Written by Geoff Strong
During the 17 seasons from 1930 to 1953 (excluding the war years), Arsenal Football Club won 7 league titles, 3 FA Cups and had only 7 barren seasons, never waiting more than 3 seasons for a trophy (of which there were only two per year). A golden age, the best of times.
Over the past 13 years we have won 3 league titles (one invincible), 5 times runners-up, 4 FA Cups (2 doubles), a Champions League final and not one season outside of the top four. Another golden age, the best of times ?
The past 13 years have also produced 8 barren years, including the last 5, not 6 until the fat bloke (without a shirt) sings. The worst of times? With continued involvement in the Champions League and being thereabouts in all competitions every year, how can this be the worst of times?
Well, for those who became Arsenal fans over the last 20 odd years this is their longest wait for a trophy. First George Graham and now Arsene Wenger raised their expectations and unfulfilled expectation brings disappointment and despair, for them these are the worst of times and for some the latest golden age ended in 2004/05. Many, before the season started, confidently predicted that we would drop out of the top four, and despite the team exceeding their expectations continue to call for Arsene to be sacked. They really must believe these are the worst of times.
They don’t know what it was like to stand on the North Bank in a crowd of just over 4500 watching us lose 3-0 to Leeds (well that’s only half true as I used to watch the first half from the clock end and then walk round to the North Bank at half time), going to the 1969 League Cup Final at Wembley against 3rd Division Swindon, armed with my double page souvenir picture of # Viva Bobby Gould, Viva # , full of expectation of our first trophy in 16 years, the first in my lifetime……..having to go to school on Monday, the worst of times.
Are we still in a golden age, the best of times? For me the answer is yes, never before in my lifetime have Arsenal been competing for so long at the very top level. Arsène’s youth policy has unearthed some genuine talent who I hope will be the foundation of our side for years to come. For me it is “job done” following the move to the Emirates, now it’s time to move on to the next stage. Arsène, bring in those two or three players to add that little extra we need (I know you are looking). Some players will go this summer to make way, some of whom joined us at a very young age, to them I say thank you for being a part of a squad that has kept us in the top echelon of European football in times of financial restraint.
So, fellow sufferers, try to enjoy the ride (it’s always a bit bumpy with Arsenal) and remember that to be really disappointed you have to have believed success was possible before it was snatched from you. Keep that belief for when success comes it will be that much sweeter.
But this is just my view………..
The best of times or the worst of times?
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Well said – I agree, we’ve been disappointed because we have been close, and I’d hoped that this year would be the start of our World Domination. Roll on next season, with a bit of tinkering I think we have what it takes.
Morning Peeps, 🙂
Good read Geoff, and you are spot on that the disappointment of the fans leads from their high aspirations for the success of the team, which has inevitably become endemic in recent years following fantastic trophy winning years.
There needs to be balance in life. Look at how we humans acknowledge that truism in our language.
‘There are always Highs followed by Lows followed by Highs’ in an iterative progression.
‘The Chinese say, for every Ying there is a Yang, for every Ding there is a Dong’.
‘Good and Bad’; Up and Down’.
‘Me good; Micky bad’, etc.
Morning all
Thank you GS for a great read and Rasp for a great pic.
There are no guarantees for any team to win anything but there is real joy in being competetive and coming close. I’ve enjoyed the ride this season – well today at least I’m feeling hopefull that there’ll be a blood bath at OT tomorrow and we’ll get three points at Stoke.
That’s how it goes – much better to be a Gooner than anything else 🙂
I would like to express my shock at the dreadful goings on yesterday, on this lovely site.
I refused to participate, of course, and I do not want to point the finger, but the main culprits need to be named and shamed; Rocky the ‘Tator; Goonermichael the Poncy Hairdresser; Kelsey the Psychiatrist, Charybdis1966the Flounderer, Mickydidit 1989cantfinfthelongwordbook, Evonne2, Big Raddy the Mendacious, and last but not least, Carlito the Merry Andrew (?).
All I can say is you need to remember there are innocents out there, like me and GIE, and we are easily shocked!!
I’ll take full responsibility RA – I was away from my post and not able to crack the whip 😳
Who was that Hypnotist chap then?
Geoff. Superb post and a timely reminder that life is in the words of the Moody Blues (a 60’s music combo) A Question of Balance.
What I do not appreciate is the reminder of the Swindon Final. One of the worst days/weeks of my youth, and best forgotten.
RA. Easily shocked? Innocent? And you an Accountant? 🙂
Looking forward to Carlito’s Merry Andrew explanation.
