A Faraway Look And A Little Tear
May 3rd, 2012 by 'holic
The beauty of Twitter. Just after midnight I was reminded by Yogi’s Warrior (surely you read A Cultured Left Foot too?) that it was the 41st anniversary of a night that ranks as one of the most memorable and significant of my life.
A relatively smaller number of a more recent generation have experienced the joy of securing the League title at the brown and sticky end of Seven Sisters Road, but a lot of us fossils found our way, by hook or by crook, into White Hart Lane that unforgettable night. Waking this morning my first thoughts were of that day spent bunking off school to join ‘holicdad on his appointments with tea and coffee buyers around London before we made our way to a crowded N17 in mid-afternoon.
Those memories have stayed with me throughout the day. A busy day at work, unfortunately, but made more bearable every so often as little flashes replayed at the back of the mind. The impression that night made on a fourteen year old in the Shelf cannot be underestimated. More than once I found myself daydreaming of Bob Wilson getting battered by Alan Gilzean, of Alan Mullery and Peter Storey exchanging shuddering challenges, of little Geordie swinging in that cross, and Ray Kennedy’s bullet header.
That title was our first for eighteen years. The vacant staring into space will carry on into tomorrow. Again eighteen years is the trigger. In the morning my first thoughts will be of 4th May, 1994. I remember waking up that morning in a kindly old Danish lady’s apartment (leave it!) and taking a carefully folded Umbro Arsenal 1970’s shirt from my bag. The lucky shirt was going to win us the European Cup-Winners Cup that night, I was convinced.
Of course I maintain that magical cotton construction was the difference that enabled our patchwork team, ravaged by injuries and suspension, to overcome the holders Parma complete with Sensini, Crippa, Brolin, Asprilla, and Gianfranco Zola. What chance did the Italians stand against the might of an Arsenal midfield of Steve Morrow, Paul Davis, and Ian Selley? None was the answer that surprised most of the football world.
So tomorrow will undoubtedly follow the pattern of today. There will be flashbacks to an astonishing rearguard action and the heroics of David Seaman carrying a painful rib injury throughout. The moment that Alan Smith will never forget will drift in front of my eyes as the man charged with leading the line in the absence of Ian Wright scores the only goal of the game with the sweetest of volleys. Most of all though I expect I will recall that amazing walk back into town afterwards, and the dark skies of Copenhagen filling with reprise after reprise of “one nil to the Arsenal”, and a variation on the theme, “We won because we’re Arsenal”.
Then someone at work will catch the glazed expression and enquire as to my wellbeing. “Silly old sod dozing again”, they will think. Little do they know at that moment I will be dancing on a table in a pub opposite the Tivoli Gardens. Just the once more. Anybody got a handkerchief I could borrow?
146 Responses to “A Faraway Look And A Little Tear”
NO!
YeeeeeSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
Copenhagen ’94, if you haven’t seen it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQDULgLXwBs
And WHL ’71
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdALY2fLvq4
Played ‘holic, the history man – nobody does it better. Here’s hoping invoking the spirit of hard-fought past victories can help yank us over the line and into third place these next couple games
Up The Arse!
pardon – next coupla games
Nice one Guv’nor. Quick quiz question – How many clubs have won the Championship at WHL twice?
COYG CCMUED
Just the one I believe, Oxon.
As a mate tweeted yesterday, Sol Campbell won as many League titles in three years at Arsenal as Tottenham have won in their history.
Oh, thanks for the link to 94 H!
Ray Kennedy.
Oh yes.
And I have seen this before…..
…then someone…..will catch the glazed expression and enquire as to my wellbeing. ๐
Didn’t see that one coming.
Congrats for the half-thousand AL.
Now to read the new offering.
Ah, the good old nostalgic post. Cheers, ‘holic.
I expect dizzy to pop inand ask whether it was a Burger King or a McDonald’s or something tomorrow ๐
“Don’t worry Arsenal fans, the flag is up”.
I still worried.
AL,
Are we going to have the pleasure of your most excellent company on Saturday?
In addition to us having won it twice at WHL, we have as we all know also won it at Old Trafford and at Anfield – i.e. we have won titles at the homes of what is arguably our three biggest rivals throughout our history. Don’t think too many clubs can match that.
Heh @ 13
I ALWAYS worry. ๐
Haven’t seen it in a long time Blogs. Brings it all back.
Lars – Next on the menu, winning it at the bus stop with a John Terry slip ๐
And of course, using today’s “rules” the flag would have stayed down.
