Glorious Uncertainty
Feb 18th, 2008 by 'holic
It has been a day for looking forward. Thankfully the magnitude of the task to come against Milan on Wednesday far outweighs what has gone before. What a contest awaits. I feel very privileged to be going.
The main preview will follow tomorrow when hopefully we will have a little more of an update on the injury situation. In the meantime all we can do is wonder if this will be another Madrid, or another Eindhoven. Will the champions of Europe prove to be a stepping stone to a much greater feast, or are we about to bite off more than we can chew?
I suspect most of you are going through similar thoughts. We have all convinced ourselves that we can defeat the ‘old men’ from Italy, after all didn’t we see off the ‘Old Lady’ on the way to the 2006 Final? Then you let the names run through your mind, and start to wonder will they have the guile and skill to frustrate us.
Maldini, Nesta, Gattuso, Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Pato, and that is far from all. Some of them may be creaking a little, one or two may be injured too. Part of me wants to see the best side they can put out because we don’t get to see Milan in the flesh every year. Most of me hopes they are down to the bare bones, because at this stage we cannot be sure that we won’t be!
The emotions swing from one extreme to the other. Isn’t this just what supporting Arsenal is all about? We are lucky enough to be contemplating another massive Champions League night. Some who would like to think they follow a big club haven’t the first idea what this feels like, and yet Arsene leads us down this particular path year in, year out.
In the words of the immortal Peter Sellers, ‘I feel better now’.
Win An Arsenal Opus With O2
Don’t forget you can still grab the opportunity to win your very own Opus by voting for your favourite photo in the O2 competition here. Today I am featuring another of the eleven finalists. Let Sophia talk you through her entry, the deliciously titled ‘Spurs stuffed’.
‘Although born and bred in Leeds I, never supported them because they were racist and I was told they often handed out National Front (the previous name of the BNP for those too young enough not to know) flyers amongst their supporters in the crowd.
I didn’t want to support any other northern teams so decided to go for one down south. I chose Arsenal as my team. I supported them through the dodgy 80s, but it was all worth the wait for that wonderful title win in 1989 and the continuing success we’ve had during the 90s and now 2000’s.
I moved to London in 1991 and as soon as I could afford it went to Highbury and I’ve been going ever since.
Between 2004 and 2006 I was a member of the official fans forum and would like to think I had some say on the way the Emirates is run. I was there at the start of construction and was lucky enough to be there at the end. After 10 years on the waiting list I am now a season ticket holder and know how lucky I am to be one.
The picture itself features myself and my two Gooner mates at the FA Cup semi-final against Spurs at Old Trafford in 2001. It truly was a special day.
We were sat up in the gods (thus explaining the nearness of the scoreboard) and I asked a fellow Gooner to take the picture and ensure that the score was included.
I believe I represent the multi-cultural and mix of sexes that is often found at an Arsenal game, and apart from the fact that we were going nuts, I think this reflected mix is another reason my picture deserves to win. I do think ‘Arsenal Eyes’ is my greatest competition but if you know me you’ll know just how mad a Gooner I am and how much it will mean to win the competition.
So if you like my picture please vote for me.’
So thanks Sophia, and good luck. It’s great to be reminded of one of our many good days at Old Trafford!
11 Responses to “Glorious Uncertainty”
It’s nice to start looking forward, but it’s such a shame that we will be missing so many players – unless Arsene has been playing games? We can only hope…
If our first choice XI were playing I would be full of confidence, as things stand at the moment it’s more hope than expectation. But this team have made me a believer so come on you reds!
First drink!
Goodnight ‘holic.
Or second, oh well. I shouldn’t have read the blog then! 😉
Goodnight Ollie. I was in ‘the other place’!
Let’s see what tomorrow brings Passenal. Hopefully there will be a few miraculous recoveries to report…
i thinkk even with all the injuries we stillhave a very good chance its bout time all this dropping outta the domestic cups pays off
we’ll bounce back,am sure of that,only am wondering by how many goals we’ll beat this ageing milan side.
as for the league,we’ll win it,of this am sure too.
we’ve easier fixtures than the mancs and we’ll pick max points in old trafford.
smile gooners,we’re the champions.
Could Rosicky actually get disability ?????
Ditto to your thoughts, American-Gooner.
LOL @ Danish Gooner
Awww, he’ll be back :o) we just have to be VERY patient. That damn hamstring…
Well the injury update is going to be critical. Rosicky, Clichy, Sagna must play.
Looks like the miracle recoveries have happened – yippee! But still no TR7 or RVP11 – I’m desperate to see those two players back on the pitch before it’s too late!