Nothing drives home how average football is without fans quite like the Champions League stadiums being empty. It’s so sad. The pinnacle of European football should have a backdrop of electrified lunatics.
Still, can’t say I didn’t enjoy watching Barcelona getting absolutely crushed by PSG. What a joke of a club they’ve become. All the chickens are coming home to roost at one of the most odious operations in European football. Messi is declining fast, their debt is racking up, and they thought they’d refresh the coaching vision with Ronald Koeman. They truly are getting what they deserve at the moment.
The real feast will be on Thursday night though, you all know that, it’s where the proper ball is played my friends.
There’s an interesting piece on SkySports about fan abuse. The story says that a data science company has been tracking abuse of players like Xhaka and Bellerin. The Swiss international was targetted with racist abuse online by self-identified season ticket holders. Apparently, their tool is able to match online profiles to actual season tickets. Creepy… but, not as creepy as racially abusing Arsenal players with a hidden identity.
I really, really, hope Arsenal find them and take their season tickets. I hope the fans in question complain online so we all see who they are. You just know it’ll be the sanctimonious types that’ll look for support off the back of a woke agenda.
It’s about time there were some real-world consequences for people that take grim digital actions that have real-world consequences for the people they are abusing.
Hopefully, Twitter will move to a subscription model in the near future which will bin a huge tranche of scumbags. No one is signing up for a fake account to pay $5 a month. I’m not sure what Mark Zuckerberg is going to do, the guy let’s genocide, covid conspiracies and Q pass through his platform, not sure he’s too fussed about rich footballers and a bit of racism, but we’ll see. It feels like there’s a reckoning coming across the board and it is long, long overdue.
Some good news from Mark Irwin, he reckons the cost-cutting will pick up pace again in the summer. LT and Guendouzi will be moved on, and likely, David Luiz. When a paper as unreliable as the Independent has a story, always remember, it might be an agent planting the story for nefarious reasons.
The same writer also claims we’ll do a deal for Ceballos this summer, a move I’m not sure about. £25m is a lot for a player who can barely string three good games together. He’s young, sure, but I’d like to see a bit more from him before we start splashing money on someone that looks unsuited to the league at the moment.
There’s a story doing the rounds about Auba having a tattoo in breach of covid rules. I couldn’t be less interested if I’m honest. Players are having haircuts every other day, I’m sure it’s absolutely fine.
KT is back in training. There’s a video of him doing great things. I’d love him to play on Thursday, but I’d prefer we do all we can to have him fresh for the Prem games. We have quite a few young players on big minutes, it might be wise to keep them in good shape, but we’ll see.
I kid you not, I cut myself again with a knife so have to stop this short. My gf literally buying me knife gloves because of the frequency of injuries. What. A. Doughnut. Special gloves? That’s like being given armbands at 30.
See you tomorrow my darlings x
Pedro,
Sounds like your Arteta love is making you self harm.
😉
Glad to hear all your stories, that’s what keeps Le-Grove one of the best blogs with one of the best people.
If I may, I watched first match on a Red membership in 2019 – Arsenal vs Burnley. Goals by Auba and Laca; Chants of Dani boy all around.
It was a dream specially when you are not a resident here.
” In the US, players almost exclusively move between clubs in trades.”
Transfer fee doesn’t exist in north American sport. The only money involved is covering part of the player’s salary. On the other hand, young players are drafted. Draft position can be traded.
B63 – Yup, that’s the one (although I recall it was a deeper green, maybe it’s the photo). Green and blue hooped socks too!
Winthorpe. I agree. For me, we really won’t know where we are until the Final match has been played and the summer transfer window navigated. We have Partey yet to really make an impact and the Summer transfer window provides the opportunity to improve further by adding quality while offloading fringe players, as discussed earlier. We need a better option to play alongside Partey and build a partnership. This has to be a process, you can’t keep shelling Managers in the hope something will magically happen. It won’t. If you don’t have the right players or the right balance to… Read more »
Kronkephobe/B63 – Chris Whyte looked decent for a while, Ledley King of Sp*ds fame reminded me of him (sorry Chris). Talking of Raphael Meade I recall he hit a double against S*rs (as did Charlie) in a 4-2 win. Both looked like they had something but never quite made it. Petrovic also looked promising initially.