Forgot a lot of things about that Final. Not least a Scotsman called Dick-Off on the bench. ๐
Just going to settle in to relive 94. I believe I may have been a little drunk. Or more than a little.
Ian Selley. A talent sadly robbed by injury.
Oh, and zico at #10, I saw that!
Evening Ollie. Late on parade again Saturday, I see ๐
One-Nil to The Arsenal…
Too kind Dr Zee, and of course – how could i possibly pass up the opp to spill pints in your fine company once again, and see The Mighty Arse do the bizz and go part way to nicking thired (please Dennis)!
Psed if The Village People had had a ‘keeper to go along with the cop, the construction worker and the cowboy etc – i suspect he might have looked a bit like Big Dave in that ’94 final – no!?!
may the 4th always be with you
Omniscient he is, even with glazed eyes. 8)
Btw, if you are opening, you must be leaving Wiltshire at silly o’clock, no?
Yeah, sorry, ‘holic, this time it’s because I’m travelling on the day, and my enthusiasm for waking up an hour earlier is not that big ๐
I think Toasey might be in before me, don’t forget the card ๐
Sorry about same smiley repeat, makes me look like your common Redknapp.
Excellent AL.
I shall post a Tollie roll-call tomorrow, best day of the (working) week.
Will give me something to do as I watch the clock labour its’ way to 5 o’clock.
And Ollie @ 11, ta – and i take it you saw that that nickname you came with for a certain someone (why, it don’t seem right somehow to repeat it this early in the drinks) – looks like it’s got leeeeegs – well played!
AL
Belated congrats for your half century tap in.
They say an assist is as good as a goal.. ๐
Ollie
There is smiley etiquette now??
Silly o’clock indeed, but only drinking before the game due to family dinner early evening…
Arsenal must sign Clint Dampsy from Fulham now, it will be a great signing
Oops, pardon – came ‘up’ with (nooooooooo CG)
And may your clock watching fly past and your plane err, not – Dr. Zee!
Ta CG and don’t you believe it…
Holic, What a sweet pep talk, much needed after reading the drinks from the last post. One thing I don’t agree with, is your reference to being a ‘fossil’. Enough already, please!!!
Ollie, From the last set of drinks. Not offended at all, lad. After I posted those comments, I was off to hopital for a test requiring the Michael Jackson sedation. Apparently, when I woke up, I was going on about the Arsenal, they didn’t have a clue what Arsenal
What Arsenal is. Apparently my sedation is not completely worn off(tremendous sigh).
Is Michael Jackson sedation not another way of saying “dead”?
Ha, Ha Zico!
Copenhagen 1994. I was 15. The memories of that night for me were..
Thousands and thousands of gooners!!.. (about 200 Parma turned up) and we painted the entire city red and white and did the club proud.
Playing football in the huge park that surrounded the stadium and then rushing to buy one of only a few programmes available. (if I remember rightly they printed Benfica or Sampdorias squad in the centre pages??!)
The ball crashing against the bottom of Seamans post… and coming out again!!Me turning to my mate every time Brolin or Aspirilla got the ball and semi shrieking ‘fuuuuuckghhhh’
Smudgers goal is a blur.. couldn’t f’in believe it had gone in.
The final whistle. The bloke next to me (about 45 years old) weeping openly. He then turned to me and said ‘ Enjoy this son, you may never see anything like this again!’
Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen being sung by a fat soprano gooner the entire bus journey to the airport.
Getting to school straight from the airport and making ‘winners medals’ to wear on our shirts to piss off our spud/west ham mates.
Snir, we’ll be running round Chelsea with our titles hanging ouuuuuuuuuuuuut!.
They are not our rivals. Maybe QPRs
heh abb and Dr Z.
Dr C surely you’re aware that repetitive winking might be misconstrued as twitching?
ab @ 36 – when coming out of sedation i believe it to be fairly commonplace for a person to be unable to tell her Arsenal from her elbow (ifankyoooou!) – so you have nothing to worry about imo – however i am one of the few on here who doesn’t claim to be a medical professional so do feel free to seek a second one
A second Arsenal or a second elbow?
๐
either/or…
excellent piece holic great memories never to be forgotton its always good to reminisce.
Great piece holic. It has come to that time of the season when those taking the field this and next weekend would do well to take the same history lesson. Heroic displays resulted in all of the above achievements. It is time for those today to display such courage and valour. If that happens then 3rd is ours. Perhaps you need to do part of the team talk on Saturday holic?
fine tales @ 39, ta
Way to funny Al @ 42! Let’s just say I’m glad this is all ‘behind’ me now. A funny clue there, if you catch my drift. Gives new meaning to up the arse (giggling).
