Reflections on recent events including Gary Neville’s retirement
According to the poem, Tuesday’s child is full of grace. On Tuesday at THOF, lino Stephen Child graciously allowed Louis Saha to benefit from standing in an offside position. Where was Sian Massey when needed, or her most ardent admirer, Andy Gray, or his old sparring partner, Richard Keys, for that matter? It’s a shame we only really get behind the team during the monster matches or when the chips are down. Rarely can I recall an Arsenal crowd so incensed. Some games didn’t kick off until 8pm and it took until that hour for our virtual First XI to show up.
Two days previous it was Ski Sunday, despite the lack of snow (part of February will be very cold and very white, incidentally). Huddersfield Town’s Jack Hunt performed a superb slalom, weaving past Denilson, whose “challenge” was not unlike the penalty he conceded in the previous round, and Koscielny before being taken out by Squillaci. Sorry, Arsene; having seen it again, it was a definite red.
David O’Brien’s “In The Away End” is reason enough to buy The Gooner. Exceedingly well written, it provides excellent insight into how opponents’ fans view us and our team. After demolishing his Leeds, one blogger apparently wrote: “They [Arsenal] are the best side in the country by far, and probably the only team in the Prem[ier League] I would go to watch. What Wenger has done with limited funds is incredible and to think, some of their fans want him out!” Well said that man or, indeed, that woman.
So Gary Neville has called it a day! Sent off just twice in 400 League appearances, this season he received a solitary booking. Talk about lies, damn lies and statistics … At Everton he deserved a stonewall (copyright Alan Hansen) caution for a cynical foul – it wasn’t what I understand by the term “a tackle” – early doors just outside the ManU box. But we cannot have a Manc on a yellow for fully 85 minutes can we, especially a defender? At WBA he conceded a blatant penalty, bagging a Baggie from behind who was one-on-one with the ‘keeper. Not even a yellow, and reminiscent of Vidic’s penalty but no caution at Wembley in the Carling Cup Final of 2010 (also in the fifth minute). Neville’s one booking occurred in a game when he later committed a nailed-on second-yellow offence but was again shown incredible leniency. When I ponder the bookings and soft sendings off meted out to the likes of Alex Song (think Stadium of Light) and Jack Wilshere it’s an absolute travesty.
