I picked the winner in the Grand National yesterday. It was, I have to say, an informed bet, not my usual pin in the names, red and white riding gear or ‘Red’ in the horses name. I had been casually listening to talk of the race the previous day and heard that Tony McCoy had not won the National in 15 attempts and was riding a horse called ‘Don’t Push It’.
It was a great race especially if you had money on the winner as he was nowhere until about the 4th fence from the end. Conna Castle went out in front pretty early on and was tagged by Black Apalachi and at that point I considered not watching any more as two of my other horses had already fallen. Then I heard his name and that of ‘State of Play’ which I also had a bet on and so watched the remaining few minutes as ‘Don’t Push It’ came storming through to take the race.
It was in fact a very exciting race but it was over in about 12 minutes. My horse came from nowhere to win even though he was one of the favourites. I began thinking about whether its more exciting to be leading a race from the start or to come through the ranks to be the winner.
So far, Arsenal have won the premiership three times under Arsène Wenger – 1998, 2002 and 2004. In 1998 Arsenal went on an unbeaten run of 13 games to take the title from the manks by one point finishing on 78 points. That was exciting.
The 2001-2002 season was even more exciting as the race appeared to be wide open at the start but in the end we won it comfortably, taking the title from the mancs, winning at Old Trafford in the penultimate game to be crowned Champions with 7 points spare.
In 2003 we had a pretty cool team and our manager had set down the unlikely marker of going unbeaten for the whole season the year before. This team were magic, they oozed class, they were wonderful to watch – everyone said so and we all basked in their glory. The nouveau riche chavs were our main competition as they now had a sugar-daddy who’d given them £100m to spend on players but we went unbeaten and in May 2004 were champions with 90 points from the chavs 79.
There were seasons in between where we came close but had thrown away large leads early on to end up runners-up. Do we remember those? No, we don’t even want to think about them. How much more exciting is it as a supporter to be in it at the end? This time last year although we were in the semi-finals of the champions league we were out of the title race. Come April I’d much rather be in with a shout for the premiership, how do you feel about it?
So here we stand with 5 games to go, five season defining games. There’s no margin for error now, we just have to crack on and show the kind of determination that Bendtner did when heading home the winner against Wolves last Saturday and power our way through the pack just like my horse did yesterday.
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Morning all
How boring is the weekend with no Arsenal?
US Masters, Grand National, El Classico, Hull losing, beautiful sunshine, – boring?
But I know what you mean Peaches. No fuel for our obsession.
Morning peaches/Raddy,
Nice article – are you going to bet on us winning the title too peaches? 😉
Actually Ian Poulter (the gooner) is in a similar position to the Arsenal, he needs the players in front of him to drop shots to win the Masters.
I know Raddy, loads of sport but just not the right sport 😉
Hull losing 😉 That was good.
Although I’m desperate for the mancs and chavmancs to drop points today I’m not sure I can bear any more grumpiness from the mancsupportingson 😦
I had Black Apalachi, which was looking good until Don’t Push It came through… Let’s hope, in the analogy with our season, that we’re Don’t Push It.
The Mancs won’t lose today. Fat Sam will roll over and have his tummy tickled for his big racing mate. I wouldn’t be surprised if the pop-veined Glaswegian let it quietly be know to the Walrus that United could do with scoring 4 or 5 to help the goal diff. Just in the spirit of friendship…
Morning all,Interesting article.
Our chances of winning the league was damaged again yesterday by a Referee who allowed a donkey to stay in the race instead of putting him out to grass.
John Terry should have got a straight red for handing out the sort of tackle on young Milner that we have become only to familiar with as our injury lists shows.
Had Terry gone Chelsea would have not only have lost him for three vital games but in all probability also lost yesterday. Moral out the window and our chances ratcheted significantly up.
Instead the ref bottled it again and a rampant Chelski still have the double in their sites.
The referee situation has to be tackled head on, this guy is supposedly our top ref, and he bottled it
Couldn’t agree more Dandan. It was a shocking tackle from Terry. (And a clear pen for Villa disallowed earlier).
Thanks for cheering me up. =)
Welcome Empress – its all positive vibes from now on, where theres a will theres a way ….. 🙂
I’ve just remembered I composed a rather good final paragraph in my head about the fat lady being at Wembley today before moving on to Shite Hart Lane and lost it on my way downstairs. Age is a terrible thing 😦
If Howard Webb’s England’s best referee then God help the EPL as to contemplate what any ref worse than Webb could do is so so scary!
