I should just wrap up the article, this headline is enough.
We are going into the world cup break with a 5-point lead over Manchester City. We managed to win 2-0 against Wolves while City lost against Brentford. It wasn’t easy against the organized Wolves defence and they had their own chances in the first half but couple of goals from Martin Odegaard in the second half made sure that we weren’t dropping any points.
First half was full of mistakes and some hard luck for us. Gabriel Jesus’s goal was ruled offside but what a magnificent first touch he had, and what a goal it was. William Saliba was having a bad day at work, with a sloppy back pass when Gabriel came to the rescue. Xhaka was substituted because he had a bad stomach in 15th minute and that meant we switched to a Partey + Vieira instead of our usual. I am still not sure where Vieira plays, is he a competition to Odegaard or can he play on the wings? Sambi would have been the usual choice to partner Partey in Xhaka’s absence but Vieira didn’t disappoint and earned an assist lately.
Jesus had another one of those shots hitting the woodwork, which would land in the nets most of the time. He is going through a goal drought. He has been brilliant for us and he brings a different positioning play for us. You could see him moving to the wings when Martinelli or Saka move towards the centre. Martinelli specially loves to do it, to put himself in a scoring situation and Jesus provides an overlap to Zinchenko at the left wing. And mind you, this all happens without drop in the quality of our play. Brilliant, innit?
The other day I was having a chat with one of my City mates who was eager to prove Phil Foden is better than Saka. Well, he is not. I agree Saka lacks the cutting edge finishing which Foden has (his goal against Brentford was superb) but if you are telling me Foden is better than Saka because he has scored 7 goals to his 4, I would point out Saka has a better assist numbers (6 to 3 of Foden). I would also point out that Saka brings much more to the play at Arsenal than what Phil does at City.
So where are we after 14 games? Top of the table and it’s lonely here!
A 5 points lead after more than 1/3rd of the season is over is not a fluke. Brentford was an easy game for us but City lost against them. We have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea.
We play West Ham (H), Brighton (A), New Castle (H) before going into the North London Derby on 14th Jan at Shite Hart Lane. Four crucial games, West Ham because players will be World Cup fatigued, Brighton is always a tough game, New Castle are playing some superb football and are sitting ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United and Spu*s.
But all of them are winnable! A true test to Mikel’s side because we are leading and keeping a lead is always tougher than chasing.
Irrespective of how rest of the season pans out, these 14 games have given us a hope. A hope that we are competitive at the top level. I have been critical of Mikel Arteta and he did take a lot of time while learning on the job, but the results looks brilliant now.
We have a young team, playing some nice football, who believes in themselves and winning against the top 6 home and away. Fans are louder than ever, players celebrate a goal like it matters, no one’s bi*ching and dropping a Ozil-esque performance and we, the fans, and players believe Arsenal can achieve something great this season.
Cheers to that!
1936! Even autocorrect wants to blot out history.
The only way Qatar could play in the WC was to host the event.
The arab nations having such mineral wealth (oil & gas) is akin to the Hillbillies TV show where the Hilbillies struck oil.
Instead of Jed it’s Mohammad.
And there lies the foundations of the cluster fuck the Would Cup is going to be. At least we can be sure that after this fiasco no pother Arabian nation will be considered no matter how much is offered under the table.
I wonder how the Qatari rulers are going to treat the cluster fuck perpetrators?
A rural day out in the dessert, perhaps, feet tied behind a camel or jeep for that authentic brush through nature, scorpions, side winders and cacti et al?
Beheading is all the rage if the DM is to be believed. However, Qatar is seriously lagging or should I say lopping behind the Saudis who had the largest mass execution in its country in years where the kingdom of Saudi Arabia executed 81 men on March 12, 2022.
Probably not on Khartoum’s level way back in Laurence of Arabia’s days, though.
Then, of course, the Qatari have enlisted the help of the infamous French crowd control who specialize in brute force and ignorance as their coup de gras – modus operandi. My guess is they will batter the fcuk out of one countries supporters and the likes of the Headhunters and Ajax’s equivalent etc will get countries banding to gather to batter the fcuk out of the French crowd repressors.
