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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Mike Francis - Publisher of the Gooner.



Match day at the Arsenal.  Essential purchases, a good skinful of beer, a foot long hotdog, a match programme and a copy of the Gooner!  Deliciously irreverent, the Gooner is the complete antithesis to the “official party line”.  Its writers fearlessly tell it like it is, a counterpoint to the propagandist jingoism of the match day programme.  Tactics, critique and biting satire, you will get it all in the Gooner.

I am incredibly honoured to have as my next guest the publisher of the Gooner, Mike Francis, to tell us what makes him a Gooner.  Enjoy.

Why Arsenal?

Good question as it’s not one I’ve ever been able to satisfactorily answer if truth be known. It wasn’t a family connection as although my Dad was a football fan, he didn’t really follow any one side going to watch Fulham, Portsmouth and Plymouth at different times. I was brought up in Harrow and always figured that Arsenal were probably the nearest first division side, but a few years ago I checked on Google Maps and discovered that Loftus Road was actually closer, although I also found out that Highbury was the nearest ground to my birthplace in central London. Given that I started supporting the team circa 1975, I don’t think I can be classed as a glory hunter given that we were almost relegated that season, so I guess it was just that liked the name and the look of the shirts. The fact my best mate at school was an Arsenal fan probably also had something to do with it, but whatever the reason, it was a damn good choice.

Earliest Arsenal memory?

Apart from my first game which I’ll mention in a minute, I remember playing Subbuteo with my best mate and, as it was his set, he insisted on being Arsenal, so I had to be QPR, which were the only other team he had. I know I lost 1-0 to a disputed penalty conceded by Gerry Francis and I also knelt on the Arsenal right back, Pat Rice. Sorry Pat.

First game?

My first game was against Leeds United in January 1977 which we drew 1-1. We stood on the top corner of the North Bank nearest the West Stand and I can still vaguely recall being sat on one of the crush barriers by my Dad to get a better view, but I couldn’t have told you that Malcolm MacDonald scored the first ever Arsenal goal I witnessed if it wasn’t for history books.
I returned to Highbury a few weeks later for a birthday treat with some school mates to see us play at home to Sunderland. We sat in the front row of the East Lower and watched a 0-0 draw. None of us cared. It was the most exciting thing any of us had ever done.

Favourite player (all time)?

That’s not an easy question to answer. I suspect most people when asked tend to go for the best player they have seen and if that were the case then Dennis Bergkamp would get my vote as he was a class apart and was the first player I saw at Arsenal who had a worldwide reputation. However, despite providing so many glorious moments and being nothing less than a fantastic ambassador for the club, I don’t think I can regard him as my favourite. Instead, that honour has to go to Charlie Nicholas, as he was the first player I remember us signing who I was truly excited about. He obviously had his struggles, but you could see he also had shed loads of ability and whenever he got the ball, there was always a sense of anticipation around the ground. It also didn’t seem to matter how bad he’d been playing, whenever we came up against Spurs, he always seemed to score which never did his popularity any harm!

Favourite player (current)?

I don’t know whether it’s because I’m older and more cynical, but I don’t think I’ve classed a player as being “my favourite” for a good few years. With the ever increasing wages, it’s become harder and harder to identify with any of them, and there is very little connection between the players and the fans now which is one of the saddest elements of the modern game. Of the current bunch, I like the attitude of Szczesny; he seems to be able to relate to the fans better than most and comes across as a “normal” kind of guy.

Highest point?

Anfield, May 26th 1989. No question and I’m really not sure it can ever be beaten. It had been 18 years since we were last champions of England and we’d never even come close to the title in my Arsenal supporting life until the 1988-89 season, so to have been so close and failed would have been devastating. Therefore, to be so close and succeed with that last minute Mickey Thomas goal was simply amazing. Did I believe we could do it? Undoubtedly. I hadn’t missed a game home or away that season and therefore knew what the players were capable of doing and that side had spirit in abundance. The thought of that game sends shivers down my spine every time.

Lowest point?