Hi UgGunner,
You’re so right, ever since Webb got endorsed as the English World Cup rf, he’s been crap. Some of his mistakes have had an effect on our chances of winning the league. I get the impression that he is one of those refs who wants to be a ‘personality’ rather than just concentrate on doing his job
Too many epl refereesa are getting away when not awarding a clear cut pnalty. The Refs board shd make an example of such guys and make sure such blunders will not be tolearted in the future.
Hi striker,
The chavs should definitely been down to 9 men yesterday but thanks to Webb’s blunders they got off scott free. If Terry had got the straight red his ‘tackle’ deserved, that may well have affected their chances of winning the next 3 games and therefore our chances of winning the title 👿
Good day all; The EPL is the most exciting league in the world but the only problem is officiating. The ref tend to be supporting the side that parade alot of England international thereby, causing the other teams vital points especially our ARSENAL . Do you guys know how many things this bad ref like H.Webb, M.Dean S.Bernett,Atkinson etc have done to our tittle push in recent years even if they officiate in europe they still mess up because there is this saying in our ghetto, that say charity begins at home that is why they always fail all the time in europe.Infact during the last world cup U17 IN Nigeria, we Arsenal fans in AJ CITY were waiting for them to officiate in Lagos Zone but we did’nt see them because we wOuld have booed and embarrassed them through out their stay in Lagos because that is what they deserve especially H.WEBB.Something need to be done bcos ARSENAL is suffering a lot from this bcos no many English boy in our team that is why they hate us but like MAN U & CHELSEA & LIVERPOOL.
We’re going to need some huge slices of luck to win the prem but if we don’t win all our games it’ll be pointless ladyluck smiling on us.
While I was doing some research for the post I re-discovered the years when came oh so close and then slipped up. The worst has to have been 2002-2003 when we lost away to Bolton – bloody Stelios I think – and then threw it away against Leeds – that was really hard 😦
Hi all,
The ref at the Chelski V Villa game is terrible. That Terry tackle on Milner is simply reckless and dangerous.
Milner could have his leg broken by Terry!
and it’s only a yellow?
a clear pen for villa was disallowed, ah well…
Arsenal tend to win trophy in an extraordinary way. Dont they? I hope it happens this year too!
Well said JIMOH MUTIU – thanks for your comment. When you see what John Terry got away with yesterday its pretty ridiculous that the men in black are there to uphold the rules.
Bring in video technology – thats what I say.
peaches,
i feel bad about the slip up at 07/08 season. That season was just too heartbreaking.
If Arsenal had won that title, they would be a stronger, more experienced team now.
Hi JIMOH and welcome,
You make some very valid points. It is refreshing to hear opinions on Arsenal from an African viewpoint. Are there any African based Arsenal websites. I understand from other African based fans that Arsenal and not manu is the most popular club over there.
Hi blaze – you’re right we don’t do run of the mill winning – when we win, we win big. This season we’ll be winning while struggling with more injuries than ever.
blaze – I still feel we won the title in 07-08 we just let the mancs look after the trophy 😉
I wrote earlier about the JT tackle.
Strange there hasn’t been more fuss made of it. Look at the crap written about Gallas’s tackle earlier in the season.
The Africa connection started when Kanu joined us. What a fine player and man he is. Adebayor could learn a lot from Kanu both on and off the pitch
And yesterday was the second time in a month that a Ref has bottled a decision at Wembley.
Surely it is time to bring in video technology – if not, what is the point of the 4th official. VT assists the referee, it doesn’t diminish his power or his respect. It has worked in Rugby Union and US football.
I understand about the “flow” of the game, but correct decisions in such a high profile sport are essential.
Hi Raddy,
I’m for video technology in some form – it hasn’t ruined cricket or rugby. You can be reasonably sure that as a result, the best team wins!
The argument that the time taken to review video will disrupt the game is nonsense – what about the time wasted when Rory Delap dries the ball or Drogba rolls around, or unhelpful ballboys try to give the home team an advantage etc etc
Hi Big Raddy, There is no way you would compare KANU WITH sheyi ADEEBAYO.Kanu is cool headed,easy going and uses is money to help people back home in OWERRI and all over Nigeria and some AFRICA part. So what has Bayo done, nothing, he’s rude, stupid,infact he should be grateful to ARSENE who invited him to London from Togo after Deschamp had to him to look for a club that he is not needed may be bcos of his behaviour.Pls don’t compare the 2 but only if BAYO can behave like him he make it big like KANU FROM AJAX TO INTER TO ARSENAL.
From a different angle Rasp….By the look of the problems that Essex are facing not sure TV has done them much good…LOL
True dandan,
I’m a below average village green cricketer, but I gather from some previous comments of yours that you have played the game at a much higher level?
