Howard Lamb
Yesterday, once I had completed the pre-Christmas chores, I found I had plenty of time to read my way through the responses to Kevin Whitcher’s balanced editorial on the Chelsea game. I was disappointed by the extent of the negativity of so many of the comments. Some seemed so far removed from what I thought I had seen that I felt compelled to watch the TV version. Oh no you couldn't - oh yes I could!
The animated Carragher-Neville debate on whether Mikel's tackle warranted a red card alone made it worthwhile. Oh yes it was! And overall what I saw confirmed my own impression; the game never reached the heights, but given the atrocious weather and Mourinho's determination not to lose surely no one ought to feel too disappointed. Yes, Giroud should have scored; but so perhaps should have Lampard. Everyone on the planet - barring of course the decision maker - thought that Willian's foul on Walcott was a penalty, and Mikel or Ramires, or both, should have been sent off. However, history suggests that Mike Riley would not be on too many Gooners' Christmas card lists anyway.
So cheer up you miserable lot, enjoy your Christmas dinners, booze and lots of prezzies. After all, we're only the width of a Suarez away from the top, and hopefully by tomorrow evening West Ham will have been stuffed along with the turkey, Liverpool will have failed to win at Citeh, and the message will be "They're behind you!"
Happy Christmas.
Ed’s note 1 – GF60 emails a group of interested Gooners his thoughts on each match – and they can also be read on the Arsenal South Africa website. However, as the Chelsea game is under discussion and this was received in the email inbox this morning, I thought for a change I would run his thoughts here on the gooner website….
It is Christmas Day and the season of good will to all men! (and ladies) (and even Spud supporters), so I shall not be cruel and say what I really think of the non-human joke that purportedly officiated at our game on Monday. I was about to write yesterday but given the sensitivities of my faithful followers, waited to cool down. So to all of you, all the best for the day, the coming year and a big silver pot by the end of May.
The writing was on the wall within the first 10 minutes when two blatant Chel$ki fouls were ignored… each deserving a yellow. Given the licence to maim, worse was to follow. Admittedly the weather was atrocious, with the wind as it was, glasses with windscreen wipers should have been de rigueur.
The game itself was almost as bad as the weather, though nowhere near as bad as the bald headed whistling twat, and the fans were badly let down with a performance that really didn’t merit league leadership. When faced with those conditions, keep it on the carpet and move it fast… and, preferably forward. Supposedly we had about 60% of the possession, 40% of which must have been shared by our steadfast back 5 receiving slow back passes back from the midfield.
It really was just as well that Fat Frankie’s great bit of skill resulted in the bar bending (as opposed to the Chewbacca leg bending that he got away with) as the powder puff efforts we put in weren’t really going to test the parked bus that was the Chel$ki defence. And given our inability to either find or make space up front until Olly continued his off-the-boil scoring efforts, 0 goals was probably fair. Which of course denies Mikel’s ability to put away the spot kick that the aforementioned b.h.w.t. should have given when Theo’s only positive contribution was ignored.
Disappointing but at least a clean sheet.
Ed’s note 2 – season’s greetings all at Gooner Towers – We received an email on Monday from Tony Marlow in Florida with an update of a story he wrote for Arsenal supporting nippers back in 2007. The email read: “Season's greetings from sunny Florida. As a lifetime Gooner, you kindly published a story I wrote for my thirteen year old son in 2003. Set in the future, the premise being Prince George just happens to be the best young footballer in the country and wants to play for the Arsenal. Fast forward a few years and there really is a Prince George and the prophecy may come true. I've reworked it a little and you would like to publish it for a new generation that would be great.”
Me again - It’s a 5,000 word plus opus, and even if it’s seven years old, I don’t think we can justify a re-run, even if the name of Prince William’s son was correctly predicted. Now if the author had gone out on a limb and called him Prince Spike instead of George, there would have been some serious kudos. However, as Tony has emailed, I will at least link to the original version – which can be read here.
Ed’s note 3 – So to finish, Merry Christmas from all at Gooner Towers. I know many can foresee a repeat of past failures, but as it stands, the team are still ahead of the so-called ‘big three’, second in the league on goal difference. After the opening league game of the season, I don’t think many would have predicted that. As supporters, sometimes, you just have to allow possibility and hope to enter your thoughts. I, for one, firmly predicted that Arsenal would never win another major trophy under the current manager. I sincerely hope this season proves me wrong. Enjoy the festivities, and here’s hoping for nine points between now and January 2nd.
