I hate losing to the Spuds.
Obviously I don’t like losing to anyone: not Chavs or Dippers; not Surrey Mancs or Northern Oilers; not Orcs or jumped-up Yorkshire giant killers.
But a Spud defeat always brings a special hurt in a tender place, like trying to straddle a fence and landing hard on your gentleman’s under-chassis.
However, Sunday’s loss was a curious one in that, since the dust settled, it seems to have become all things to all men (and women).
If you believed before the game that we were a mediocre team in terminal decline, there was nothing in that result and performance to change your mind.
Likewise if you felt we were a superior team and squad to the Spuds, you could point to the fact that we were the better team for most of the game and only lost through making a couple of silly mistakes.
If you thought we were a team with great creativity but no defensive nous: the performance proved your case.
If you felt that we had never adequately replaced Brave Sir Robin and, therefore, did not have the finishing power to win tight games: Bingo!
In fact supporters from just about every shade of opinion (and we have more shades than a Roy Orbison lookalike convention) could find something from the match to back up their prejudices.
And boy have we been happy to share those prejudices. The more immature among us call them FACTS, with capital letters and write about them at great length in the digital equivalent of green ink. The more considered, recognise them as opinions and present them accordingly.
I have read them all and, frankly, I feel like I’ve been on the receiving end of a barrage – like standing near the corner flag when Emmanuel Adebayor is taking shooting practice at the goal.
And I have come to the conclusion that the latest North London Derby tells us precisely nothing about where we are now as a team and what the future holds.
The only certainty is that we started the day with the possibility of being just one point behind the reprobates, but we ended it seven points adrift of them and with the task of qualifying for next year’s Champion’s League much, much harder.
Their win on Sunday is not a shift in power in North London. Even if they finish ahead of us this season (leaving poor old St T to rotate in his sepulchre) it will not constitute a shift in power. Let’s remember that last May the all-knowing scribes of Fleet Street declared that a permanent shift in power was under way in Manchester.
Sunday was just a close game that we narrowly lost.
Across the season we have played the Spuds twice, won one, lost one and scored six to their three. Over both games we were the better team for, I would say, 140 out of 180 minutes (although that includes a fair chunk of the first game where they were down to ten men).
Arsenal have been underachieving this year. It has made people angry and angry people look for scapegoats.
Our scapegoats range from the Head Goat himself, Mr A Wenger, to Per Mertesacker (too slow); Thomas Vermaelen (too error-prone); Laurent Koscielny (too own-goaly); Wojciech Szczesny (too Almunia-ish); Gervinho (too run-in-a-straight-line-ish); Olivier Giroud (too unHenry-ish) and so on.
Personally I blame Vic Akers and his tight shorts, which must surely distract even the most focused of our players.
Whether or not we get top four, it’s fair to say it will have been a particularly poor year, with embarrassing cup exits and a failure to challenge in the league.
But I don’t conclude from that that our players are rubbish or that Arsene is a busted flush. I conclude, simply, that we are having a bad year and that we can put it right next year.
Part of the reason it’s a bad year is because we had another lot of new arrivals, lost our star player (again) and you can’t expect all those new players to form an instant rapport and pick up a new system without hitches.
There have been games this season that I have enjoyed much, much less than Sunday’s defeat. Away games like Norwich, where we didn’t turn up, didn’t fight and didn’t register an attempt on goal in 90 minutes.
At least at the Swamp we fought and tried hard, even if our game was a bit off.
Some of our shortcomings are apparent (we really need a world class striker) and I expect them to be put right in the summer.
For now let’s get on and, as GiE said yesterday, try and win every game we have left and show the critics what we can do.
Sunday, after all, was just another game.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Simply magnificent Rocky – and all so true.
If we supporters like to believe Arsenal is ours and not just an investment for some rich blokes, then we all need to fight for our club and do battle on every front until the end of the season.
Good morning to you all,
A truly sensible post today Rocky.
As we don’t have a match before Wednesday next week, let’s hope whoever is in charge of coaching our defence spends the intervening time profitably and instilling some commonsense, defensive ideas into not only the back five but also the rest of the team.
We really cannot continue to make the truly awful errors that have become endemic in our game.
Should start with instilling the spirit of hard work and drive in the players.
while the defending was terrible, Both goals were as a result of Negligence and disinterest in the mid field area on our part!!
Agree.. we are having a bad year. As Arsenal supporters we should really stand behind our team. They need it more now than ever. My mate is a Liverpool supporter, and I tell him often that I envy Liverpool supporters. They really stand behind their team.
I think our fans are some of the worst in all leagues, and it really bothers me. Moaning and groaning especially at our home ground.
We should be making it a fortress. But we don’t!!
Anyway.. I will vocally support my team Arsenal, without the negative moans and groans, especially at the Emirates. Wish we could get the Arse fans to as well.
It helps no one to be negative! After all I always thought what separates Arsenal fans from the others is our intelligence and common sense .
Watch this video and just look at how many of the players we consider as ‘deadwood’ now were such exciting prospects just a couple of years ago. Ramsey looking like the real deal before his broken leg and oozed confidence, Vela finishing off chances for fun, even everyones beloved Nikki Bendtner was taking chances clinically. And we were playing some brilliantly beautiful football.
What a contrast it is to the Arsenal now.
Good post, RockyLives.
My man of the match is Mark Clattenburg.
I’m not surprised in the least I’ve read no comments regarding the ref, as only poor officialdom normally catches the eye.
The following is in line with Rocky’s post I think, and seems a good time to assess the remaining Fixures for a Top Four finish.
Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea each play 5 at home, 5 away.
Arsenal, in my view, need to win ALL their remaining games
Total 30 points.
I think Spurs will win 7, draw 2, lose 1.
Total 23 points.
I think Chelsea will win 7,draw 2, lose 1.