Nurse abb!!!
Gosh.
Well, Tried to warn you, not quite myself yet! Getting back to Yogi Warrior, he made a snide reference to Kos a couple of days ago, saying Sagna was the best. Didn’t understand, maybe a running joke I’m not privy to.
I think we may have lost CG momentarily there. Do not adjust your sets…normal service will be resumed asap
I’m back. A little dizzy. What day is it? Who’s the Prime Minister?
AL
On the subject of your name. Which we weren’t. Has anyone else noticed that on FIFA 12 the Arsenal crowd sing “and Leicester” in their little ditty?
Nice touch. As Nurse ABB no doubt said to Dr Proctor this morning ๐
Me 8)
@ 54 – And BAM! – back with the tough ones ay! General knowledge not my strong suit – could you a) Make them multiple choice or b) Give us a clue?
Thanks Steve. Don’t think the boys do “We fought ’em on the beaches” talks these days. Would frighten a couple of them probably. ๐
Good evening, nurse…
Thank you bridge gooner, but it was a bit of a lazy one really, indulging the anniversaries of two of my biggest nights yet again.
Need to cover another two or three classic matches this summer, but don’t want to do them all at once, or I’ve shot my bolt, as it were ๐
@ 55 why that brings a tear to my eye and a swelling of my chest…fanks CG, fanks fifa 12 – will have to hunt it down now jus’ so’s i can sit alone and singalong to it during the long, dreary, no Arseeeeenaaaaaaal to look forward to off-season…
Not to change the subject, BUTT, Cisse’s second goal was out of this world, however Robin’s goal (against Everton?) was superb cause of the angle and he had both feet off the ground. So, for me, it is a tie. In other futbol news, my Gigi Buffon made a glaring, costly mistake, butt, all is forgiven.
I’ll be happy as long as one of the two gets Goal of the Season nurse abb ๐ Super Quality the both of them, a joy to watch!
And thank you ‘Holic. Maybe I was 7-8 months along before birth at the time of the final, but your description of Copenhagen ’94 combined with Youtube just gives you the feeling of.. being there, you know? :’)
“My heart was running hard for Arsenal. Whatever happens with me I’ll always feel a Gunner.”
Robin at the FWA ceremony.
I like the first part of the sentence, but the second part is giving me the creeps.
This is the first time doubt has crept into me that he might leave. I don’t like this sentence at all.
What with what SG has put-down and flagged up @ 63 it occurs to me that this Saturdee is the last chance/chants (oh YEAH!) the home crowd gets to give RVP THE BIG LOVE STUFF/STAY BABY STAY THING before the contract lark gets looked at…
meeee, maaaaaaa, mooooooooooo, m-m-m-m-maaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!
Robin says he’s ready for talks with Arsenal & Wenger at the end of the season according to Sky Sports.
Just a little reminder folks. Three points needed against Norwich on Saturday morning.
COYG CCMUED
Why I KNEW that whoosh thing in the previous post was a misrep re you OG!!!
And I see it’s AW’s 900th game, wow. Hopefully a very good omen.
Ok…
This is my analysis (I have to say this is driving me crazy, it’s not like the Cesc saga which I knew was destined for a goodbye! Here we have hope! It’s torture!)
‘That is still the plan. We haven’t set a date but I will have a meeting with the boss like we did before now. We will be having a meeting about my future, and lots of other things.
‘Arsenal is an unbelievable club. The player I am today is because of Arsenal. When I actually signed the deal (to join Arsenal) it was a dream come true.
‘If you ask the likes of Robert Pires how he feels, what he feels like he will say ‘I feel like a Gunner’ – and whatever happens with me I will always be a Gunner.’
That sounds a lot better.
Plus a meeting about other things = prospective signings that would act as an incentive to sign.
Breathe in, breathe out.
AL@66, I felt there was some danger of people getting ahead of themselves. Remember, one game at a time. Then, when we run out of games, we can worry about the summer. Simples.
If I get access to the ground I will be sure to boo Van Persie to let him know he will be a Judas if he leaves
Still in the middle of Finals, Snir?
Tomorrow is the last one for this semester Oxon… ๐
Mine don’t start until the 14th… :'(
Great post Guvnor! ๐
What a superb trip down memory lane on so many fronts but none with a “Danish Lady”; just Swedish! ๐
AL @42,
Heh! ๐
Wind revisited @470,
Cheers me old mucka and agree re the greedy, chinless, bench-warming cunt!
