; but I couldn’t prove Einstein right or wrong, not being smart enough. I wanted to potentially discuss cultural linages, how certain torch-relays of culture are more in the limelight than others, how does this happen, whose in control of it and how do other cultural linages outside of the prescribed system survive? Evolution and survival of the fittest isn’t who does the most press-ups at the gym or the biggest bully in the playground of life, but who fits in the best. Not me. Ideas might get lost in the fogs of perspectives but inclusivity and acknowledgment are really worth fighting for, as long as that’s actually happening? Jospeh Beuys said “everyones and artist”. Maybe, mabe not, all depends on what we might mean by artist? But for this to work it might mean that everyone has also to open a gallery, otherwise its the same old; certain people selecting themselves and friends as the non plus ultra and everyone else is charged as irrelevant unless the fashion changes? Maybe flat-line hierarchies are much more interesting? As already mentioned in prior blogs, to me, value plurality is all we really have in our system of absolute relativity, there’s going to be clashes as certain idea’s naturally don’t always fit perfectly with others (liberty and justice etc). I also spent ages thinking about why on football blogs its mostly presumed we should only stick to football when all life is inter-connected and football is at most only a couple of links (sometimes only one) away from any other idea or aspect of life? You can see why I didn’t peruse that one further! LOL!

I then thought of George’s friend dying and the gap death leaves behind in our lives and Eddies friend being ill and tragically diagnosed and all the fears that person must be feeling and what Ed and George might be feeling recently and how demise changes our perspectives on all our daily activities and values. And realised how often I just take life for granted, I try everyday to be grateful, but there’s always a part of the day where I feel frustrated and angry and selfish at how human systems are and often how corrupt, competitive, cold and consuming they seem. Its a horrible trap to be caught in, but genuinely being grateful is an uplifting thing and seems part of an antidote to the rough and tumble of horseshit that we have to deal with? Of course over the years I’ve often put the boot in about the internet (all apologies), twitter, and bloggers and aspects of everyday online life. Yet the flip side is how the world was opened up by the internet, how people could connect, how people could share interests and feel a great joy in that. I mean dang! Its a wonder, and really well worth gushing over. Its easy to take things too seriously and I’m a sinner in that sense, but there’s a heck of a lot of great in life too, and sometimes I wonder if there’s too much division where really divisions could be applied to only truly greater moral dilemmas? Although once you’ve stated something like that we find ourselves stuck in the relative ideas of whats a major moral idea and what isn’t? But I’m sure I’m pissing against the wind with that kind of thought anyway. Strange thing is I’ve just recalled a conversation I had with an (now dead) very famous artist back in 1995, who thought the grand utopias were dead and future life would be about smaller ones. In some ways he called it right when you look at the endless online/offline communities? But there’s still a hitch; utopias weren’t made for living in, they are an unlivable idea (this includes dystopias too), but perhaps they still worth chasing after nonetheless but we could also keep that in mind? Our real problem (maybe, or at least one of our billions of problems) is how to get along without destroying each other and avoid any absolute thinking and speaking, something that’s not easy and hypocrisy follow us like a spectre? As I’m about to prove…

So its them again. Blooming ManUre, and at Old Toilet. A club and team at this moment, well fallen, yet despite their flirt with the fearful and sulphurous end of the table I’m sure the they will not go down. How would you feel if they did? I suppose its joy enough to see them lingering in the depths though? Could well be that City join them soon?

The Spuds would be a different thing if they were relegated, and ‘orrible as they are, our clashes with them are always an exciting experience? Its still a highlight of the season to play them and St. Totteringham’s day is always a feast day to be celebrated? Of course its always been the same with Utd, I don’t need to go over the endless games, utter classics, barmy battles and both side humiliated.You were there.