Total 23pts.
I’ve ‘awarded’ Arsenal maximum points not because I think they will achieve that near impossible feat, but to illustrate that if my Spurs/Chelsea predictions come true we simply must take maximum points (mathematically).
Liverpool could do us a favour two times, and are still in running themselves, so not impossible (as things stand today).
Injuries, suspensions can play a big part, as can the build up of European and Cup fixtures, but still, in my opinion, we need to win all ten!
No-one can say we can do it without assessing the fixtures (as I have)… this isn’t childish, it’s not daft… please assess.
ARSENAL fixtures:
Swansea (A) …3pts
Reading (H) …3pts
West Brom (A) …3pts
Norwich (H) …3pts
Everton (H) …3pts
Fulham (A) …3pts
Man Utd (H) …3pts
QPR (A) …3pts
Wigan (H) …3pts
Newcastle (A) …3pts
30 points TOTAL
SPURS fixtures:
Liverpool (A) …0pts
Fulham (H) …3pts
Swansea (A) …3pts
Everton (H) …3pts
Chelsea (A) …1pt
Man City (H) …1pt
Wigan (A) …3pts
Southampton (H) …3pts
Stoke City (A) …3pts
Sunderland (H) …3pts
23 points TOTAL
CHELSEA fixtures:
West Ham (H) …3pts
Southampton (A) …3pts
Sunderland (H) …3pts
Spurs (H) …1pt
Liverpool A) …1pt
Swansea (H) …3pts
Man Utd (A) …0pts
Aston Villa (A) …3pts
Everton (H) …3pts
Fulham (A) …3pts (rearranged – date unknown)
23 points TOTAL
Morning all
While catching Spurs looks to be a tough task, we are still within two wins of overtaking troubled Chelsea, and Arsenal certainly showed enough in this match to suggest that they have what it takes to push on and make up some of those points in the last ten games of the season.
It may look bleak for the Gunners at the moment,as
we could finish outside of the top four in the league table for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s
16 year reign and Europa League football is not a prospect that excites us or our legions of fans, but they are still capable of pulling this out of the bag, just as they have in previous seasons
Sheep Hagger.
Well done Rocky.
The air is clear this morning, but it’s still dark outside RA so I cannot see if we have a blue sky, so while the stench has cleared I will make a few comments.
My support is and always will be unequivocal, I support through both the good times and the bad times.
The reality is that during my 66 years of support we have only won trophies in 16 – so 50 of those years or 76% of the time we have been pot less. Therefore those fans who seek trophies will only be happy 24% of the time – almost perfect Pareto.
Personally I think that a trophy is only the icing on the cake and not the cake itself – so I make sure that I thoroughly enjoy the cake.
Even at 75 years of age I still look forward to the next game with a pent up anticipation – regardless of our position in the league or our status in cup competitions.
None of that means that I don’t think we could be better, or should have done better, because the end result obviously is not what I would have hoped for, but does that mean that my support of the club and management falters? – absolutely not.
We got this far in our history my good management and that is the glue that holds the club together so I trust or ownership and management to right the course and set sail in the right direction – the same way that they have done since 1893.
Well said Rocky 🙂
I can’t be as optimistic as our friend Big Al purely for the reason that one never knows which team will turn up on the day.
On Sunday for once we really got out of the box quite well yet didn’t really have a worthwhile shot until Spurs scord.
One day all the pieces will fit together. The defence will play as a unit with the midfield helping and the attempts will actually go in or the opposition keeper won’t have his game of the season 🙂
Out of interest how many Europa Cup places are there.
Swansea already have one and if the winner of the FA Cupis not a top 4 team do they get one as well ?
My heart says that we won’t make top 4 and maybe it might be a blessing in disguise although there is nothing to equal a home tie at The Emirates such as Milan and Barcelona quite recently.
If we fail and get the Europa spot that is a hell of a lot of games more than CL,do we want that ?
Perfect summary, GN5. Says it all.
I might not have the years of support behind me that you have, but I like to think I will be like you, and saying similar things, if I make it to my ’70s.
You have restored my faith in fandom!! 😀
Excellent Post, again, Rocky – now there is a surprise! 😛
Hi Kelsey, 🙂
It is odd that the top four qualification is becoming a confused ‘symbol’ of our success or lack of it.
Trawling through other blogs, and looking back through some of their comments, the very people who were belittling Wenger for saying a top 4 position was like winning a trophy, are now belittling him for not achieving a top 4 position.
They seem to have glossed over the fact the season has not finished yet and we might still qualify, if everyone gives their full support.
Weird!
Hi Big Al, 🙂
That’s a really good post @11:18.
Agree about the ref – he was OK.
If the results work out like you predict, the goal difference will be all important, and our attacking style may be the clincher. 🙂
Now I can see the sky it’s a lovely shade of blue and not a cloud in sight – let’s hope it stays that way.
Looking forward to Real beating Man U by a score of 2-0.
Hi Kelsey
With the greatest respect I think you’ve misunderstood (a bit) of my post.
This is what I wrote:
“I’ve ‘awarded’ Arsenal maximum points not because I think they will achieve that near impossible feat, but to illustrate that if my Spurs/Chelsea predictions come true we simply must take maximum points (mathematically).”
I’m actually NOT optimistic at all. I don’t think we’ll win all ten games.
However, I am optimistic as regards our visit to Bayern Munich.
We’ll be up for it as we were against Milan in our second-leg last year, when we were so, so close…
Hi Red Arse
As I just said to Kelsey, I’m not actually predicting we will win all ten. My Arsenal table was to illustrate that I think we HAVE to win all ten if my Chelsea /Spurs predictions come true.
Finger and toes all crossed though 🙂
Big Al,
My prediction is –
Chelsea 8wins, 1 draw, 1 loss = 25 points
Arsenal 8 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss = 25 points
Spurs 4 wins, 5 draws, 1 loss – 17 points.
