Legends – Peter Storey
Feb 12th, 2013 by 'holic
Back in 2007 I penned the following appreciation of Peter Storey for Arsenal-Land. Thanks again Darren for letting me reproduce it here. It was written three years before I had the added resource of Peter’s autobiography to lean on. Fortunately ‘Snouty’ left an impression on all who saw him, or indeed played against him!
Let me take you back to March 27th, 1971. Arsenal, chasing Leeds United for the League Championship, are losing 2-0 to Stoke City in the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough. Stoke are something of a bogey side, having thumped the Gunners 5-0 at the Victoria Ground earlier in the season. One man makes it his mission to salvage Arsenal’s double dream.
Early in the second half Ray Kennedy chips a hopeful ball towards the Stoke box. It breaks to Peter Storey, principally a defensive midfielder, and his instinctive twenty yarder flies like an arrow into the net.
‘Snouty’ is engaged in what seems like a personal battle with the City midfielders, particularly the persistent John Mahoney. An injury fifteen minutes from time denies Arsenal the services of the enigmatic Charlie George. The two minutes that are added on by referee Pat Partridge for Charlie’s injury are critical.
Ninety minutes plus have been completed as Arsenal earn a last chance corner. Skipper Frank Mclintock heads for the far post and Mahoney palms the ball clear. Only one man will take this penalty.
It’s time to tell younger readers a little more about the combative Storey. He first appeared in the Arsenal side, as a homegrown twenty year old right-back, at Leicester in 1965. For the next half a decade he alternated between right and left back, earning a reputation as a fierce tackler yet possessing a keen eye for a pass and a tidy shot.
How fierce a tackler, I hear you ask. John Spurling paints a wonderful picture in his 2003 book, ‘Rebels For The Cause’, as he describes how Storey felled the formidable Norman Hunter in one particular battle with Leeds United.
“When the Leeds man hauled himself off the floor, he nodded at Giles and Bremner, then at Storey. The Arsenal player was ‘targeted’ for the rest of the game, but Leeds contract killers failed to destroy their man and Storey gave as good as he got. Even the Leeds hatchet-men must have been quietly impressed.”
His contribution to Arsenal’s first trophy in seventeen years, the 1970 European Fairs Cup, was immense. His partnership on the right flank with wee Georgie Armstrong provided many aerial opportunities for striker John Radford.
Storey seemed to have no concept of pain, and rarely missed games through injury. In an era of genuine hard men Storey was as tough as any, but his footballing ability led to a switch into midfield in 1970-71. He was taking on the opposition ‘enforcers’ anyway, and his ‘promotion’ meant that Pat Rice could move up to fill the right back slot.
With his abrasive style, intelligent runs, and probing passes Storey helped to transform a good side into a great one. How ironic it was that as Storey made this footballing leap, he should win international recognition as Sir Alf Ramsey picked him for the first of nineteen caps – at right back!
Back to Hillsborough, and Storey faces World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks in injury time. He shows why he is nicknamed ‘ice-eyes’. There is not a flicker of emotion, no hint of where he intends to plant the spot-kick. Banks goes to his right, a strange choice for those of us who had seen Storey take penalties before. With the instep Storey passes the ball to the keeper’s left and the Gunners have a replay. The double is secured six weeks later.
Storey would survive the capture of England midfielder Alan Ball in the following season as Bertie Mee tried to lead Arsenal down the path of ‘total football’. His particular skills were required to ensure the likes of Ball and a young Liam Brady could demonstrate the full range of their abilities.
Strangely, when Mee departed Arsenal to be replaced by Terry Neill in 1976, Storey was one of a number of stars that had played with the new boss, but didn’t stay long. A move to Fulham was short lived, just seventeen appearances in fact. Contrast that with his 501 games (17 goals) in Gunners colours.
At just thirty-two, Storey was lost to football but sadly not to the newspapers. A series of convictions and a couple of prison sentences kept him in the public eye. After a spell of driving he is now reported to be living in France with his fourth wife. Those of us fortunate enough to have witnessed him at his peak wish him well. In all honesty we wouldn’t dare do anything else!
200 Responses to “Legends – Peter Storey”
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Drinks legend
I like these stories. Cheers ‘holic.
L’escargot, great to see you again. Hope you will be up to a game soon. Bald is about for Villa…
Stop it ‘holic, it’s only Tuesday of interlull-like week!