Oh crikey. There’s been a few. I remember crying when we lost to Ipswich in the 78 Cup Final – I was 9 at the time and living in East Anglia so had to endure the taunts of Ipswich supporting schoolmates. However, I think the lowest point was not a game at all. It was the death of David Rocastle. I was fortunate enough to meet him a couple of times and he was an incredibly genuine person for whom nothing was too much trouble. The story of how he cried when George Graham told him the club had accepted an offer for him might have raised eyebrows in disbelief if it had been anyone else, but with Rocky you just knew his heart must have been breaking. Arsenal fans will never forget him and that’s exactly the way it should be.

Sign any 3 players?

Messi would be nice, but I guess that’s probably a bit unrealistic. We obviously need a striker (probably two) and if the rumours about Podolski are true, I’ll be quite happy as he’s a player who works hard and has caught the eye for Germany in more than one major tournament. A dependable and experienced back-up keeper to provide some competition and cover for Szczesny, and a world class midfielder would be the other positions I’d like to see filled. However, I’m struggling to come up with any names from players already at Premier League clubs and I certainly don’t have an extensive enough knowledge of players currently plying their trade abroad to be able to pick out two names who would fit the bill. Let’s just hope the business is concluded early this year!

Sack any 3 players?

Can I “release” players rather than “sack” them? I know it amounts to the same thing, but sacking them seems a bit harsh! My first two choices would be players who should have been released/sold last summer, but for whatever reasons (and I think we all know what they are) Manual Almunia and Denilson are still Arsenal players. Almunia should never have been considered good enough to be Arsenal’s first choice goalkeeper and the fact he was for so long, reflects very poorly on Arsene I’m afraid. For my third player, I’m going to have to say Diaby because people who know me will wonder why if I don’t since I’ve been moaning about him for years. I feel terribly sorry for the guy as he clearly has the ability, but it seems his career is never going to recover from that shocking tackle at Sunderland. Maybe a fresh start elsewhere would do him good and I’d be delighted if it did, but I just think that we can make better use of his £3m per annum wages.

Highbury or the Emirates?

The Grove (sorry – the club may be getting paid to call it after an airline, but I’m not!) is a magnificent stadium and we had to move to a new ground to stand a chance of competing with the giants of the European game. It’s been unfortunate that since we made up our minds to move, two clubs have been taken over by billionaires making our task ever more difficult. However, in my idealistic world, where football is not business, I’d have stayed at Highbury forever. It was majestic and oozed class. Maybe I’ll feel differently when we’ve had some special memories at the new place, but somehow I don’t think I will.

So don’t forget, buy the Gooner next time you’re at a game, or get a subscription here or, if you like, the brilliant Gooner app.  Follow them on twitter @goonerfanzine.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Keith the Gooner



Absolutely chuffed to be joined by the legendary KeithTheGooner for this instalment of Your Arsenal.  Eternally cheerful, Keith is one of my favourite Arsenal tweeters, and when I first started this blog he gave me tremendous encouragement and support.  Along with Daryl Booth he gave us the iconic “Arsewars” series, and watch for his sitcom “We Could be Heroes” coming soon to a TV near you.

Why Arsenal?
My family are originally from Woolwich and Plumstead and as such they are split 50/50 between Charlton and Arsenal. My uncle saw an opportunity to recruit me to the Arsenal side of the family and quickly took me to Highbury before the other side of the family divide took me to The Valley. Lucky escape. I was THIS close to being @KeithTheAddick.

Earliest Arsenal memory?
Approaching Highbury stadium. I was awestruck. My uncle had taken me to a couple of Welling United games (come on you Wings!) to test the water and see if my attention span could last 90 minutes. I remember annoying him with 1000 questions at the Welling UTD game, asking about the offside trap (normal) how many substitutes each team was allowed (again, normal) what the players had for dinner (bit weird) and if the players were required to wear their kits 7 days a week (creepy.) He took me to see The Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday 25th January, 1986, but more about that in the next question. I just remember being blown away by the sheer size of Highbury compared to Park View Road (The Wing’s ground) and the buzz in the air. There were people everywhere wearing the famous red and white scarf tucking into burgers and singing songs in the street. There were grown men swearing. Swearing! Everyone was in good spirits and in my mind, they all knew each other and I was the newest member of the family. As we went through the turnstiles into the East Stand, I remember the smell of cigar smoke, beer and burgers and as we climbed the stairs to the East Upper, I was blown away that a stadium could need stairs. There were clearly going to be a LOT more people here than at Park View Road. Walking up the stairs to see the famous Highbury pitch was a life defining moment for me. I’d arrived. It was exactly like the scene in Fever Pitch when the young Nick Hornby first glimpsed the pitch. I remember being so excited, but even at the age of seven, I was trying to stay cool and act like I’d been a season ticket holder for the past eight years so that my new family wouldn’t suspect that the new midget wasn’t brand new. This was it. I knew there and then that I’d be coming back to Highbury many times over the course of my life.