Spurs have a tough run in and I believe that they will implode.
I sent a chart to Arsenal Nuts but Rasp has not posted it yet.
I am not a troll – i read your blog from time to time as i do a hellava lot of football blogs but ive no doubt this comment wont make it to press. im just interested in what constitutes you playing ‘better’ than us. Yes you had more possession but you did much less with it than we did with ours. We carved out more chances, more clear cut chances and we tested your keep more often. Of your 2 shots on target one of them, the goal, was from a set piece. Defending against arsenals tippy tappy is not what it use to be. many teams, including us allow you to keep the ball in certain areas – we line up with our two banks of 4 making it hard to carve a chance through the center so you splay it out wide only for a poor cross to be played in to your tiny strike force. Your defending was much worse – laughable at times- i think that counts as part of the playing no? The midfield was congested but you had no power or strength to win or battle for the ball there – dembele and parker being the warriors to come out on top. Not sure you guys were better in that respect either? or are those things not importnat with regards to playing well? Having all the ball and doing nothing with it does NOT make you a better team – like your manager you seem to be in a spiral of making excuses and ignoring the glaringly obvious.
Dave,
And when we stuffed you 5:2 earlier in the season I bet no one on here went to gloat on a Spuds site.
It just wasn’t that important to us. Enjoy it while you can.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer – and one season where Spurs would end above us would not make them a better team than us.
But the trend is there and we cannot deny it – they are on an upward trend, and that with much more limited means than us, which is worrying.
We, on the other hand, are on a downward trend – our win % has been decreasing for the past 4 years – 60%, 53%, 55%, and now 46%.
It would be great to win all 10 games – it would put us on 55%, ie the same as last year. But I’m not going to bet more than a few quid on it.
in a perverse way I would’t mind miss on “the 4th place cup” – it would give us a (well deserved) kick in the arse(ne) and hopefully an incentive to change something.
We just can’t keep on doing the same thing and expect a different (or better) result.
FFP is not going to come to our rescue – and even if it did, and Chelski and ManC were magically kicked out of the CL (which I don’t believe, bribe$ talk), Spurs are doing ok financially, Man U too, Everton is not much worse than us and Liverpool will also rise up… and there, a CL place is even then not be taken for granted.
In Arsene (‘s ability to reinvent himself) I (kind of) hope for
I understood you Big Al, and was really agreeing with you, anything is possible in football, however unlikely, but something which appears to be irrelevant in the overall scheme of things, like goal difference, might turn out to be the final clincher. 🙂
We will see!
Cheer up Marc, it might not happen, I hear an asteroid will hit N15 in May!! 😀
Whilst it does look bleak for Arsenal fans fans after a disappointing defeat. history and the fixture lists mean all hope is not lost and Arsenal CAN still make top 4. http://the5thdeadlysin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/why-arsenal-can-still-make-champions.html
im not gloating – im a writer myself and am generally interested with what anyone has to say. Which part of what i said is gloating exactly? Im a firm believer in people being able to back up their statements, something which i didnt see in the above article. What i have done is taken one of those statements and brought across some very valid points to test it in the hope that the writer will be able to back up what he said with relevant points pertaining to how arsenal were the better team. I had then planned to read what he said and consider it before making my own conclusions. That is how a debate works. Apologies if i seemed gloaty, it was not my intention at all – i dont believe in this power shift nonsense and feel both teams are actually quite even now – last year over the course of a whole season we only finished 1 point apart – thats not exactly a huge gulf and we lost 2 of our best players last summer also. You want to be a ‘hater’ thats fine with me, ill leave you in peace and will no longer expect any arsenal fan to ever have to justify anything they say in a public forum.
Rocky,
Very busy, but had to say how much I enjoy your posts.
They always get me Arsenal Yins and Yangs back in balance and sync.
Also, there is always at least one brilliantly witty line that I pinch and use as all my own work. Thanks.
Back later.
Top post Rocky and well done for bringing out some reasoned guys with a will to stand behind our club as well as the regulars who I expect nothing less from.
Big Al my predictor has Spurs drawing away to Chelsea, Liverpool, Swansea and Stoke (probably not dissimilar to GN5’s) and losing at home to City. Which as GN5 states will give them 17 points, and Chelsea as you have them. So it comes down to us, can we get 23 points from the remaining games? I fear we will lose to ManUre home and draw with Swansea away, but we won’t be able to afford any more slip ups to lower teams.
Hello All
Thanks for the comments.
Dave
We make more defensive errors than your lot at the moment and that’s why we lost. You’re on a good run but you’re not really that good a team and when Bale goes this summer you’ll drop back a long way. You are playing to the absolute very best of your collective ability, we’re at 50% of ours, but there was very little in the game.
Normal service to be resumed next year.
Fine post Rocky. All is not lost yet, we might just still make it. Just in case we dont i have already looked at flights to Albania and Belarus.
Dave, i agree with you. So far this season spurs have been the better team. Your side is more balanced and compact than ours. It hurts to say, but at this present time your team and club look better managed.
Now for the bad news Dave. the idea that there has been a shift in power is a load of pony. Arsenal are at a stage were the club is about to reap the benefits of its long term investment, spurs have just started theres.
I have done a bit of research, and if we get an Albanian team it will be fantastic. Apperantly booze and fags are dirt cheap, and the women go mad for a bloke in possesion of a £10 note. Cant wait. hahaha
Thanks for your reply rocky, i appreciate it greatly.- i believe you also make more offensive errors no? Girouds touch was somewhat wayward on sunday and had he have made less ‘errors’ you may very well have won the game. We shall definitely see though- for me this is the most solid and resolute spurs team i have ever seen. unbeaten since 1st of jan, closing out games strongly, not conceding late goals…..we are certainly playing at close to 100%, doing so consistently and it seems to be serving us well. You guys has 1 shot on goal from open play – for me thats quite a lot ‘in the game’. Either way – we are both in for a hellava ride. Your mythical collective ability still remains to be seen this season.
