RJ
Ed’s note – Just a heads up that this season’s final issue of The Gooner will be on sale from sellers on your approach to the stadium today, and that it can be bought online here.
A season-ticket holder since the 2008-2009 season, I have been through the many lows, and the few highs, of that period. I remember well leaving at half-time on the night Man U whooped us in the Champions League Semi-Final, and afterwards feeling ashamed and vowing never to leave early again, no matter how predictable the fare. Or arriving back from a business trip on a sunny August Saturday, jet lagged and my family saying I was mad to go (it’s only Blackpool), to see a spectacular six-goal annihilation. Two-nil down to Hull in my first-ever FA Cup Final – that was a low. The final whistle? Well, funnily enough, that was a high.
For the last month, I have been fighting an inner battle as to whether to renew this May. After another Groundhog-Day season of early promise dashed against the rocks of mental fragility (or that other Arsenal classic – terrible early season followed by a glorious run to scrape fourth), I find myself questioning whether the time and money is worth it. For my two tickets and travel, I am into this habit for over £5,000 a year. Which, as Mrs J will point out, is a lot of handbags and shoes – and she gets joy out of every handbag and pair of shoes she buys. None of them are depressing and predictable 1-1 draws against Crystal Palace. They are all spectacular 3-0 wins against Man U.
When I think about next season, my thoughts proceed as follows. If Arsène stays, as he most certainly will, we know what we will get - pretty football, limited end-product, flashes of brilliance and a lot of injuries. We will probably end up there or thereabouts and scrape fourth place. Gone are the days I dream of a Premiership title (those dreams killed agonisingly and painfully over the last four months – Never Again Will I Dare To Hope). If Arsène leaves, as he won’t, you can guarantee things will get worse before they get better. Kroenke/Gazidis will not bring in a manager with enough calibre and cojones to turn this team of great potential into champions – it’s not what the club is about (or so it seems to this observer anyway). Moyes, Martinez, Deila anyone? Certainly not a Simeone!
But if I am considering this simply in terms of pitch-performance, that is terrible – I only support the team if they are doing well? What sort of a glory-hunter am I? Then the accountant in me kicks in – I am paying premium prices, I should expect and demand a premium product.
So to see how it would feel if I gave up the tickets, I joined the “boycott” of the West Brom game. Watched it on the telly instead. And, despite a dull second half, I missed being there. I missed the joy of two goals in the first half and then the disappointment of not pushing on. I was tucked up nicely in bed a good 90 minutes before I would have been home. But I missed it.
I will renew for another season, in the expectation of a lot of disappointment and a few good times, but at least still being part of the club I continue to support – even if I find the business that runs it somewhat abhorrent. Mug? Possibly. Gooner? Defiantly, and definitely.
I will leave you with a little story – I have a best mate who is a Spud. For the last 20 years we have had a bet – a pint per position between our teams. At the start of this season he said he was fed up with losing – could we amend the bet. It would still be a pint per position – but he would have the average position of Chelsea and Spurs. So whilst at the time of writing there is probably no St Totteringham’s Day this year, I will still be getting a drink out of him.
Come on You Gooners.
