Yesterday was a day I won’t forget in a hurry, in my office working I flicked up the BBC Website to check the score and see whether it was worth watching the second half, it was 1-1 Bale had scored an own goal, I smiled and decided to listen to it live on the radio.
Seconds after I heard David Pleat say that Muamba had gone down with no one around him and both Modric and Gallas called on the medical teams immediately and were showing concern. To hear that was shocking enough, the radio team didn’t have monitors so i hoped they were wrong, I had to go down and switch on the TV, to see for myself. The first shot I saw was Tottenham fans with deep concern written all over their faces. The commentary didn’t sound good and the players faces told the story of just how serious this situation was. It was heart wrenching I was welling up just looking on from afar. I’m sure we all feared the worst.
Thankfully we are now hearing more positive news, I hope by the time this is posted, it’s better still.
Today is a day to forget about rivalries and pull together the football family to send all our best wishes to Fabrice, his family, the staff and players at both Bolton and Spurs, and the fans who witnessed it live.
It is also a stark reminder of how we fans have a responsibility never to take things too far, we all are united by our love for this simple game of two goals 22 men and a little round ball. We all want our teams to do well, but days like today remind us that it is just a game, and there are things more important, and whilst rivalry and emotion are part of it we should try to keep it within the bounds of good humour. Things can be said in the heat of the moment but I will never wish what I saw yesterday on anyone, I hope it serves as a reminder to those that do just what their words mean.
If you want to see what football fans do when they pull together look at the twitter trend that started within minutes yesterday #PrayForMuamba fans and players from every club were tweeting their support for the player.
I’m sure the good people of AA will want to do the same as me today and that is wish Fabrice all the best.
Get well Fabrice our thoughts are with you. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Gooner in Exile
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Thanks GiE,
You have echoed the sentiments of the entire football community. I thought Tottenham, Howard Webb and the supporters of both sides behaved impeccably.
Its a shame the ESPN reporters had to fill in time and resorted to conjecturing on similar incidents where the outcome had been fatal – I wouldn’t have wanted the family to have been listening to that.
Well said, GIE, a terrible event, and I totally agree with your sentiment.
I know that phrases such as “I hate xxxx” or “I cannot stand the scum” etc are now embedded in football culture, and has become generally accepted.
I do not use those sort of phrases myself, and I like to think that many other fans use such them, not because they really mean them, but just as an inverted declaration of support for their own team.
Seeing the great response of the Spurs fans, their concern, and the way they displayed their empathy with Fabrice by clapping him and chanting his name when he was carried off, even knowing he is an ex-Arsenal player, can anyone really think they are “scum” or really “hate” them? I don’t think so.
I love Arsenal – I don’t hate anyone or anything else, and I think that holds true for most of us.
Come on Fabrice — our thoughts and sympathies are with you and your poor family!!
It was an awful scene and the efforts by the officials and the conduct of the fans was quite extraordinary.
Lets all wish that he returns to his loved ones with 100% of his health intact.
The Tottenham players and fans were wonderful they showed an incredible level of respect and genuine concern.
Thanks GIE, Football people for all their blinkered self-interest have come together on this, Fab by comment consent is a very well-liked guy, an intelligent guy with 10 GCSE’s and 3 A levels. Who is currently studying for an accountancy degree in his spare time.
Not bad for a refugee who came to our club at 11years of age unable to speak a word of English.
The Spurs Fans were superb yesterday and exemplified why I personally get disappointed when our bloggers feel the need to abuse other fans solely on the grounds that they support a different club.
Fab was an Arsenal boy, playing in a Bolton shirt, both of which would have normally exposed him to all manner of abuse, why do fans have to do that. Rivalry should be able to rise above such unedifying and juvenile behaviour not just in times of trouble when reality bites, but in our daily interaction with folk like us who happen to support a different team.
Get well Fab your return to the home of football will be a day to remember
The Tottenham fans were amaxing by all accounts. My brother was there and said it was horrific. I don’t know if my nephew was with him but he probably was and he’s a very sensitive boy. apart from a few people (who are absolute scum) everyone on twitter was praying for Muamba. I hope he pulls through. The news is much better now.
A lot of arsenal fans (including me) used the coys hashtag last night to acknowledge them.
Morning all, not a nice post to write, I erred away from commenting in the post too much on ESPN as I was disappointed they spun it out for so long. There is an emergency tape in broadcasting organisations for situations like yesterday, once the game had been abandoned or even when the players left the pitch a quick comment from the clearly upset Kevin Keegan and equally worried John Barnes was enough to finish their broadcast.