Hi GunnerN5
Really looking forward to seeing the chart.
I think you may well be right as regards the Arsenal and Chelsea results.
Spurs 4 wins, 5 draws, 1 loss – 17 points (?) hmmm…
I personally doubt it, unless they have an important player or two injured or suspended.
If they do implode their next match could well be the beginning. Liverpool are hot-and-cold, but when hot they can upset Spurs. Suarez is on fire right now.
Hi again Red Arse… sorry, my mistake, and you may well be right as regards the goal difference.
Hi Gooner In Exile
Your predictions are very interesting. Hope you’re right, but I think you are underestimating Spurs a wee bit. I think Gunner N5 is also, even before seeing his elusive chart.
C’monPeaches!
Big Al,
I recognise that my predictions for Spurs may be a bit fanciful but I believe they will draw against Liverpool, Swansea, Stoke and Man C away from home , will draw with Everton at home and lose to Chelsea away. They could just as easily lose to Liverpool, Stoke and Man C.
Frankly my predictions for Arsenal are a tad more concerning as they will have to be near the top of their game to meet my predictions and that is a very big ask based on current form.
Dave, the BBC website says we had 6 shots on target compared to your 5 – are you saying 5 of our shots on goal were free kicks/corners ? Sounds like we were more in the game than the “1 shot from open play” comment of yours suggests.
HI all,
Thing I like about AA is all the bloggers are very opstimic.. I amaze to hear people here support arsenal from past 50+ years… I am mere 23 years of age… If arsenal play there heart out in rest of the matches I will be happy neverthless if we finish in top 4 or not.. I have a feeling that we will defeat BM.. Nothing is impossible in Fottball…
you had 2 shots on target according to sky i dont think they count weak blocked shots from 18 yards smashed in hope. http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/281850/stats
Ha ha Manthan, you are half my age ! Thanks for the contemplative post Mr Rock.
Dave those Sky stats also show us with 7 shots from inside the box to 6 for you – so how does that show we weren’t in the game ?
I’m not sure how the weakness of the shot affect the validity of calling it a “shot” as you imply, if we are getting more shots from inside the box that indicates we were less in the game, right ?
And go to the “general play” tab on the link you showed : http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/281850/stats and see who comes out on top on nearly all of those stats ?
Agreed though, we defended appallingly in Sunday.
Charybdis & GN5,
Yep I am half of your age… If you people dont loose your hope for arsenal after supporting arsenal for so many years I dont have any right to loose my hope… 😀
COYG…
Manthan, I suspect GN5 is a little older than 46, but I wouldn’t want to speak for him. 🙂
Manthan, thats a great attitude. You give me hope for the younger geneartions. Only 23 hey?, i bet you have a tremendous hairline.
Allow me to give you some fatherly advice. This is your chance to enjoy yourself. Get out there and take as many illegal substances as you can, cut your teeth with the odd ruck, and score as many women as possible.
Dont worry about other peoples feelings, you can do that later. and dont become too attached to a single women, that only leads to unhappiness.
Get out there and enjoy.
Don’t take any notice of Terry, Manathan, he is a bad boy. 🙂
He has had 5 wives and 20 kids and lives in a shoe box!!
Have we won a “big” match this season?
jnyc – the best I can come up with is the 5-2 at home to the Spuds or the 2-0 away win at the ‘dippers place.
So Bendy gets a £97k fine and banned from driving for 3 years, what a plonker !
jnyc,
When we lose a game the next one is always a big, ‘must win’ game, but I know what you mean about our performances against the ‘top’ teams, and I agree with Charybdis — who is never wrong!!
Unless he has been at the Peronis! 😀
Ha ha Redders, any day is a peroni day.
Chary,
Plonker yes! But a plonker whose wages we will be paying if Juve send him back to us. Pity we can’t just cancel his contract and give him the elbow.
In case you have not seen it, here is an interesting article from the Guardian, commenting on the ‘Fake Sheikh’ rhubarb bid I posted a couple of days ago.
Arsenal supporters show cynicism in face of a prospective new owner
The reported bid from the Middle East brought into focus how discerning fans want a say in their club and are not overwhelmed by the promise of cash
The reaction of Arsenal fans, waking up on the morning of a north London derby they were approaching with an unusual sense of foreboding to find headlines promising a £1.5bn takeover by unnamed Middle East investors whispering sweet nothings about ticket prices and transfer kitties, was telling.
Far from taking to Twitter and the airwaves to celebrate the potential arrival of a white knight to deliver them from eight trophyless seasons, many instead began asking difficult questions. Can this be taken at face value? Who are they? What do they want? What’s in it for them? And, perhaps most pertinently even at a club where the current ownership model is under increasing scrutiny and fan discontent mounting, would we be any better off?
While it is always dangerous to generalise about “fans” as though they are one homogenous mass, there is no doubt that they are, in general, better informed, more engaged and less trusting than at any time since the Premier League was formed.
Given the problems of the game of ownership roulette at many clubs during the past decade, and the endless column inches it has provided, there is more cynicism and less giddy abandon among the general fan base at the prospect of any takeover. And given the looming introduction of financial fair play rules, there is also the entirely legitimate question of how much value there now is in a benefactor with deep pockets.
Which isn’t to discount the deep gratitude felt by Manchester City fans to Sheikh Mansour (as slightly cringingly expressed in that banner at the Etihad) or that felt by Chelsea fans towards Roman Abramovich for saving them from near-bankruptcy and pumping £1bn into the club in the decade since, even if emotions have been slightly more conflicted of late.