Late to the party……
First went to Highbury in March 1970 against C.Palace, we won 2-0. Radford and George got the goals. Marinello played……
At full time I went to Jack Kelsey’s “shop”!
AFC
Exactly. Looks like you’re one of the few measured posters here that actually loves the club and understands the game. 2 permanent signings in midfield this summer for me. Odegaard and bissouma would do me. If AMN doesn’t want to play right back, which is basically a winger in this system then I’d sell and bring in a proper right back too. I don’t like Bellerin. He’s not good enough on the ball
Thierry may end up at Bournemouth FC as manager if the tabloids are to be believed.
Winthorpe Yes a partner for Partey, someone younger who can cover the ground but has to be a baller too. Bissouma is a decent shout. Bellerin needs an upgrade, I agree. As you rightly say, we don’t have full-backs in the system, they are inverted wingers. We have seen what we lose when Tierney is out. I don’t think we are that far away but there is no doubt we have to upgrade in key areas. Middle of the park is so important in modern football with pressing and transitions to consider and we have to make sure we have… Read more »
Danny,
Peter Marinello, forgot about him. Skilful player but it didn’t really work out – I believe he was a bit of a party animal or something like that?
One of the more ignoble sights was Arsenal turning into a feeder club which it became under Wenger.
It’s too early to write off Dani Ceballos completely but Real Madrid would need to be accommodating too on the price. I don’t think they will because they have other interested parties in Spain like Real Betis.. £25m for a player with his technique and ceiling wouldn’t be the worst deal in the world. Apparently Cazorla rates him very very highly and he acts as a mentor to Dani… the player needs to be more consistent. If RM however change their manager I would be working hard to buy Odegaard if they were open, which they might be. Every new… Read more »
Loving all the nostalgia on here today
My first real memory is losing the 1972 FA Cup final to Leeds, Alan Clarke goal, Mick Jones with all the sympathy for breaking his arm and collecting his medal wearing a sling….!
First match was April 1980 away to the Spuds, winning 2-1.
It was the debut of Paul Davis, still one of my all-time favourites. That was around the time of those epic encounters with Juventus as well….
AFC
I don’t think the middle of the park is as important as it used to be. For me the game is won and lost in wide areas now. Modern midfielders don’t tend to control the game the way they used to in the hey day of gerrard scholes Vieira and keane
Mb “If I may, I watched first match on a Red membership in 2019” Bet you enjoyed that!! As Andy, Bergkamp and the others were alluding to, football has changed beyond recognition. The stadiums used to be so bitterly cold and much of the football was dire. It wasn’t helped by the churned up pitches or the fact most of the players were piss-heads half intoxicated! Anyway, I can’t speak for Andy or the others but when I visited the Emirates for my first game it was just incredible. Like most of the Gooners, we arrived early and it was… Read more »
andy 1886
Petrovic. Now, there was a player – for a minute or two. I can remember the excitement when he became the first of our (one, and only one) allowed “foreign” players
AFC Forever
I remember he got the ball, ran down the right wing and everybody in the stands stood up to see “The Scottish George Best” in action, also out of respect (maybe?) but of course he got injured, missed nearly all the double season and though he stuck around another couple of seasons, he left before the 73-74 one. Add to his injuries and what you said about being a party animal, he messed up what could’ve been an amazing career. Charlie Nicholas when joining us was warned not to end up like Marinello.
Winthorpe, yes but the transition through the centre of the pitch is so important because that’s where you are going to get hurt or open a team up against the press. It’s the one area where we can still get exposed sometimes.
dannny,
Wasn’t he a record signing or something? He came with high expectations I seem to recall.
Club level is no different to a business/first class airport lounge.
The best thing about it is the trophy on display.
Logie,
Who was it Paul Davis punched; he broke his jaw he hit him so hard. Great ‘baller.