Just seen Anelka on the bench. Had forgotten he was there
—> Come on Celtic!
It’s all right, posting about Peter, but where is his brother True?
Excellent.
Snaily! Slimy greetings to you my friend.
Bollocks, 2-0 to Juve.
Not liking tonight’s results.
Ice eyes , I think it was lorimer about to take a free kick, we had a one man wall, Storey, the picture shows him impassively staring the Leeds man down. Good god we could do with the likes of him now.
London Pride , I am thirsty.
Top hole, old boy.
11th is the new fourth
Oh dear, Celtic don’t deserve this score.
Top post, holic, thanks for sharing!
3 nil down for Scotland, but their fans are singing loud and proud. I hope the Emirates lights up for the full 90 plus!
Agreed bath, before the second goal, Celtic were driving like bats out of hell.
class trumps passion most of the time
Point taken, though the two need not always be in opposition.
Celtic deservedly torn a new one, but should have been given many an opportunity to score from the spot.
Hope Juve don’t get similarly treated against us in the quarter-final.
In other words, Charlotte Rampling trumps Sam Fox.
Indeed pires @15, and what a combo that is
Was internally clutching at Harrods v Aldi, especially when Pirlo and Scott Brown were in opposition, bath
I think Broon is more Morrisons than Aldi.
….though there is a quite a bit of horse there.
Guys, no need to feel any sympathy for Celtic – can none of you remember Eduardo and the shameless way Celtic, their supporters and the craven SFA behaved afterwards?
Always a smile in Feelgood Mansions when someone gives it to either of the Ugly Sisters
True zico, too true.
More concerned with us getting that wanker of a referee, zico.
Great post again, guv’.
I only got to see Storey once or twice in the flesh but was weened on his legend by the older folk on the terraces at the east side of the clock end back in the 70′s.
He was, what we called back then, an ‘ard geezer.
In other words, Charlotte Rampling trumps Sam Fox.
I want a link to that vid please.
He was, and remains, a man of few words, H2H. Used to go up the Farmers to see him some Friday nights. Wouldn’t have dared cross him
Zico 22…. Spot on re their approach over the Eduardo indent. Nuff said.
‘Holic 24…. the standard of referees seems very poor at the moment..hard to find a good’un anywhere. When you see the
“best” of the English refs representing us at uefa games such as Atkinson, Dean & co, it says it all.
Great blog, Holic. Thanks for that.
Really illustrates the man. The very name ‘Ice Eyes’ chills the blood.
I never had the privilege to see him in the flesh but I do remember the dominance of the midfield battles. True giant.
I have little sympathy for Celtic after the whole Eduardo nonsense. Plus I’ve been getting cheesed off with the press writing us off against Bayern whilst talking up Celtic’s chances ahead of this game. We’re certainly the underdogs in our tie, but we’re a lot bloody better than Celtic.
Heh H2H@26
Go past Storey and run into McLintock – good luck with that one.
To paraphrase Franklin D Roosevelt (allegedly), “Peter Storey was a son of a bitch, but he was our son of a bitch.”
I remember him as “Cold Eyes”.
How many games would Peter Storey have completed these days?
WSC agrees.
http://www.wsc.co.uk/reviews/64-Players/6183-true-storey
That pretty much varifies all reports I heard, ‘holic.
===
Zico @22
Glad you posted that, I was getting a bit ill at the Celtic love in, especially after all the bollox they tried to pull last time we played them.
Can’t imagine PS speaking French
Another fine memory ‘holic. Peter Storey was as hard as they come. What I respected about him (and “chopper” Harris to be fair…), they dished it out fearlessly and took it back without a murmur – no crying to the ref when on the receiving end of some rough treatment. A sort of honour amongst thieves, they noted the effrontery and bided their time until the right opportunity to “pay their respects” came along.
In his early days, “hard” tackles were still a part of the game and Storey let the other team know what they were in for, transgressions would often be just a booking…..unlike straight reds nowadays. An example was v Man U in 1969. PS was playing left back ..against him a flying Scottish winger Willy Morgan. First United attack, Morgan flew past Storey & United nearly scored. They tried the same tack again, ball out to Morgan, he zipped past Storey but this time the defender was ready and Morgan finished in East Lower. Storey took his booking for the cause, Morgan eventually returned to the fray but always stayed minimum 20 yds in front of Storey and had no impact on the rest of the game – job done. The match was a great game…finished 2-2.