First game?
The 4th round of the FA Cup on Saturday 25th January, 1986 at home to Rotherham United. We won 5-1 with a brace from Ian Allinson and a goal a piece from Stewart Robson, Graham Rix and my first Arsenal hero, Charlie Nicholas. As far as I was concerned, The Arsenal would win every game as easily as the 5-1 that day. I’ve never forgiven my uncle for making me think that.



Favourite player (all time)?
Such a difficult question. I think I’ll answer it by doing the “man thing” and making a list, in no particular order of the Arsenal heroes that I have had over the years.
Charlie Nicholas
Tony Adams
David Rocastle
Anders Limpar
Ian Wright
Dennis Bergkamp
Thierry Henry
Cesc Fabregas
If I had to narrow it down to a top three, it would have to be Tony Adams (the first player’s name I ever had on the back of my shirt), Ian Wright and Thierry Henry. I would have to give the title to Thierry though. Wrighty was an absolute legend and one of the most exciting players I have ever seen. Tony’s love for the club and his heart is unrivalled, but I have never seen a player do the things that I saw Thierry Henry do. There was a period while he was with us that he was truly the greatest player in the world. To see him return for a short while this season was a fantastic buzz for sentimental reasons.

Favourite player (current)?
I’m excited about a couple of our younger players, in particular Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere. The prospect of these two linking up over the next few years in the famous red and white is mouth watering. RVP is an obvious choice for the goals that he is scoring and the leadership that he seems to be giving the team right now. I’m not entirely sure I’ve got a favourite right now, but I just stopped to think if I bought a new home shirt today then whose name would I get on the back and the answer was Jack Wilshere. I guess that makes him my favourite right now.

Highest point?
As Gooners, we are spoiled for choice aren’t we? The magic of Anfield ’89 is surely the greatest sporting moment of all time and I remember going mental watching that on TV, but only being 11 years old, I was too young to go down to Highbury, crack open a tin of Red Stripe and dance with that annoying teacher with the curly hair outside the stadium. Winning the league at Shite Hart Lane and Old Trafford were of course massive high points, as were the cup doubles in ’93. Being at the Littlewoods Cup Final in 1987 was unbelievable, as was beating Barcelona last year at home and the 5-2 against that lot with white shirts with the logo of a chicken trying to balance on a beach ball. All time high? I’m going to say it was The Invincibles. Being in Upper Street on the Sunday that we paraded the trophies was incredible. I think there was something like 200,000 Gooners all partying in the streets singing, “WE ARE UNBEATABLE” and the world knew it. We were BY FAR THE GREATEST TEAM, THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN and didn’t we know it. Wearing any clothing with the famous cannon on it was extra sweet that year because nobody could touch us. What an achievement.

Lowest point?
Again we are spoiled for choice! The lowest I have ever felt leaving a football match was against the scum last season. 2-0 up and then self destructing and losing 3-2. It hurt. A lot. I know that we have lost bigger games and suffered greater humiliation (Wrexham anyone?) but in my heart, this was the lowest moment I have felt in my Gooner career. I think that’s why it was so sweet to be 2-0 down to them and then come back and BEAT THE SCUM 5-2 this year!

Sign any 3 players?
I’m rubbish at this. I would describe myself as an Arsenal fan more than a football fan. The Arsenal to me is so much more than the first team playing games, although that is at the heart of everything. It’s about being with your mates and your family, the banter, the drama, the places you travel to, the identity of being part of something much larger than your own being. I watch Match of The Day and currently have Norwich v Wigan on in the background (Smudger commentating) but I’m not really paying attention. If we could sign any three players in the world, I guess I would go for the obvious answer and say Lionel Messi, if only to keep Chamakh and Park on their toes. Ozil looked decent in the last World Cup so sign him up. The last of the three players I would sign would be Cesc Fabregas. If I’m honest, we never should have let him go. He was still peaking and is yet to peak. But he was a better player than anyone we have had in the past 7 or so years and I really think that he is one of the best players in the world. With a bit of luck, Jack and The Ox will come good and Cesc will be calling them up to ask for tips in the not too distant future!