It’s be like an old western or 15th century battle with the late charges by the supporting countries.
That’s when the shooting will begin imho.
I fear this is humor noir at its worst but nothing and I mean nothing would surprise me between now and Boxing Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8WMGBuNaus
I thought this was apt.
After the battles die down the fans will group round ice buckets listening to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhdFe3evXpk
Have a good weekend lads.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11445381/World-Cup-FIFA-warned-unusually-HIGH-number-penalties-awarded-Qatar-warm-games.html
Shocker!
Lol Tony
That last one from the Daily Heil. It’ll be like watching peak Manure under old red nose himself. I’d love it if the refs just start awarding pens every time the qataris get it into the box. Imagine them beating Brazil or Argentina…
I fear though for their players – if they fuck up as badly as they should, the decapitation of the squad will be done and dusted before the final is over.
I worked in Iran, Iraq and Syria in my career. None of these namby-pamby capitalist Middle Eastern shit holes like UAE, Dubai and Saudi where they at least pretend they have a functioning society. You knew where you stood on the streets on Damascus or Tehran, ie being followed and harassed with a figurative target on your back.
At the very least, fans are going to have a thoroughly shit time. At worst, there could be lengthy and arbitrary arrests. Check what that wanker Infantino said yesterday about feeling like a migrant worker…
It’s finally starting to make me want to watch it if only as an antidote to the alternative horrors of Ukraine and the self-destruction of the Tory Party.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/englands-115-qatar-world-cup-28529972
Here’s where the Mirror gets it wrong; first by using Kane’s mugshot and secondly; £1 pound an hour for unskilled work represent just under (about12,000 baht a month) where an under graduate has a govt enforced starting pay of £15,000 (£285) a month.
The issue in all this is the West has lost its balls. We are constantly preached to about respecting other cultures beliefs and laws and most people I know when travelling expect to do precisely this – the problem is we don’t demand anyone respects our beliefs when the simple truth is the West is hundreds of years more evolved than the Islamic world.
The money in football comes from European fans – what they want should be respected.
All these dishes and I never ordered one which I’m not familiar with, because I’m a vegetarian 😐
Marc,
Not just the West but everyone. A good percentage of those Migrant workers are from India. The fact that FIFA fucked it up and the resistance started way too late sums up our society.
People have started complaining, because they know it don’t matter now. If the idea was to promote football to countries outside Europe, I guess India would have been a better option and that is a statement and some.
What’s the point of watching a game if you can’t enjoy. What a fuck up.
Ambarish
There have been grumbles about the World Cup since it was awarded but one of the problems is the media sees the World Cup as a good earner – the whole thing is as rotten and corrupt as it gets.
Not only should everyone at FIFA involved be up under corruption charges they should also be charged with corporate manslaughter.
On the food front I’ve bad news for you – as a huge carnivore about the only food that I do that is vegetarian is Gazpacho. If you haven’t tried that check it out – it’s a love or hate thing but in a hot climate its gorgeous.
Oh yeah and people like Gary Neville should never work in media again. The guys working for the BBC and ITV are not taking money from Qatar Neville is.
The issue in all this is the West has lost its balls
Not sure I agree. Post colonialism has slowly morphed into realpolitik. He who pays the piper etc. The money, and therefore the power is seeping out of the west and into the middle east.
The westerners who think they are being shrewd in reality have no principles nor real allies and are just paid flunkies. Beckham, Robbie Williams and the Black eyed peas (fuck me!) are the worst types of turncoats but their greed doesn’t mean they lack balls. It’s a calculation – huge windfall vs reputation al damage.
Moreover, we’ve been selling arms at huge mark ups to these muthafuckers for years.
Thank you, I will find one here, looks familiar but I don’t what they call it here 😅
Agree with everything you said there about FIFA. Media is as corrupt if not less.
NYT is still running puff pieces on FTX who ran away with 10 billion hard earned investors dollars. And they want me to trust them on their late outcry about Football? Lol.