Just occurred to me that Red Storey is an anagram of Destroyer.
Funny eh ?
A 55000 crowd paying £80000 in the days when you could get a field potatoes turned into chips for a penny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Sl5tmzbuM
Lovely blog Holic.Lest we forget our legends!
I have had the pleasure of getting to know a few of tge first Double team . All of the ones I have met to a man tell how Storey was the most frightening guy they ever encountered on a fooball pitch-and he was on our side!
Frank Mclintock referred to the famous after banquet punch-up in Rome when we played Lazio. He said all evening at the dinner Storey was eyeballing a couple of Lazio hard men and Frank was having to hold him down.
It all kicked off at the end with a mass brawl which nowadays would have seen both sides (unless it was Man U) banned for years from Europe. Storey was in his element in the punch-up but the following week he sank the decisive penalty that clinched the second leg. He was very much a silent assassin-I’ve never heard him interviewed. Might be useful in front of that back four today but then again he’d always be suspended!
‘Holic, you’re really spoiling us with these stories, reading them feels like sitting around Cent’ grand-dad and listening to folklores and stories about great men who made the Cent extended family proud in their lifetime, I always left his side carrying my shoulder high and feeling very proud of men who lived long before I was born. Thanks for these history lessons, meastro.
Trev, i think i share your sentiments Re Santos from the last set of drinks.
Interesting interview with Brian Moore afterwards – he comes across as “quite a nice chap.”
Common denominator in your Hx pieces is grittiness combined with real talent. But what I wonder is if these early heroes had played for other teams, what would you have made of them. The line can be muddied at times, being supporters and all.
Nice work, though.
abb.
It’s quite simple really when you use this simple equation.
Arsenal player = Hard man, inforcer, legend.
Other team player = See you next Tuesday.
Sorry forgot the customary;
Hi Abb…yr 45….. Arsenal player = legend
Non Arsenal player = dirty barsteward
Really enjoyed that one, Holic. Thanks!
Mollusc! Clearly you have no studio audience event to attend this evening?
Great Storey story, ‘holic, here’s to more of the same in future. What can you tell us about one of my all-time favs, Joey Haverty? Just a little guy, but a dynamo in what was otherwise a very pedestrian Arsenal engine of the time.
I’ve never found Charlotte Rampling especially attractive, but I had the pleasure of meeting Ms Fox while a guest of Hamilton Island owner Keith Williams aboard his powerboat sometime in the mid-’80s. Meeting was the only pleasure, not surprisingly, but there’s zero doubt which of the two I’d rather have pleasured. Mind you that was then and I have other fantasies today, mostly involving Gemma Arterton.
Oskar
Hey H2H and Uply
Personally, I would love us to be feared (and revered). Swift, clean tackles are arguably the most difficult maneuvers to carry off.
Nurse, you are feared.
Clean tackle always essential.
Hi Trev. Sigh
Great post Holic!
I remember reading Rebels for the Cause while stuck in Helsinki the year before. It was very informative and I found it great to find out about some of the incidents that have been glossed over by the club down the years…
Is the next blog going to be about Willie Young?
6 foot 2,
Eyes are blue,
Willie Young is after you!
Lalalalalalaaa!
“Genuine hard man” is a phrase much to my liking. In a slightly different way, I sense it is also very much to Wolfie’s liking. Down boy!
‘Holic, great story about a true Arsenal hard man (down Wolfie). It would be very interesting to know ALL the details of his life after football – there’s got to be hell of a screenplay in this and somebody should write it, no? Just suggesting…
bt8b @55, wrote that as you posted – and definitely didn’t mean to parrot you!
He was good at minting his own 50p bits and poncing as well.
…and importing art movies hidden in his tyres…
This legend series is legend!
Early night last night, got up this morning, went to my virtual Arsenal juicer of choice and saw the new blog. Back to the old blog to knird, thinking of a certain semi-final against Stoke City.
Read the new blog, and it’s about… Nice one Guv’nor. I hadn’t heard the story about the aftermath of the Norman Hunter tackle, but it rings very true.
Speaking of Dirty Leeds, I used to drink with one of their supporters who told me how he was watching a match in which Joe Jordan went off after a heavy tackle and, later in the match, Joe’s big mate Gordon McQueen broke the tackler’s leg. Are you still looking for Leeds stories, Abb?
Keep ‘em coming ‘holic, how about something on Peter Simpson, or wee Geordie Armstrong?