I think as Arsenal fans we would like to see the Guns nail this lot for six or seven, especially after the FAC debacle, and other historically difficult results that are still hard to swallow. Trouble is can we do it? If the handbrakes are off and the leash is long enough then sure. I think United will be up for this one though, we seem to bring out some rank and festering pride in them? I can see them relying on the system that saw them win on penalties in the cup, I’m not sure how else they will beat us? 

Both clubs are hit with injury problems, but Arsenal seem to be finding a better way of adapting and watching seven goals fly in with only Trossard and Sterling as named strikers is pretty dang exciting, if that sort of thing gets you excited.

ManUre have been given by statto HQ a 19.6% chance of winning and the Mighty Cannon, a 53.4%, which is the highest its been a while.

Well that is it, I’m off as the gravel needs counting on the drive way. Its an art project.

Take care of yourselves. COYG!

Mills

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THE GUNS OF LAST STAND HILL Pt 1

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on March 4, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Tuesday the 4th of March sees the Mighty Cannon set up positions against the Dutch side Philips Sport Vereniging Eindhoven in the latest installment of Champions League games. Kick off at the Philips Stadion, Eindhoven is at 8.00pm western European time.

Its seems an age since we physically played against West Ham and a while since the sterile and hope-breaking draw against Forest, yet the psychological hangover from it seems still to be hovering around? Perhaps the bitter emotions from our losses to ManUre and Newcastle in both cups was sweetened somewhat a bit now that those clubs have also made an exit? Personally I would like City to drop out of the FAC and give some other teams a crack at glory.

Statistically we can still win the league, but I’m not sure anyone would put money on it, certainly not me, it didn’t seem like we were ever really it in, but just chasing the horizon? All any of us can hope is for a decent run-in now that the Lenz ist da and reach Maytime with some dignity? The Champions League being our last (very slim) chance of glory, we can team up with our old pal ‘hope’ and go a wandering up the garden path and still formulate some Champions league dreaming? Feels tough to commit to any kind of day-dream though doesn’t it?

So here we go again, the same old narrative this season: we are utterly able to beat this PSV side, who lost against the Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday 3-2, but we are also utterly capable of being beaten or just making another frustrating, teeth-grinding draw, he said covering all angles.

West Ham/Forest debacles crushed us and ‘hope’ at the same time, and that was a tough blow to all of us; management, team, and fans. But on we go, where there’s hope there’s life and a chance, and its worth trying and failing than not trying at all? Pre-Wenger we would have (probably) still been excited by this fixture, and perhaps that shows how far he took us and how high our expectations really became? I’m not sure I liked privileged attitudes as they stink of false hierarchies and past histories that deny any current form and I feel a bit disgusted with my own lack of interest. But really I think I’m also trying to protect myself from more hurt Arsenal-wise. 

I sincerely hope you guys feel more positive and excited about this game, please tell me about any thoughts you have.

Eindhoven finished 14th in the CL first stage, but did beat Liverpool, and succinctly beat Juve in the play off matches. They lie in second place to Ajax in the Eredivisie, by some eight points.

Sorry I am unable to go into how they play, or who plays for them, I just haven’t followed that league for many years. Theres no need for me to go into how we are, because you guys are Johnny on the Spot and have a dang good idea of whats happened this season, so I won’t insult your intelligence by giving a half baked insight into this or that.

PSV have been given by our friends at statto HQ a 25.8% chance of winning, whilst the Guns of Ashburton Grove have been given 47% chance of winning. Come on Arsenal, give us something to feel good about!

Well, all apologies as that’s all I can muster, take care of yourselves. Don’t forget to like and subscribe and follow me on Instagram. 

COYG!

Mills

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THE GUN, THE FOREST AND THE EINSTEIN.

Posted by pedantic George @arseblagger on February 26, 2025 in All Posts

Hello and how are you?

Premier league week 27 sees the Mighty Cannon hauling its Arsenal up to the waist lands of England to make a visit to PL third place Nottingham Forest and the City ground. Kick off 7.30pm western Europa time.