BtM revisited,
Heh! ๐
Snir and Wind, Mega good luck with your exams! Just go in with the attitude that you’re gonna show them what you know.
Have you any abseiling kit, neighbour?
Don’t like heights ‘holic. Maybe i should bring a shovel?
Snir @69,
Try to relax fella; all will be fine!
Robin’s no Cesc and his AFC-loyalty and desire for a happy & stable family-life will prevail with the offers of a 150k/wk pay-rise!
Finish your final paper tomorrow then have several beverages with several nice young ladies before the final event at the Grove this session! I’m sure Robin’s body language during the lap-of-thanks will appease your concerns! Goodluck tomorrow!
Good luck with your revision & exams too Wind mate!
Don’t worry about your St Tott’s day bender – it’ll be delivered soon enough after with lots of fine young ladies in presence too I’m sure! ๐
A wee round of the fine-stuff for the two whipper-snappers please bar-keep! Salut ‘holics till later this FFF!
Hello niteholics. It is getting ever closer to time for squelching the true (?) hearts of Norfolk Dumpling and Delia. 1-0 to the Arsenal seems just about the best way to do it, with SZCZ in a starring role to squelch their hearts ever more cruelly. Now, Norfolk Dumpling and Delia, it is your turn to profess your true love for Arsenal. ๐
Is it time to roll the dice and put Thierry Henry and Ian Wright in my FFL team for the last two games? Some change of strategy seems to be indicated … because my team is at last living up, or down, to its name. ๐
Golden memories, ‘Holic.
“I’ll always be a Gunner”
Ah, that banal line the likes of Cesc and Thierry bandied around, as they sought to appease Arsenal fans.
Van Persie has gone one step further and stated “WHATEVER HAPPENS, I’ll always be a Gunner”. Didn’t really have to say “whatever happens” did he?
Excuse my cynicism but I don’t feel good about this. Might stay for a year and see his contract out. Might just leave at the end of this season but I don’t see him signing that contract. Would love to be proved wrong though.
Whistler … I think him saying “meeting to talk about my future and a lot of other things” is what’s more important here.
I’m sure other things = AW telling him what his prospective signings are to see how ambitious we are.
Gotchyer – O.G!
Robin Van Persie!!! (a little light pre-match day limbering up)
UREDS!
Can’t wait to go back home and check the Copenhagen link, thanks ‘holic
Have seen the highlights, I’m guessing this is some kind of an extended version..
Cheers ‘holic great memories. Seem to remember May 3rd 1998 was a pretty good day as well, like.
Hmm, fair enough. But the likes of Cesc, Flamini, Henry, Hleb, Nasri wouldn’t buy into Wenger’s rhetoric back then so the track record ain’t too good.
Point is, at this juncture, I don’t think any of us can say with certainty that he’s staying. His comments certainly suggest that he’s weighing his options and his presence at Arsenal next year isn’t as definitive as most Arsenal fans think it is. It’s their prerogative to feel bullish but I’d suggest cautious optimism.
I know there’s the enjoying-the-captaincy angle, the Vermaelen angle, the payback-to-Arsene Wenger angle, the Bouchra Van Persie-loves-shopping-in-the-high-streets-of-London angle, the kids-happy-at-school angle, the personalised-he-scores-when-he-wants-anthem angle and all that, but take this whole business of football away and in an ideal world, you’re in the last lap of your earning cycle, you’re employed in an institution that is forever brimming with promise but inevitably falls short when it counts, and you see mediocrity like Adebayor and James Milner get paid twice as much as you do, you gotta wonder. He might also feel that he’s done his bit for the club over the last one and a half seasons. Earlier in the season Wenger mentioned that post the departures of Nasri and Fabregas, half the team wanted to leave. I doubt Wenger was referring to the younger ones (Woj, Ramsey, Wilshere) who were just getting in from the fringes so I’d like to believe he was referring to the older guard-RVP, Song, Sagna, etc.
I’ve always had a soft spot for A S Roma and until Luis Enrique’s appointment this season, I can’t ever remember a season where I wondered if Fransesco Totti was going to stay or not. You always knew, regardless of where Roma finished, II Gladiatore would always be around.What Van Persie is to Arsenal and what Totti is to Roma are obviously not comparable but I wish I could feel for Van Persie and Arsenal, the same sense of definitiveness that I feel for Totti and Roma.