I just googled it – its a clown or buffoon …….
Morning all,
Just popping in quickly before popping off to occupy the popping crease 😛
Nice post Geoff. We are going to have to be thankful for what we’ve achieved and above all patient with our conedmnation or otherwise until the summer is over.
Great post Geoff. I totally agree. We might not have won any trophies recently, but at least we tried very hard to stick to our philosophy of the beautiful game. It is easy to become outcome focussed and calculated like Chelsea under Mourinho, or Manu under Ferguson recently, and forget about style and playing football which is a joy to watch. At least we stuck to that philosophy, and hopefully soon we reap the ultimate rewards of major trophies.
Geoff superb, at last some sanity in a world gone mad on instant success.
I share all your memories and more, having watched and cheered the good (Brady) the Bad (Storey) and the Ugly (McGill) give their all win or lose for the cause.
The old Cliche says the bad times make the good times good and in a football fans life that is so true.
As for the more recent fans BR, I would recommend Questions by the Moody Blues ( I’m looking for a miracle in my life)
So enjoy what you get each year because, although next year should always be the star on the horizon for the wise football fan to concentrate on, maybe just like poor Sevy next year may not be in your destiny.
Well said DD.
Carpe Diem.
BR I did not realise a question of balance was an Album of which Questions was the first song, thought it was a different song. but having just listened to it on you tube. Love the tide rushes in. Looks like a trip to I tunes with the CC is called for. Thanks mate
Geoff – thank you for the great post. I fall to the last 20+ years fan category that you mentioned, and as you have rightly said it is the longest wait for the trophy.
But I don’t think we are doing badly, we are not exceptional yet, but will be. The club has all the makings and fundations of the grandieur.
I too would like to say thank you to all those youngsters that kept as going from strength to strength, and to all those fans who want AW to go I’d suggest that look at Portsmouth, Spurs or Birmigham – they have all won cups recently, does it make them better than Arsenal?? N.O.
DD. Without doubt one of the finest albums of it’s day and was No 1. for ages. Haven’t heard it for many a year but I went to see the Moody Blues a couple of years ago at the Albert Hall and they were excellent.
Go to your local Record Shop and support the independent !
Red Arse – you were the ringleader last night, the rest of us were just jumping on your waggon
Well said peachesgooner – I’d rather be a Gooner than a spud!
Hi Evonne – the poppies have opened 🙂 and the grandson got me up at 5.30 grrrrrrrrr
There is a fair chance that both Birmingham and Stoke will be playing in Europe this year
The bottom feeders from N17 however will be sitting at home watching on television. Big club, my arse.
Don’t knock it Peaches their trust, innocence and love make you the luckiest Lady in the world, 🙂 think of the day they dont come how hard will that be.
Raddy – so much fun being a Gooner 😆
dandan – happily Evonne and I share a grandson in the form of a Pug 😛 But he does love us equally
Rasp – hope you enjoy your time at the crease 🙂
Hi Evonne2, 🙂
Moi? Surely not! 🙂
Great post Geoff, thanks, I may not have the years of some on here (although sadly i am beginning to realise its mounting up….does one ever stop feeling 25?). But I suffered enough mickey taking being an Arsenal fan in my yoof (until GG).
Now most of the mickey taking is jealousy, then it was the poor team.
Highs and lows should be expected as a football fan, luckily as Gooners we get more than our fair share of highs, plus we get to support the best club in the land, steeped in tradition, history and class (except Gunneraurus) that no one can match.
Red Arse – yes, toi !! The haddock, the waitress’s backside and your bruised leg were just for starters!
Then you declared you loved Kelsey, need I go on??
Dead right Geoff, we have been spoilt for so long.
dandan, I’ve only just realised who your avatar is. I’ve always thought it was a picture of you. What a fool I am. 🙂
RA, I might have jumped on your waggon if I’d been around yesterday. 🙂
That wasn’t me ….. it was obviously GIE. 🙂
Hi Chas, 🙂
You will have to enlighten me, it seems I am a Merry Andrew too, I thought Dandan’s gravatar was a self portrait. Is it someone famous? 🙂
Great post GS- a real pleasure to read another post of yours- sage and solid as I’ve come expect from your comments. I agree that we are still in the best of times and I think your analysis of the reasons for many having lost patience is spot on. I am both patient and optimistic but these are not the most common emotional qualities of football fans my age which is why I find myself on AA rather than the more hysterical blogs.
For me, the unspoken reality of this analysis is that at some time in the future we are likely to suffer a proper downswing- perhaps akin to the Terry Neil days. I really do not look forward to the inevitability of this and I worry that wenger departing will precipitate a decline. Those asking him to leave need to be very careful what they wish for!