HI PEACHES. This is the thing in the PL where ref will be favouring the English players.I SAW the tackle and that was a straight red card. If it was TV OF Arsenal or Gallas it would be red card. You see Players like ROONEY,STEVEN G, LAMPARD J TERRY, CARRAGHER, FERDINARD, A.COLE , J.COLE, BARRY ,The favour they get from ref is uncomparable ,they wil even be challenging the ref if they commit foul which know other foreign players can do .Again something need to be done becos its not like that in Spain, Italy Germany etc whether u are their INTERNATIONAL or not if u fork up u are gone.
I’m sure I read somewhere that the FA insist that referees are English. Pedro from Le Grove did a post that followed on from charys post on here about fouling that brought that to everyones attention.
I’ll see if I can find it – surely under the rules of equal opportunities for employment within the EU referees in all leagues should be multi-national.
HI RASPUTIN. ARSENAL FC is the most supporting club in Africa especially in Nigeria mostly since the arrival of Kanu at ARSENAL,Many Africa now became ARSENAL fans because Kanu is the golden boy of africa football not even DROGBA OR ETOO can match the respect people av for him.some africa fan only start supporting Chelsea & Man u when JOSE MOURINHO came to England and start winning trophy with some of our Africa brothers in his team.For me i’m from a gunners family.as for whether there is an Africa website for Arsenal, i dont know but i will find out and will let u know on this site. thanks.
Not really Rasp, Played a little league cricket, but mostly for a wandering side all over Essex and North London. Plus Village cricket which I loved, the league stuff was starting to get too serious and I played cricket for a relief from the grind of business
Thanks JIMOH,
Its a pleasure to have you on the site. There is a rumour that Kanu and one or two other Pompey players will not be picked today because Rednapp gave them contracts that included bonus payments for games such as this – it would be a shame for him because he still has the magic.
Man U 0-0 superb, but will we beat them
Blackburn that is.
That is a super result from Blackburn.
DanDan, how can you doubt it? Fat Sam is always kind to our boys !!
Just need spuds to go to extra time and we have had a good afternoon
I did not here anything like that and i dont think that Kanu can do like that because he is too big for that and pls Rasputin dont believe that goofy rumour .I hope Arsenal win Spurs which I’M sure they will bcos CHELSEA will drop point on tuesday as Man u drop point against Blackburn today despite reading on one of this Arsenal site that Sir Alex invited him over to celebrate with him when his horse won a race during the week.To me, that was an indirect match fixing by Sir ALEX but unfortunately he was disadpointed today by Big Sam because they took point off them today.
Good take on the match fixing conspiracy JIMOH MUTIU – obviously the Blackburn boys weren’t up for whatever Fergie or Sam offered them 😉
Come on Pompey – stuff those spuds
I heard a pompey fan being interviewed and asked if the financial problems were ‘arry’s fault – she said yes and no, just like a girl to be indecisive 🙄
Actually, I’ve just found out that the bonus issue is only if they reach the final so Kanu should be free to play today.
Tidy little post Peaches.
A very useful Blackburn score.
I have just read that SFH was put in moderation. I cannot believe it. I thought the whole idea was not to stoop to the level of the thought police mentality of Le Grove. The only person SFH was likely to offend was me and the situation was very much in control. If you intend to have some kind of policeman patrolling in the background checking for what is and what is not acceptable please let me know because I do not want to be a part of it and I will simply leave you all in peace. I am so disappointed.
London,
That was a one-off action that was taken to protect the integrity of the site, not to censor anyone’s opinion about the Arsenal. Discussions about other sites should take place on that site and matters for discussion between administrators should ideally be via email. We are not scared to publish the comments of those with whom we disagree on footballing matters, but we have attracted some excellent bloggers who appreciate the way we debate Arsenal in a civilised manner and we have to consider their reactions as well.
The rules of the site outlined in ‘About AA’ clearly state “All opinions and viewpoints can be freely expressed, all we ask is that no-one descends into insults and name-calling.”
I fully intend to contact SfH and ask him to come back join us as I’m sure in retrospect he, and others will realise how foolish it all was and we should be bigger than that.
You are a valued member of the blog, it would be daft to let this spoil things.
Spurs have extra time now, things are going our way today, should they lose they are not going to be up for Wednesday, whatever happens the last 20 minutes against us will be murder for them.
My Bro the spud like arry is not appy. LOL
Hi dandan – I’m not watching, I listened to the manc game on the radio and that its enough good luck for me today 😉
YOU are right Dandan, the sprd will loose today and fatigue with the fear if factor of loosing to pompey that will start troubling them till they play us on wed’sday will let us to destroy them. 3-0 to the ARSENAL
1-0 to Pompey peaches, spuds are not singing now
Who can stay upset about anything after a result like that and as if the absolute misery that they are suffering right now wasn’t enough just think of how physically drained they will be feeling after the energy sapping extra thirty minutes they have had to endure….life is good
Evening all,
Just got in after listening to the extra time on my way home … laugh, I almost had a head-on 😆
Without giving anything away, I think tomorrow’s post is going to be even more fun after that result.
