DanDan’s post on “who does your son support” sparked this thought pattern. …… I am sensible man, I have raised a family, put myself through university, run a successful business, and lived in different lands, but one thing has haunted me since childhood and that is my addiction to Arsenal. I have given up wives, homes, friendships, pets and lifestyle, but I have been completely unable to cure my fanaticism of Arsenal. When I travel the first thing I do is check where I can see the game. When I go to a bar and get chatting, Arsenal is my Lingua Franca. My specialist subject is The Arsenal.
Why am I so hooked ? What happened to me that caused me to spend so much of my life thinking about the Gunners? If I were to add up the money I have spent following my obsession and compare it to the amount that I have earned, it would be a terrifying statistic, but worse would be the emotional trauma caused by my illness – Arsenalitis.
Let us go back to the start. I was but a child, mewling and puking in my nurse’s arms, when I got my first football – I have pictures of the little ball in my cot. So I was destined to be a football fan. By the age of 8 I was encouraged to choose my team, and as I have previously described I chose Arsenal because my father was a Spud. Now I could give chapter and verse about the psychological reasoning behind such a decision but that would be a little too personal, suffice it to say that my father enjoyed every season until we won the Fairs Cup in 1970, and unsurprisingly I had left home by the time of our first Double!
We all have this disease, we contracted it independently, it isn’t airborne, it isn’t viral, so what is it?
My first thoughts are of tribalism. The colours, the badge, the rituals, the feeling of emnity towards bordering tribes (and I hate the Spurs). But with the globalisation of football there are probably more AFC fans who have never seen The Arsenal in the flesh than have had that privilege – so how did they come to be in my tribe? An essential prerequisite of tribalism is the inability to switch tribes. Can one really be a true Gooner if one supported Liverpool or Man Utd prior to our success? Not in my eyes!
But this goes deeper than tribalism, my addiction has branded me in a way that nothing else could …. there are friends all over the world who care nothing about football, but when Arsenal are mentioned, they immediately think of Big Raddy (well, actually they don’t know my real name is BR). I know this to be true – they have told me!
Tony Adams and The Merse both needed to use the 12 Step Programme to overcome their addictions………
My name is Big Raddy and I support The Arsenal
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning AA addicts
Good post BigRaddy. I’m certain we need blogs to keep feeding our addiction on a daily basis – more so for those who live ourside the UK as here in Norf London I can usually find a gooner’s ear quite easily.
My name is Lee and I support Arsenal
A very enjoyable read BR.
TOPTOP TOP TOP TOP CLASS post. Goodness me people like you make me proud to be a gunner!!!
Morning all, I was thinking along those lines a while back – the feeling of one-ness and lack of individuality when you are in the crowd at Highbury/the grove was/is special. There is material there for another post – for anyone less lazy than me to write it that is.
That win should lift the dipper’s confidence, when do they play either manu or the chavs? The quicker the better and I can get this uncomfortable new found sympathy for them out of the way.
Morning all,
A highly entertaining read Raddy – you could always try ‘aversion therapy’ go and watch the spuds, it might put you off football for life 😆
Welcome Djofils,
You’re amongst friends 😉
And my name is Jay, I support Arsenal, for better or worse, in sickness and in Championship.
Raddy Question not the reason, just glory in your good fortune and the friends your affiliation has brought you.
Really good post Rad, food for thought for all of us Addicts.
Come on chary get to work on another post we love your writings – I can sense some poetry coming on 😉
Hmmmmnnnn – heres a bit of luck pool play the mancs on Sunday ……..
Good Post Raddy and Morning all….
I have a confession… even though I have been a Gooner since the off and a season ticket holder from JG days in the early 80’s, all my mates were spuds. I was the only person really at school (South London boy) who went to Arsenal andas we started to hit late teens my mates started going Spurs…..So I went with them for 2 whole seasons………BUT, I jsut couldn’t like it and found myself peeing off all my mates as I was cheering whoever the oppo was to score and was eventually off the hit list of going to games..
It was around 88-89 and they were languishing down the bottom and we as you know were on the up so in a way was a great time to see them lose every other week and us win….