Dandan,
Your gravatar is not Wee Geordie Armstrong is it?
✓, RA.
Carlito11 does look a lot like Pacino though.
Chas, I think Carlito’s is Al Pacino.
I’m a bit worried about yours too Chas, It looks like Nigella’s licking something. Oooer! 🙂
Geoff
Wonderful post. In particular I love the dignity and maturity of your sentiment towards any of the young players we choose to let go this year. Instead of seeing them as failures, instead of the hysterical, entitled criticism of them in many quarters you say “thank you for being a part of a squad that has kept us in the top echelon of European football in times of financial restraint.”
Not all young players can become Arsenal legends, but all have played their part in, as you say, keeping us at a level that the N17 knuckle draggers can only dream about.
The older you get the more you tend to take a ‘big picture’ view of things, so I still see this current period as the highly successful Wenger era and the lack of trophies in recent years as a short drought before the storm of trophies to follow.
Redders
No more of that hypno stuff today! Look what you did to us all yesterday.
Talk about ‘light blue touchpaper’.
Haha, RA, I have met Mr. Roberton and seen his ‘looking forward to skydiving’ video.
Maybe it’s more of a metaphysical resemblance to Pacino. 🙂
Hi Rocky, 🙂
Quite right, we cannot have levity on a footie site!
I, for one, am ashamed I enjoyed myself so much yesterday.
It was a bonding experience for we few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
And bloggers everywhere then-a-bed, or having tea,
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not there to regale us with their wit.
[With apologies to Willy Shakespeare!] 🙂
Actually, Rocky, I feel I owe it to William Shakespeare to show the last lines of the King’s Azincourt speech!
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
Class! Pure class! 🙂
What’s this about holding their manhoods?
If Blackpool can hold their own at tea-time, ’twill be that day of all days, St Totteringham’s. 🙂
Chas Mr Spokeshave meant they would be peed off.
Geordie was my favourite along with Pat Rice the epitome of a trier
Fantastic Shakespear quote. I should start reading sometime. I’ve been a plastic, armchair fan most of my like. It’s only the last 5 or 6 years that it’s really affected my moods ( and I’ve been going to games) so it feels a long time to me. I get the feeling that something is going to change this summer. Wenger will stil be manager so I’m not saying he’ll go but I think he’s going to really go for it.
Chas – what’s the score? Believe it or not, I can only connect to THIS humorous site today
Oh no, Seve died 😦
If you just found out your connecton must be bad Evonne.
Shitty are still breathing down our necks.
West ham look finished. I’d hoped for them to win so Blackburn really need something from the manc game
Looks like I’m on my own
Evonne 2,
do you mean the spuds score?
It’s a five thirty kick off.
GM – terrible connection!! It is free to all residents, but it barely works
When did Seve die?
What are today’s results, anything shocking?
3 o’clock kick-offs
Aston Villa L 1
Wigan 1
Bolton L 0
Sunderland 0
Everton L 0
Man City 1
Newcastle L 0
Birmingham 0
West Ham L 0
Blackburn 1
Evonne at 3:45
Aston Villa 1
Wigan 1
Bolton L 0
Sunderland 1
Everton 0
Man City 1
Newcastle 2
Birmingham 1
West Ham L 0
Blackburn 1
Thank you guys! City result not good, feel sorry for WH
RA – Innocent??? Yesterday you claimed to be like your haddock – simple and honest!! I cannot explain to my poor old mum why I am giggling because of someone called Red Arse, no, she cannot grasp it 🙂
Hi GM, 🙂
I’m not sure I would want a plastic armchair, have you tried the furnished, wood ones? 🙂
If you are interested in having a read, the quote above was the King’s Speech on St Crispin’s Day, before the Battle of Agincourt, (Azincourt in French), from Henry the V.
It was written by Shakey in the late 16th Century some 2 hundred years after the Battle. (c 1415).
‘And hold their manhoods cheap’ means they were not real men becuase they were not as courageous as the soldiers going to do their patriotic duty and fight and die for their King and Country — remember ‘once more unto the breach etc’ an exhortation to fight even harder etc. 🙂
(There is no one on AA at the moment, so I won’t tell if you don’t!) 🙂
Evonne,
I think your mum would be shocked to hear you say she cannot grasp my red arse.
I could, however, make an exception for her, the next time I am in Warsaw. (Not that I have ever been!) 🙂
Sorry Evonne,
I should have made it clearer, those are half time scores. It is 4:10 p.m. over here, so still 40 minutes to go.
