Arsenal and the Cappuccino Affair. What made 1 May such a totally happy day « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade
By Tony Attwood
Sometimes with the angst and argument, the debate and disappointment, it is easy (for me at least) to forget what I am doing spending my time and hard-earned dosh with Arsenal. But when I think, I know I spend time and money with the club to enjoy myself and to hope for good things to come. Endless misery is not part of the deal.
On Sunday last, much of the enjoyment that had recently gone away, flowed back. Below are some of the reasons why I enjoyed myself so much that day. This is not to say I am now deliriously happy. I’m not because we haven’t won the league – but once again I find I can I recall some of the positives, and the sheer fun of a day out at the Ems.
It’s a personal diary – nothing more. No deep thoughts – just a reflection on a good day out.
1. I met some readers.
Several people came up to us at the Auld Triangle and said thanks for Untold Arsenal. Utterly magical, I love such moments. OK, one of my fans was so drunk that I couldn’t quite catch every word she said, but her companion was there to translate, and I’m not judging anyone by what they do before a match (as long as it doesn’t involve violence or support for the BNP.
As I always try to point out, I don’t write most of Untold, but I admit to being an egocentric maniac so I stuck my picture at the top of the page and hence I do occasionally get recognised. (Walter’s pic was added a few months back, which is only just and fair since he does most of the work, but it was not at his request, so he is not tarred with the brush of egocentricity.)
A while back a reader of another blog wrote a long commentary saying that everything that is wrong with Untold can be summarised by the fact that other blogs have pictures of the stadium or the players, or the club logo at the top of the home page, while Untold has a pic of me. Well, a fair enough comment I thought. After all, anyone who comes here comes here by choice.
Anyway, for me, on this occasion, it worked.
If you are interested, at the Villa game, Walter and I will be meeting up at the Triangle in St Thomas’ (that’s the road that leads from Finsbury Park down past the mosque towards Arsenal tube). We normally stand outside and Walter has a cola and I have my pint – but we might well go to the stadium if it is raining.
2. Fegie’s rent boy
I know it is childish, and ill-becomes a man of my advanced years, but singing “Fergie’s rent boy” to the ref every time he shows that he has been bought does make me feel slightly empowered. So now you can put me down as a childish egomaniac. (Actually I also enjoyed “North London is ours” this season as well, and of course the “Fat granny shagger” chant at young tubby Wayne.)
Childish? Yes of course it is. Unbecoming for a grown man who likes to show off his intellectual conditionals? Of course. But the fact is, I still enjoyed it all. (And yes I know the phrase “intellectual conditionals” is a meaningless phrase. It just seems to fit however).
3. We started one goal down – and won
The prediction from Dogface was clear, we started the game a goal down because of this ref. And when the first penalty was not given, it felt like it ten times over. But we went on and won. Despite everything.
This is not to say we can win this utterly bent league, with its bent refereeing system, but on the day we can still beat all the corruption and win.
4. No one left before the end
Well yes I am sure some people did, but there was no need to sing “Is there a fire drill” and no need to stand up over and over as people moved out while there was ten minutes to go. We, the assembled masses of Arsenal, wanted this victory and needed it. And we got it.
Not only did everyone stay to the final whistle, we stayed and watched the shirt being thrown in the crowd and the celebrations of the players. Worth it.
5. Ramsey
As Walter said in an earlier piece – what joy to see the young man back, in his pomp, and of course scoring the winner. On the way from the Midlands to the ground Stuart and I debated what the club would do this summer about the inevitable lies and double dealing from Barca-lone-us with all their talk about the transfer of Cesc being done today, yesterday, any day.
I doubt he will go this year, but if he were to, it is looking good as to who his replacement is. I thought Ramsey covered a huge amount of ground, and his sweeping interchanges with Jack were magnificent to behold. He played a very mobile role which I thought the Evil Ones had difficulty in handling.
6. Arshavin
Much disliked by commentators, although I find that he is largely liked within the ground by the supporters with tickets, Arshavin has had a tough time on occasion this year – but he came back as a tough tackling attacking midfielder. I was reminded at one moment of the Pires incident when he took the ball off Vieira and passed it forward for the Euro goal. After, Robert said that it was the first tackle he had ever made.
I don’t know if Arshavin has had this in the locker all the time, or if he just did the first tackle, found it worked, and then thought, “OK lets try it again.” Either way, it was good stuff.
7. Szezchachzchzchney
My guess, again following Walter’s point yesterday, is that Jens has been on the pitch telling him how to hold up the game. Which makes me wonder if the old boy is going to stay as a goal keeping coach, giving lessons on how to hold your back, appeal to the ref, take a piss during a game, and by and large be the only goalkeeper ever in the history of the League to play throughout the season and be unbeaten. And as for Scecxwsczkjdf I would be surprised if the young lad wasn’t number one next year.
8. Cappuccino
Because I have to drive back from London to the Midlands after the game I have my pint prior to the match, and then in the ground generally have a cappuccino. This time I went to the bar and ordered one, just outside block 100.
The lady who offered to serve me laughed, giggled and sniggered. I repeated my order. She gave me a look that said, “where did you crawl out from sunshine?” I chose not to let her know about my origins in darkest Tottenham.
She then turned to her supervisor and with a further giggle said, “How do I do a cappuccino?”
The supervisor in a voice loud enough for me to hear said, “You take the plastic cup, stick it under the pipe on the drinks machine, and press “cappuccino”.
The serving lady then put the cup under the wrong pipe, pressed the button, and watched bemused as the drink poured out of the other end of the machine. Priceless.
9. The Japanese
Next to me are normally seated a charming couple, the gentleman of the pair having real insights and knowledge of the club and the game. Always a pleasure to exchange a few words with him.
For this game however they were not present and had given their seats to a Japanese couple. As I took my regular seat the lady turned to me and said a charming hello. How often do you get that in a football ground?
10. We beat the evil empire
But more than that, it is one hell of a long way back for them to drive to Cornwall.
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