But anyway.. no excuses for my stupid stupid behaviour in going there 😦
Peachy, I was hoping someone else would be volunteering after I threw up that idea for a post. However when/if you are REALLY desperate for another post let me know. Of course you’ll have to ask me with a whip in hand.
Morning Livers
That is a funny story, glad to see that you are all well now.
I didn’t realise there were any spuds at all who lived on the other side of the river, very strange.
Good post. Just one note, it is simply Spurs, not The Spurs… they are not deserving of the…’The’.
Addicted to THE Arsenal.
Morning London, it was the time when they had Hoddle, Waddle, Ardiles etc that they started supporting them….. never ever have I been so smug when we beat them in the Littlewoods in 87 with essentially our “kids”
Maybe a thought for another post, but surely the kids of 89 were younger than our current crop? 22 yr old captains et al… hmmm
Livers… average age of the team that started most games in 89 season was just under 26.
Hus… can you elaborate please mate..
Quality article mate, I can relate to absolutely everything you say.
Lukic 28 Almunia 32
Dixon 24 Sagna 27
Winterburn 24 Clichy 24
Bould 26 Gallas 32
Adams 22 TV 24
Marwood 29 Arshavin 28
Davis 28 Song 22
Thomas 21 Fabregas 23
Rocastle 21 Nasri 23
Smith 26 VP 26
Merson 21 Rosicky 28
Ave 24.5 Ave 26.2
I know now we have more squad players younger but the starters certainly aren’t kids as much as the 88-89 team
Morning Hus
Great comment, absolutely right, this has been a bug bear of mine for quite some time, spuds are not deserving of a definite article preceding their name.
Hope you come back.
Welcome Hus and Ed,
Thank you for your comments. There has to be a lot of angst and pain to balance the joy in supporting The Arsenal, and we’ve had plenty of difficult times over recent years, but I think we all share the feeling that something special is about to happen.
Ed
Did you read yesterday’s post? If not, look up on the right and you will find recent posts, give “Who does your son support?” a read.
Livers, i done a quick bit of maths in my head, but dont forget Kevin Richardson too (27) and just googled it and Rocky hit 22 before ‘that’ night at Anfield. Likewise by time the lads gave me the best night of my life on Merseyside, Dixon and Winterburn were both 25. All in all, very similar age group, bottom line is though if we win it this year with all the pain of recent times i will do a naked dance on the pitch.
And London, the only exception to that would be calling them THE Spuds, that afterall is more deserving.
Hus
I don’t even go long with that, a definite article before spuds makes me cringe just as much.
No probs London! I just thought that it emphasised their Spud like nature, something that looks solid but when you delve further is 50% water and thus never feels you feeling that satisfied. Plus there is the famous Spud(potato) Famine, they wrote a song about it once… how did it go? 61 Never again, 61 Never again.
And you know while i am at it, 71, 2004, 71, 2004 HAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!
Morning all old and new.
BR not easy to write such an article.Supporting The Arsenal is something very special and is in your blood for life.People who don’t follow football dont really understand that it borders on an obsession with tremendous highs and lows regardless of ones age, that it can sometimes effect one for days.
I have a slight disadvantage to many of you as I was adopted at 6 weeks old to loving parents who had no football ties.Being an only child made it more difficult, but I started going with my uncle when I was 8 and some 50+ years on,though not an attendee I follow from afar to the best of my ability.
My dear wife still asks me questions like, are Arsenal playing at home, what’s the score and what colours are they wearing today.All this while I am watching the match. Bless her.
This is what Arsenal does/means to me:
I am Married, 32, season ticket holder and been going since i was 8.
The elation of winning the league, means that death/illness apart, i know that the following 6-9 months will be happy happy times for me.
Going close as we did a couple of seasons back is tough to take but i burst with pride at the efforts of the team.
Not competing, is so gut wrenching that, no amount of boozing or bonuses at work etc etc can make up for it.
For me, it is less about the tirbalism/cammaraderie amongst fellow supporters (although important) and more about how my whole life the moods i have are so strongly linked to the state of my club.
Arsenal Football Club – in the blood for life.
