Preamble Ramble
‘That old September feeling, left over from school days, of summer passing…obligations gathering, books and football in the air'
- Angel Of Repose, Wallace Stegner
As the dying embers of our summer hopes and dreams succumb to mean winds and fade into the ether on a relentless, pitiless zephyr, cruel September arrives, invoking the fear and panic of the guileless, conflicted schoolboy leaving the comfort of small town elemental education to mix it with the big boys and the bullies. Today holds the prospect of the first of an anticipated triple whammy duffing up at the hands of the PL prefects.
At the end of August last year we were on the crest of a wave, maximum points taken in an epic first month, the best return in the entire ‘English’ pyramid scoring ten goals in the process. Today we’re minnows caught in the undertow, in danger of being swept away as we contemplate the frightening prospect of a run of games against the Premier League big fish. And we do so with the unenviable record of the worst goal-scoring record in the four leagues. In front of goal we are the Kevin Phillips Bong of the PL, a candidate for the Slightly Silly Party, with a nil return. ‘Not a sausage. Bugger all’ in fact.
Today is a chance for the team to provide some comfort to the restive fans that they can hold our own at this level. Arsenal, in transition both on and off the field have so far this season failed to convince and sit just three places and one point above us. That fact alone might provide grounds for some optimism (or at least put my inner Eeyore back deep into the Hundred Acre Wood for 90 minutes). Hey, it’s a lovely day and we’re playing The Arsenal! What’s not to like?
‘Don’t blame me if it rains’ said Eeyore.
The stats tell us that Arsenal have a proud history, winning 13 league titles in their time and the same number of FA Cup triumphs. We on the other hand are pretty much defined by our single FA Cup win, particularly as the subsequent 91 years have been more or less unproductive. Our 1927 victory, was of course courtesy of The Gunners’ Welsh keeper (sepia goalies always look rubbish but Lewis’ fumble would have raised a few eyebrows today) and since when no Arsenal keeper has apparently taken to the field in a new shirt.
It was uplifting to take our seats today in an expectant full ground, the atmosphere generated by both sets of fans making for a special occasion; one to put the gloomy old grey donkey in Row L Seat 798 to shame.
Arsenal set up in the expected way. We’re used to conceding possession, running around chasing shadows, aggressively closing the opposition down and hitting them with a long ball out of defence (not too easy on the eye, but generally effective) but the contrast of styles today could not have been greater. Arsene Wenger may no longer be in charge but his legacy has been embraced by Unai Emery whose charges retain an almost pathological proprietorial interest in the ball. This doesn’t always work in their favour.
On more than one occasion today Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal was almost caught in possession dilly-dallying inside the six yard box looking to pass the ball out of defence. City were unable to take advantage, the normally reliable Harry Arter guilty of blowing the chance to give us an early lead. One of the main lessons from an otherwise creditable performance today is that chances are likely to be as rare as a brain cell in the Oval Office and when they arrive they must be taken.
Unfortunately our profligacy in the opposition’s box was matched by defensive ineptitude in our own. Indecision by Morrison led to an unnecessary corner from which Mustafi headed into the back of the net unchallenged. 0-1 with only 12 minutes on the board. Soon afterwards Manga’s blushes were spared by a point blank save from Etheridge.
A Home Office security announcement appeared on the screen above our goal providing the crowd with advice in the event of a terrorist incident. With a genuine prescience it was headed ‘Do you know the game plan?’ Erm, hope? Pray?
Surprisingly, and worryingly for the Gooners, Arsenal failed to capitalise on their domination and although in control of the game seemed to lack a killer instinct, more content to play exhibition football mincing around in midfield with a flounce here and a sashay there. We were being allowed a second chance and as the half wore on were actually having the better of the play. It was still a shock however when we drew level deep into time added on, Camarasa turning Monreal and lashing the ball past Cech for our first goal of the season and (Pointless Stat Alert…) 1597 days since our last goal in the Premier League.
The equaliser seemed to give us the edge in the early stages of the second half. We were now playing with a real belief, keeping a high line and closing down the Arsenal defence, almost taking advantage of Cech’s lingering nonchalance in his own area.
It was a crushing blow to the home fans when Aubameyang was given too much space on the edge of the box and turned to whip a shot past Etheridge and restore the Gunners’ lead. However, we responded well and in a manner that provides real hope for the future. A Ward header found the inside of the post to set up a rousing finale to a game that was providing more entertainment and ambition than we had dared to hope for.
Shortly after Reid had been set free by Ward, his tired shot limping tamely to Cech, Arsenal confirmed their natural superiority as Lacazette found space to lash a late winner past Etheridge.
We expected nothing from this game and the table shows that’s exactly what we got. But sometimes it’s not the result but the performance that matters. We can only do what we can do with what we’ve got, or as Eeyore himself said ‘We can’t all and some of us don’t. That’s all there is to it.’
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