But it is unlikely that either would be flinging fake notes in the air with such abandon were those takeovers to happen today.
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust lists on its website a series of principles that it expects potential owners to abide by. “The AST believes that Arsenal is too important to be owned by any one person. The best ownership model for Arsenal will always include supporters being represented and involved in the ownership structure as shareholders,” it says. “We understand the reality that any stake in Arsenal is available to buy at any time should someone make an acceptable bid, but we will oppose any bid to buy the club outright and take it into single ownership.”
I have corrected the Grundian’s usual spelling errors!! 😀
Norfolk – we will be shot of him by the end of this season, so yes, he is an expensive plonker for AFC.
He’s pissed his career away just like Pennant did.
As the world and his dog are on a yankathon over the ManUre/Madrid game tonight I’ll put on record my wishes for the match, in the hope it becomes relaity, namely: the mancs get torn a new one by Ronaldo who not only nets a hat trick but celebrates each goal with gay abandon in front of red nose in the dug out, whilst the special one knee slides in front of the slobbering glory hunting plastics at Old toilet.
Not asking for much am I ?
The AST is, I’m sure, peopled by earnest Arsenal fans who have the best interests of the club at heart, but what exactly will be the effect of their opposition “to any bid to take the club into single ownership”?
@kelsey (March 5, 2013 at 11:40 am)
“Out of interest how many Europa Cup places are there.
Swansea already have one and if the winner of the FA Cup is not a top 4 team do they get one as well ?”
England should be getting 3 places in Europa League 2013-2014:
(1) Swansea – 3rd qualifying round (58 teams in it; 29 winners)
(2) 5th place team in EPL – Play-off round (62 teams in it; the 29 winners from 3rd qualifying round + 33 teams which includes 15 losers from the CL 3rd qualifying round)
(3) FA Cup winner or runners-up (If winner has already qualified for European competition, either CL or Europa league) — Group Stage* (48 teams in it; the 31 winners from the play-off round + 17 teams which includes 10 losers from the CL play-off round)
*Group Stage winner & runner up from each group (24 teams altogether) will be joined by 8 third-placed teams from the CL group stage in the round of 32.
Perfectly logical reasoning Chary.
Norfolk, about the same effect as how much suspicion Arthur Dent has that his friend Ford Prefect is from Betelgeuse, i.e “None at all”.
N5 🙂
Great post. I loved Terry’s advice to Manthan. They should teach that at school
Finally, guys, here is another attempt to explain why the Fake Sheikh deal is rubbish and will not work.
(It’s a bit long — so skip if you are not interested) 😀
The details in the (Telegraph) article raised considerable doubt as to the veracity of the takeover bid. But nonetheless, when taken within the context of Arsenal’s current financial and playing situation, it offers an interesting point from which to gauge where Arsenal are now and where they may be heading.
The Telegraph story lays out the ethos in a way that makes you think that someone somewhere has been using a template from the best seller, “Football Club Takeover for Dummies.”
— “American owner, Stan Kroenke, whose perceived weak stewardship of the club has also been called into question by frustrated supporter groups”
– “If successful would wipe out debts that stand at around £250 million according to the last full year’s financial result”
– “There would be substantial transfer funds made available to transform the club into a major force in European and world football”
– “There would also be a pledge to reduce ticket prices at the Emirates Stadium”
– “Given the nature and structure of the funding, the bidders say they are confident they will still be able to comply with FFP”
Use current ownership as a lightning rod, reduce ticket prices, and toss in the old chestnut of substantial transfer funds and what self-respecting Arsenal fan could not be seduced by the notion of new owners?
However, there is a problem – the proposal is largely nonsense.
The benefit of such a takeover would be almost exclusively reaped by the present shareholders. (who make a nice return on their investment — straight into their pockets — not the club’s coffers).
A takeover based upon these premises is ten years too late.
To explain what that means we need to look at Arsenal’s position within the current context of their financial position and the soccer industry in Europe.
The decision to build a new stadium was pivotal for Arsenal and the most important since they relocated to North London early last century.
The financial challenge was to generate sufficient funds to build a new facility that would have a much greater capacity than Highbury and, as such, generate more in gate receipts.
Only Manchester United of the top clubs has ever undertaken anything of a similar nature and the expansion of Old Trafford was done in stages.
To build a stadium at a cost of close to $600M required a complex set of arrangements that included a combination of self-financing, property development of the Highbury site, locking in borrowings at low interest rates and a degree of risk mitigation particularly in terms of cash flow linked to naming and licensing rights.
The move to Emirates has allowed Arsenal to generate substantial more “match-day” money with only Manchester United greater and no other Premier League team coming close to Arsenal.
In terms of earnings from the likes of the Premier League and the Champions League (TV, Prize Money) Arsenal has consistently been in the top three or four over the last decade and a half.
The area of Arsenal weakness has been commercial activity and that was a result of securing long-term deals in order to limit risk on the financing of the stadium development. But many of the commercial deals are now exhausted and new arrangements will increase revenue substantially.
All these revenue areas directly impact the UEFA Financial Fair Play calculation. The amount of money you spend must be covered by what you bring in.
So why would a potential buyer suggest that ticket prices be reduced? Lower the price of tickets and the money has to come from another source or expenses must be reduced.
But that is not all – the “new owner” is going to provide substantial transfer funds.
That is fine and dandy but financing transfer funds are one relatively inconsequential piece of the transfer puzzle – balancing the books something else.
Transfers need to take into consideration the fee to be paid (amortized over the life of the player’s contract) and the salary to be paid.
Both charges have to be funded from revenue earned by the club through the sources already listed.
When you cut through the fine sounding takeover rhetoric what you have is the old political trick of offering voters (in this case fans) more spending (transfers) while reducing taxes (ticket prices).
Simply put – it doesn’t work.