COYG
Morning Oxon…..excellent choice – 2 of my favorite players of that era.
Are you listening guv…er…nor?
Sometimes I still check Crooked Crooks’ TOTW on BBC website, when I suspect Arsenal players may be in: I know there’ll be something to moan about, it’s consistent.
As for Wenger’s plea to officials to provide protection for his players, it is the job of referees to protect all players not just the ones in Arsenal colours.
Yes? Well that’s exactly what he said, you idiot.
‘Holic the historey man. Excellent stuff ‘h – ta.
Great read Holic, much obliged. Nice to read something about pre-Camberwellian gooners about whom I know precious little.
I’d LOVE it if we had someone like that who would take a red card for sparking out Joey Barton.
It’s nearly here, folks. Tonight is the night that we find out if this Manchester United team really is any good.
Am I the only one who thinks we won’t find out anything and that Real are overhyped and overrated? Let’s not forget they constantly flatter to deceive in the knockout stages in Europe, and are still a few points being Atletico Madrid in their own league?
Another little pice of Arsenal history learned, cheers for that Holic.
Ollie@66: I expect ManU to get a decent result tonight and eventually go through, and then the media hype machine will go into overdrive.
Morning All,
Cheers for the post ‘H, and the one before on Joe Baker. Very enjoyable reads.
Re Joe Baker, I wasn’t aware before reading your piece that he was as close as he was to the England 1966 team. Any idea why he chose to leave Arsenal at a time when he was clearly still banging in the goals and in top form? To move to Forest at that time seems a strange decision. Was he pushed?
As regards old Cold Eyes, it’s often forgotten that he could play a bit. Ten times the player that other hatchet men of that era such as Chopper Harris were. I think he was good enough to have adapted to the modern era. Mind you, the thought of him facing someone like Ronaldo invokes memories of that first Indiana Jones film. Ronaldo getting flash with all his fancy sword moves. Peter Storey eyes him steadily and then casually gets his gun out and shoots him!
Ttg @42 – Met Frank in the local after the Fulham game last year. You could tell from the glint in his eye that that Lazio brawl was one of his favourite episodes as an Arsenal player. I got a ten minute punch-by-punch retelling. There may have been a bit of poetic licence used, but he said the stars of the show were Ray Kennedy who was “pretty useful”, Eddie Kelly who “backed down from no-one”, and Ian Carmichael “a reserve, a scots lad, who lived for a scrap”. He said Bob Wilson hid under the table!
Last set of drinks…
Cheers Ned for the OG/CvC stats.
Agree with Ups/H2H/Ollie re Santos. I think he would be a superb addition to Piebury Corner.
And heh at H2H. You can come and be my assistant at The Daily Fail anytime!
Has Snir come down yet? Congratulations mate. On both the thesis and the Derby result. A thesis on Arsenal eh? Fair play to you. Gonna publish?
For shure ‘Holic you are shpoiling ush.
Storey was that kind of player but did he ever break anyones leg and/or go crying to his mum after the game? I think not.
Norman Hunter may have bitten legs but Storey simply laid them on their ars*s. The only current player with that kind of fight in him is Wilshere.
First your ‘Legends’ post and then Blogs’ of this morning. The Arse-internet is a great place to visit this week.
Thank you Barman.
What a coincidence to post @ #71
It’s a sign, it’s a sign…..
@tabs “He said Bob Wilson hid under the table!”
But at least he would have dived under it head first
The biggest surprise with the ’71 side was that after a week’s training there were still eleven of them left to put on the pitch.
Some double ‘ard bastards in that side.
Nobody tested for drugs in those days, Trev. Vitamin ‘S’ anyone?
Bodrum – Haha indeed!
Hi TS, indeed.
Good piece by Bloggs today – including the bit about over-seriousness.
I’m sure I annoy some people by not being serious enough at times, but this whole football thing is supposed to be fun, at the end of the day, Brian.
Don’t want people making themselves as sick as parrots, do we ?
And they always start using so many old cliches – not that you could really have a new cliche.
Anyhow ……
Tabs in da house.
Heh Trev and Morning
Forgot to mention earlier. A young Charlotte Rampling vs a young Sam Fox? Seriously? Not even close! Charlotte by a country mile.