London you are not wrong Sir
Now now Rasp you not going to let your prejudices show are you. LOL
Moi dandan? you’ll have to wait and see 👿 I’m just a modest blogger trying to make some sense of the beautiful game.
How splendid was that??
It was a great game made by the Pompey fans and the dreadful finishing of the Spuds.
Best non-Arsenal match since the Chavs got beaten by Barca last season
Good evening everyone.
Well what a lovely day.United drop a point, and hopefully the Spurs are knackered,although I must say Baines is a class youngster.
So who will be leaving us;Vela,Arshavin or Eduardo.?
Or maybe any two from three.
Do you really believe Vela forgot his passport.
Evening klsey,
I wondered that about Vela too. He finds his passport everytime he flies to Mexico for an international. We can never know what goes on behind the scenes. On the surface you would think he was a typical Arsène player, but for some reason he is not favoured.
Ok, I lied, I walked into the room and Pompey scored, it never happens like that usually 😆
Anyway have to be a bit restrained as the mancsupportingson’s shoulders are almost to his waist 😛 😀 😆
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
Rasp,
The fact is that he never starts for us.or is that another one of my conspiracy theories.
Oh Wilson Palacious is banned for our game.
Vela – hes just too handsome, I’m telling you thats the problem, hes too yummy for his own good 😉
Hi kelsey – it just gets better and better 🙂
I really feel for Avram grant. he did nothing wrong at chelsea, and definitely had nothing to do with the administation at pompey.
I wonder what Harry is thinking now.
Evening peaches
Who don’t you fancy in the team, it would be easier 😉
What a great day, just want Westwood to win the masters and I will be the most happy bunny. Wonders whether to ring his spud brother in Spain.
Peaches have just mailed you an ice pack for your forehead.
Evening Kelsey is it warm out there today, lovely here
Evening dandan.
It’s reasonably warm here about 24 degrees.Hot enough for me.
Silvestre
rasp – if you’re around have a look in drafts and are you going to put in a picture and I’ve changed one of your players cos I think you mean Bale 😳
DanDan
You have a spud brother in Spain. Wow, what with that and a spud Dad as well you really did dodge a bullit there.
Bale is the missing link by the way. Just look at him there is no doubt.
London he has just been on the phone peed as a newt,watched it in a bar.Apparently it was all the refs fault it wasn’t a pen and the there was nothing wrong with the spuds goal.
He thinks they will lose on wed now, lets hope he is right
‘Bale is the missing link by the way’ 😆
Evening all, been in the Lake District all weekend and listened to the whole footie on the way back.. what a day for the Arsenal…. just need a Chelsea slip or 2 🙂
No chas n dave this year 😉
No Chas n’ Dave….. priceless.
Bale has developed alarmingly this season. He was total pants before Xmas, and had never been on a winning Spud team. Now he looks a fine FB and could teach our lads to cross a ball..
[…] Arsenal Odds On To Win The Title I picked the winner in the Grand National yesterday. It was, I have to say, an informed bet, not my usual pin in the […] […]
Laughable, really. Arsenal could not take even one point off their title challengers in four games. Not a single point, home or away. And they were thrashed (yes, thrashed) by Barcelona (even the home draw was a thrashing!), making a mockery of the claim that they might be European Champions.
It is another win-nothing season. A season when Arsenal will win the same number of trophies as Wigan, Hull or Stoke. Namely, zero. Indeed, lowly, skint Portsmouth are now likelier to win a cup. At least Avram Grant has given his club’s supporters a Final to attend, unlike the great brain Wenger.
Cecil, welcome to Arsenal Arsenal. Factually what you say is hard to argue with. So what? Fulham are more likely to win a European trophy this year than Arsenal, Chelsea or Man U. Good luck to them. It’s in the nature of football that on any given day, anyone can beat anyone else.
Blackburn just took two points off the Mancs. Factually that means we are indeed coming up on the rails as Peaches predicted – if we win all of our remaining games Man U cannot win the league this year. If Chelsea falter, we’ll be right there.
Sir Cecil.
No arguing with your comment (apart from the sarcasm about our Leader).
It is what I love about football. MU won the title last year despite having the worst record against the Top 4 (now 3, thanks to Rafa! ). So what?
I am not so presumptious as to say we will win the Title, but we have improved this season despite an appalling raft of injuries. United lose one player and their entire season has gone tits up
Morning all
Theres a NEW POST