The only direct benefit of the proposal would be paying off $375M in stadium and related debt.
But that only produces cost savings of about $20M a year – not chicken-feed but only around 6% of Arsenal’s projected football revenue for 2013/14.
If Emirates Stadium could have been built debt free then there would have been tremendous benefit to the club. But the offer comes too late to make any material difference.
So, if that is the case why do Arsenal keep on selling their best players and why don’t go out and spend the vast pile of cash they currently sit on?
Well the two are linked but at the same time they are also separate.
One talks to the past while the other more to the future.
The selling of players can be broken into three phases.
The first was marked by the likes of Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka who were sold because the offers were just too great (to turn down). These moves were overlooked by fans because just as good and some times better players took their place.
Phase two saw older players leave believing that it was time for the next generation to take their shot. That group included Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Gilberto Silva.
Many of the next generation flunked the exam either through repeated injury or an inability to perform at the highest level.
The lack of success morphed into the best “next-generation” players departing – ala Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie.
The upside (if it can be construed as a positive) has been that the sale of star players has kept Arsenal on the positive side of the financial ledger.
[That’s for you, DanDan] 😀
Thank you JM
as I thought a lot of games and we would have to most probably have to finish fifth to get into Thursday night football.
I really don’t care if we are in europe or not if that what it takes to have a total shake up. We will still attract players but as i see it CL place is basicaly 4 teams fighting for 2 spots.
i can’t remember a PL season where there have been so many strange results and though we can all predict the last ten games if we don’t qualify for one or both it will be down to the number of home games that we haven’t won.
Afternoon all
One final wish for tonight – Pepe to tweak VanJudas’ hamstring, like Paganini plucking a string.
That would be nice.
Kelsey,
It is for certain that our home form has cost us dearly.
1. Worst % of games won in 15 seasons @ 57.1%
2. Worst % of points won in 16 seasons @ 64.3%
3. Worst goals against in our PL history @ 1.36 per game.
4. 4th best goals for in our PL history @ 2.5 per game.
Not to dwell on the subject, as I’m not there, but my opinion is that we have a negative 12th man that brings the team down.
Oh I know, the are well paid professionals and should be able to block out the moans and groans, but you have to have played in front of a big crowd to relate to that experience and again my experience is lacking as the biggest crowd I played in front of was 3,500 – so it’s just one man’s opinion..
But the undeniable fact is that our home form really stinks.
Gn5
Well said.
Was that darts that you played in front of 3,500?
No it was a football game in Harlow Town, I guessed the number so it may not have been 3,500 – but it was very close. An area Cup Final, I scored in the last minute but we lost 2-1.
I never played professional darts but local tournaments supplemented the incomes of both myself and my son. My son turned out to be the better dart player, he’s ambidextrous and can shoot 180’s with either hand – which used to unnerve his opponents.
Nice!
Were you the CF?
Most I ever played in front of was a couple of hundred 😦
Although, come to think of it, I was in the finals of a national 5-a-side tournament that was played at the (then) Empire Pool, Wembley and there were a few thousand at that.
Knocked out in the semi-final.
Rocky,
I was an old fashioned, right footed, left half.
I’m only 5ft 7 inches and at the time I weighed 170 lbs so I was very hard to knock off of the ball, and after a few hits my opponents would steer clear..
I’ve played in front of 3,500, and I don’t remember much about it 🙂
Evening all.
GN5
5’7″ and 170lbs makes you round, so completely impossible to knock off the ball Or should that be “roll” off the ball?
Sorry 😦
Utd Real…mmmm
I know who I “should” want to win, but then you may have no idea exactly how much I detest Mourinho.
Have two teams ever both been disqualified simultaneously, because that’s my preferred outcome.
MD89,
Not quite round but a very low center of gravity.
I just loved playing but my knees gave out when I was 19/20 so I took up coaching instead.
Crikey,
I am in the company of footballing royalty!! 🙂
I will never argue tactics, regulations, refereeing decisions or player attributes with any of you in the future! [GN5, Rickety Rocky, GIE, Micky and everyone else on here]
Well for 10 seconds or so!!
The biggest crowd I played in front of was about 35.
A home game for John Wright Athletic on a Sunday afternoon.
The crowd: Our manager and 34 away supporters.
RA
It was not football in my case.
So no “your royal highnessing” to me 🙂
Did mothersawhore leave WHL in an ambulance? Can we see his medical report for why he had to be stretchered off? Was he really injured or has the sperz doctor compromised his integrity. If he was faking injury was it his initiative or was he ordered to do this to blunt Arsenal’s efforts to get level and give the poor old sperz defence a breather?Why no investigartion from the gutter press? They had the brass neck to whine when Arsenal AND the ref just left him there to hopefully expire! this after they played on and scored with an Arsenal player on the deck injured from a neck high tackle right in front of the ref’ who saw it as somehow within the rules of footbal!?!
Rocky
You made the same deliberate mistake as Raddy. We win 6-4 not 6-3 😉
I started my playing career as (in old language) as a left back but just for one season as I had the hardest shot but no pace,so that was stupidas the coach had no clue,, then reverted to left wing took all corners and by then had more speed but finished as the creative inside left for the rest of my career, though often drifted to inside right.
When my playing career was over I managed an under 7,8,and 9 team which I thoroughly enjoyed. (Who am I ) 🙂
Well, I played Rugby for about 3 years, does that count?
I did not have a clue about the rules or the finer points of the game. I was simply told to crash tackle the oppo’s best player.
They were usually quite tricky guys with all that dodging and flim flam running at pace, and I could not always catch them — but when I did they stopped running so quickly.
Funny game rugby — a bit like playing for Stoke! 🙂
Big Al
As far as football was concerned, you at least had a manager. We were watched by a homosexual teacher. That’s it.
at St.Trinians, Mickey
Damn Kelsey
Now there is a school I would lurrrrv to have attended…sigh
I have decided to watch the Utd Real game, and I very rarely watch other teams.