I also steered away from the players history as I hope there is a lot more to be written, clearly a nice guy who left a permanent imprint on young members of the Arsenal squad and many fellow professionals and officials.
Like everyone else I would love to hear some good news over the coming days.
Wise comment GiE. It was heartening to see Djourou tweet that he had been to visit his good friend Fabrice in hospital although I’d be amazed if he was able to sit with him.
We can only hope that this fine young man makes a full recovery and returns to his family.
My niece’s husband is a consultant Cardiologist who is currently doing research into a means of testing for genetic heart defects that thus far go unnoticed. It is hoped that the medical profession and sporting bodies can come up with a method of screening to try to prevent such incidents in the future.
Beautifully written GIE.
We often use the word “hate” to talk about our noisy neighbors but we all have friends who support them. Our banter is part of the entertainment of being a football fan .
We are tribal in our attachment to our teams, but when awful events like yesterday and Hillsborough etc occur all right minded fans unite.
My brother is a Tottenham fan. I refer to them as scum and he says similar things about us. It’s just banter.
Another statement has been issued by the hospital: Fab has been anesthetised and will be kept unconscious for 24 hours, he is still in a critical condition
great post GiE, very well said and couldn’t agree more.
@ BR
you lucky bugger, very jealous
all da best muamba, I praying for you.
Rasp nice touch with the Praying for Fabrice pic.
It was painful we couldnt beleive our eyes. We arsenal fun in kenya had all surport bhind OWEN COLEY men and seeing this unfortunate it was unbeleivable. Now that it happen and FABRICE MUAMBA that man with GUNNER DNA in hospital, I ON BHAVE OF MY FAMILY AND GOONERS WORKMATE wish to extend thoughts mercey and wishes of QUICK RECOVERY to MUAMBA and our heartful hand to HIS FAMILY, BOLTON PLAYERS, FUNS, BOARD, COACHING STAFF and you all football fun faithful across board
Dear Lord, I ask you to turn this weakness into strength, suffering into compassion, sorrow into joy, and pain into comfort for others. May your servant trust in your goodness and hope in your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suffering. Let him be filled with patience and joy in your presence as he waits for your healing touch.
Please restore your servant to full health, dear Father. Remove all fear and doubt from his heart by the power of your Holy Spirit, and may you, Lord, be glorified through his life.
As you heal and renew your servant, Lord, may he bless and praise you.
All of this I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
As random as the world is – yesterday i was in the car listening to the premier match between west brom and wigan – the mentioned mulumbu – which got me thinking of Muamba
I was thinking about him and Seb larsson and how someday these players could come back and do a job for us. About what a shame it is to have to sacrifice players of decent calibre because of limited opps in the Arsenal first ix.
I can safely say that since he left us, i have never thought about Muamba until yesterday afternoon and a couple hours later he is collapsed on the pitch.
I am overwhelmed by it, i was in tescos just now and i thought of him and my eyes welled.
What the hell is that? I don’t understand it.
I hope that he is able to make a recovery, and while he may never play football again i hope he is capable to be a father and a husband.
I hope his family are proud of him and know that in his tradgedy, he has united the world of sport and fandom and cast a light on the simple goodness of the human condition and the inate decency of the common man.
I hope that everyone in the matches today and for the week ahead give a chorus of “Fabrice Muamba”
and i am pretty sure they will.
Some very well expressed sentiments on here today. I personally am not one for religion, but I said a prayer last night to whoever was listening (I like to hedge bets and last night seemed more valid than ever to do so). Even if the prayer was only heard by the stars it felt better to do something.
Quality comments on here by everyone today.
A bit of a reality check yesterday.
Fortunately Fabrice is in the hands of our wonderfull NHS.
Those people are fantastically skilled and caring.
Lord Jesus how wonderful you are,your word says By your stripe we are heal.please Lord touch Muamba infirmity,pains and heal him in the name of Jesus.
Come on Muamba,we love you stay with us,pray you come out of this stronger
I didn’t see the game last night.
My thoughts go out to Fabrice and he family. I remember watching him in the reserves a few times. He very nearly broke through after going to Birminham with Djourou, Larson and Bendtner. I always like Fabrice Muamba.
I have to be honest though, knowing Djourou’s record of clumsy, untimely errors I wouldnt have let him within a ward of Muamba. I’m surprised he didn’t miss-time sitting down and take out the life support.
