Being there. Conversations on Villa, Liverpool, Tottenham, the coffee, defeating racism. « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade
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The day when Fulham tried to take over Arsenal – the full story in “Making the Arsenal”
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By Tony Attwood
While my trip of just under 100 miles each way to home games is by no means the furthest anyone regularly travels for Arsenal matches, the travel, like the drink at the Auld Triangle, and the bite to eat in the stadium, is fundamental to the day out.
The drive sets the scene. Yesterday it was with Drew, with whom I’m talking about a possible biography of Henry Norris, the founder of the modern Arsenal, the man who brought in Chapman, the man who paid for Highbury.
We talked on Norris, Jack the Ripper, 19th century London, and then found neither of us had picked up on the fact that the Northern Line was closed, and that Finchley Central’s car park was shut.
But buses work in London and we made it to the Triangle to meet Walter and Eric, who had actually arrived from Antwerp before we set out from Northampton, plus Laundry Ender (of this site) and a splendid time was had by all. Especially when a gentleman from Copenhagen popped up to shake us by the hand and say how much he enjoyed Untold. I never deny it, I love such moments. Sir, if you are reading, please do drop me a line (Tony.Attwood@aisa.org).
My point is that, yes we are there for the game, but going out for a match is so much more than that. And I get the feeling that with all the emphasis the media obviously puts on the fan at home, the sheer fun of the day out is forgotten. The media treat us as if we all live in north London (they probably also thing we walk to the ground, and still pay two shillings and sixpence on the gate to “cheer on the team”).
It is the conversation of the day, as much as the match, that makes it. It is the fact that I have met Stefan from Germany, because he sits next to me. We talk before the game, during the game, and next time I will tease him about the fact that he left just before the third goal (just as he teases me if he sees me checking that they spelled my name right in the programme).
Yesterday we spoke of Villa: would Alex McLeish become the first manager in the Premier League to relegate to different teams in successive seasons? It is possible – the up and down results of Birmingham and Villa over the last two years is similar to his time at Rangers – does the treble, fails to win. He’s that sort of manager.
McLeish also embodies the whole “must have a trophy” thing, for he gave Birmingham one last season as we know to our cost, but where does that leave Arsenal now and Birmingham now, and come that Villa? And Liverpool?
As for the game – it looked lopsided, and this morning’s stats prove it. We had 72% of possession, and 19 goal attempts. The stats say Villa had 3 goal attempts, but that seems a bit over the top. All four of our regular defenders have scored in the last six games, so a day when Robin took a back seat was perfectly acceptable.
And then there’s the stadium. There’s always new songs. Yesterday I am not sure I caught it completely but it is to the tune of “when the saints” – (which Tottenham use for some bizarre reason sing as a slow drawl) sung as
“Oh when the wheels, come off the bus, oh when the wheels come off the bus, I want to be in that number, when the wheels come off the bus.” Lovely.
Driving back the talk was more of Liverpool, and their defeat. Dalgleish making the point of saying he will build a team around”English” players (I much prefer Arsenal’s none nationalistic approach) and claiming that they are paying the price for their success under him. He blamed the ref, he blamed TV, he blamed the smallness of the squad, in fact there isn’t much he doesn’t blame – except himself. He is never to blame. Never. Ever. Makes you think.
There wasn’t much blaming in the stadium yesterday – although Stefan was unhappy with the quality of his half time cup of tea. My cappuccino was good however – as was the chicken Caesar wrap.
And all that was before we heard of Stoke v Man City. It is interesting that after all our complaints against Stoke, Shawcross and the like, others now object. Maybe we were ahead of the game.
Which was perhaps a thought that ran through the whole lovely day out. Could it possibly be that this little blog (well, not so little now – approaching 400,000 hits a month these days) actually have an influence?
Thinking along those lines always brings derision, and I am very hesitant to suggest such a thing. But…
Remember our campaign against rotational fouling? Week after week we hammered on and on – and now – the refs take action more rapidly and there is less of it. Five Villa players were booked yesterday – it could have been more – but it knocked any thought they had of the old tactic out.
And our long campaign against goal keeper time wasting. These days if a keeper delays a kick or holds the ball for six seconds, the whole crowd whistle and boo – and watch it if you are there. The ref always responds to that noise. Before he would trot up field. Now, as soon as the booing starts he looks back and indicates to the keeper to get on with it. That never used to happen.
The notion that some refs are not just having a bad day but actually favour Man U (something that is now a fact following the detailed statistical analysis published in the last few days on this site) has been picked up by the crowd too. The song is obscene, but the message is clear enough.
As for the belief in Mr Wenger and the team that we have always portrayed here – I doubt that we have converted many believers on that. But the dreadful anti-Arsenal sites do seem to be fading away in terms of influence, and it was great to hear the “One Arsene Wenger” song sung so vigorously.
So does anyone notice Untold? I don’t know, although I still cherish Mr Wenger’s repeat of our “too many goalkeepers” comment and his mention of “rotational fouling”. I can’t believe he read Untold of course, but maybe someone at the club does.
Such were the conversations and chit-chat throughout the day. As for Sunday, it has brought one more thought. We have campaigned very vigorously against homophobic and racist chanting – and endlessly criticised Tottenham and the police, for example, for their abject failure to act against their supporters who so utterly disgraced themselves, football, and British society, when Tottenham played at Portsmouth, and the police and the club took precious little action. We even published pictures of some of the offending Tottenham fans to try and help the police and the club act, but to no avail.
Compare that day of shame to this statement from Arsenal. “Following an incident during our home Premier League match against Newcastle Unitedon Monday 12 March, a 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. The suspect has been interviewed and bailed to return to Islington police station in April.”
It added: “We reiterate that Arsenal Football Club does not tolerate foul language, racist chanting, homophobic chanting or any antisocial behaviour, and we will continue to act with zero tolerance towards any individual found to be acting in an abusive manner.”
Proud to be a Gooner? You bet I am.
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