Said it before, and I’ll say it again would love to be proved wrong and made to look like an absolute fool. Fingers crossed.
Whistler – First of all, you should have even brought Totti up because it has nothing to do with it.
RvP is not Steve G, Del Piero, Totti, Tony Adams or any player who grew up in a certain academy and player their entire career there.
It’s different when you’re a foreign player. He wasn’t raised on the streets of Holloway going to Highbury with his dad. It’s just different. Obviously you can acquire it (like I consider myself one who has acquired an undying love for The Arsenal, but I don’t look at football as a player, but as a fan).
Everything you say here is right, but just like nobody could say he’s staying for sure, nobody could say he’s leaving for sure either.
Of course there is a possibility he’d leave, we’d be foolish to think otherwise, but I don’t think it’s 50-50. I really do believe all the reasons you just listed make it a 70-30.
Plus – even if he doesn’t sign, I wouldn’t be surprised if we keep him for his final year, something that might produce trophies, which might make him wanna sign at the end of his contract. You never know.
I really do believe we’ll strengthen big this summer, because I think that
1) AW knows that squad depth is what made us lose out on trophies in recent years as our first 11 could always battle with the best.
2) AW will be a bit more loose on the trigger with the 2013-2014 season coming up, which means new commercial deals going to be in place, which will obviously make up for an investment in Theo, RvP, and 4 signings.
We can make a lot of money off the commercial deals, especially if we get trophies.
Also, we have a very very strong card to play in the commercial negotiations – We are BIG in Asia. That’ll have every company and their sister on their asses for us.
*shouldn’t have.
*player their entire career = played.
It’s 3 A.M – I’m tired.
Suck it up.
#FFF
This video of our season so far is brilliantly made:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqYHPdJb4wU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It really captures the extreme highs and lows of this season. I’m backdrinking a bit but to continue on the discussion from last post about this season’s excitements, I genuinely think this season is relatively better than our past few seasons in terms of excitement, sensation, and the magical moments that is essentially why we all love football and The Arsenal.
We may not play with as much creativity and flair than seasons past, but the current squad has displayed great heart and commitment, which is something we could be accused of lacking the past seasons. To recover from terrible losses at Old Trafford and Blackburn, not to mention our draining loss against Man U at the Ems, and still find heart to respond and potentially earn a CL spot surely required massive effort and “mental strength”. SZCZ’s response to Kosc’s own goal at Anfield typified our squad’s character IMO, when a despirited Kos was helped up by SZCZ. He would not have us sulk, and the team refused to sulk, instead responding with grit and finally earning a little bit of luck and all 3 points.
In short, there is definitely something magical about our current squad, and I can only hope we augment this team for next season, not deplete it. We are ending up with another trophyless season, yes, but for me this season have provided fulfilling, spirit-lifting wins that almost felt like winning trophies. Almost. The 5-3 win at the Bridge, TH’s winners against Leeds and Sunderland, the NLD win at the Ems, Vermaelen’s winner against Newcastle, as well as RVP’s unlikely winner at Anfield, this season surely have delivered us Gooners with many magical moments. And moments like those have made my love for The Arsenal grow even stronger. Moments that gives me goosebumps.
I do not have the privilege of cheering for our lads at the Ems come Saturday, but by all means, they deserve the greatest form of applause and appreciation. We may still suffer from our momentary lapse in defensive concentration, but our support can definitely help the players focus, fight, and hopefully cross the finish line. After our win against Spuds at the Ems, our players said that crowd support helped them to win the match. Magical moments can happen when players feel the connection with the fans. We can be the 12th man come tomorrow, so let’s show the players and everyone watching what The Arsenal are made of. Roll on Saturday…
Arsenal Ladies on the slide, they lost to Chavladies in the Cup. Dooooooooooooomed.
Arsenal Ladies on the slide. They lost 2-0 to Chav ladies. Doooooooooomed.
Sorry about the double post, the first didn’t appear at the first time of asking.
Oh and I forgot to add 1 more thing: RVP is yet to meet with AW regarding his contract, which probably means he may not have fully made up his mind. So let’s help make his decision easier tomorrow, make him realize there is no other club quite like this.
Season not even ended and transfer (or not) mania has erupted.
Going to need a bigger medicine cabinet.
Do they make ’em in Texas?
I really hate open spaces.. I mean at work.
Not that I have ever worked in that sort of environment before so I suppose I’ll get used to that.
*is cross but also crosses the ball*
Shoots!