I prayed and I don’t do religion either.
Fabrice. I wish you quick recovery.
Thanks for the pic chas, I’ve used it in the widget
Why is it that through saddness, tragedy and adversity, the best of humanity so often comes through. I was very proud to hear that the tottenham fans were so excellent throughout the incident. It makes me wonder about stoke two seasons ago though.
Well done GiE and AA
Any other type of Post would not have seemed right today.
Most of the banter with other clubs’ supporters is meant to be humorous. I’ve referred to Tottenham fans as ‘knuckle draggers’ and what have you. But I have Spurs supporting friends too.
Yesterday’s events show that the vast majority of people have things in perspective.
Hang on in there Fabrice.
Arsenal.com is collating messages of support for Fabrice.
I’ve just left a message.
When he, hopefully, recovers fully he will be able to see how much support there has been for him.
Hi Rocky, thanks, I left a message on earlier.
Here is the link for anyone who wants to leave a message of support for Fabrice:
http://www.arsenal.com/home
Ju Young Park escapes military call-up
16 March 2012
Arsenal forward Ju Young Park was today allowed to delay his military service for 10 years.
South Korea’s Military Manpower Administration said Park’s 10-year residency visa in Monaco, where he played for three seasons, means he can delay his service until 2022.
The 26-year-old, who has made six appearances for the Gunners and is set to leave in the summer, was expected to begin his service either this year or next. All able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve two to three years.
Afternoon all, still don’t know what to say. Just hope we get some more positive news over the coming 24hours.
Irish; it is enough that you are finding the time in your busy life to think of him, his recovery lies in other’s hands.
To those on Twitter, one of those vile excuses for a human has been arrested by Swansea police after he posted racial comments about Fabrice and wished him dead. Swansea University were also informed of his behaviour – will think twice next time before he tries to act the tough man.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/18/fabrice-muamba-heart-two-hours?CMP=twt_gu
His heart didn’t beat for 2 hours on its own…. that can’t be good can it? 😦
Dandan – Even my housemate was affected by it. She doesn’t watch football, but was at the pub watching the Irish rugby game when it came on the other screen. Suddenly no-one in the pub cared we were getting hammered by England.
Very well-written post GiE. Let’s hope he pulls through.
Red-Arse
I think the thing you are missing is that you were never bullied at school for being an Arsenal supporter, that’s to say every break you are threatened and ridiculed by spud supporting older boys.
I fucking hate the bastards……every single one of them.
If I have understood things correctly you were brought up in the States or something like that, I presume that must be true as it is the only justification I can find for choosing such an offensive moniker.
Arsenal play in red and white and yet you have chosen something that gives the impression that you have a sore rectum. Why is that? No self respecting Arsenal supporter would choose a name that degrades the club in the way your moniker does.
LB you should be ashamed of yourself, your comments are in today’s circumstances completely out of order.
Talking of degrading the club, you have IMHO exelled yourself in that department as well
That’s a bit strong LB.
My brother is a spud and he thinks the world of you LB 🙂
Best of luck Fabrice !
Like GiE, I’m hoping that something in Mother Earth, tlts things in Fabrice’s favour.
Some very good comments here and one or two that really seem out of place, ie LBs, and Arsenalista’s extremely distasteul attempt at comedy re Djourou’s visit.
LB your first two paragraphs…clear enough and fair enough. You r second two..?? Wholly unnecessary..??
LB 4:03.
Thats a bit strong ?
At a time like this we must pull together, lets live and let live guys, life is far too short to abuse people.
Come back Merry Terry and GliC, we need your humour and banter.
We are football supporters after all.
God bless Fabrice, stay strong.
LB, what a complete and utter crass post to make. My daughter is a Spud as is one of my brother in laws. So, going by your outburst I should had them as if they were the devil. I also have many friends who are Spuds and we enjoy the banter, but your post is totally out of order. Grow up ffs!
Forgot to add, I am praying that Fabrice makes a full and speedy recovery.
LB I’m not sure what caused the 4:03, and I normally enjoy your posts, short and to the point, but that was totally unnecessary imo.
Classy from Real Madrid
Lucky I’m not like LB. i was bullied by older black kids at school.
come on Muamba, pull through. great pic chas
@ LB
today of all days you say that to RA, come on you’re better than that.
Can’t find a news update on PM this morning. Anyone?
Morning all,
Just caught up on weekend’s results, and Chelsea have a wee fixture pile up ahead, so lets hope we can take good advantage starting on wednesday.
