I Am Not A Number, I Am A Free Man!
Dec 8th, 2008 by 'holic
I’ve got the right hump, me. Does that surprise you? Probably not those that really know me, and I know that is not too many of you. Although of course lots of people who come here think they know me! I’m old school Arsenal, according to those who would like us all to fit into their view of things. Humour the old git.
In all of my years following the Arsenal there have been factions who simply existed to suit some misguided view of the world. We were never a united group of supporters. In the late sixties and early seventies nobody took liberties in the North Bank so there would be regular ‘disagreements’ between North and South London mobs. All in good fun of course!
As the seventies developed we had the back falling out with the middle, and the Clock End splitting out altogether. The toffs in the East and West Upper didn’t understand us, and weren’t ‘proper’ supporters anyway!
We travelled in large numbers to away games unhindered by the restrictions that exist today. Before the all-ticket game became the norm we would jump on cheap (often free if you were crafty!) trains to follow the Arsenal up and down the country. Those that went every week fell out with those that only went now and again. ‘You’re not real fans, are ya!’
We have a history of not liking each other, us Arsenal supporters. So I am surprised in a world where old misconceptions and prejudices have become a thing of the past that we still find ever more ways to classify each other and drive a wedge between like-minded people.
Those classifications are to the fore as the fallout from Saturday continues to dominate all things ‘Arsenal’. On the web, on the radio, in the press, there is allocation of ‘blame’ for those that first cheered, then jeered, Emmanuel Eboue as he departed the action at the Grove.
I don’t want to open up yet another front for the warring factions to discuss what happened then. It’s been done to death. Let it go, for goodness sake. I do want to take issue with those who are quick to blame the extra twenty thousand who now fill the Grove compared to the days we were at Highbury. I am upset with those who conversely argue it is the fault of those who have been going a long time and cannot accept change. Bollocks to you all!
It was apparent on Saturday to anybody who actually talked to others face to face that people who have been going for years were booing. Teenagers who haven’t seen us struggle before were booing. Some who love Arsene Wenger were booing, and those who think I would be wounded by being called an ‘Arsene Knows Best’ were booing.
Those in the latter category should know that thirty years ago Tottenham fans thought they could humiliate Arsenal supporters by calling them ‘Gooners’. What wags they were. We wore that label with pride, just as today I would happily cry I am an ‘Arsene Knows Best’.
You are entitled to your opinions, and I will argue your right to a point of view that does not coincide with mine. I have no divine right to be right. Your determination to attempt to abuse the bulk of this great clubs support is a problem for me though. What gives you the right to criticise the huge numbers who will forever be grateful for what Arsene Wenger has achieved at this club WE all follow?
It is the pigeon-holing of Arsenal supporters into neat parcels that suits your view of the world that is wrong. Through various online mediums I have made just as many friends as I did on the trains years ago. Old and young alike have earned my trust. I have met people from all over the world for whom the old ‘North and South London’ arguments would have been a mystery.
Some of the young ones think Arsene is the best thing that has ever happened to this club, and some of the old-hands will explain logically why they are not taken with him and the third version of ‘Wengerball’. Some think Emmanuel Eboue is the worst thing that ever happened to football, and others value his contribution as a squad player.
One thing I share with those people with whom I choose to spend my matchday experience is that closed minds and blind prejudices are not involved. People who I value, friends I consider to be level-headed and rational people do not necessarily share my view of Saturday’s events, or of what is happening at the Grove these days generally.
I can argue my case and listen to their counter-arguments all day. What pisses me off though are those who would attempt to ridicule supposedly fellow-Arsenal supporters on the basis that they did or didn’t watch the team ‘when we were shit’, or that they do or don’t think that Arsene Wenger is the greatest thing since sliced bread, or that they can or cannot afford to go and watch the side in the flesh every week.
I am so mad with those who would describe Arsenal supporters in derogatory terms, but nowhere near as mad as I am with the so-called Arsenal supporters who are responsible for fuelling this. Anyone from South of the river fancy a ruck?
21 Responses to “I Am Not A Number, I Am A Free Man!”
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Bravo, well said. G&T, por favor.
Ah, si, senor…
Evening `holic.Can I sense a bit of tension in the air.This is another stick for the media to beat us with ,best ignored.The last thing we need is to fight among ourselves.
The treatment of Eboue was ugly and did us little credit but is not unique to Arsenal.Ask Liverpool fans about there reaction to Lucas and United fans about what they used to think about Darren Fletcher.
The next time Eboue plays at the Emirates the crowd must give him a chance.He can turn this around it really is up to him.A large percentage of the crowd will be on his side.I know I will.
One of my early Arsenal memories was if the crowd giving Jon Sammels the most awful stick.That was in the late sixties so this is nothing new.If anything abuse now is a lot more genteel.
Finally if anybody thinks there was a racial element in Saturdays goings on they should seek help.
Heh. Everyone knows. In everyone we trust. Well said mate. Arguing for arguments sake, I fear.
Hello, everyone. Have a drink on me:)
Can I suggest that the time has come for everyone to draw breath and just calm down for a second? What went on in Saturday was unacceptable and completely wrong. But no one can change that and no one can turn the clock back. It happened, in my view through people having emotions and feelings for the club. It is a club we all love. I have reminded my wife on many occasions that my longest ever relationship is with The Arsenal, and we have been together for the best part of 18 years now.
It is not about how old or young people are. It is not about where we live. It is not about whether we travel to all matches or support from an armchair. We are all Arsenal supporters and that can not change. Along the same thread we all have different opinions and points of view. If we didn’t Holic, then no one would bother to comment on your well constructed blogs. I am guessing here, but that would kind of defeat the object?