Can’t confirm the authenticity but this is what it has come to.
https://www.caterermiddleeast.com/qatar-world-cup/beer-in-qatar-vip-boxes-exemption
If you are in the VIP box, you can still enjoy some. It looks like a toddler is in-charge and making rules every 20min as he sees fit.
Ambarish, India is by no means a poor country considering its growth factors in recent years. So it’s reasonable to assume India could host such an event. Football fans love curries and beer; it’s a staple diet of millions.
Marc, I think it’ll end in tears. The fans are not going to like the 30,000+ bed internment type camp style rooms at about £180 a night. It’s a recipe for disaster. You know game going fans far better them me, but from reading your posts over the years life is real at games. What do you reckon would happen if Spuds and The Arsenal fans were house in this manner at a CL final?
My guess is banter would turn into battle and then all out war while struggling to find weak as piss beer.
We could get the football version of WW3 in the camps and then stadia.
Ambarish
Yes I also heard that the alcohol ban was exempt in the corporate areas.
Tony
If it doesn’t end in tears in some way or another I’ll be stunned!
Tony
Yes, infra and spectator wise, it would have been better. Though I feel hosting a football world cup in a football nation would have been an ideal situation.
If it comes down to Qatar and India, hell yes.
Marc,
That just confirms the lobbying. If there’s a rule, ban it for the VVIPs and let them know how it feels. VVIPs = W*nkers.
https://news.sky.com/story/qatar-world-cup-what-4-000-will-get-you-in-a-corporate-hospitality-lounge-12750600
Here you go guys – I don’t get upset by those with money or corporate hospitality.
My simple position is somethings legal or illegal. There’s either booze or there’s not.
Maybe this will see UEFA etc decide to take FIFA down.
Armbandgate – Kane et al have just had their Jesse Owen’s moment. And fucking blown it. They should have faced the possibility of being booked and suspended. FIFA would have folded like a house of (bogus red and yellow) cards if every country did it. What a thoroughly ugly thing this bullshit WC has been. 26 days to go thank fuck!
Wayne Rooney looks like he is 55y old. Unrecognisable.
Right, I’m gonna drop the bomb you guys gonna hate me for…
I’m a Brazilian for World football. Martnelli, brilliant. Jesus, awesome.
Saka dunnit. Beautiful strike forbEngland 2nd. Assist was good too
Floodgates.
Sterling with the 3rd. Accurate pass by Kane.
Also to counter Ambarish
Viva Portugal
Think Bellingham is the real talent with foresight. Needs equally quick witted team mates. Would do well with ESR or Bernardo da Silva types alongside
Sake with his 2nd. What a talent we have in him and Martinelli.
https://youtu.be/wMlhWvIh7U4
Hi Tony
Not entirely unexpected given his long battle with illness, but it’s really sad to hear that Wilko Johnson has died. This clip shows the absolute originality of his work and the skill with which he played. Doctor Feelgood was a terrific band and Wilko’s chopping guitar style was a huge part of their output. First Lee Brilleaux, now Wilko (who’s obviously also done loads of great solo stuff and with Ian Dury of course) . I may have asked you before if your paths had ever crossed but I don’t think they were signed to Stiff at any point. There’s a beautiful Julien Temple film about Dr F and how they started in Canvey Island. I shall play ‘do it right’ when I get back from Sicily. Italy is fantastic. Having a top time enjoying the absolute lack of WC bollockry. I’m sure it’d be different if they’d qualified…
RIP Wilko – a beautiful genius.
Hi K’Phobe
I knew Dr Feelgood well as I’m from that area after leaving the East end. Wilco was a speed freak hence his staccato walks as if a caged tiger. He left to start Wilcos Solid Senders and Gippy Meyo took over and added the undertones melody of the frantic Lee on harp. The metal in the harps gave him cancer of the throat; what made him happiest eventually killed him.
Dr Feelgood were very close with Led Zeppelin and often did fun things together on Swan Song Zep’s label. The Sheiks of Araby or similar was one such offering.