London – did you notice that your Arshavin cost 80p post came up as possibly related – I couldn’t understand why there were links to it……now I know 😉
superbly put, Hus
quiet around here??
all at the races? 😉
Maybe they’re out enjoying the sun SfH.
Awesome!!! Gunner 4 life…
Peaches
I’m proud of that title “Arshavin cost 80p” it still makes me chuckle but I can’t see the connection with today’s post….what is it?
Chary
I don’t think you saw this one, if you’re bored give this a read and let me know if you agree or not?
https://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/arshavin-cost-80p/
London – I can’t see the connection either unless you talked about being addicted in some way – I’ll have a read and see
Been out & about in the first sunshine of the year.
Thanks for the kind comments. There are similar ideas and posts in the pipeline 🙂
Big afternoon ahead SH. Hope I can find a feed
what??
no chelters on danish telly?
“My name is Big Raddy and I support The Arsenal”
Gold.
Another great post on AA.
Khyber kim in the Champ hurdle is my tip 🙂
sizing europe for the arkle
celestial halo e/w at a lovely price in the champ hurdle.
Yes London, I did think Wenger was using his public pronouncements on the Meerkat’s stamina as a way of putting off potential buyers – however there was a kernel of truth there as the Russian season is a lot less draining than ours. I think he’s already exceeded games played for Zenit with those played for us.
No, there is no racing here. They don’t appreciate it. They have a sport where the horses trot and there is some small person on a 2 wheel cart arrangement.
If we have really signed Chamakh, someone must be leaving. Dudu is the obvious fall guy but it could be AA – I sincerely hope not.
i see sizzling europe has opened at 6 to 1. is it worth a punt SH
kelsey, i think so.
even an e/w at it will give you profit.
BR – eduardo will continue to be stifled by 4-3-3
he is no winger nor is he a lone hold up striker.
would hate to see him leave.. but it may be best for his career.
Ok but my gut feeling is for Sports line at 15/2 so that’s my bet, with a saver on yours and a reversed forecast to boot.
One day i will tell you about Willie Carson who rode several times for me.
really? wow, would love to hear about that.
i have more of a fondness for the flat…
don’t tell me you had a leg of nashwan? 😆
I am doing a post on eduardo later on this week.By the way who is out of contract in the summer besides Eboue,Gallas and merida as i will include that in the post.
senderos also out of contract
not quite nashwan but had reasonable success on the flat horses we owned.
Flat racing is generally 70% jockey 30% horse and steeple chasing is roughly the opposite, but there are always exceptions.
thank you, Senderos as well. is that it.
Willie Carson is the biggest twunt i have ever met.He cost me a small fortune at Kempton Park on a horse I had with Richard Hannon, by completely ignoring the instructions he was given.
agreed, a jock like carson could squeeze that extra out of a horse, piggot and cauthen were two others who i felt also made a significant difference in the saddle.
the exception for the NH game being the likes of francome and mccoy.
did he leave it too late, kelsey?
BR or even Vela, though he is a winger or is he a full back 😉
SH,
no the complete opposite it was a 5 furlong race and he went hell for leather for 4 furlongs instead of holdind her up.
Actually I’ve got that wrong, to be precise The Meerkat has 239 appearances for Zenit over 9 seasons and to date 47 for us in just half of last season and this season. So per season he played about 26 games for Zenit. To date this season he’s started 29 times already.
lol, i wonder how much he laid off with a friendly bookies.
i won’t name any names.. but i have spent some time in the company of a jock.. retired recently… who has told me stories that should have prevented me every putting another penny again on a hoss.
Chary. You may recall how unfit AA waswhen he arrived. So much so that he had almost a month of fitness training to get him ready for the PL. And even then he could only last an hour.
But now, he has developed the stamina needed to play 90+ minutes of English football.
Well done SH a grand tip.
Cheers, well in BR… go collect!
Thanks SH. That’s a cyber case of Peroni for you.
And some real kroner for me 🙂
let’s call it evens, BR
i owed you that case for Arshavin netting, and Diaby failing to net.
all’s well that ends well 😉
SH. That was a super call.
Should I buy Pig Belly and sell short on Orange Juice? 🙂 (sorry, obscure film reference)
Pork Bellies… a reference to one of my all time fave films, no less.