Carrick is one player, or at least type of player, who I think would dramatically improve our side.
I stopped ROLFing at DidIt homosexual teacher when I notice on the telly subtitles translation what some Greeks were saying ‘we want foreigners out, they are parasites, we want to gas them and make lamps from their skin’. Fecking ell, just as well I didn’t emigrate to Greece, could end up as a lamp on someone’s table!!
I think it was wrong to even show it on TV.
Come on Maureen!!! It’s your job interview tonight
Or even a couple of lamps Evonne 🙂
Evonne
He’ll be doing his hair as we speak, and getting the “I realy do care about my club as much as myself” look just right in the mirror
Seriously, Southern Europe could turn very nasty in the near future.
Oi Rocky!!! I think they call them lanterns in Greece; 2 lanterns Evonne 🙂 What sick bastards!
What do you mean in near future? It’s already awful
Micky – now, now, don’t be jealous, Maureen might be a dog, but he has pedigree. I am not sure anymore if I would be upset if he was to manage Arsenal for a season or two
Rocky
Naughty but good
A button on top of each lamp?
Evonne
Happily, there is zero chance of him managing The Arsenal. He’s a £100m minimum budget manager now
Hi all
Serious request here …….we’re going to need a post for tomorrow and for the next five days. All contributions gratefully received …..
Let me know who’s up for one for tomorrow.
Thanks
Watching the game man poo v real
I know it’s pointless but wold u like to see Rvp return or Ronaldo sign for is if
what button DidIt? To switch me off? Or are you suggesting that me is dim and needs to be enlightened?
Good game. Welbeck is doing a Bale, running like possessed and trying to score from most impossible angles
Rvp to return where Sheep?
Evonne
There’s only one answer to that, and I’m not posting it 🙂
Back to arsenal
I’m thinking Peaches and its hurting
Giggs has been great so far. Perhaps I should take my boots out again.
Evonne. You are usually more aware 😀
Don’t be ridiculous Sheep, he pooed on us. I’d never want him back at the Ems, no sir
Naughty DidIt.
My cook has gone away for a couple of months, which means it is going to be enough of me for only 1 greek lantern, but also it means that I have no time to write blogs because I have to fend for myself
red for Nani!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yeeeeppeeeeee
will someone call an ambulance for Fergie please? He’s having a fit 🙂 🙂 🙂
Cook eh?
Yeah, right. We know you live on ready-made meals, which brings me nicely on the question: what function does this “cook” fella really perform?
Now you are implying that I get meals on wheels? Ta very much.
I think Manyoo will not win a treble this year 🙂
time for Transplant!
X spud scored come on Madrid
why is Maureen kissing Fergie’s arse?
By man poo much love lol
Top Refereeing at OT. Spanish bungs are bigger than SAF’s 🙂
One team in Europe!
There’s only one team in Europe
Everytime I posted here my comment disappeared, why? does this site banned me?
Arsenal is the only premier league team in Champions League! crisis? what crisis? : )
No Rob. Blame WordPress
Hi Rob – sorry if you’ve had comments go missing, it could be a wordpress thing ………out of our control or if you’ve included a link sometimes they go missing.
One team in Europe
We are the one team in Europe 🙂
RM 61% possession & 21 shots. They deserved the win
Rob they do it to me I don’t know why that’s why I can’t be arsed here for any time it’s pointless ,
Bye
One team in Europe
Theirs only our team in Europe etc.
He’s outa Europe now
He’s outa Europe Now OW
Robin Van Pursey’s
Outa Europe Now.
So many hilarious tweets about us still being in Europe …………..
The Funny Gooner @FunnyGooner
Can our match against Bayern be postponed for another week please? I want to brag about Arsenal being in the CL for as long as possible.
Much credit to Roy Keane who said it was a red card. Well done!
thanks peaches and Raddy,
Now i really hope that we can go on and win the champions league. Just please, please slap the judas on his f**n face!
Emil Słotwiński: If Robin van Persie had stayed at Arsenal he’d still be in the Champions League..
gonnerjake – I agree, credit to Roy Keane for calling it so but what did they put in Gareth Southgate’s tea at half-time????? It was fun to watch though I must say ……… serious needle between those two 😆
Peaches don’t you just love it when theirs controversy and it does not include our team. 🙂
Do you no something….I may have to whisper it… two of man ure’s former players are pundits (keane and Neville) and on most occasions I agree with them.
Reember this comment is a whisper.
Come on Arsenal, proper European competition now, no PL team to meet along the way ………must be our time 😀
gj – I’m whispering too ………cos I agree with you there. Have to say that Gary Neville has been a revelation, so articulate, such knowledge, even for a manc rat face 🙂
That was a definite red card, look at this close up, no questions.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BEoBz0_CAAApph7.jpg:large
Manc rat face…..!
I didn’t know you was a poet.
Carrying on the same theme. I dislike former gooner Alan Smith’s arsenal analysis. He try’s to hard not to be biased he comes across as anti arsenal.
Unfortunetly Utd never got what they deserved tonight
Fergies fit should have resulted in a straight jacket, Ferdinand should have been led away by the RSPCA, and Van Persies attempted ovehead kick should have resulted in his head lodged up his arse.
But apart from that, i realy enjoyed that game.
Turned on just after Nani’s red and had to wait til full time for the replay….editorial decision surely so that Tylddesley and Townsend didnt sound like complete muppets for the whole of the second half.
The antics on 90 minutes were awful, Ferdinsnd clapping in the refs face for a good thirty seconds and then having the brazen cheek to shake hands as if that’s ok.
Mourinho covered himself in no greater glory, he knew where the cameras would be at full time so like the egotist he is walked off before the final whistle so the cameras could follow him for a bit.