Sack any 3 players?
Arshavin, Chamakh, Denilson. Yep, I’m keeping Squilacci and Almunia around. They really aren’t as bad as people make out and are convenient scapegoats. I’m not advocating playing them in an Arsenal shirt ever again mind you!

Highbury or the Emirates?
Life goes on, things change and nothing stays the same. We needed to move to The Emirates and it is a beautiful stadium. The way that the club has “Arsenalised” the stadium has to be commended. Having said that, Highbury was my home and was beautiful in an entirely different way. Even now, walking past The East Stand I can’t help but marvel at the building, looking up at the window I used to see Wrighty hanging out of after games, the sound that you could hear from inside if you were running late for Kick Off and the sheer volume of memories. It’s Highbury for me.

Thanks a million Keith.  You can follow Keith on twitter @KeithTheGooner.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Andrew Allen



Your Arsenal part 2 and its one of the finest football writers on the internet.  The incomparable, Andrew Allen, indomitable keeper of the archive that is the AFCcollective.  If, on the off chance, you do know an obscure fact about the Arsenal, well Andrew probably told you...!

ClockEnd5 > Why Arsenal?

Andrew > I’m not sure there was much of a choice! My dad was a long-standing season-ticket holder before I was born and used to go to games with my uncle and grandfather on my mum’s side. I was kitted out in an Arsenal kit from the age of four and the indoctrination process continued throughout my childhood.

CE5 > So what’s you earliest Arsenal memory then?

Andrew > I’m told I was taken to my first game when I was four, although I haven’t been able to confirm which exact game in the 1987/88 season it was. I vividly remember watching the last-gasp win against Liverpool in 1989 at the house of a family friend and then playing football in the garden until the small hours.

CE5 > What was your first game?

Andrew > As I’ve mentioned it was sometime during 1987, although the specifics escape me – a fact that bugs me regularly! My North Bank induction didn’t begin in earnest until the 1990/91 season. I was rested on the crush barrier by my dad for the first home game of the season on a Wednesday night against Luton Town and never looked back.

CE5 > Your favourite Arsenal player?

Andrew > I’ve obviously been privileged to see a lot of great players during the Wenger era, but I think Anders Limpar really captured my imagination as a child. His signing was so out of keeping with the usual Graham transfers and he had such an immediate influence on the team that it was love at first sight. Although he was at the height of his powers in the title winning season of 1990/91, his partnership with Ian Wright the following year was arguably the best I ever saw at Highbury, while his chip from the halfway line against Liverpool is still my favourite ever goal.

CE5 > Your favourite player from the current team?

Andrew > It’s hard to look past Robin van Persie. He’s cut a very mature figure both on and off the pitch this year. He was unveiled to the Highbury crowd on the last day of the ‘invincibles’ season just in front of me wearing the most offensive trousers I’ve ever seen, and got himself into some bother ahead of the 2005/06 season but his development in the last 18 (injury-free) months has been fascinating. He always had the technique it was just a matter of him, as Arsene might say, being more ‘efficient.’ The goal against Everton to cap off the 125th anniversary celebrations was a particular high point. Fingers crossed he commits his future to the club.

CE5 > Your highest point as an Arsenal fan?

Andrew > There have been so many. Winning the League Cup in 1993 on my first trip to Wembley will always stay with me, as will the personal congratulations I received from friends and teachers the day after the Cup Winners’ Cup triumph in 1994. My four years at university in London between 2001-2005 couldn’t have been better timed. Looking back it feels like the whole period was bathed in sunshine, booze and silverware. I celebrated winning the title at Old Trafford in the streets surrounding Highbury before getting a couple of hours sleep and heading to an exam. Two titles, three FA Cups, and 49 games unbeaten! Not bad…

CE5 > and your lowest point?

