Ian Tanner
The original Hand of God incident was fully a quarter of a century ago in a match every bit as important to me then (but would not be now) as last night’s. It was little solace for Non-mercenary Me that I’d picked Argentina in a sweepstake. Wednesday night’s Hand of God incident, as I shall hereafter remember THAT penalty save, had me texting our Esteemed Ed: “That’s my boy!” He replied: “At last. A keeper.” You know you’ve arrived at Gooner Towers when Esteemed Ed replies to your texts.
Yes, as Kevin notes, I’ve been raving about young “Chesney” for some time and hid behind the sofa every time rumours of another goalkeeping purchase surfaced. Let’s not forget, though, that this time last season Szczesny was number 4 stopper at London Colney. Vito Mannone must have said or done something pretty serious shortly thereafter as he was sent to Hull (and back). Two (un)fortunate injuries later, to Almunia and Fabianski, and suddenly Arsenal fans get to see what Brentford fans were privileged to witness the previous season, when then teenager Wojciech joined The Bees on loan in November 2009. Why oh why, though, didn’t Arsene heed the plaudits Szczesny was getting, led, please note, by then Brentford boss Andy Scott? It simply beggars belief that it took freak injuries to players presumably higher up the pecking order for him to be given his chance at a club that supposedly prides itself on putting beauty before age. Apparently after the game, ITV’s Matt Smith still posed the question: do Arsenal need to sign another goalkeeper?! What a total cretin.
Let’s not forget, also, that this time last season Emmanuel Frimpong was less than one week into a nine month lay-off. As I wrote after his cameo comeback against Sunderland Reserves, “Diaby and Denison had better watch out”. The former is injured yet again, the latter loaned home. Suspended Alex Song will have to start playing more logically (geddit?) if he’s to retain his place. Separated by just nine days, Frimpong and Wilshere are the immediate future. See you at Vicarage Road on Thursday? (Ed’s note - England U21s play Azerbaijan on 1st September at Watford’s ground)
Tomas Rosicky takes much stick so credit where it’s due; he had a storming second-half.
New vice captain Thomas Vermaelen was interviewed after the game. Asked about the latest harsh penalty to be conceded, he says, without apparent irony, that he could not cut off his hands. That’s precisely what his imperialist forefathers did in the Belgian Congo around the time our club was formed.
Samir Nasri’s comments about the passion of Citeh fans is interesting. Unfortunately I concur. Since leaving Highbury the atmosphere has suffered at home games. But for all the lack of atmosphere caused in part by the corporate “suits”, things are much, much worse at The Oval, where I watched the new number 1 cricket team, England, complete a 4-0 series whitewash against India. On the first morning, it took fully six minutes to bowl just three deliveries as holders of “hospitality” tickets found their seats, totally oblivious that they were directly behind the bowler’s arm, hence in the batsmen’s line of vision. Next morning I asked a steward why cannot water cannon, plastic bullets and even live ammunition be used to quell the anarchy? He thought me extreme, adding that there wouldn’t be a repeat as we’re better prepared today. Sounds familiar, I thought. And the same thing happened again.