Right postage for tomorrow.
Does anyone remember van Persie, quite early in his Arsenal career, getting sent off for something similar to Nani’s tonight? I know it was a CL game, but I can’t remember who the oppo were. And I remember the same sense of outrage all the United types are feeling now….
Peaches cheeky one in the loading bay should it be required
Suggested viewing for Mancs who are sulking, watch Ferdinand listen to the crowd
Morning all
GiE – that certainly is one cheeky post 😀 could be a great day to use it while they are otherwise distracted.
Will Nikki B be able to play for us now that Juve have sacked him for drink driving – assuming AW would use him?
Great work GIE.
My only concern is that MU are due to play us just before the next round and I hoped they would bring a second team – they won’t now.
Juve must have been desperate to get NB off the books. They were paying him big money and got a poor return … played just 9 games and most of those as sub!
Does he have a future? If and it is a huge if, he applies his undoubted talent then someone is sure to buy him, but I fear his reputation will destroy him.
Shame, because he seems like a good man to go to the pub with.
Raddy it’s a shame about NikB, clearly he was going off rails when at Arsenal (being seen out on town after our CL exit a few years back). Then at Sunderland dancing on cars etc. Maybe it’s why Wenger didn’t want him round, but maybe he has for worse since leaving us.
Some youngsters will not be able to handle the riches given to them so young, sadly NikB appears to be one of those.
I forgot to say the other week I was overtaken coming off the M25 at London Colney by a very nice Mercedes think it was a CL Coupe didn’t get much time to notice the marque as all I actually registered was the Private plate AN5AH. Not even made the first team yet and driving a car most kids of his age have as a poster on the wall….”the car I’ll drive when I’m famous”….I’m not naive enough to think we can change the scale for Youth Team players every PL club will pay similar. A client of mine lives in the Chelsea player belt of Surrey, his son is mates with a Chelsea youngster and a QPR youngster, the Chelsea youngster is on £4k a week (and nowhere near the first team) if he gets on the bench for a first team game he gets a £3k bonus, and a £5k bonus if he gets on the pitch, the QPR youngster is very similar. So 19 years old and on £200k a year basic.
Morning Guys, 🙂
Enjoyable to see the Mad March Hare, aka Sir Red Nose, flapping down the dug out steps when Nani got the Red.
If anything showed he is a loon – that did. 🙂
Back when Nik B smashed his Aston Martin on the way to training he was just 20 y.o.
He went back home and took a drive in his second car to get over the shock – it was a Porsche Carrera! Wasn’t even in the first team.
But I have no problem with the money they earn. Market forces etc etc.
Terry,
Will keep your advice in mind 😉 ;-)…
About Nani redcard why Ferguson is crying… MANU always get advantage in EPL they always get advantage from Ref.. If in one game they got one decision agasint them they start crying… In fergies word Nani could have killed Arbelol 😀 😀
Manthan that’s why Fergie is so upset, his administrators forgot to hand the Old Trafford refereeing guide to UEFA this year either that or the brown envelope for the PL officials has had to get bigger with ManShitty splashing the cash that they simply can’t afford to pay off UEFA officials as well. 😀 I jest of course
Although it probably has more to do with the fact that a UEFA official will likely never cross Fergies path again whereas a PL official is likely to be relegated to the Championship if he incurs the wrath of Fergie.
RA your 4:23 yesterday should have been a post in its own right. I forgot to mention yesterday 😀
Motning all
Raddy – I know exactly what DidIt meant, but sometimes I it’s handy to have blond hair as an excuse 🙂
Hi GIE,
I always enjoy ManYoo getting stuffed but, and I think it was you who remarked on Maureen walking up the pitch a few minutes before the end, to get ‘camera action’, I intensely dislike that man.
Al that unedifying crap about ‘the best team lost’, is only a ploy to ensure that he gets the Manure job when his ‘friend’ red Nose retires, and it makes me heave.
Not that it is worth getting excited by the Red Card incident last night, but I had to admit I thought it was a yellow. Then I saw the slo-mo and saw both Nani’s feet were off the ground, and by the letter of the law I suppose the ref could justify it.
For all the furore over it, Nani allowed the ref to make a decision right or wrong, but is it worse than the dreadful sending off of Brave Sir Robin against Barca in the CL, when he kicked the ball a nano-second after the whistle, if indeed he did.
Furore over that? The papers and the TV merchants did not give a stuff. Therefore I do not give a stuff over the Nani card — except I am glad that ManYoo are out, and Arsenal are the only EPL team left in the CL!
Red Arse 9:08…Last two paragraphs…..well said that man. I’m delighted ManUre were beaten.
LMFAO , with the whinging Mancs on Talk Sport and Facebook.
They don’t like it when the boot is on the other foot. (see GiE 12:08 am)
Morning all, I also enjoyed the spectacle last night, but Maureen’s fake deference to manu and fergie got me thinking. He was asked in an interview if he would be mnanaging in the prem next seaon to which he replied ‘yes’. From recent documenataries it is apparennt that fergie is a fan of maureen. I therefore conclude that the deal has already been struck and fergie will go upstairs in the summer to make room for the new manager – Jose 😛 you heard it from Rasp first!
Heard it from Rasp first?? Comrade, I think not! That one’s pretty antique by now, isn’t it?
Rasp,
I think my 9:08 beats your 9:19. God knows what time 26 is calling for? 🙂
😆 26m, I’m sure I’m not the first but I actually hadn’t read it on AA so was joshing. He’s been linked mostly with a return to the chavs (not gonna happen) but I’d imagine it will be somewhere in Manchester ….
Damn you Redders 😛
I hope today’s post isn’t going to attract too many trolls as I won’t be on patrol for much of the day .. but it is a corker from GiE 🙂
…….. New post ……