It’s an ill wind that blows a gift horse in the bush, Trev. You of all people should know that
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21440195
Sickening, this group of Zenit supporters. How long can people focus on the football when so much hateful vitriolic behavior is allowed in and around the game? There has got to be a way to keep these hoodlums out of the grounds. The course suggested by Liverpool, of insisting their players remain on the pitch no matter what racist abuse the fans launch at them, can only be supported if the public rises up to insist that these hateful people will not remain a part of the game. Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers was before my time but he is exalted for taking a constant stream of this vitriol and not reacting to it. At the time he was the only black players in the league, and he had an exemplary temperament to be able to withstand all the abuse he took. Can every black or gay footballer be expected to be able to accept the level of abuse that Jackie Robinson took in the 1950s? I think not.
Trev 77 gets my vote.
in front of Charlotte Rampling Ollie?
yep, Lars 67
Tabs,
Charlotte Rampling has got nothing on me.
Unfortunately.
Afternoon all.
Nice one Tabs, glad I’d be welcome at such a
great establishment….fine publication……respected oraclemediocre convayor of “news” via words and pictures and stuff.Ollie & Lars. I agree that Real are over hyped, I think they’ll have to raise their game to beat Manure, but lets not forget the PL team are pretty vulnarable at the back. All in all, this being a cup tie anything could happen.
Trev. Seriously, I wish you would be more serious, the series of puns are seriously not serious enough to fit into the series of serious topics we discuss seriously here in all seriousness. I’m so seriously serious about this I’m almost serial….. or is it cereal? Non the less I’m sick as a John Parrot.
Cheers Ollie,
Over the moon!
H2H, you cannot be serious!
New league for Italian -Americans: Serie US
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21431678
This somehow remind me of a Monty Python sketch.
Will post it later if I have time.
Ollie, “a disposible penis”
A shoo in to be the next Chelsea manager.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/lukas-podolski-in-london-pictures
To go with blogs’blog.
Aaaaah, disapointed to see that it was part of Arsenal Player’s ‘Learning London’ series and not a spur of the moment thing.
Hi holics. I really do enjoy reading about players from our past and like True Storey, can’t help but compare them to our present lads. And so it was Jack Wilshere who came to my mind as a I concentrated on Peter Storey’s attributes. But also Paul Scholes (in his hey day) almost immediately came to my mind as well. I guess the point I’m belaboring to make is that as fans we tend to be not very objective (?) when it comes to players on other teams.
8ball, I gave your piece a great deal of thought. If YOU were a player, in similar circumstances, what would you do. Carry on as if nothing were amiss? Personally, I would walk off the pitch and would encourage my teammates to join me. Clubs like Zenit and Lazio should be heavily fined and their games should be played behind closed doors. ‘Fans’ who abuse players in racist or homophobic chants should be banned for life. Good contribution from you, 8ball.
It’s not our job to be, abb.
And keeping in that spirit, Paul Scholes is a club footed, copper topped buttmunchkin, just as annoying as anyone else connected to that poxy club, in fact, if arseholes could fly Old Toilet would be Englands biggest airport.
Try it, you might get to like it.
8Ball.
If Liverpool are worried about racist behaviour in Russia then they should leave Suarez at home.
Oh don’t you worry about that H2H…I enjoy a bit of misplaced mug slinging as much as the rest of you
But I still respect “them” in the dark recesses of my my mind. 
Heh@H2H@96
Oh, look, I’m quite near the penalty area with the ball at my feet so time for a perfectly weighted through-ball to the onrushing…
BANG
Well taken, H2H!
*High fives Lars
To Be Frank
Frank Lampard has been signed up for a book deal for children’s stories ‘based on friends and team-mates’.
Mediawatch is not sure any parent should be reading The Adventures of Ashley Cole and John Terry to their kids before bed-time. The number for Childline is 0800 1111, kids.
Heh.
Had my yearly appraisal, was slightly embarrased when I wasn’t sure how to say something in French, heh.
yeah that made me laugh H2H
104 It’s quelque chose Ollie.
It’s “quelque chose” Ollie.
Bloody hell H2H, what a cross post that is !
Seriously Trev!?
“I wasn’t sure how to say something in French”
That happens to me all the time. Mainly, I suppose, because I pretty much don’t speak a word of the language
abb@93, if tales of Peter Storey remind you of Jack, or even Paul Scholes then you aren’t reading them carefully enough.
Honest, there’s no similarity.
See the “bastard’s bastard” quotes, maybe translate them as “hard man’s hard man”. The nearest approach for hardness these days is Joey Barton, but Storey a) could play a bit, b) could take it as well as dish it out, and c) (much the most important) was our hard bastard.