Jamie Lee Curtis 🙂
SH: I have a yearning for Khyber Kim in the CH. Local trainer etc.
I bet you a case of peroni that it finishes ahead of Celestial Hero
Who can forget 😉
i will gladly take you up on that bet BR
taken a little 15/1 e/w about The Tother One in the will hill handicap.
Do we think that AA needs its own brand of beer?
5th like all good 4 places e/w shouts.
OI Big Raddy! that was my tip earlier 😉
Can one really be a true Gooner if one supported Liverpool or Man Utd prior to our success?
Interesting article. And interesting quote as well. Makes me ponder about how I became and Arsenal addict myself.
I was born and brought up in India. Took to playing football unlike most Indians who take to cricket (hell, I even managed to play in Indian Division 3 – although the standard was equivalent to Sunday league football in UK).
My first exposure to EPL came when Cable television first became popular in India in the late 90s. Even though I didn’t have cable TV at my home as my orthodox father didn’t like us seeing the nude models on MTV; I watched the EPL sporadically at neighbours whenever I could. If anybody asked me my favourite team and player – I would say the Default option for most Indians – ManU and Beckham – practically the only thing most Indians knew about EPL.
Then one evening, whilst still studying at Uni, I saw a game on cable TV that gradually changed my life. Arsenal at Highbury against Man-Utd in 2001. Henry capitalised on mistakes by Fabien Barthez and put two goals past him. The Arsenal crowd shouted “Give it to Barthez” and “Barthez is a Gooner” whenever Man-Utd had the ball! I didn’t have the slightest disappointment that day that Man-Utd lost.
Over the next few years, I became a convert. I loved the way Arsenal moved the ball, the exquisite ball play, the exhilirating goals and artistry by Henry, Bergkamp, Pires. The midfield dominance of Viera.
I found a job and moved to London on a secondment from my new Company in 2006. I rented a pad in North London. Saw my first Arsenal game at Emirates stadium. Took out a Red membership. Put my name on the Season Ticket waiting list and patiently waiting for the day when I’ll be invited to book my seat in the Emirates.
My stay in London has not coincided with the most successful days for Arsenal lately. The trophies have dried up. But each day, i find myself even more addicted to Arsenal. My weekend schedule is planned around Arsenal games much to my partner’s chagrin. And when Arsenal is not playing, most of my spare minutes at work and at home is spent on Arsenal blogs and news sites. And I am not worried that our last trophy was way back in 2005. I know my association with Arsenal has become a lifelong bond – and I’m waiting for Wenger to deliver on his promise of winning silverware with this new young team without undue debts loaded on to the club!
Does this make me a plastic fan? You decide.
back in the lead, BR
1 case of virtual peroni owed to you.
Very eloquently put Sam – I’d say you are more of a fan because you have chosen us over the more obvious option for Indians, and being of the same heritage as you I can agree that most Indians go for the Manks or Dippers.
I don’t go back to India often, even though all my relatives are there, but whenever I do I do my utmost to run down the Manks and put people off supporting them. I do my damnednest to big up the mighty Arse.
Very well said Sam, I’d put you in the wise proper fan category 🙂
Hi Sam and welcome.
First, I don’t use the term ‘plastic fan’ and secondly it certainly doesn’t apply to you. Your story, like so many others describes experiencing just one game and being hooked for life – a true supporter.
Fair point about the beers London.
Any suggestions?
I’m guessing ‘Fuller’s London Pride’ 😉
Thanks guys! Proud to be a Gooner!
How about “Adnams Ale”?
AA has to be = Alcoholics Anonymous
By the way with AA the man crashing his car maybe the squad need driving lessons as well 😉
I have actually thought about the beer question before and came to the conclussion that it is more difficult than meets the eye, dammed if I know why with the vast range of beers that exist throughout the world.
BR
What lager did they used to sell in the green shed at the back of the North Bank? 😉
Come on Kelsey keep up 😉
‘King Cnut Ale’ from St.Peters Brewery is for real. Can you imagine ordering that.
What are we bothering with beer for I bet you a bottle of Meursault Premier Cru lol
That is a really good comment up there from Sam
Whew had the Gkids here all afternoon am knackered.