OMG, this is getting from bad to worse….you are off again 🙂
RA
I hardly ever read unless it’s military history. My daughter has an English degree from Oxford so I should boroww some her books.
You are amazing, O Evonne the Trapped on a Rotten Network. (Have you tried putting a Euro in the machine?) 🙂
I am truly in awe of your predictive skills, I do have to go out. 🙂
Laters.
GM,
One of the greatest joys of my life is reading.
My tastes are eclectic and I am never without a book (or several) to read. 🙂
Catch you later.
Evonne,
Everton 1 : 1 Man City (at 4:25).
Definitely gone now!
Everton 2 Citeh 1
yipee! come on you toffees
thank you chas! where were you yesterday when RA went bananas?
Everton 2 Citeh 1 full time.
Evonne, I was travelling to London to see one of my brother’s fave bands, The Rifles.
Fine result at Everton.
And great to see the Bees stay in the League. Wish I was there today
Been a massive buzz in Shepherd’s Bush today with QPR going up. Still loads of singing around here. I finally got inspired to write a post but alas it is not Arsenal-focused at all 😦
Chas – a Gunner goes to see the Rifles 🙂 I hope your evening was as amusing as mine blogging
Raddy – I neither like or dislike Everton, but the result is great because City lost
Carlito – what is it about then? Not food again…
Evonne the Accuser, 🙂
Aston Villa 1
Wigan 1
Bolton 1
Sunderland 2
Everton 2
Man City 1
Newcastle 2
Birmingham 1
West Ham 1
Blackburn 1
Bananas? Moi? I was an innocent bystander! 🙂
Hi Carlito, 🙂
You have broadened my educational horizon.
I had never heard of that 15th Century phrase a ‘Merry Andrew’ before. Fascinating!
You are a scholar and a Gooner, I cannot believe there can be anything better? 🙂
Rasper,
Have you finished pooping on the popping crease? 🙂
How did you get on? Did your bowl the maiden over with your googlies? 🙂
RA. Next you will discuss his leg stump!
Would be great if B’pool get something at the Lane. Can’t see it but we can hope.
RA the Impossible – thank you for the results; I am still trying to see some of the Spurs game, but have had no luck yet
Carlito is also a very good-looking, well mannered young man. He and Rasp’s beautiful daughter Alice looked very handsome together.
Raddy,
Not too sure of my technical cricketing terms.
It may have been popping on the pooping crease … who knows, I am trying to show solidarity! 🙂
RA- thesaurus’ are wonderful things 😉
Evonne- I got thinking about if the league was like in US sports. A closed shop with no relegation. Which teams would make up the 20 for you? It all came out of a twitter conversation I had earlier today. Silly list-making stuff, very juvenile but I found it fun! Click on my name to go to it if you’re interested…
Scratch that instruction! The “blue” still links here- not sure why- new to all this!!! the blog I set up for more esoteric stuff is http://www.shakinswedens.wordpress.com
Two pens for Blackpool in a minute.
Missed the first, scored the second.
Complete madness.
Happy St. Totts Day. 🙂
Excellent results today! Let’s hope tomorrow is equally kind to us Gooners 🙂
Happy Happy St Totts Day to you all and a double enjoyment as today is the 50th Anniversary of the last time they won the league 🙂
Carlito – I have read it and like the idea! I am not as objective as you and therefore I would swap Spurs for West Ham, Blackburn for Newcastle. It would also be more fun if the Scottish clubs were part of it.
Chas – as you can see I am having fantastic time in Poland in front of my laptop 🙂 Why were there 6 extra time mins added? what happened?
Note to self – this is an Arsenal blog and we really couldn’t care less what happens to scum
Ooooooh I’ll tell you Evonne, Charlie Adam managed to put Bale out of the game after numerous attempts by his team-mates to do likewise. Looked like quite a nasty ankle injury actually
ooohhh, poor Bale, not only he is an ugly b****d, but now he is an ugly b****d that snubbed Arsenal with a broken ankle….oooooooh
Bale broke his ankle? (had it broken?)
http://yfrog.com/h7d4qtaj
Celebrating 50 years of failure to win the http://twitpic.com/4um2w0league. 🙂
No injury confirmed but do we really care, he’s probably going to go to City anyway …….
From twitter
“Doubt much will be made of it. Bale’s Welsh. Last time a Welshman fell victim, he got blamed for being tackled.”
….oops from above
http://twitpic.com/4undby
They must be soooooooooooooooooooo proud 🙂 😀 😛 😆
First off, cracking post Geoff Strong. So so true…wish I’d written it myself. Agreed with every single word.