COYG
I hoping a large Spanish sink hole opens up unde the bernabeu.
And no that not a reference to Josie. He’s a portuguese sink hole.
My typing above is flat out American. Poor and full of errors.
H2H is my hero.
Well, one of them.
Paul Scholes is a dirty little rodent. And a ginger to boot.
Just let me get my boot.
haha 106&107, wow!:D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R2zvE615dM
Sketch I was referring to earlier
Apparently Beckham trained with PSG today.
You’d nearly believe they have signed him.
What?
Oh.
Tabs
Sorry not to have replied earlier I have been out and about. You asked about Joe Baker who with Liam Brady and Bobby Pires is one of my three favourite Arsenal players of all times.
I was woken by my Dad in 1966 with the amazing news that Joe and George Eastham,the two big stars of that team were being sold. They were blamed for a 3-0 defeat at Blackburn in the third round which ended our season which in those days was effectively about two trophies.
Billy Wright took against them both and I understand that he considered they felt they were too big for he club. Joe went to Forest and had a brilliant season and Geirge went to Stoke when they had a great football team and ended up scoring the winner in the League Cup Final in 197(2?). Wright was rightly sacked that season after a huge fan revolt and it ultimately led to the creation of Mee’s double side. It was a huge mistake to let Joe Baker go. He was a top notch striker.
Lovely to hear your reminiscences with Frank.i got much the same story. He said the strongest man in the team was John Roberts but the last to pitch in. Bertie Mee apparently roles his sleeves up and started punching which earned him great respect from the team who used to call him Captain Mainwaring behind his back!
All this interest in Man U is sickening.I hope they get slaughtered. Then the media would only have us realistically left in the CL.
117 Ollie.
I heard he was there to sell shirts for charity.
Great stuff ttg – news to me.
TTG.
Let the meedja have their wankfeest over Manure. While we fly under the rader to glory. :devil:
Cheers for the follow up info.
Lots of hehs above
Ttg – Cheers for the Joe Baker explanation, and thanks for the added detail on the Lazio brawl.
With you on Man Utd. Much as it goes against the grain to be rooting for a side containing Ronaldo and managed by Maureen, Come on Madrid!
Oh Oxon, Jack meets and exceeds that criteria. Trust my life with him, if I had to. Think our Jack learned hard lessons, being out for so long. Imagine OX will do the same, once given the chance. Just my gut feeling
Now Zico…
Lads
I’m so old I’ve got lots of Arsenal trivia in my noddle. Although can anything about Arsenal be considered trivial? I like Holic’s series because some of the old players are part of the DNA of this club. Someone mentioned Joe Haverty,another Geordie Armstrong. Two top lads and really good wingers- and Geordie was a lovely bloke too. How the fittest man in an awesomely fit team was the first to die and of a heart attack is one of life’s cruel ironies but Geordie went far too soon.
1-0 Shaktar
1-1 HT
Come on Madrid.
I fucking hate Madrid and Mourinho, but the scum are the scum. Sick of all the media wanking over them.
Second that N7.
The media’s default code seems to go something like this:
Man u, Rooney or Bale have a run of form = onanism overdrive
Sickening is the word.
Madrid goalkeeper could be English
As usual, N7 knows.
Spot on CG.
Bale scores a brace against Newcastle = he’s up there with Messi and Ronaldo
Walcott scores a hat trick and lays on two against Newcastle = he’s having a decent season, his decision making has improved a bit
Madrid goalkeeper could be scottish
I don’t remember Real Madrid tapping up our players. Against the Redscums, I know who I’d rather see win…
2-1 Shaktar
Walcott scores a hat trick and lays on two against Newcastle = he’s having a decent season, his decision making has improved a bit
Or, as Arseblog put it, “It was only Newcastle, they were tired out after playing a few days earlier blah blah blah”
CvC just missed two sitters in 20 seconds…
OG would of scored them.
H2H,
I just twatted the same thing.
Eduardo on.
2-2. Hummels atones for his previous mistake.
Final whistle in Donetsk.
Real vs Man U what a fucking bag of shyte!
Gotta laugh at all the Manure players crying at the ref because he blew the final whistle before they could take their corner.
Fergie time obviously doesn’t translate to CET.
No fergie tiempo?
Whistle blown before the corner was taken. Haha
H2H,
Get outa my head.