Micky last update 8:30pm yesterday, still sedated and critical.
As for fixture pile ups they have indeed. 3 points for us against Everton and 3 for City against Chelsea will be very nice thank you very much.
can’t find anything sorry Micky, i hunted not long ago but nothing yet. Only bbc saying there will be updates Monday morning. As far as my very limited knowledge goes i think he will remain in a chemically induced coma a while longer just to let the body (specifically the brain) repair itself more, it may not be ready as yet.
However, take that with a pinch of salt
Thanks GiE and Oz.
When do City play Chavs?
Ok, got it, wednesday. Wow, could be six ahead and that would be a very strong position.
not to worried about wolves away now based on their recent fixtures, and the fact that they have lost 10 at home this season.
Clever me made a bet with a mate that wolves would lose by 3 or less. I should have known with a spud as their defender!
Oz Wolves will still have some fight, down to ten men after twenty minutes or so. Everton will be tough Wednesday no guarantees there.
Thinking aloud towards the finl standings, and assuming we finish top four and abouve Spuds, there will be much to celebrate. Here’s how it goes. Utd or City. Either money wins and its a hollow victory or money gets beaten. At the other end, the Russians lose out and who knows, Roman may walk or Spuds blow their massive lead and finish fifth which is naturally very funny.
A win on weds together with a Chav loss and we will really have lift off and I will be counting chickens.
i’m already counting chickens micky. I agree GiE i think everton away is our biggest test, hopefully they will be flat after their weekend game
Morning all.
A little interest to most of you but my local team the mighty Malaga got a late equaliser to draw at Real madid last night, that is some achievement.
If Everton play as they did against Spurs (though they hung on ) but basically defended a 1-0 lead for an hour,. and as against Liverpool and with a draining FA Cup with a replay to com together with our new found form I really fel very positive about our chances at Goodison..
hey guys,
Thanks for your post GiE..to be honest i read it last night but really wasnt in the mood to comment..what to say??
i sometimes wonder why it takes something bad to bring out the good in others? And why it happens to good people, yet killers walk the streets? divine intervention maybe!
whether we believe or not, they say God works in mysterious ways, and i find myself doubting things! and that might just be it… a question of faith..
no doubt this tragedy has brought out the good in others and united a football community, but more importantly puts things into perspective and gives us a chance to reflect on our own lives and whats important to us..i think GM summed it up best for me when he said that all he wanted to do was go and hold his 21yr old..
Dont get me wrong, i love Arsenal and they will always,ALWAYS be there, but watching the incident and waiting on any news has put football way back in my mind in comparison to other things..
Still praying for you Fabrice and your loved ones who i cant possibly imagine what they are going through right now..BE STRONG and Fight like you have shown your whole life..
in regards to some comments yesterday, Arsenalista on the djourou snipe..NOT FUNNY MATE, quite distasteful in my eyes..
in terms of hate comments and swipes towards our rivals, with me at least its just banter..and might be seen as a ‘keyboard hero’ moment but i wouldnt write anything here unless i was prepared to say it to peoples faces..
My two younger brothers support ManUre and Liverpool and i let them know everyday where they stand, the term ‘scum’ is used often especially Joe and his ManUre and dont worry i cop it just as sweet..liker i said banter, and part of football rivalry..would i wish harm to somebody for colours they wear and support?..NO chance, maybe just some knocks bruises and sideline holidays to opposition players for the benefit of the ARSENAL 😉
All in good fun, the way football should be!!
My hope is that Chelsea win the CL.
Here is my reasoning. Abramovich is known to be fixated by the CL and IMO will not leave Chelsea until the have won it. They win, then JT, Fat Frank and the core of Roman’s mates retire. This would be the perfect time to walk away from his first pet project.
Now Abramovich is not so insecure about spending time in Russia I think he will concentrate on his Russian project and leave Chelsea to flounder in the nether regions of the league – where they naturally belong.
Kelsey,
Santi Cazorlaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
what a goal..
sorry i didnt comment on your post, i did read it and was about too when tragedy struck..after that, everything else seemed insignificant, but thank you all the same and Congrats on your personal trophy in bowls..
Raddy,
If Chelsea win the CL and we finish fourth then only the top 3 and Chelsea go into next years CL.
FIFA will not allow what happened before when Liverpool won the CL and had finished 5th below Everton.
BR,
Ouch. Nooo. Arsenal must be the first London club to win it, although along your lin of thinking, Chavs finishing outside top four may be the catalyst for him to move his resources into car or boat racing. Or anything.
