Did you see that? The whole town was red, MLS sobbed for a few seconds and had to clear his nose, Ben White – the legend – dedicated a song to Hincapie, Mikel wore sunglasses, Saka and Martinelli – the OGs of this team – posed together and the best of all, rhe TShirts of all the players read CHAMPIONS.
Declan Rice was singing, “Set piece again, ole ole; set piece again, ole ole”. ‘Hincapie, get your bum out..’ were the words only Ben White can come up with. Dec Rice is a decent guy, with Ole, Ole, Ole, Ben White White…
It was disheartening to lose the Champions League final. And the way we lost it to PSG made it even worse. There are questions being asked, and Mikel is answering why Gabriel was the one taking the crucial penalty when you have Madueke and Zubimendi available but that’s for another day. I would like to celebrate the ‘Premiership’ for some more days, after all, we had the title of 22 fucking years and the best part of it all is, the best is yet to come.
No, I am not giving up. You have to be critical of things in life if you want improvements. And there’s a lot to improve still at Arsenal. You can always get better than yesterday in sports and we won’t let it go the late Wenger years way, not at LiR.
But, we did win the Premiership. Against a club that has been under the radar for cheating. Against a team that went on to spend 200m pounds and got Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Khusanov in a January transfer window and still fell short of us. Against another team that is color blind and thinks red is blue. I heard they joined the parade in red and white and were singing rice, rice baby. Sad bunch of the lots.
We finished as runner ups in the Champions League. We lost to the last year Champions and in the penalty shootout. The only one who saved a penalty was David Raya and only if Eze and Gabriel had put it in, we would have 2 trophies on that bus. We played with 10 men during the extra time, Hincapie could hardly move and yet, it was PSG who wanted it to end and go to the shootout. They registered their first shot on target in the 117th minute. So, yeah, we lost but it wasn’t a gran and run for PSG.
Only about 2 months ago, I was frustrated and writing about us getting ousted from the Carabao and FA cup in 15 days. The last 15 days however were totally different because we saw us lifting the Premier League trophy, ending the Champions League run as runner ups, and an open bus parade painting London in red as if the communists are back.
Could we have done better? Yes – but then PSG could have done better too. No shame in losing in penalty shootout, we will go again next season and with a better preparation. The next time we go into the competitions, we will have a team who knows what it takes and will have experience of winning a trophy.
I have been a critic of the Mikel regime. I will also be critical in the coming season(s), but for now, thanks to the club, manager, players for giving everything they could to lift the trophy. We did it.
Right, that’s all for today. Hope you are back in your senses if you were part of that parade.
If you were part of the parade, Champions League final or the last day of the Premier League and have some pics which you don’t mind sharing with me, please send it to bloggingwithmb@gmail.com. I’m already preparing for the next season.
Also, fuck the Spurs.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZBHXvlzFpR/?igsh=MWlpZTNzeng0eDBsdw==
KP, I get you’re an actual fan unlike the plastics and role players but “i don’t like Tets, so want him gone” is a little pathetic. You may even be right and he may be a thoroughly despicable human being, although he probably isn’t. But his role isn’t to win popularity contests on a blog, it’s to win. Try and separate the two and work out what his priority should be from there
Aitcho
Reductionist much? I get the reason why you posted that. But it was a blithe and I have to say rather lazy attempt to round us all up with some patronising end of term criticism. D minus – see Arteta after class for some corporal punishment! But good try…really (if that’s not too condescending of me so to say…). I read it on the 250 return journey from N5 last night while my daughter did the final driving shift in her ford fiesta (a surprisingly comfortable choice for a good road trip or away day).
My feelings about Arteta (when I can be bothered to consider him – my main focus is how the players succeed despite – not because – of him) are a little more complex than you describe. But you knew that right? You correctly point out that his character and ego are sorely lacking, and I’ve highlighted this at various points recently, but Vieira, Art, Hoopah Ambarish and NORG have all skewered him for various other compelling reasons such as tactics, money/contract management, inability to successfully change the plan when things aren’t going right, occasional poor preparation, questionable treatment of players and serving up turgid, slow but expensive football. Anyway, as someone who drove 500 miles yesterday to get back into it in N5, I’m immune from Aitchovian brickbats and will remain so.
So onto the day. We left home at 6 am and took the train into N5 from Potter’s Bar. Finsbury Park was already fucking rocking and everyone over about 16 I’d say was biscuit-arsed (translation: bladdered). Saw the now famous KFC sign with Arteta’s sinister features superimposed over mild mannered health food provider Colonel Saunders. Walked down Blackstock Road reminiscing about my shady Kroenkephobian past. Went for pints in the Gunners Bar rather than the Woodbine. Returned back up to the junction with Mountgrove Road and took up our position waiting forever in the crowd. Brilliant mixture of people all feeling relief but more importantly that something very important had happened. Smoke bombs a go-go so much that they obscured the fucking bus when it arrived! A little disappointed not to see so many women’s team players which my daughter had particularly hoped for. As the bus passed (too quickly) Arteta had positioned himself right at the front with Declan, the man most responsible for our success. Aitcho, did the little Cuntalonian egotist make it all about him just to spite me? Sob! Arguably even more nauseating was to see Josh, trying his bestest to act like an Arsenal fan. Simply ‘de trop’ you bearded and irredeemably cunty fake bastard and signed up member of BOMAD (bank of mum and dad). Fuck off back to Pigsknuckke Arkansas and twang your banjo🪕 🪕 🪕.