El diablo eyes can’t penetrate these shades!
Hey all. Good old days @41- thank you for that clip, I’d never seen it. Got my heart racing… Blackburn going down this saturday, can’t wait!
The Guardian minute-by-minute report calls the referee a ‘tedious jobsworth’ for blowing the whistle before the corner was taken. Good to see them being so impartial…
Thanks for the history lesson Holic, what would we do without you, go on Wikipedia? X_X
A 1-1 draw between Sir Whiskey & Maureen the Greatest’s lots after all that hype? I’m glad I was put down to work today, give me Arsenal vs Bayern Munich from the Heights of the West Stand next Tuesday anyday
After Arsenal vs Blackburn from the Heights of the North Bank on Saturday, of course… 
Hope you enjoy the games, Wind.
Wish I was going to them as well.
I also truly hope we get your usual results in both games.
Cheers
Cheers NorCal, its been about 2-3 months give or take a few weeks since yours and Clive’s generosity so the ol’ Wind (good) luck should be at sufficient levels for the usual results, thinking about it that leads me to a 3-0 vs Blackburn and a 2-1/3-1 vs Bayern for the Home Side
The trouble now is that being so evenly poised the media can spend the next three weeks drooling over the second leg.My obervatiuons were from an Arsenal perspective that United can tighten games up very effectively. They played well defensively in the second half, They are tactically very savvy.Benzema is shite and wildly overrated. Glad we haven’t gone for him. Nice to see Modric getting on in a big game for the first time!
Currently eating breathing and drinking Arsenal. Later I plan on sleeping Arsenal, just to round out the day of course.
I hope Manure win their second leg. I want to see the look on RvP’s face when Arsenal beat them in the CL final at Wembley … which will be 2 weeks after seeing the look on his face after we beat them in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Dream the dreams, guys.
Oskar
The madness of stats.
From Arseblog : ….sides like Arsenal should stop crossing. They would gain an extra goal per game, on average, if they stopped crossing…
So apart from Bacary, who else was listening…..?
Zico – I saw that, and I totally disagree with that.
Crossing is one of the best methods to create pressure and chances. You just have to make sure the delivery is good.
Both goals at the Bernabeu yesterday were from crosses.
When United’s defense was packing the box. A cross is the only thing RM could do to break them down.
It worked for them.
Had they not crossed and tried again and again through the middle like they did in the 2nd half, they would have lost the game.
Did I read somewhere that RvCunt misssed chances? I thought he never did and it was just OG? ;s
Snir 158, it just shows that there were 2 shite teams there
Love it Oskar 156.
It looks like ex Arsenal target Yann Mvila has been getting himself in trouble again,dipping his wick in an under age hooker.Another astute non-signing from Arsène Wenger.
Mornings.
Dr.z @ #157 – Heh! Unfortunately, I think The Corporal’s been paying attention recently after doing a fine job of flagrantly ignoring earlier in the season.
Oxon @ #111 – I respectfully diagree. I drew an earlier parallel between the b’stard’s b’stard and LJW and the fight in both of them is similar. Both play/played for the shirt, both were/are more than happy to go in hard time, after time, after time. Both have/had a high level of skill for their day although Jack is streets ahead on that front and is destined to become an all-time great. Either way, I love them both.
UTA!
Did Pistorius just jump the gun or something?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21455453
Drink of the day to Oskar?
In fact, I’m going to pour away my coffee and have whatever he’s drinking.
Top man and if either comes true I’ll dance naked through the bar with a Van Quisling shirt over my head.
Actually Oskar …somewhere deep I still believe we actually might achieve something big this year….just look how shit Chelski were last one and won the CL, if we beat Bayern we can get on that kind of high that we can go on and win the whole thing..and I would happily join TS in the van Pigsty shirt antics should it happen for real
Heh! Well continued Eandy. If enough of us agree to do the dance we could fashion an alternative Happy Train of sorts.
Edwin would NOT approve but f*ck him
Ollie, you are a one man news service. That story is ‘encroyable’.
For an understanding of the passion and committment of overseas gooners going into last year’s home tie against Barcacunts ,this is well worth a view and is available to all on Arsenal Player.
http://player.arsenal.com/player/3181-day-of-passion
Ollie, as an experienced Ticket Exchange user I have a question for you: I will possibly be buying a ticket for Bayern at home for a friend on my membership card, but if I buy a ticket today will it still be registered to my membership card or will a paper ticket be sent to me? I seem to recall you saying that TX tickets are issued on paper, that’s why I ask.