My very early days was with Lew Lewis Reformer. Lew was better than Lee, but a raging alcoholic. Lew was signed by Stiff and I looked after him doing his sound and everything else. His nickname was hoover and he didn’t last long after a couple of singles.
Whilst on the Canvey Island and South East music scene, I’d be surprised if you weren’t, as Eddie and the Hotrods and Eddie’s younger brother started the most successful of band from the Island: Talk Talk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFH5JgyZK1I&t=48s
The south east was a bedrock for R&B and electric music. It’s where Humble Pie started. Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Prodigy and others.
Gippy became a friend who I stayed with in London often with his wife, as his wife was a friend before Gippy met her. She was a early version of a crazy coder. Lovely people. Like the one out of Halt & Catch Fire series.
Ian was a lovely cheeky chappy and was signed to Stiff and did 3 albums if I remember correctly. I never worked with Ian or Elvis Costello although knew both. Early Dury’s LP: Handsome, is a collectors item now worth a lot of money for a mint condition LP.
Robbo (Dave Robinson) formed Stiff with Jake Riviera but Jake broke away with Elvis. I was very young and Robbo sort of adopted me giving me work to do that made more introductions etc.
Robbo was instrumental in getting the Pogues, Tracy Ulman and Kirsty MacColl with Nick Lowe and The Dammed going that gave Stiff traction in their early days.
I owe a lot to Robbo.
I’m so up to my next with getting my room ready for calibrations. There is a 10 hour day just for the speaker and sound inputs before there system is fired up. I got engineers coming and going and all the time I’m talking to my friend and world’s elite calibrator for guidance in directing the tech team.
It’s a very big and complicated, rocket science job that when calibrated will allow Wisdom to come alive. That is an experience few ever get to experience because it’s not just the cost of the speakers and electrics, it’s the processor: Trinnov and MADvr that combines the best together with Barco projectors.
Called the holy trinity by audiophiles.
There calibration is 5, 6 & 7th of December then life will resort back to normality for Thailand that is.
I got 26 Harleys arriving for a night on the 28th from my MC club so a busy week. Fortunately, I can’t be dragged away on the ride for a couple of nights because of the calibration.
I’ll find some interest in the WC from the quarters onwards, My wife’s gob has never been so smacked that I’m not glued to a TV in the house.
Hope you’re well and fam too. All good here.
RIP Wilco
I’d be surprised if you weren’t, an Eddie and the Hotrods fan where also Eddie’s younger brother started the most successful of band from the Island: Talk Talk with similar global success as Depeche Mode.*
neck*
Tony
Warm thanks for that mate. It feels like a privilege to hear insider stuff about such fantastic musicians. That Temple film about Dr F is well worth a watch. It’s interesting how much subculture was around in the late 70s and early 80s and how each region had their own local heroes. Coventry /Birmingham and the 2-tone stuff, Sheffield and H League, Heaven 17 and the brilliant Cabaret Voltaire, Manchester of course and Essex as you say which also gave rise to Alison Moyet. I was also a huge Echo and the Bunnymen devotee. Such a rich and varied time for music. Eddie and the HRs were Stiff favourites weren’t they? ‘Do anything’ is a really powerful tune.
That harp and microphone thing makes for a beautiful sound. There was a band from Tulse Hill called Nine Below Zero as well – blues revivalists who also packed a punch and the Blues Band with Paul Young
I spent yesterday travelling across Sicily to Palermo thinking about Al Pacino, Marlon Brando and that rather wonderful trilogy of films we all know and love. A young woman joined the train carrying an instrument case and I wondered if my number was up…Mamma Mia!
A very acceptable 20 degrees here although Etna had a fair dusting of snow as we trundled by. Ms K and I are going a bit closer today hoping to see some lava or at the very least a waft of sulphurous smoke.
Have a great time with your MC mates.
Its November and I’m not really missing the lack of Arsenal activity – I may feel different as December’s wears on and we return to the snow and rain.