As for the rest of you loons…?? Oh dear.
Andrew, although Angelic remained Lonely. Wondering aloud as to why, it was suggested by a Bystander that regularly baring his Red Arse might be part of the problem. Andrew declared himself completely Innocent of the aforementioned charge, and went on his Merry way.
The poor SCOB’s…..have Blackpool turn up and ruin your big day.
You think that they’d have least photoshopped some colour into the cover pic on the programme.
You won the League….in Black and white,
You won the League in Black and white !!!!
Anyways, off to read yesterday evenings foolishness.
New nicknames for Tottenham: “The Eltons”- absolute rubbish but loves a cock on the chest…
SS- you sure FIL wasn’t involved in your 8.43? 😀
Evening all, hope everyone is well, missed the last few days, been so busy…
Geoff great article and I love the way you use a similar time period to show why people should understand their own frustrations more….
I found this golden nugget on ANR…..I think it compliments the sentiment of your article…….
“”If every shot that hit the post (for all the teams in the EPL) had gone in, Arsenal would already have been crowned champions this season, with 86 points after 35 matches, Chelsea second with 74, and Manu third with 73.””
Wow, margins are that fine……..
As geoff said keep the faith…..
Keep it Goonerish…..
Arsenal till I die……
I’ve not heard from FIL in a little while now Carlito
I’ve just finished that book Sharkey- a cracking read it was too- the DD chapter at the end was an eye opener for me given how all the unhappy gooners want him back now!
I would comment on all this tomfoolery, but unfortunately I’m not here.
Van Bommel and Seedorf just helped to secure Milan’s 18th championship… No country for old men hey?!
This needs to be seen. A proper fan’s reaction to that 4-4 at Newcastle… we all felt that pain I think
Carlito – that YouTube video is the best thing I have seen in a long time!! I must admit I often put my Arsenal shirt on and watch the game on my laptop. Screaming at the screen, crying, shouting at the dog is a norm 🙂
Brilliant, brilliant stuff!!
Now I know we took the Newcastle result badly….any of us as bad as this?
http://goo.gl/aYg7Z
Great post, finally got a moment to read it.
I had to stop watching……too painful.
Damn Carlito beat me to it! That is hilarious….he lost it
GIE – I watched it 3 times already
🙂 London
When do you think it will be ok for us to talk about that game without shivers down the spine? Or is it one that should never be mentioned ever again.
“I’m going to kill you if I ever see you” – top spleen venting
Carlito/GiE,
That absolutely sums it all up!
Brilliant.
Grubby little stories aside, what the heck has happened to Chamakh?
I mean, he does not even make Plan B these days.
Off for papers.
Sod’s Law
We have all felt frustrated by the amount of time RVP has spent in the sick bay over recent seasons maybe even Wenger; so much so, that he made the effort to secure back up in the form of Chamakh and what happens, Van Persie stays fit and Chamakh is not needed.
The Sod’s Law part is that if Wenger had not bought Chamakh as back up, Van Persie would have been out since Christmas.
GIE
That game should be filed in the category of “Never Happened”
De-nial is a river in Egypt 😉
Where does everyone stand on the booing of Shawcross?
I’ve seen a few players booed and then play better in response. Oh well, I doubt there’s any chance gimp-boy won’t be booed, and me not booing will be a drop in the ocean. I hope the Stoke players are all thinking about the cup final and possible injuries. Mind you the aggressor rarely comes off worst.
That fan definitely reminded me of myself in some respects. I tend to turn it off these days if my apoplexy is likely to cause my head to explode. 🙂
London,
Chamakh has played 17 prem games, so when you say not needed…..
I presume you mean after Christmas.
I wonder how the players deal with a game like Newcastle. Each time they remember, they remember how fragile they can be. It’s almost as though an exorcism is required.
haha
http://yfrog.com/hsmfbnyj
When I click my fingers, you’ll be back in the room.
Off to the Britannia very shortly. Hope I’m feeling perky later this afternoon.
We’ve got players out and we’re playing a big physical team. If Chamakhs not even on the bench today for a game against these monkeys, then I doubt if we’ll ever see him in an Arsenal shirt again.
Safe trip Chas. Have you got your visa, had your jabs, and learnt enough of the local language to get you by..??
Morning all
Radders are you still in drafts?
Good luck chas – hope you come back cheerful 🙂
Seems like you are now 🙂
Peaches. Done. Can you tidy up?
Raddy are you about? Its not Mothers day in the UK
Done it ……
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