@Alexanderhenry.Why Barcelona so odious.Well I’ll make it short & sweet.But they’re right up there with Manure.As arrogant b’stards & glory hunting fans.The incessant tapping up of DNA cesc & the total disrespect for our club with the “ shirt” swapping incident .UEFA s darling club. Can bend the rules whenever they fancy it.With immunity.The bent refs in their pocket.ex Van persies lucrious sending off in Cl quater final for kicking the ball away.The CL final when another shit biased ref ensured we had no goalkeeper & ten men for 60 plus minutes.I could go on & on ( diving &… Read more »
If Brighton stay up, they will want top dollar for Bissuma… £50m at least I reckon. For that type of money I would rather we brought bin someone younger like Odegaard. Or what about Bennacer who has been doing well…?
Brighton might accept £30m plus Nketiah if they were feeling generous… and Nketiah might go for it too if he was to become their main man striker wise…
*brought in…
Jamie, think it’s around £60.00 a ticket club level? As you say, it is like a posh airport lounge – not EasyJet or Ryanair…!! Always take the wife Club level to special games like the Emirates Cup etc. If I can get her out of the bloody shop; last time I went and had Pie, Mash and Liquer while she spent ages, and my money, buying a load of gifts for people in the Arsenal shop!!
AFC Forever
Correct, he was our most expensive signing back then and I think Charlie Nicholas was too.
AFC Forever
It was Glenn Cockerill and Davis got a 9 match ban for it!
I remember the season after we did the double our form was shit so in the winter transfer window we signed Alan Ball for a UK transfer record fee. I always laugh trying to imagine this world cup winner (and league champion winner the year before us) walking into the double teams dressing room for the first time, they must have eaten him alive!
Logie,
Sweet punch though, Cockerill must have really wound him up!!
What a punch, wonder what PGMOl and VAR would have made of this today?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBvCuTBjxdE
Wenger’s lies uncovered – https://angryofislington.com/2021/02/16/arsene-wenger-what-on-earth-are-you-talking-about/
I believe during his latter years (that’s when I became an Arsenal fan), Wenger tried to do too much like participate in the club’s financial management and stuff, and lost sight of his main job, that was, to try to WIN football games.
That’s right Logie, Cockerill it was. Of course we should condemn it but at the time we were just like ‘WTF? Davis?. First case of a retrospective punishment I believe as the ref missed it during the game (wonder what VAR would have made of it?).
Beat me to it AFCF…
2 bob it cost me to get in when i was 10 , in the schoolboy enclosure .
4 bob when i progressed to the north bank .
clock end was 4 bob with an extra 2 bob to go in the west stand enclosure( i think it was ) before it was turned into seats.
Logie, best signing around that era for me was Woodcock. First time I saw him he looked a different class, half a yard ahead of everyone else on the pitch.
AFCF / Andy 1886
That clip got it spot on, Davis was known as such a gent, so Cockerill must have really wound him up / said something (racist?) at the time.
He had such a cultured left foot (why is it only the left foot that is cultured?)
I met him years later at a sporting lunch event.
He still looked fit enough to be playing, think he was working with some of the youth teams at that time.
Nostalgia time:
First game at Highbury – Jan 4, 1964 FA Cup 3rd round. Beat Wolves 2-1 – Baker & Strong scored.
Was at both legs of the 1970 Fairs Cup final – hitchhiked to Brussels for the first one; no ticket needed for the second. Rocked up to Highbury and paid at the turnstile. Ended up on the pitch after the final whistle celebrating the first trophy for SEVENTEEN years. Different times.
I have been watching Arsenal since the mid 1950s and it would be interesting to find out from other posters which is the most significant game they have watched as a supporter. Whilst I have watched many games in the flesh including our league and double wins plus England winning the World Cup I am clear that the most memorable game I saw at Highbury was our home game in 1958 against Man Utd, which was a 5-4 defeat. This was the last game played in England by the great Busby Babes including Duncan Edwards. The game itself was a… Read more »
Rich,
The numbers don’t lie. If we sell Lace for £40m, Guen for £35m, Torr for £30m and Chambers for £25m, that’s about £300m for bs to spend.