As I sit and try to cobble together some kind of rambling in the forest of my mind, it feels like we are at the beginning of the end of winter? Normally I love winter, the bare bones of the trees, the introverted feeling of hibernation, the silence, the expectancy of spring. This year I hated it, with the crowning glory being the turd that some twat shat-out in our stairwell at the weekend. Its seemed like nothing but a drag? Or a dag? The poor fentanyl heads are becoming more and more and getting with each day more aggressive, and what was once a nicey-nice! wander around the park is now on- the- edge- of- my -nerves in case of  (as Tommy Tucker sang ): some fool might wanna fight. But then fear seems often everywhere these days, sometimes I wonder whether to not switch the internet on in the mornings and delve into its bubbling world of toil and trouble. 

After the disappointment of the West Ham game, I’ve spent ages thinking how can I write something that’s a least a bit more positive for an intro to the game. Then I started instead thinking about all the things that are crap in the world, at least from my perspective, and saw the worlds hypocrisy and corruption lying before me. 

“wtf is this?A John Webster play, the skull beneath the skin?

But for all of the nefarious shenanigans that wobble around in everyday life, there are still things worth getting up for, things worth engaging in. George’s heartful and honest piece after the meeting with the Irons provoked some great responses, the likes of which I haven’t seen anywhere for some time at least, not just opinions but really interesting thoughts, getting right under the dog skin of so many aspects of Arsenal world; what’s going on, how it is to be a supporter and how places like PA can give people a voice. And in all the midst of this is the fact we are still (for a while) 2nd, and when we want (allowed?) can play some good football, ok not vintage Wengerball, but ok football?

More and more, it feels like a season of missed opportunity, conservative mistakes and a kind of thwarting of play? To win 5-1 against City yet lose to West Ham is a great indicator of our yo-yo season. Even our goals at corners seem to have dried up.

“the food at the restaurant is so terrible”

“yes, and such small portions!”

 Of course it isn’t over, but our gut feeling and those eleven points Liverpool carry, says it is. But surely isn’t it worth the team coming together and just concentrating on winning each game and forgetting the title race and forgetting the punditry and try to just start playing some more elaborate, intelligent, hungry, goal-scoring football? I’m mean, what else is there to lose? 

“2nd place you fool, don’t you understand Artetaball?”

Forest were hurt badly by Newcastle, and were 4-1 down at one point, so who knows how they are feeling? I’m sure their fans will be pumped up for this, so I hope we won’t let them come at us and play with the handbrake on. Al Capones guns don’t argue, but Arteta’s handbrakes hinder?

However I was glad to see Mr.White back in action, something positive?

How do you feel going into this one? I’m sure Forest will be relishing the chance to put us to the sword, its been years since they found themselves in such a position and after us they take on the misfiring Man City and will want to be chipper for that one. They have good form but the thrashing by Bournemouth shows us that we can also give them a deForesting. Timber! Winning would put us nine points ahead of them, I’d rather have that than have them breathing down our neck, we have to at least come second this season to give us something to grab onto next?

The Arsenal have been given a 53.4% chance of winning and the Sheriffs men 20.4% chance of mustering up a win. So statto HQ still favours the Mighty Cannon. That was until after the visit of West Ham and its now gone down to 47.8% and Robin Hoodies are up to 24.6%.. Hold on, breaking news, the Arsenal are back up to 48% and Forest down to 24%. 

As fans we were all hacked off by the result on Saturday, but so were the lads and Arteta, so perhaps they might all have had a dang good look at the situation and come bouncing back with a mighty win?

Now stop that laughing you lot!

Well, that’s it, a bit of a wander in the minds forest, I can’t see the wood for the trees, not much of a forest more a copse? But as Einstein said “people love chopping wood, they immediately see results”. Thanks Eini, not exactly the theory of special relativity, however I’ve passed your quote on to the Arsenal and they hope to chop down the Forest and get result, a three pointer.

Cheers, and look after yourselves.

 Mills.

COYG!

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