School run for me today. Later.
NO RADDY,
Arsenal must i say again MUST be the first London team to win the damn thing and WE WILL..
i dont want money buying the champions league the same way id rather ManUre win the premiership..(it hurts to say that, but i want football to stay as pure as possible for as long as it can hold out)
GiE you are the money expert. If the russian leaves can’t he ask for Chelsea to reimburse him for all the money he has put in over the years? I suppose it would all depend how he ‘invested’ wouldn’t it?
That’d be funny, they don’t make top four, ab leaves, go broke, sell all their stars (even the fat ones), and they get relegated. Thanks for playing Chelsea!
I like my outcome better BR
Mmmm. I clearly had not thought that one through!!
by the way, ive been very impressed with torres and the amount of clean sheets he has kept for chel$ki but watching him last night i fear he has turned the corner and the bounce of the ball will favour him more often than not..just my prediction
Oz pretty much. His funding is cloudy to say the least.
Some of his initial “investment” has been converted to equity which in plain English means it is frozen in the club and he can only recoup via sale of the club at a profit. The rest is loan which as you say he would want repaying as part of any sale. Although he has allegedly been reimbursed by about £10m a year over last few years to pay off his debt.
But if we looked at the club would any investor pay him off for his investments as there is undoubtedly a lot of further investment needed in the current squad.
LB.
Reading through the comments I note your 4.03.
As one of the originators of AA you know full well that this is a site set up with the express purpose of courteous blogging. In my opinion your comment to RA is unnecessary
Where he is born or the length of his AFC support is an irrelevance. So too is his commendable indifference to Spurs fans.
You have every right to “hate” them but please don’t castigate others who do not share your antipathy. Should I hate my Spurs supporting father, or my Spurs supporting nephew? Sure I can pity them for being deluded but hate??
As is RA’s chosen name, I happen to think it is amusing.
Last weeks contretemps have led to the loss of two fine Gooners (hopefully temporary). I trust this can end here and not develop in a way which results in losing either RA or you from the site.
Robbiin 🙂
Unfortunately, Torres is a quality striker. It is inevitable he will score a few. Hopefully next season he will be back in Spain.
@ RuVP
don’t say that, he can turn the corner when he comes to Arsenal (for a very cheap price)! In saying that though didn’t the media jump on the ‘torres is back bandwagon’ after they beat a team 4-0 in the champions league and he scored 2 of the goals? He isn’t back until he makes a habit of it, and as you say i think more clean sheets are around the corner haha
@ GiE
cheers for that, i thought as much. haha 10million a year, i hope he is planning on staying alive for another 50 odd years because he has sunk a lot into that club. Chelsea will be paying him back in Roubles for quite some time to come.
regards to torres,
yes the media did jump on the ‘Hes BACK’ bandwagon, but back then i wasnt convinced…too mant egos got in the way..this time there seems to be a spring in his step like the torres of old at liverpool..the dash of speed and turn of foot not to mention a chemistry with meireles and mata was evident last night even if it was only leicester..
i too was hoping for his bad form to continue and his 50mil price tag diminish so maybe we could sneek a look into taking him..even if Arsenal dont look at him, id hate for the premier league to lose him…just stay woeful against us…like i said, just a prediction, el nino is back..
Torres will be used as a scapegoat if chel$ki dont get champions league football next season…hope they turn on him and abramovic sells to the best team in London..it would be nice for RVP to nudge wenger and say “hey dude, thats the boy id like to play with please”
Robbin . Spot on, but you know we would never pay Torres wages.
i completely agree RuVP i would love to see el nino striking fear in opposition eyes again…just for us not chelsea. When on top of his game he is unstoppable. haha i agree, ‘come on Arsene he is will only cost 20, give them 10 and throw in denilson, almunia, bendtner, and squidge for good measure’
SOLD!
How much can a misfiring striker command BR? yes there is always the asian and russian leagues, not to mention PSG. But if he had that Arteta like drive he surely would choose our great team. Just dreaming i know, but hey nothing wrong with that!
Morning all, its a bit early but I’m snowed under with work this morning – so I’m happy to announce we have a …..
……. New post…….
your both right..
he has snookered himself the same way as tevez and samuel eto..the main stream of world football has lost samuel eto for good, its a shame..
not many today could be as classy as arteta and make a decision based on football achievments rather than there superannuation..although im still convinced that RVP will do the right thing
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your website?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or
two images. Maybe you could space it out better?