Cuckoo, cuckoo
Press Box Gooner “Ended up on the pitch after the final whistle celebrating the first trophy for SEVENTEEN years. Different times” Yes, it is almost a totally different sport. In those days, the players earned an average wage and it wasn’t unusual to see them walking along down the road. As for the state of the pitches, no better than the average local park. How many live TV games did you get to watch, hardly any. I watched the 1971 FA Cup Final on a black and white TV and after the game all the kids went outside to play,… Read more »
Emirates
“the most memorable game I saw at Highbury was our home game in 1958 against Man Utd, which was a 5-4 defeat:
Total respect, 1958…!!! Take a bow. I hadn’t been born, I was a sixties child. You got to see the Busby Babes, that really is something. My dad used to always say that Duncan Edwards was one of the best players he had ever seen.
Andy
VAR would have awarded a penalty to Southampton, which the referee allowed to be retaken three times until the lad finally scored. Davies would have received a 9-year ban, not 9 games and under pressure from PGMO the club would have been forced to play the rest of the season behind closed doors.
AFC Forever
Actually the first game I watched at Highbury was Arsenal v Blackpool. Stanley Matthews played against us in his 40s!
I have watched many memorable games in my lifetime. Sadly I don’t get the same level of enjoyment today, because success is measured on how much a club spends on not on building great teams.
AFCF and Danny
PM was serenaded by the North Bank who adapted that Donovan tune “(They call me) mellow yellow”. It’s great that since signing KT, it’s reminded gooners of Scottish players we’ve enjoyed seeing, even Ian Ure! I worshipped Charlie N – it took a while but I think he was the one that finally replaced Charlie G in fans’ hearts.
If Charlie Patino fulfills his promise, perhaps we’ll have a King Charles III in a few seasons.
Emirates has to be the Fairs cup final?
ES
Can’t believe it I was also at that game, my Dad used to take me from Chelmsford to see Arsenal one week and Spurs the next. I chose Arsenal as my team
Being in crowds of 60,000 was awesome.
I remember Ian Ure very well. He was highly rated in the Scottish National Team, but sadly did not make the same impression at Arsenal.
From recollection he became a Prison Officer at the end of his football career!!
AFC,
Me too, would have loved to see Duncan Edwards, such a tragedy.
I was extremely blessed to have seen George Best quite a few times. He is probably the best player I have seen.
I get the antipathy to Barcelona – if major football teams were school students, they’d be the arrogant cunt who was also teacher’s pet. The mincing and cheating and snide violence put me in mind of peak Fergie Manure.
But while we’re digging their grave, I wouldn’t hesitate to throw Athletico, Zaragoza (obvs),Valencia, Espanyol and the thoroughly odious Real Madrid in with them. Girona or Rayo Vallecano for me (if I was interested).
I hate Green Bay
Yes I agree that George Best was probably the greatest British Born Footballer I watched when he was in his prime. He could win games on his own account.
Sadly his prime was relatively short, because of his lifestyle.
Whilst Fergie benefited from the group of youngsters who came through the Man Utd Academy I think that the game changer when they started win the EPL was Cantona.
Cantona may not have been the greatest footballer, but he turned Man Utd into a trophy winning team.
Yep Duncan Edwards playing for England at 18.
We have players who are still babies at 22 according to Pedro.
Barcelona, minus Messi over the past decade or so, would have won zilch.
Xavi and Iniesta were huge for Barca so that isn;t really correct Graham. However a world super class player lifts a team to another dimension. There aren’t many of them
That Barca team where something else. Xhavi, Iniesta, Messi nobody could get the ball off them. Santo Cazorla would have thrived in that team, I think he is so underrated
Why Porto is allowed to play at home and not Benfica?
Juv screwed up
@Nelson, there isn’t any restriction on players entering Portugal, it’s just that the UK has banned flights there so no English clubs can travel there, Italian clubs are fine to go.