Kelsey we will have to swap horsey stories sometime.
I wasn’t old enough to buy any London 🙂
dandan, basically in a sentence it is bent 😉 Just e mailed you.
These young things are so lucky to have started supporting Arsenal in the best pereiod of our illustrious history, not like the old farts like me and raddy who suffered for years, a lot of it when spurs won a few things, but our support never wavered.
Raddy, Adnam’s is my favourite beer. Too many people drink laaaager (sorry it’s the gas), so if you want mass appeal it has to be a lager. Personally, I prefer Beck’s to Peroni.
I can’t bare it any longer I have to have beer….an ice cold bottle of Becks yummy
I will take the bet for the Maursault.
What shall we bet about?
Having lived in the Cotswolds for 10 years,my favourite beer is Wadworth’s 6X. But it caused severe brain damage and loss of memory!
Now I am a wine man….
I am a wimp and only really drink the occasional Bud but prefer G and T
Kelsey have answered your email
This may seem like a silly question but who do we want to win tonight?
Good pics Rasp. Looks like it’s good to go.
London – ask yourself who you would like to avoid playing in the next round. If the answer is Chelsea then you want Inter to win simples 🙂
Really enjoying the Chelsea game. Inter should be 3 up but knowing the Chavs they will squeek a last minute win. Probably a dodgy penalty
Eto scores yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
Chelsea Are out
Scnejder is superb.
Eto’o has just finished the CHavs !!! Get in….
I tell you something, Inter are playing great football
Hope we draw them Peaches. They are exactly the type of team we will play well against. But WG and Fab HAVE to be fit.
Imagine Sol trying to keep up with their forwards!
Poor Sol – could be a bad night for him you’re right
I love the way they head the ball – they’re so precise with their heading
I agree with you Raddy bring em on
Hopefully WG will be back by then
How the hell did Real let Snejder go? He is brilliant, almost as good as Fab.
I’m sure they should never have got rid of Mourinho
And great to see a team go 4-3-3 in an away CL game.
How could Drogba pretend he was innocent? Anyway – who cares? Get off…..
Mourinho will love it, just love it. LOL
🙂 Compassionate bunch aren’t we 😆
JM has never lost at the Bridge 🙂
Oh dear, Mr Terry has had a great night LOL
I think it is true to say that we think of Drogba as the biggest acting cheat in the EPL but tonight we were reminded that the Italians are a class apart, they truly have it down to a fine art….I have a theory as to why this is: they don’t play cricket. Seriously, I think that game has played a larger role than anything else in stopping England winning trophies.
The other thing the Italians are a class apart is defending…another master class tonight.
Bring em on.
Superb tactics from Mourinho tonight.
Would he think of taking over in 2011? Not impossible and I am ambivalent about it.
He is a briliant manager, but hardly an Arsenal persona
wonderful game, wonderful outcome for arsenal.
London. 2 Brazilian,and 3 Argies – trained by a Portugese. But I know what you mean!
Please don’t let us be drawn against the mancs in the next round – I’m sure Platini is hoping it’ll happen ……….
walter samuel, what a player!!
i hope to god it does happen, peaches
over 180 minutes, we will embarrass that utd side
oooooooooooooooooooooo
moany “who knows in the future, i manage another english team and i come here and win again”
next city manager 100%
I wish I had your optimism about that SH – I just think they steamroller us, I’d prefer Barcelona any day…..
no peaches, they won’t
we butchered them at OT this season.. when we had a spine to our team
tv, gallas, diaby, song, rvp
at the emirates we missed a proper spine and shape
a team with sol, tv, song, diaby, and bendnter.. with the little guys in the shape of fab, arshavin, theo, nasri.. will tame utd over 2 legs.
i BADLY want us to be drawn against them this friday.
I will be absolutely delighted if we draw CSK, and so will AA !
nasty away trip to moscow? no thanks.
they are a very tide team, would hate to draw them.
—
can anybody tell me why ancelloti dropped lampard tonight?
😉
Come on SH. End of March over there, weather will be OK and they must be the least able of the final 8.
Was that a rhetorical question SH ?
Oh it was 🙂
Imagine if we have our real first team available…. RvP, CF4 & WG.