Journey back to Potters Bar was like a Norse Saga because TFL closed Finsbury Park. Really noticeable how run down some areas have become after years of underinvestment. Home just after 10.30pm. Due to being so far west, it still wasn’t fully dark.
Ambarish – you and Hoopah would have loved it, and I would have been delighted to buy you both a beer. It was a special day despite the various hassles (mostly caused by living so far away now). If Arsenal win a big ‘un next year – and who knows if they will, although a good manager would help in that regard – I’ll doubtless be back doing a bit of glory hunting! I’ll try and send some photos.
Ambarish
Nice write up by the way!
Yes kp the bus whizzed by way too quickly.
our intention was to get the train to St Pancras and then the tube to Finsbury Park but as we didn’t arrive at st p until after midday they had closed the underground due to the vast numbers of fans so we had to walk towards the angel, I am still in shock at the numbers outside King’s Cross, it was like the Arsenal had taken over London and as I said previously the atmosphere was fantastic though no doubt there were a few unsavoury incidents that will be highlighted online .
Due to the amount of fans making there way towards the Angel we took a left and ended up at Holloway Road near the start of the parade by Liverpool road and was disappointed to just about see the bus as it flashed past us.
To be honest I had my reservations about going but despite seeing next to nothing of the parade it made me proud to be an Arsenal supporter and seeing so many smiling faces of all ages , gender and colour unite as one.
Unlike KP I didn’t see anyone “bladdered” but like KP we then had the long walk back to St Pancras down the Caledonian Road and again everyone remained in good spirits.
As we were at the beginning of the parade we did leave early compared to some but our train was cancelled to Canterbury which was annoying especially as we had young kids with us but eventually made it home by 7pm.
Would I go next year when we win the league, no chance though I doubt we will ever see a crowd of that magnitude ever again.
When you look at the riots in Paris after the game and throughout the night it makes you realise how civilised we are in the uk when 1.5 million football fans can descend on the capital without any major problems, let’s hope that we learn from events in Paris and never allow London to deteriorate to that level where the police look like they have lost control of the capital.
“I am still in shock at the numbers outside King’s Cross, it was like the Arsenal had taken over London”
What do you mean by “it was like”… We have taken over London. Some Russian money was a hiccup but London is red. Always. :))
Hope you and KP had a good day out there. I hate you both.
Ambarish
😁
Slagsy
All this fucking diversity you keep mentioned except with the fucking ownership of the club. Those carpet bagging cunts will be licking their lips at the turnout yesterday.
Mark my words ,they will be whoring out of the club , at even a faster rate now. Nothing will be off limits.
I would not be surprised these cunts introduce an Arsenal theme park and bouncy castles pre game soon. Tacky cunts.
Has it never occurred to you, in your thick fucking skull, that those who attended yesterday should all have the possibility of sharing the fucking spoils and booty like it was possible, before they come along and took it private?
You are being played by these billionaire cunts like a fiddle.
But then again, there is no fool, like an old fool. But you are not the only one.
My neighbour Jim , has just been fleeced by his thai bird, some old cunts never seem to learn.
Hi Art
I’d be intrigued to hear about what happened to Jim (change all the names for extra anonymity if it helps). I’m assuming it doesn’t involve a case of mistaken genitalia. Spill the beans…I’m already tired of Tetsy and his hijacking of trophy celebrations.
KP
Thanks for the travelogue, it reads like a book . That is much appreciated by the rest of us mortals because it came without pretense and dressed in entertaining prose.
KP—I second Hoopah’s sentiments…you’re well-aware of my admiration for your ability to turn a phrase…I hope it was well worth your efforts…not sure I would have done likewise, unless my kids were so inclined to go
Ufraud
“ those carpet bagging cunts will be licking their lips at the turnout yesterday.”
Which would be true if anyone parted with any money, yesterday was an event that would cost the owners money as I’m sure policing and organising the biggest street event in the history of this country wouldn’t come cheap.
Maybe you should blame the great Arsene Wenger for Arsenal having such an enormous fan base as it was his brand of dynamic and exciting football that persuaded so many fans to support the club.
It’s ironic that you want the owners to spend maybe a couple of hundred million on mbappe whilst at the same time criticising them for being too commercial, it is impossible to have one without the other.
Unfortunately the game is all about money as the corrupt clubs Chelsea and city have proved over the last 20 years, those 2 clubs are now in decline and will return to their rightful place which is mid table mixed with relegation and lower division football.
We can all now look forward now to The Arsenal competing for the big trophies and signing the best players in the world due to Arsenal being financially one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Jim is a cunt and lives in the flat below and on a recent trip to Thailand , met an old Thai brass. He says he is an armpit man, whatever that fuckin means and she had the best fuckin armpits he has seen
He was to pay her to come over and live with him. Suffice to say money went out and old brass disappeared.