Nostalgia fest here today! It’s been fun reading the comments
Pedro
Nostalgia
I bet you didn’t realise you had so many old boys on here!! Really good stuff today.
Thanks Andy. But couldn’t both teams stop over in France or Spain?
Barca are in their current state because they abandoned the principals that unearthed Messi, xavi and iniesta.
Now at the end of Messi’s career and a red Bank balance they’re attempting to develop a bunch of academy grads to get one more win for Messi but they’ve left it till too late and let some prime talent go along the way.
If we can’t get odegaard what would the chances of us being able to get Dani olmo be?
@Nelson – do you mean UK clubs could go via another country? If so no, you can’t do that and wouldn’t be allowed back in the country – see information on travel to/from Portugal from Gov.uk:
“Flights between the UK and Portugal (including the autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores) are currently suspended. Visitors who have been in or transited through Portugal (including the autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores) in the previous 10 days cannot enter the UK.”
I guess our Italian friends take a different view.
Pep and Ancelotti seem to be good friends. Seldom Pep talks so long with the opposing manager.
Pedro
Us oldies have seen drab times before but as you get older you tend to moan more – if it is not team performance then it is probably piles.
ES mentioned Cantona earlier. In 1993 I managed three sites in the UK one of which was in Trafford Park. Cantona had just joined Man U and was staying at the Novotel, Worsley. I often had a meal with him, the French hotel staff all pampered him. He actually liked Wenger.
France have banned all but essential travel from outside the EU (including the UK) and even in any exceptional circumstance visitors have to isolate for 7 days on arrival so we can’t play in France either.
That means the UK government views Italy and Greece safer to go.
I find the stupidity of most English pundits mind-boggling. I heard Trevor Sinclair say this morning that he’d prefer Citeh to sign Messi rather than Mbappe . Messi is not exactly a Willian signing but it’s a signing that only has downside. He’s not yet a busted flush but as Partey has shown this league is a huge challenge for players from La Liga .. Citeh can afford to piss money up the wall more than most clubs but Mbappe is not only a brilliant investment he’s a superb player and very marketable . Cue Wenger telling us he went… Read more »
Yup, Portugal is no go as they are worried aboout the Brazillian strain and Portugal’s ties with that region.
Bertie, completely agree, only the marketing people would sign Messi, anyone who knew anything about football would take Mbappe.
My 5 most memorable games i attended back in the 60’s was. 1968/69 league cup semi final 2nd leg away to Tottenham on a week night. John Radford with a last minute near post header at the park lane end to put us through to Wembley. ..lost to 3rd division swindon in the final. . 1970 fairs cup final v Anderlecht. ..unbelievable night..3-0 victory to win the tie 4-3 1970/71 FA cup semi final v stoke at Hillsborough…2-0 down at half time ..finished 2-2 with a peter storey penalty in the last minite. 1971 white hart lane , monday night… Read more »
Pierre, poor old Alan Sunderland scored a hat-trick but all people remember is the Brady goal.
Strange how city are a better team without Debruyne, at least better results without him.
The only reason i can think of is that Debruyne took more risks with the ball and although he was top for assists , he was also top for giving possession away .
Foden scores again
RAndy
Alan Sunderland will be forever remembered for his FA Cup final goal. We were 2 nil up and cruising, the Man Utd suddenly levelled the score. Absolutely gutted until the mop of hair arrived to win the day. That was some Cup Final.
*Andy obviously (unless you know otherwise)
Everton scores 1 – 1
AFCF, yup, and Rix supplied the cross. The Hair Bear Bunch of 70’s football.
A lot of hair around then. Remember Carlos Valderrama’s ?