Snir good points. But those deals we sign in 2014 can’t be of the 10 year duration. Might be wrong here, but fair to say the existing deals have eroded our relative competitiveness on the fiscal front. The fast-increasing profoundness of inflation makes it pivotal that our future deals are of a shorter duration. Considering we’re not financially desperate, I think we can manage with shorter deals though I’m not too sure.
I don’t worry about the future of our club. I worry that our players may not quite share the same sense of optimism considering their limited shelf life. But I like that we have a small group of British players coming through who might find fulfilment at Arsenal.
Derrick brilliant video.
In with his first touch on the pitcb! Runs over to high-five Ollie for the perfectly weighted cross, thinks back to Arshavin providing similar for the King of Highbury… ๐
abb/DanC @ 76/75&79, thanks for the support ๐
Derrick @ 92/96, well said man.
Derrik @92 – great stuff
Wind – nice touch
Ollie – nice angry assist
Is ABB going to be the Butt of all the jokes today?? One fluffy cushion reserved for her in the bar.
#FFF
I get the same feeling when I watch the Copenhagen video as I get when I watch Anfield ’89, but in reverse. Every single time I watch that, I think that Thomas will miss it. The Copenhagen video gives me the feeling that somehow Parma will score. I can hardly watch it even if I know it ends well (at least every time I’ve seen it up til now!)
Great post Holic .
41 years ago in a land of sideburns , Curly-wurlies, and Space Hoppers , a young Tabs , cheeks (left lower) gently puffing, lay sleeping the sleep of childish innocence .
In bounded Tabs senior , his expression still betraying his amazement at having made it through the swamped WHL turnstile on that most momentous of nights .
“Champions Son!, beat ’em 1-0, and your favourite Ray Kennedy scored the goal !”
Up bounded the young Tabs , put on his junior Speedoes , and looked for the nearest LWC to laud his superiority .
It was, and is, ever thus .
Fast forward 23 years and the bedroom has been transposed for a Pub in The Angel . The Pub is packed and noisy and fiercely partisan . Cheeks are blowing for entirely different reasons as Asprilla, fatty Brolin and Zola rain attack after attack on the Arsenal goal .
The famous Five , however , have their most famous rearguard night as each Parma foray is successfully repelled .
Arsenal win . Let’s get very very drunk .
It was , and is , ever thus .
NOt sure if this will work …. hope it does
https://twitter.com/#!/GarethDParker/status/198341445793492993/photo/1
FIHS
Forever in his speedoes
As always a pleasure to read about memories of past glories. Makes me wish I had understood my love for the Arsenal much, much earlier.
Zico@107: heh!
Great memories ‘Holic. Looking forward to the next batch whenever they will be.
MASSIVE game tomorrow….
An absolute must win to help us secure 3rd & CL football next season.
Arsene’s 900th game in charge.
Pat Rice’s final home league match?
Our final chance at home this season to serenade Robin into signing a new contract.
Pardon the hackneyed phrase bit it’s going to be emotional.
UTA! COYRRRs!
@107 ๐
Catalan @ 103, thanks Chiro ๐
tabs @ 105, good stuff mate ๐
TS –
We’re going to paint the town red tomorrow – it’s going to be emulsional ๐
Nice one Tabs –
I must have nearly bumped into you and ‘Holic at WHL that famous night. I was there by mid afternoon too and finished up standing behind the goal where Ray Kennedy nodded home. Don’t know what happened after that – the whole place just went berserk.
Trust Trev to put a gloss on things…..
Well, me or Matt ๐
See you tomorrow . . should be there by 11.00
Trev , don’t think you would have bumped into me that night , unless you were in the habit of sleeping with 6 year old boys ๐
It was my father that was there .
See you tomorrow .
@ 114
Quite a finish….
Trev & Dr.z
Hehs! ๐
We need to fight for the duluxury of a full 3 paints tomorrow.
Let’s hope we send Delia and Stephen back to Norfolk wishing that their preparation had been better.
A very good day to all holics. Catalan @ 103, no worries there, mate (smiling contritely). Btw, the Beeber is a big Barca fan, well it is fff. Whistler @ 88 Totti is to Roma as Gattuso, is to ACM. He will never leave till he is ready to hang up his boots. A sad day that will be. Derrick @ 92, If I were only allowed to pick one entry that best summoned up my feelings about the team this year, it would be yours. Beautifully executed.
TS 109. I really hope there’s some Pat Rice-themed chanting tomorrow.