Hi Lars,
no, Tx is always on the membership card, whether you buy at the opening of TX or 24h 1 min before the game.
No paper ticket.
‘Friends and Family’ are paper tickets even if you just use your own membership for one ticket.
Also as you well know, a paper ticket will NEVER be sent to you as you live in Sweden
. They only send to the UK
You (and I) pay postage fees if issued a paper ticket, but there is no postage done.
Ollie, cheers for that!
And knowing that paper tickets will never be sent is no guarantee that the Arsenal Box Office would send it on paper anyway
“would NOT send it”, of course…
heh Lars.
In other news, wow, I’ve just got a very nice and congratulatory e-mail from my boss following yesterday’s yearly appraisal.
Shame there’s probably not going to be any pay rise (and definitely no bonus) to give in our company this year anyway…. Bah.
I kind of fail to see how you could confuse your girlfriend with a burglar, but let’s wait for the enquiry.
Heh@Orbinho on Twitter:
“Mike Dean will referee Arsenal v Blackburn this weekend. At least we’ll be able to concentrate on the league.”
He’ll go down for that Ollie
He hasn’t got a leg to stand on!
I was just about to say that w-up, but glad I was able to leave it to you.
TS and Eandy, would you perhaps be so kind as to give us advance warning for when you will be flashing your bits in the bar so we can avert our eyes?
Oskar@156: now that is dream that I would give a lot for it to come true…
He was always highly sprung
Lars – A warning and full disclaimer will be issued in good time and a an MIB memory eraser thingy will be used post dance too.
Also and FYI, I sourced by Bayern @ home ticket on TX.
The lower tiers (‘cheap’ sets) go VERY quickly and often when you click on what looks like an available seat they’re gone already but if you have a little patience and time you’ll find what you’re looking for.
Further FYI: Club Level seats by the tunnel are over 180 f*cking quid PLUS booking fee! I am in the wrong business….
TS,
If you can’t afford it, don’t go.
Good advice, I’m told.
heh Trev.
TS: another trick: sometimes it’s worth trying to go to the ‘per block’ (can’t remember the name) rather than Overview section, I have been able to get tickets on blocks marked as orange there (without having the exact row/seat) before they seemed available in the Overview part.
Big heh! @ iTrev.
I know, what kind of a supporter am I who isn’t willing to spend £200+ per game? Shameful really
Ollie – Ta for le tip!
Heh@185!
TS: On behalf of the entire bar, I would like to thank you for the precautions taken should the Oskar dream come true!
TS/Ollie: a ticket was sorted pretty quickly once I logged on, there were a few available so I got one for her in block 92. Cheers for the advice chaps.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/65887000/jpg/_65887067_65886024.jpg
How are we supposed to believe it’s Pistorius, when the shot is cut this way?
You know the articles about De Gea?
I don’t remember the same sort after Almunia’s brilliant performance against Man U in the Champions League (the 1-1).
I wasted two hours of my sleep watching the manure/ madrid game last night.
It felt like watching us against stoke city over and over again. I hate Mourinho but I hate manure more, I really hope they do one over them at old trashford!
Ollie he was also brilliant in our first leg game against barca sometime back. If it wasnt for him Barca would have been way out of sight by half time.
@ 190 – Spot on. This media love-in over Manuel’s younger half-brother is enough to make you puke.
Ollie: I don’t know about them, actually. I have stayed away from the media all day
But generally speaking, Almunia and De Gea are quite similar. Brilliant shot stoppers when they are being kept constantly busy, but quite rubbish in the air and lacks concentration when left with nothing to do for longer periods.
….plus you never see them in the same room, Lars.
An extra thought on TX: If you’re an upper tier or club level season ticket holder and willing to sell your own seat for every home game and then buy a cheaper seat also through TX, in theory you could end up being paid to watch The Arse. With apologies to all those who had thought of this ages ago and/or are actually living the dream.
Nice dream Oskar @156, very nice dream……here’s hoping it comes to pass. You are not, by any chance the seventh son of a seventh son?
*Sacrifices a nectarine to the Gods to make it happen.*
I kind of fail to see how you could confuse your girlfriend with a burglar
Drunk a little too much and got completly legless?
It happens.
BtM guest post this way folks >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
@Ollie, wasn’t that 1-0? We didn’t score that game
Ping?