PierreFebruary 17, 2021 20:43:26 My 5 most memorable games i attended back in the 60’s was.1968/69 league cup semi final 2nd leg away to Tottenham on a week night. John Radford with a last minute near post header at the park lane end to put us through to Wembley. ..lost to 3rd division swindon in the final. . 1970 fairs cup final v Anderlecht. ..unbelievable night..3-0 victory to win the tie 4-3 1970/71 FA cup semi final v stoke at Hillsborough…2-0 down at half time ..finished 2-2 with a peter storey penalty in the last minite.1971 white hart lane ,… Read more »
Pretty impressive hair on Higuita too (see his scorpion kick save, looks like he’s wearing one of those 18th Century wigs lol).
“Pierre
Only one of those games were played in the 60s 😂”
Pierre was still coming down from a 60’s acid trip at the time…
City’s win percentage is higher with KDB pulling the strings
69.5%
63.8% without him. They’ve been elite throughout Pep’s time there with only last season being an off year really.
Pierre Timex must have stopped.
KDB is back now.
Winthorpe
Pep is the best in my opinion .
Many wrote city off earlier in the season after the defeat to Leicester, but he steadied the ship superbly and now they are flying .
People were talking about united , chelsea or Tottenham winning the league a while back , i said at the time that only one team will win it..
De bruyne back just in time for the Arsenal game , typical.
KDB plays only 10 mins today. Looks like he is warming up to face us.
Alan “ Shirley “ Sunderland & Big Willie Young.Those were the days…..
Windthorpe
“City’s win percentage is higher with KDB pulling the strings
69.5%63.8% without him. They’ve been elite throughout Pep’s time there with only last season being an off year really.”
I did mean this season , not overall.
One would think that no Debruyne, Aguero, Fernandinho that city would struggle , but Pep found a different way tò play, a little less expansive but a defence that’s as tight as a duck’s arse.
Liverpool have won Old Big Ears which Man City can only dream of winning.
LG firing on all cylinders today, great reading. Well done you savages.
Winthorpe Pierre “Only one of those games were played in the 60s 😂” Made me laugh this morning LG Saw an article headline this morning saying Arteta has stated that he is going to support Willian through his poor form and help him back to his best. Only words I’d have for Arteta are – at the expense of the following: Martinelli, Saliba, Guen, Torr, Azeez, Balogun and other youth players that need minutes. Let’s face it if Willian is this poor during his game time, what must he be like in training to warrant getting minutes in place of… Read more »
There is rumor that Arteta wants to sign Ceballos. If money is tight, I would find out from Madrid whether we can sign Ødegaard instead. A good ACM is more difficult to find and usually cost more than a CM.
When I was a kid in the 90s and 2000s my parents couldn’t afford to take me to many games so every year They’d take me to some carling cup games. I remember our reserves smashing Utd at highbury. Kanu was different class up front and managed to take 3 defenders out of the game with an impossible flick in an impossible dead end.
He scored a penalty that day too.
One of my favourite childhood memories
Yeah Nelson Ceballos worries me Every time he’s near the end of his contract he looks like a world beater yet both times he’s joined he’s done nothing for the first 6 months I don’t doubt his ability but I am starting to question his mentality. He was quality at the end of last season and was against Leeds. But where was that quality in the first half of this season? Non-existent. I think it’s an attitude thing. He needs a rocket under his ass to have urgency to show up. We can’t afford to have passengers when players aren’t… Read more »
I remember the 1933 season we won the treble. I was a teenager little did i know in a few years i would be off to serve in WW2. Unforgetable watching from the roof of a house Ted Drake score
Sid
Are you telling us you are 90+ years old or was this in a dream you had???
China
I kept reminding everyone here. Ceballos is like any other average spanish player. They can’t handle the rough weather of england and he was very fortunate that the PL extended into the summer months, which is ideal for spanish players as they are used to playing in the humid weathers of spain.
Technically, like every other spanish midfielder he is above average, but he is not PL material and when he does go back to spain, he will find playing for sevilla or sociedad his level, because he’s not good enough for Real, Barca or Athleti.
Gons I don’t think it’s a weather thing because this season and last he was an irrelevance in the first quarter of both seasons before the weather got especially shit
Imo it’s a mentality issue as he just only plays properly when he feels a sense of urgency and that urgency so far always comes in the tail end of the season imo