Arsenal were either going to be allowed to stage their match in the wake of the conditions witnessed yesterday afternoon or not. And if they weren’t, then the decision to postpone it should have been made much earlier than it was. By that time of the afternoon, Bolton fans were four miles from the stadium and further flung Arsenal supporters had begun making their journeys to the game. I assume it was called off because of a combination of factors – but mainly the danger of spectators slipping up (with the resultant injuries) and the difficulty in getting home at 9.45 last night (the last train out of Victoria left some time before 9pm).

However, the conditions that led to the game’s postponement were highly predictable. Short-range weather forecasting is extremely accurate these days and the heavy early afternoon snow that settled and made the efforts of a small team of shovel-armed snow clearers pointless could be foreseen by anyone with access to a weather forecast. For those who want some images of the scene on the route to the stadium over the North Bank bridge at the time the game was called off, see here -
here -
here
and here.

What worries me most is that the ultimately futile determination to get the game played might have derived from Arsene Wenger, with his obsession to avoid fixture pile-ups. I am sure the undersoil heating could have melted the snow that settled on the pitch pretty damn quick if required, and I am sure the decision to call the game off was more to do with pressure from the police and Islington Council than anyone inside the club. Indeed, some 20 minutes after matchday staff had been informed by text not to come in, the box office were still selling tickets to day trippers. Another Arsenal employee I spoke to expressed their own displeasure that this was going on, but at that stage, the fact the game was off had not yet been made official.

Outside the stadium, as well as a few fans, the council-licensed matchday traders had set up their stalls, and having not made any sales, were soon packing them up again. A waste of time that could have been avoided, although the club probably delighted in this aspect of the decision.

There was no doubt Arsenal were desperate to play the game, and given the conditions, I can only assume this was due to the wishes of Wenger, in which case, it is evidence that an employee wields far too much power. I can’t obviously prove this, but logically, there seems little other explanation for such a late decision. It’s not as is the referee inspected the pitch. This was all about conditions outside. A lot of (forecasted) snow fell in a very short space of time which would have turned to slush on the approaches to the stadium as people arrived, frozen during the game itself and turned the exit into something resembling ‘Dancing On Ice’. Those in London can take a walk outside this morning to give them an idea. And on that score, even if the game would not have been called off 25 years ago, I can see why they don’t take chances in this health and safety conscious age. But that’s a debate for a phone-in radio programme.

The club announcement stated, “this decision was not made lightly and supporters' safety and travel arrangements were major factors in our thinking.” I’m sure the Bolton fans half an hour from the stadium, might have something to say about that? Thinking about the day trippers buying tickets at the box office, the next bit made me smile – “The Club will announce the revised date for this match in due course and all tickets currently held will be valid for the rearranged fixture.” Fat lot of use to those who had presumably bought tickets for upwards of £45 and are traveling back home in the next few days. Refunds? Read the small print. That these fans were being sold tickets after it was known internally the game was off says things about Arsenal in 2010 that don’t bear thinking about.

An email from one regular correspondent opined – Pound to a penny Arsene wanted the game played and made them delay until it was obviously impossible. Duh - weather forecast predicted very precise timing of snowfall, temperature and conditions. Should have been called off the day before.

Now time to reproduce a pair of entertaining emails from a different regular correspondent – Garry Williams. He resides in club level, but is definitely the real deal as far as being an Arsenal fan is concerned.

Email 1 (received yesterday afternoon)
I am p***ed off that they call the match off at 4.00 – the official website says updated at noon... that did not happen. Worse when you get on the bloody link, they have a thumbs up you can click – saying ‘385 people like this’ next to it. Of course no alternative vote - or expression of displeasure I am ‘kin p***ed off with this - you shoddy w***ers vote was missing”. I “opened” the ‘I like it’ thumbs up – in the hope of finding a thumbs down alternative. I am immediately registered on the ‘I like it’ vote... typical bloody club crap... the illusion of choice and good news only. So now the shoddy workshy w***ers have p***ed me off twice.

Hope you can draw attention to this “p***y practice” through the alternative fan sites – just like MP’s they will be voting themselves a raise soon with a thumbs up rose tinted view of the world vote only yes – NOW! Option.

T***ers (on both counts)

(Ed’s note – I had to raise a smile at the ‘42 people like this’ on this page, presumably voted for by the club’s retail staff!)

Email 2 (the morning after)
Sorry about the foul stuff, I was in mid rant mode (I can write more eloquently, honest - but again I will avoid this temptation), mainly as we all know the only reason it was called off was that they could not get enough catering staff to make the big bucks they are used to at a game from us “upstairs bunch.”

Customer safety my arse! They could have called this off before lunchtime. Bet they were more concerned re: complaints and requests for refunds if catering was not serviced.

After lunch I was getting excited at the prospect of leapfrogging the Mancs, around 3.30 the news hit me and p***ed on my parade! They couldn’t spell fancentric let alone deliver in this area!

The petrol on the flames was the more self congratulatory “thumbs up” on the official site – as ever with no chance of the balancing feedback (such as a thumbs down alternative).

George Orwell would spin in his grave on that front – The real Big Brother is the Arsenal website. I look forward to the next probing arsenal.com initiative... I think Arsenal Directors are 1) Good 2) Great 3) Really Great 4) Superb... “Oh well written old bean, another pink gin brigadier… you know I think I will, I have earned it!”

Go on - Give it to them!!! (Evil prospers only when good men do nothing!)

Back to my good self for a final request. Arsenal – If you are going to call off the Everton game this weekend – please ignore the manager and do it by Friday evening!!! I'll even click on 'I like this' if you do!