As they say, there is no fool ,like an old fool.
He does supports QPR. At least
they are a proper club ,in a proper stadium and not a fucking circus act, like our cunts.
This club has lost the fuckin plot. Like over excited fuckin big babies, because they beat some cack, after spending a billion.
Reading over 1.2
million turned up , squashed like fucking sardines in the heat simply to wave at some fuckin millionaire players.
Instagram age, innit
Must be seen to be there, innit
Cunts
Art
Thanks mate. That story is priceless and has helped divert me from the CL setback and my old age tiredness after being around the hell hole of Finsbury Park yesterday watching Josh Kroenke behaving like a fucking twat. Great story.
I think I possibly share Jim’s affinity for armpits. I spent some wonderful moments with a German women in the past for much the same reason. Despite being a cunt, I hope Jim finds solace at Loftus Road next season in and around Shepherd’s Bush as opposed to the underarm variety. Cheers mate.
KP / Art
Armpits. In the 70s I was driving through Germany to see my then girlfriend in Sonderburg, Denmark. I had a meeting in Hamburg on the way through and that evening my friend and I were picked up by a couple of German girls (not brasses). We went back to their flat and after a while one of the girls removed her sweater to reveal an armless vest and the hairiest armpits you are ever likely to see. No doubt Jim would have had an orgasm on the spot.
NORG
Anecdote-tastic! I never imagined the conversation would turn to 💪so soon after a euro setback. Where would we be without European ‘culture’ eh. I once spent part of a hot summer in Berlin and was thoroughly discombobulated by female armpit pubes. Brasses (great reminder of that Sweeney era word too), semi-clad nuns, scrubbers, girls in vests, anyone.
The Scots and Irish have their own word for armpits …oxters! I kid you not .
Slagsy.
Why do you give a fuck how many supporters we now have?
Are you on fucking commission?
As I have said before having all these new cunts means only two fucking outcomes.
1. Higher prices for tickets and tat and you won’t be able to get tickets for finals , and if they do win something, its fuckin carnage like yesterday.
2. The billionaire carpet baggers will simply get richer and richer and the club becomes more fuckin ludicrous and a fuckin circus act, like yesterday.
One of the biggest mistakes the club has made was getting rid of Rioch after 1 season and getting Wenger in.
Rioch , bought Bergkamp not Wenger and if he had 22 fucking years , we would have won more than 3 league titles.
He was an old school manager , who had genuine principles and he would have wanted the club to stay at Highbury , like Liverpool did at Anfield.
Wenger although a great figure, was fucking obsessed with this new cunting ground, which is a fucking souless hovel in comparison to the majesty of Highbury.
Art
I agree with you to some extent about Rioch. A manager who, prior to joining AFC was performing miracles at Bolton getting some physical and brilliant performances out of a squad of young kids and has-beens. A quiet but evidently tough man who had high expectations. He seemed almost the perfect replacement for GG but he never got his chance.
And yes, Bergo’s signing was secured when Rioch was manager although I assume Dein also had a significant part to play in bringing him in.
I was watching a ‘Big Match Revisited’ the other day and Rioch was doing the business in midfield for that strong Derby team in the mid 70s. And as a Scotland international, I guess he played a part in the tartan army’s WC success around the same time.
Ufraud
“ One of the biggest mistakes the club has made was getting rid of Rioch after 1 season and getting Wenger in.”
With respect , I’m not sure you have a clue when it comes to rating a manager.
Here is Rioch’s managerial record, compare this to wenger’s 10 trophies, 10 runners up and 18 years qualifying for champions league football ,and you think it was a mistake to bring in Wenger!
Middlesbrough
Managed lower divisions
1989/90 season
Finished 21st Sacked
Millwall
Managed lower divisions
1991/92
Finished 15th sacked
Bolton
Managed lower divisions
1993/94 14th
1994/95
Finished 3rd , final of league cup , left to join Arsenal
Arsenal
1995/96
Finished 5th sacked
Norwich
Managed lower division
1999/2000
Finished 12th
Wigan
Managed lower division
2000/01
Finished 6th sacked
Odense
left after 9 months
Aalborg
Sacked after 3 months
Slagsy
Rioch took Arsenal 12th to 5th in his only season, and bought Bergkamp and Platt.
Can you imagine this current cunt doing something similar?
He took us down the cunting table in his first few seasons.
He was paying the Boros lads wages, because they were facing liquidation and created a great young side. The same at Bolton.
Here was a man with integrity and principles, so of course whimsical slags like you would not appreciate those old traits.
Fuck me, you are very much fuckin like that cunt Jim. Whimsical , without the armpit fetish.
This club has become a fuckin circus, because there are very few old school good football men left in it.
A fuckin circus.
Rioch fell foul of some internal politics.
Dein was already good friends with Wenger and wanted him to replace Graham but the board wouldn’t do something so “radical”.
Pretty sure that Dein waited for the right moment, made his move and the rest is history.