It’s on, it’s really on….
i think the 2 french sides are the easy pickings for us
although i maintain i would love another 2 legged showdown with the mancs.
poor gibbs let that early slip up kill us last season, was the best atmoshpere i have experienced at a game.. for 10 mins!!
we want and deserve revenge
Of course you are right SH.
We are by far the greatest team the World has ever seen (but not Barca please – we need to do them in the Final)
maybe killing utd off in the final might be fun?
after a 2 legged semi victory over barca…
life is fun right now.
Nice piece of work that Big Raddy.
So why should I, one who lives some 20,000 kilometres from THOF be hooked on The Arsenal. Well, Charlie in ’71 started it, but since then there have been years of wane mixed with total devotion.
The mid 70’s was wane especially when Charlie moved to Derby, but I do remember the season where the Gunners sat firmly on the bottom for a good deal of that particular season & danced with the unmentional prospect of “relegation”. The late ’70’s(1980) got my attention back with the 3 F A Cups appearances in a row; a guided tour through the hallowed halls of Highbury during the Summer of 1981 by the groundsman(we only backpacked through Blighty during the hot months then); then my 1st live game @ Highbury in April 1983, a 0-0 draw with Southampton. The irony of that game for us was a bloke called White who was actually black.
The 80’s seemed to be dominated by Liverpoo, & down here we used to get that on the news/highlights shows, etc, & every one seemed to have a soft spot for them, except me ofcourse 👿 In 1988/89 I lived & worked in London, starting off in a squat in Manor House on the Seven Sisters Road, then moved up to better digs in Palmers Green. I actually got to see The Arsenal win The Title, plus a bit more of the next season. We used to go to all the home games, & were @ Highbury that night. Fever Pitch brings it all back, I love that film.
BR mentions about being part of the “tribe”. I remember walking down Seven Sisters Road on a balmy day @ Finsbury Park, as you would, past the Wimpy Bar etc. There was heaps of rubbish; etc blowing about in the wind, the place was a bit tardy, but I remember thinking @ the time. I felt @ home in that particular part of the world. These were my people, I belonged. & even though I’ve never been back since those heady days, it is a legacy that I will take to my grave. I love The Arsenal, they are my team, & even people all the way down here know me as the Arsenal man.
One day I may get back to The “New” Home Of Football, as you say BR, but we get so much PL down under my seat @ Ashburton Grove is actually my comfy couch.
One day may we all meet in a bar somewhere & drink & talk about the love of our lives. If the talk went for a week solid, it still wouldn’t be enough.
Thanx for giving me the opportunity to blog with you all about this addiction called The Arsenal. It means a lot to me.
Regards GnarleyGeorge9
Great read Gnarley
Blimey, you are up early London 😉 and indeed a great read Gnarley.
Mourinho is still a class act. I dread him going to City next season, if he was to make an immediate return to the PL.
I believe there wasn’t one Italian in Inter’s line up but for me Sheinder and Samuel and lucio were outstanding.(sp)
Interesting what Abramovich will do, apparently he walked straight across the pitch into the tunnel after the game.Ancelotti stood motionless during the second half as if he hadn’t got a clue what to do next.
Surely Ballack will go now, they have no youngsters of note coming through they really are The pensioners. Will the Russian keep spending it will be interesting to see.
If you play without width against a team like Inter you fall straight into their game plan.
I agree the the cheating is getting totally out of hand and is on the increase.Anyway my outside bet with sevilla went down, so whoever we get over two legs we have more than a good chance.
Morning Guys and Gals. Nice one Gnarley.
Slept the sleep of the contented last night a happy happy man. Just loved watching Mr Terry get a massive dose of his own medicine (shafted by his own mate Moany)so wonderfully ironic
Morning all
Loved your piece gnarley – brought tears to my eyes. Aren’t we lucky that we get to meet up every day and talk about our passion. Who’s idea was this to have a blog 😉
Thankyou all, you make my day xx
Well played Gnarley – you will get to meet up with us at the Arsenal Tavern before a match one day – I know it. I especially empathised with your point about “my people” – rather like the guy says in Fever Pitch.
New post.