Afternoon all, been a while as I’ve been major busy here in the bar due to Queens day, the Ajax (and Dennis Almitghty’s) Ere Divisie victory and other alcohol consumingworthy events. It looks like I’m behind by just under a K of drinks,(very unlike me) not sure if I’ll have time to catch up on them.
Back to the subject at hand;
Lovely trip down memory lane (again) ‘h. Maybe there’s no trophey after the conclusion of our next two games, however, a winning result is just as important. Truth be told we really should have been home and dry by now, but we’re not, but thankfully (and pretty unbelivably) it’s still all in our own hands. Norwich and WBA may not be the most glamourous or exotic of opponenants, but the results of these games will be crucial to our dealings over the summer and what our next season will hold.
As always, come on you reds, and a round for the bar on me. Proost.
Ollie @ #109
Me too! An absolute, living Arsenal legend.
Are you inviting the song-writers back for another go??? ๐
We love you Pa-atrick
Because you bare your knees
We love you Pa-atrick
With legs as thick as trees
We love you Pa-atrick
You’re Arsenal thru’ & thru’…..
Just great, now the Villa players are out boozing instead of preparing for the game against Spurs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17952036
Looks like we will have to do it all on our own.
From Pravda – Le Boss’ presser digest pre-Norwich City:
** Park to replace Diaby in squad
** Wenger – Podolski was an obvious choice
** Wenger – We will not take Norwich lightly
** ‘Club are in control of players’ futures’
** Wenger – I can’t explain Arsenal affection
** Wenger – I have to be addicted to future
** Wenger – Hodgson is logical choice
** Wenger – We want to keep Robin regardless
** ‘Fringe players need opportunity to play’
Greetings Holics
Memories of that week in 71 are still very much with me. Having already secured a ticket for the final on the Saturday, I persuaded an Everton supporter to drive me down to N.London on the Monday night. Sadly I couldn’t get the afternoon off, so didn’t set off from King’s Lynn until 4pm.
I was one of many thousands who were turned away from approaching the ground by the police , there was absolute chaos on the A10.
However, a quick turn round and an early supper taken in Cambridge and I finished up making do with the broadcast on the car radio, 1-0 to the Arsenal, magic!
Tomorrow is scary . I am meeting up with my “Canary” friend pre-kick-off and although she tells me that City are very much on the wane, I am as nervous as hell. Goals have been in very short supply of late and apart from RVP and the centre backs, I can’t see where else there is any firepower .With no Arteta or Theo the side looks impotent, we could have done with Podolski right now! Please don’t say we are going to miss out on third spot to that crowd up the road.
As for Robin’s whereabouts next season, the solution is in his own hands. Tomorrow would be the ideal opportunity for him to secure the Golden Boot with a couple of great goals and ensure we go to the Hawthorns with the 3rd spot still in our hands.
As always COYRs
Toby, drinking or not Villa have very little to play for so I don’t expect anything from them anyway. It’s up to us to make sure we don’t have to give a toss about what the others do.
I’m with you on that Lars. It’s just… it’s Spurs. I want as many safety nets as possible. I have far too many bad memories from just the last couple of seasons regarding them (starting with that 4-4) and I just want the job done as soon as possible. Preferably I want us to win both our games. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t wish for Spurs to lose both of theirs as well. That can hardly be a crime, no?
Also, I have bought fresh lasagna plates and they don’t last forever you know!
Will you be in Gamla Stan tomorrow?
And for another day I quite enjoy Mediawatch’s take on The Press vs Roy.
29 minutes or so and then sweet water of Liffey, Black on blonde.
If I have one tonight does that mean one less tomorrow?
Quantum physics was never my thing……
Pub. Yum.
I scored a header today that the Captain himself would of been proud of I think ๐
Toby: nope, I’m in London so no Gamla Stan for me!
Lars – You’ll be in Stan’s House though, heh! ๐
TS: heh, that’s true ๐
And now I shall go to a public house and have a beer!
There is a kind of symmetry.
The last home game of the season book-ended by the first. ย Tomorrow will be my 6th visit to the Emirates this season, and hopefully will have a different outcome to that day last summer when the scally, hub-cap stealing, Scousers came to town and burgled the points.
Four thousand one hundred and forty miles, give or take, covered from my hillside North of the Forth to the steps at Ashburton Grove. ย More pints of Guinness sunk than can be counted, far less remembered. ย Rum and cokes slipped in casually to strengthen the bond of new friendships, forged on the internet but formed for real on a corner off Hornsey Road.