The media love all of this shit. Any stick to beat The Arsenal with is more than welcomed by them. Let’s not hand them an even bigger stick. Lets also not over react to situations and start spouting total shite before the dust has settled. We might find that in the cold light of day that our views and comments may be somewhat different.
And let’s not forget. We did actually win on Saturday. God only knows what would have gone on if we had dropped points. So onwards and upwards. And bollocks to the rest of em…………
Up the Gunners.
Nice article. I like your style. New or old supporters, well we all have our views. I live in a constant state of envy for those who get to the games, but thank the Lord for Foxtel (Sky) in Australia where we get unparalleled coverage. I have not missed a game this season…my brother who lives just 15 miles (on the Southside) of The E****tes, shares my envy in a different way, he can’t get tickets. A trIp home in Sep saw me at 2 games..What a stadium…Would I have booed….no, nearly 50 years of supporting AFC (33 from afar) wouldn’t allow me to do so…Moan, though…you’d better beleive it. Well we all have our views on Eboue. When he first burst on the scene he seemed to be the biz….but progressively he seems to have deteriorated which linked with his Ronaldo-esque diving bemuses me and many others alike. Personally I don’t think he is good enough for the Arse…but he is not alone. AFC supporters have a long history of “despatching”players…Holic, you will remember Jon Sammels…very talented player with a great shot…the boo boys got to him and he left for Leicester (I believe). Never did that much again..pity should have played on for AFC and England. I hope Arsene knows…he is trying me at the moment. To all you lucky so and so’s who get to every game…show your support…the Wigan game started off as if it was behind closed doors…Oh for the days of the North Bank…..Arrr, Arsenal, Arrr, Arsenal we’ll support you evermore…we’ll support you evermore!
Yeah, I remember Jon well Malcolm. A wonderful bloke who was treated badly with precious little reason. Apparently he is not well these days, but still living in the Leicester area. Good luck to him.
Thanks for visiting, and commenting.
What blogs said.
Time to move on.
Come on you REDS!!!!!
Great comments Steve T and Malcolm. Couldn’t agree more with the view that more than enough has been deliberated about Saturdays game (by paradox not enough perhaps about the result). Personally, I’ve chosen to let most of it go over my head – mostly because I believe the press are unfit to talk objectively about Arsenal Football club.
Not forgetting we have a big game tomorrow to which to look forward.
A very thoughtful and rational article. We must now move on from last Saturday and the fallout and remember that we are still in the hunt and that the team needs our support perhaps more than for a long time. Eboue must now sort himself out and we must at least give him a fair chance to do just that.
Cheers ‘holic; well said.
[…] fan-base, and how quickly these come apart. On these, I share many of the excellent thoughts of Goonerholic. Enforcing labels for groups of fans who may be particularly pro-Arsene or otherwise smacks of a […]
Good stuff.
I’m very much South of the River, me, but I’ll have any soothing drink rather than a ruck. Thanks.
Get over it he got booed and there were plenty of fans in the stadium booing him. If a few boos make him cry he really has not got the mental strength to play for arsenal. He should use this experience to come back stronger and be the player he was when he first burst on the scene. I was not there saturday but I would have been screaming to get the lazy,cheating cnut of the pitch. Too many self righteous fans who never go to the game giving it large on the net about what great fans they are and never moan or say a bad word about the team/manager. I can see that the way this club has been going and the support it has attracted over the wenger years that the booing will rear itself again before the season is over. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Arsenal fans have always been divided, it was the same with our firm with too many different factions who disliked each other
That’s beyond prose, that. Nice.
Brilliant stuff again , guv!
Well said, only just seen this so a bit behind but can’t we all come together!
Nice to find a like minded and hard core supporter amongst the non-believers .
Cheers and thanks from a 56 year old Malaysian who has followed
The Arsenal since 1971 .
Up the Gunners !
With every game, AW gets more and more on my nerves.. I cant believe i actually trusted this man. I can’t believe i let this man lie to me for 7 years before only at the end of last season/start of this one i realised how much him and all his mate’s on the board are destroying this club…. I never thought i’d say this, but i really hope those Arabic billionaires buy our club… i never wanted our club to be run by a sugar daddy but i would much rather see a sugar daddy who has PASSION and LOVE’S our club, someone who is not motivated by making money because they already have enough of it, running our club over some yank that doesnt even have the balls to speak to the media or anyone regarding our club…
doesnt matter if we buy ashley williams. the main problem is wenger’s approach to defensive work, or rather lack of approach. we never defend as a unit, instead we are a collection of individuals doing their best. there is no organization or direction. wenger also deploys rubbish tactics, namely the high line. we dont pressure opposition players when they are ball to play the high line. in fact, most of the time there is no pressure and we just let them pick their pass. were also prone to misplaced passes, and when they happen we are facing a counter attack with acres of space between our back line and szcesney. in short, with the players we have, and their mentality, playing a high line is a disaster. wenger gets the idea form barcelona. barcelona play a high line, but they pressure like mad, they also dont give away the ball in critical areas. wenger has got this misguided belief we are similar to barcelona. he thinks we are so good, we dont need to focus too much on defending. if we buy williams, he would be asked to play a style so insane and stupid, it doesnt matter how good he is. the problem is wengers tactics. mertesacker, kosicelney, vermaelen, sagna, jenkinson, gibbs, monreal are all good players as individuals. but they forced to play a high line, in addition to having in front of them a midfield not concerned with the defending aspect of the game.