Andrew > The Nayim goal in 1995 still feels like a cruel joke, while the Owen brace in the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool in 2001 and Wayne Bridge’s goal for Chelsea in the 2004 Champions League quarter-final were also like shots to the heart. Strangely though, the lowest point was the draw against Birmingham in March 2008. I knew the moment Clichy conceded the injury-time penalty that our chances of winning the league were gone, despite the fact we were still top of the league at the end of the game. I think the emotion of watching Eduardo suffer such an horrific injury got to me. At the age of 25 I needed an hour lying face down on the floor of my bedroom just to try and calm down. It didn’t really work. That Birmingham repeated the feat two years later with a jammy last second equaliser and then beat us in the Carling Cup final last season hasn’t helped heal the wound!

CE5 > If you could sign any 3 players?

Andrew > Can I pass on all three on the proviso that Van Persie commits himself to Arsenal for the rest of his career? No? Ok…Messi, Ronaldo and Rooney – just so they can’t score against us anymore.

CE5 > Ok, get rid of 3 players?

Andrew > I always have a tinge of sadness when any Arsenal player leaves the club. I suppose I invest so much hope in them loving the club like I do, or being the best players they can be, that I take their respective exits quite personally. That being said there’s a few guys who I now just feel sorry for. Chamakh and Squillaci look completely bereft of confidence, while the Park transfer looks increasingly odd. For their own good, I’d love them to get their careers back on track elsewhere.

CE5 > Finally, Andrew Highbury or the Emirates?

Andrew > The Emirates is definitely growing on me, but it still lacks the dignified gravitas of Highbury. You can’t turn your back on 93 years of history and not feel sad. What I’d give for a chance to rewind the clock and stand on the North Bank again…

You can follow Andrew on twitter @AAllensports or @AFCcollective and don’t forget to have a look at the site for the brilliant collection of articles, nostalgia and videos.










Thursday, March 22, 2012

Tim Stillman



So it begins.  Not with a fanfare, no crash of drums, no liveried announcer to introduce the protagonists.  No, like all great experiments it begins quietly.  Like Edison’s light bulb, Einstein’s theory of relativity, Dirac’s equation.... (Steady on).  Sorry.

I am so proud to have an Arsenal legend to launch this experiment.  Tim Stillman is one of the most knowledgeable Gooners out there.  He regularly writes for Vital Arsenal and has a weekly column for Arseblog.  Tim has been to more Arsenal games than Arsene Wenger, and if you even dream you know more about the Arsenal you better wake up and apologise....

ClockEnd5>  So Tim why support Arsenal?

Tim>  My family is a pretty even split between Spurs and Arsenal and I just chose The Arsenal. The reasons are probably quite vague in my 6 year old mind as to what made me make that choice. But I’d pinpoint the fact that, when I first started to kick the sponge ball around the playground, I played as a winger. At the time Arsenal had Merson, Limpar and the incomparable Rocastle and I think that’s what made my mind up. I have to be 100% truthful and say I thought about pledging my allegiance to Spurs simply because they had Gascoigne and I can’t pretend he wasn’t one of my footballing idols at the time. In fact, if I were a couple of years older and Spurs had had Waddle whilst Arsenal toiled in their uninspiring mid 80s sludge, it’s reasonable to assume I would have been a Spurs fan. Thankfully, Graham’s side was at its most exciting when I did come to choose. I recall my mum taking me to a sports shop in South London and asking me which shirt I wanted. Arsenal had that lovely “splodges” home kit design at the time and that totally sold me. Red against white is a very hypnotising colour scheme for a 6 year old.

CE5 > What’s your earliest Arsenal memory?

Tim > Aside from making that life altering choice in that Catford sports shop, my first memory was not a pleasant one. I assure you it’s totally by chance that I really began to take an interest in the results during the 1990-91 season. That sickening semi final defeat to Spurs at Wembley was the first time a result really felt significant to me. Arsenal had won most of their games that season, so I guess I thought this supporting lark was quite easy. It was a timely gut punch and I remember it making me feel physically sick. That Gascoigne twisted the knife somehow made it worse for me- a player I admired and whose performances in the 1990 World Cup are my very earliest football memories. The feeling I had when Spurs got their third goal that day made me realise I’d let myself in for something of a lifelong pursuit. It was a valuable lesson in humility though; it taught me that no matter how high your team flies, nobody is immune to that pain.

CE5 > What was your first Arsenal game?