On 20th August, in a subdued post-match inquisition, the one-and-only True Storey saidย
“So what, if we have a shit season?”ย
“We’ve had them before”, I said “but fear not.”
So, this season hasn’t brought the haul of silverware that the irrepressible Dr Feelgood insists, every season, ย will be delivered, “all we need to do is get on board the Happy Train, sit back and enjoy the ride” he says. ย (I guess the drugs don’t really work after all). ย But the season has still produced some fantastic moments. ย I’ve ย been lucky to witness some of them as they happened:ย
* RvP scoring his 100th (and 101st) goal against Bolton,ย
* RvP dispatching that sumptuous volley to win the match against Everton,ย
* Thierry Henry turning back time and seeing off Dirty Leeds,
* A stroll in the park as Blackburn were put to the sword seven times,
ย * Mikel Arteta flashing a ferocious free kick beyond a bemused Shay Givenย
and I’m kind of hoping that tomorrow the boys deliver once again, on account of me being there. ย No pressure, lads. ย
In addition, this season, there have been many bitter-sweet moments too, which, as much as I enjoyed them by proxy, were tinged with regret because of what I’d missed. ย The famous five down at the bus stop, the equally-famous five daggers straight to the heart of the Lily White Cunts, and the “up-yours” moment when Mikel thumped the winner past Joe Hart. ย Only my liver is thankful that I missed the post-match post-mortems that followed those affairs.ย
This campaign, irrespective of what happens between now and the final whistle at The Hawthorns, has been more enjoyable for me than the last two which fizzled out in painful anti climax. ย Much of that has to do with emerging from the onset of depression following that horrible Sunday at Old Trafford. ย I really feared for us and Arsene at that point. ย It was a new low, at least in modern times. ย But we showed a lot of, dare I say it, mental strength, in the way we came back, even if, in typical Arsenal fashion, we have been making a hard job of taking what seemed like a certain third spot, in recent weeks.
And lets not forget, despite the disappointment of not contending for the big prizes, there’s been plenty to be thankful for – off the top of my head – ย the return of Thomas Vermaelen, the confirmation of Koscielny as a class-act defender, ย the emergence of young masters Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Frimpong, the promise of Yannaris and Miquel, and Ryo to come. ย Alex Song’s assist against Dortmund, critical penalty saves by the Pole in Goal against both Udinese and at Anfield, the metronomic Arteta (signing of the season), the resurgent Rosicky, that gay Santos, the under-rated Yossi and the calm assurance of Mertesacker. ย ย And every other minute, Robin van Persie. ย
It has been impossible to take your eyes off Robin this season. ย Such broad shoulders on that young man, carrying us all. ย We should especially remember how he has taken on that burden, when the transfer madness arrives for real in the coming weeks, and those with a differrent and poisonous agenda try and turn his contract talks into some manifestation of dis-loyalty. ย Just remember, when Cesc left, ย we yearned for, and got, a real Arsenal captain.
So I’ll be there for the last game of the season tomorrow, and when I get on that plane, I will be thinking of three things :ย
3 precious points, beers with some top gooners and the fixture list for next season. ย
We’re winning at least the treble next season. ย
On my FIFA 12 season, as soon as I signed Podolski, RVP requested a transfer and the board sold him to Real Madrid aginst my wishes. I hope this virtual predicament isn’t indicative of what’s to come in reality. Pffffffft!
Brilliant Dr Z . Top post .
Hey Holics. Hope you are all well on this Fatalistically Friendly Friday. Remember love is all you need (0;
Nice post Dr Z. Come the fuck on Arsenal! This is one of the two matches which will define not only our current season but the coming one too
Nice work zico.
I’ll go and rewrite mine then ๐
That reminds me, zico. After an incredibly disappointing start, this season has held spectacular moments left and right. Smashing good time had by all, save the BBB of course. Who says we can’t finish off the season the way we’ve pushed on up to now? C o m e o n A r s e n a l ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Cheers guys
It was only meant to stave off my hunger pangs for the pre-match preview H.
Do not tamper with the main event ๐
Good stuff, Dr Z!
So, tomorrow in no particular order
Me, Ollie, iLars, tabs, Edwin, Holic, Trev, AL.
Who else fancies the Guinness challenge? *
* Not to be confused with Trev’s Guinness challenge.
Surely Top Man Snowy will be there, zico?
I think ArthurTheGooner is around too.
If the Snowman ain’t there, I shall be most disappointed.
Arthur? Please allow me to introduce myself……. ๐
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