Sunshine, Talisker, And A Diaby Double
Aug 23rd, 2009 by 'holic
The first home game of a new season is getting more and more enjoyable with each passing year. We hit the pub at half past twelve and new friends and old alike are already into the business of thirst-slaking. Greetings are exchanged but that is not all. An extremely considerate man has returned from his midweek trip to Parkhead with a hip flask full of Talisker. My half-time tipple is as fine a drink as you could wish to taste.
The football enhances the feel-good factor. Even with some serious rotation Arsenal are clearly too good for Portsmouth. It will be another week before we know the true strength of this side. Manchester United away will be a proper test, but you can only beat what is put in front of you, and Portsmouth, like Everton before them, are summarily dismissed.
Chief beneficiary of our inventive football is Abou Diaby. He applies a wonderful rising finish to Eduardo’s neat cut-back, and then sweeps Eboue’s cross beyond James to finish a wonderfully quick counter-attack. The churlish will still bemoan the fact that the forwards are not scoring. Ten goals in two games tell the tale that we have ten forwards on the pitch.
The ‘holic pound is holed below the waterline when Kaboul is allowed to deny Almunia a jump at the ball and heads home. Under different circumstances more protestations would probably surface, but not today. After the break William Gallas gets his now customary goal with a different part of his body before Aaron Ramsey, a half-time substitute for Cesc Fabregas, finishes a van Persie feed superbly for the fourth.
Pompey show more commitment off the pitch than on it. ‘Quasimodo’ doesn’t stop ringing that bloody bell. Their commitment is admirable, given the season of struggle that surely beckons. 57000 home fans, necks sweating under the free scarf provided for all, take little notice. The full time whistle puts a merciful halt to the mauling and we return to the pub to dissect what has gone on.
There will be more frustrations to come, I’ve no doubt. For today though there is a glow that comes from watching a side with real potential strut their stuff. Let’s pray we are celebrating another fine performance a week from now.
13 Responses to “Sunshine, Talisker, And A Diaby Double”
I don’t care about the performance next week….I just want a win!!! :0)
Quite frankly, I just don’t want to lose. United might not be in great form (he says about a team that just won by 5) but it’s United and they are always in a position to kill good form. We come out of Old Trafford with our heads held high and everything will be good. The season will be won and lost against the bottom 12 or so teams and we just need to carry the momentum against the other 7. Hopefully that means wins, but just working hard, playing well and don’t concede. We can score against anyone, especially when the team in front of us is missing big parts of their defence (no vds, rio or rafael), so just don’t concede and I think we’ll all be happy.
What’s Talisker, ‘holic? I’m guessing whisky but am too young and naive to know.
a good day had by all. nice performance from the boys.
samuel, talisker is a single malt scotch whiskey made on the isle of skye.
nice write up once again ‘holic. any news on severity of the fabregas injury?
ps. guiness all round 😉
people may complain about the lack of forwards goals, but as long as they are setting them up with passes like RVP’s yesterday for ramsey, who cares who’s getting them.
‘Quasimodo’ doesn’t stop ringing that bloody bell.
Actually, I thought that what the game needed, if anything, was more cowbell.
Hope to make it myself next time you visit ‘holic.
Good stuff.
A good performance, and victory in both halves of Manchester will certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons, and maybe silence our many critics if only for a week or so!
C’mon you Gunners
the bell was annoying but not as bad as the guy who really, really couldnt play that trumpet
It’s good to have you back in the fray, ‘holic.
Coffee for me today please.
Good writing again ‘holic. As you say, 10 goals in 2 games…….
It can only be a good thing, regardless who is scoring. Arshavin hasn’t’ fired on all cylinders yet, and when that happens…, well you get the picture.
Manure on Saturday is a test, but i feel we can win this. Whereas i remember being at the Grove last season thinking a draw would be a good result, and i know i wasn’t alone, (albeit we won 2-1). How quickly things change eh?
Ooh yeah, i’ll have a malibu & cherryade pls.
A malibu and what? Stroll on John 😉
Save some of that Talisker for me please, ‘holic!
My turn at Fulham, Hazza. It will be something strong and peaty!