Tim > It just so happens that it was 20 years ago this week that I made my first pilgrimage to Highbury. 22nd March, 1992 for a home match against Leeds- who went on to win the championship that year. That was a pretty handy Leeds team- McAllister, Cantona, Batty, Speed, Strachan. But we were defending champions and it was a tough game. Due to my excitement, I reckon my Mum and I got to the ground over 2 hours before kickoff because the gates in the West Stand hadn’t even opened by the time we arrived. It was the best induction though; walking into the stadium empty, the red seats set against white and that brilliant green pitch in front of it. Then to slowly watch it fill up was intoxicating. The match was drawn 1-1 and I learned another invaluable lesson. Arsenal flop Lee Chapman was playing upfront for Leeds and was booed throughout the match. So of course he scored the equaliser. But the experience changed me forever. The next season I got a season ticket and I’ve only missed a handful of home games ever since. It’s 12 and a half years and counting since I last missed one at time of writing.

CE5 > Who is your favourite Arsenal player, ever?

Tim > Unquestionably Anders Limpar. That’s not to say he’s the best Arsenal player I’ve ever seen. He isn’t. But he was my favourite player when I was 7 and your favourite player when you’re 7 is your favourite for life, isn’t it? As I alluded to earlier, I played on the wing as a kid and he just played with this swagger and verve. He wasn’t like your traditional ‘push and run’ English winger. He played entirely on instinct, yet was gloriously unselfish with it. I’m even attracted to the fact that his time at Arsenal fizzled out due to conflict with the manager. I’ve always maintained that fascination with figures that don’t outstay their welcome. It’s the same with me for music. Bands like The Stone Roses and the Sex Pistols. Guys that produce one classic album, then kind of burn out and leave as quickly as they burst onto the scene. There’s an old saying that the star that burns twice as bright burns half as long. Anders just had all the ingredients for me, both as a kid and now as an adult.

CE5 > So who is your favourite player out of the current lot?

Tim > I like to think I’ve kind of grown out of having favourite players nowadays, but I’ve really taken to Andre Santos. He just plays with such great joy; you can tell playing football means everything to him. I think a person’s personality can come through in the way they play and Santos strikes me as a humble character, yet one that is really full of joy.

CE5 > Your highest point as an Arsenal fan?

Tim > I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I was in Madrid 06, I was there for Jens’ penalty save in Villarreal, I was in Milan in 03 and 08 and White Hart Lane in 04. In terms of a period of time, I was at all 49 matches in that unbeaten run and I imagine that’s something I’ll tell my grandchildren about. Some of the football we played in that period was unreal. At the end of that run I remember Highbury singing “Have you ever seen football played like this?” That’s the pinnacle for any fan really isn’t it? But in terms of one isolated moment, being at Old Trafford in 2002 will only ever be topped for me when Arsenal have won the Champions League. The stars really aligned that night, it was just perfect and everybody knew we’d done something incredibly special. I really thought we’d go on to dominate English football for 6 or 7 years after that.

CE5 > And your lowest point?

Tim > There have been a few of these too. Bolton in 2003 was incredibly difficult to swallow. I had to go to a party at uni when I got home from that game. Ordinarily I try not to take results too seriously but I just sat in a corner alone and drank whiskey after whiskey, but I just couldn’t get drunk. But Zaragoza in 1995 takes the shitty biscuit here. Losing cup finals in the last minute is one thing (something we’ve experienced again recently), but to do so in that manner- to an ex Spurs player during such a woeful season was probably the lowest point the club has experienced during my time as a supporter. We’d had such an awful season with Merson and Graham’s problems and finishing a pitiful 12th place. The Cup Winners Cup was supposed to be our saviour for that year. To have it taken away like that was incredibly cruel. I wasn’t at the game, but I just remember steeling myself for penalties, feeling reasonably confident given Seaman’s exploits against Sampdoria in the semis. When the ball hit the net I was literally stunned for a good ten minutes. I didn’t say a word and when Zaragoza went to lift the trophy, I just got out of my chair and went up to bed.

CE5 > If you could sign any 3 players?

Tim > I never really speculate on this kind of thing. The only team I watch with any great regularity is Arsenal and I simply don’t watch enough football from other countries to pretend I have an informed opinion. I certainly think Arsenal needs at least one striker and one more creative player. It looks like Fabianski, Mannone and Almunia will all go this summer so an experienced number 2 will be needed too. It looks like the club are looking towards the Bundesliga and I certainly think that Germany now is looking a bit like France in the Clarefontaine days. I think that’s where Europe’s top young talent is going to come from for the next generation.

CE5 > OK get rid of 3 players?

Tim > Again, I don’t usually like to single players out, it’s too much of a Big Brother / X Factor style pantomime villain thing for me. I’d suggest a few high earning squad players will be trimmed this summer and hopefully we can replace them with a bit more value.

CE5 > Which is better, Highbury or the Emirates?

Tim > I loved Highbury, it was where I spent my formative years. But I’ll take the Emirates every time thanks. Much like when you’re asked if you prefer vinyl or MP3, I know the newest answer isn’t the trendy one, but I think there’s this tendency to romanticise the past and the folklore of Highbury has been part of that. We had a lot of great memories there and the classic architecture and compactness of the ground were very special. But I also recall it taking the entire half time break to squeeze through the concourses in the Clock End for a piss. Highbury was a classic ground but I think if we’re honest, it’d had its day. I think we should have moved 7-8 years earlier than we did if I’m honest. I also think there’s been some rose tinted reappraisal of the atmosphere. I think proportionately, there was just as much moaning, just as many early leavers and, post Taylor report, the atmosphere was no different to what we experience now. Every ground in England is pretty devoid of atmosphere nowadays, so I don’t pinpoint the move as the loss of some golden era of raucous chanting like some seem to. Perhaps we notice the grumbles now because there are simply more people inside. The current stadium is so much more user friendly and when it’s lit up at night, it looks so opulent. As does the pitch under the floodlights. I know that’s not the trendy answer, but I honestly think if we’d won a trophy or two since moving there, the voguish criticisms wouldn’t be anywhere near as pronounced. All the place needs is a few more memories. From a design point of view, it is utterly top notch.

Thank you Tim, one word, follow that!  If you want to follow Tim on Twitter he’s here @LittleDutchVA .
Stay tuned for the next instalment of what makes it Your Arsenal.








Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Your Arsenal - What Is It?



There is a famous Hollywood legend that tells of a young “runner” on a Hitchcock movie who approached the great man telling him how he always had great ideas for movies, just before he fell asleep at night.  His problem was, when he awoke, he had completely forgotten them.  Hitchcock’s advice to him was, that he should keep pen and paper by his bed, and jot down his ideas just before he fell asleep.  The story goes, that the young acolyte tried this the very same night, and on waking eagerly sought the pad by his bedside, on which was written the words, “Boy meets Girl!”

Yes, we’ve all been there.  We’ve all had those late at night brilliant ideas that inevitably turn out to be crap the next morning.  I call them “Vampires” because daylight destroys them, utterly.

This “great” idea was born on that fitful night at the San Siro when Milan handed us that right beating, and one of my fellow Gooners in the pub cried out in despair, “Why do I support this fucking team?”
Now it may have been just a spur of the moment, and indeed, a purely rhetorical question, but nonetheless, when the game was over, and as we contemplated our uselessness, we asked each other the same question.....Why Arsenal?  Considering we were all Irishmen from Tipperary with absolutely no connection to North London whatsoever, the answers were so different and, in a weird way, very logical, that the seed was sown and the idea took root.

What makes us Gooners?  It can’t be geography, or hereditary, (although some are), but what makes Gooners in San Francisco congregate at ungodly hours to watch our games, even though they’ve never even seen the Holloway Road.  What makes Gooners in the Far East get up in the middle of the night, to watch a league cup game against Shrewsbury Town?

Why am I, a proud Tipperary man, less affected when Tipp, or Ireland, lose than when Arsenal lose, which can bother me for days?

So here is my idea.  Over the coming months I will be contacting Arsenal fans and asking them to answer ten simple questions about being a Gooner.  Obviously I can’t ask everybody, but I will try to get as wide a spread of Fans as possible, from as wide a variety of locations as possible.  You can be from Hackney or Mumbai or Detroit, you can be Wenger in, Wenger out, Wenger shake it all about, I don’t care, all I ask is that if you are contacted take a bit of time to think over your answers.

Maybe it fly, maybe it will flat on its arse, who knows.  Whatever, it will be your space, your opportunity to talk about Your Arsenal.