The Rise of Corporal Jenkinson

Joleon Lescott, off screen to your right, will be using some of his massive City wages to get himself a new epidermis, having just been skinned by the Corporal.

No one could have predicted how quickly Carl Jenkinson would be folded into the Arsenal first XI, especially after the most inauspicious of starts to his career as a Gunner. Cast your mind back to last season, as a squad decimated by departures, injury, and suspension, saw us field a League Cup side for our Premier League visit to Old Trafford. Having completed his dream move from Charlton only months earlier, the young right back was thrust right into the thick of things against the champions on their own patch. Theo Walcott memorably [and harshly in my eyes] tore strips off of him that day after one mistake.

A Tale of Two Free Kicks

from the Factory Floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ground: Ashburton Grove

Referee:  Martin Atkinson

Arsenal             1-2              Chelsea                 29 September 2012

Gervinho [42]                      Torres[20]

                                                  Mata [53]

For the first time in very long time I woke up for this one not knowing it was a match day immediately when I opened my eyes. Maybe that’s down to the crap sleep I've been getting lately, but I thought it had something to do with the supreme confidence with which I approached the visit of Chelsea to our emerald shores, erm, pitch. I really thought we’d tonk them.

I arrived earliest at the Factory, got a Guinness from Jack Keane and was shortly thereafter joined by the Kaiser, sporting a new Vermaelen home kit.  We were soon met by tEd, Tin Lid, the Captain, and Barry.  There was a fair smattering of chavs around the place, but not nearly as many as for a normal kick-off. One of the things I noted right away was the absence of the NY Blues flag in front of the bar. Ours hung in all its glory though. It didn't turn out to be any kind of portent of good fortune to come, but I enjoyed that we got that privileged position on the day.

Point Taken

from the Factory Floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ground: Middle Eastlands

Referee:  Mike Dean

Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal                            23 September 2012

Lescott [40]                Koscielny [82] 

I'm a fan of the kind of odd symmetry football can produce at times. When the Arsenal last met Manchester City, it was a magnificent strike from Mikel Arteta that settled the contest, capping off a commanding all action display. On this instance, given Vermaelen's flu induced absence, the Spaniard stepped forward to marshal the side and did so with the same level of performance. He was as immovable as his follicles in the heart of our midfield.

Also due to the Verminator-shaped hole in our defense, up popped Laurent Koscielny from Steve Bould's Center-Back Pez Dispenser and into the core of our burgeoning rearguard. He would enjoy his own brand of symmetry, but we'll get to that in a moment. Whisper it quietly but such is the depth growing in our squad that the last minute absence of our captain before visiting the champions had zero impact on my expectation that we would get something from this game. So it was with great anticipation that I greeted tEd and Aubrey at the Factory to take this one in.

Goldi Poldi Halelujah

es gibt einen Fußballgott!

So, Lukas Podolski smashed his duck at the mugsmashers. For all of us this goal had a sense of being overdue, not necessarily for the German, but because it was the first Arsenal goal full-stop this term. The "seven years no trophies" jibe was about to be reincarnated as the "x hours no goals" klaxon. He clearly enjoyed the goal as his own first strike but also as the release valve on the pressure cooker that was building in the absence of last season's talisman after two scoreless draws.

What A Difference A Year Makes

from the road

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ground: Anfield            2 September 2012

Referee:  Howard Webb

Liverpool 0-2          Arsenal           

                                          Podolski [31]

                                          Cazorla [67]

Owing to a pretty grueling work travel schedule, prior to Sunday’s match I had not seen a full ninety minutes of Arsenal football in this nascent 2012-13 league campaign, nor have I made it to the Factory as a consequence.  But if I can’t get my drinks off of Liam or Jack Keane, I’ll more than happily take them off of Jack Bradley from his own lower level bar. Not only did the racket of his blender suggest some delicious frozen rum drinks, it nicely obliterated the grating noises that permanently flow from Stewart Robson’s gobby mouth.

With that fuckwit providing the ‘color’ commentary and Howard Webb governing proceedings, Ted, Jack, and I set about taking in this season’s visit to Anfield with some trepidation. The customary atmosphere was lacking. There was the usual air of injustice from the home support at any perceived slight by the opponent [perhaps why they staunchly defend a guy like Luis Suarez?] but outside of that the Scousers had little to shout about. We were looking dead solid and it was nice to see the emergence of synchronized movements on defense in this Arsenal side.  In other words we had some seriously decent team shape. Over the past years I have grown accustomed to the team weaving patterns on attack, but it was beautiful to see the team move in unison when they didn’t have the ball to thwart the opponent.

Déjà Vu? Not Really.

“We are in a much stronger position now because last summer we lost Nasri and Fabregas, and on top of that we lost Diaby and Wilshere [to injury]. So we lost four players at the start of last season and that is not the case this time. “ August 12, 2012

Given Wilshere’s continued absence and the departures from the first team just days after that comment, a challenge could certainly be made about Arsene Wenger's appraisal going into this season.  Even without thinking of the potential loss of Walcott, considering Sagna’s recovery, we are currently down four players that would normally fill a spot in the starting eleven.

To boot, we have merely one point more than this stage last season, and the same number of goals scored. None. Cesc was already gone, Nasri left right after our second match, and we had not yet made the last gasp trolley dash to fill out the squad. We lost our top player and another who the season prior had his best period in an Arsenal shirt before upping sticks for more dosh. So being winless after 2 matches and shorn of this summer's version of the players in those roles above, does Wenger really have a leg to stand on with that statement?

What Does History Remember?

This piece was originally published here on The Arsenal Collective, but it's a fitting preview for what should prove a very exciting season ahead.

"History will not remember who played the best football but who won the trophy."

I have to say, over the last several years as a Gooner, I’ve heard or read reasoning to that effect countless times. It’s nigh on impossible to go more than a week without being reminded by a hack journalist or by a rival supporter of the time passed since the last time the Arsenal lifted a trophy.

In the 2007-2008 Premier League season, from August to February there was one team head and shoulders above the rest in England. We lost our first game to Middlesbrough in December of that season, and would only lose twice more, to Chelsea and United, in the run-in. Half the Premiership XI wore red shirts with white sleeves that season. There were matches where our midfield swarmed opponents in the same manner Barcelona regularly do today.

Cry Havoc, And Let Slip The Ox Of War

Oxlade-Chamberlain sets up the equalizer against United

In typical fashion, when the Arsenal were begging for experience during the 2011 summer transfer window, and about to ship off  the likes of Fabregas and Nasri, Wenger went out and splashed cash on a teenager. However much potential he had, the arrival of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was greeted with mixed feelings from the supporters.

His introduction to the Premier League came at the rather sharp end of the humbling 8-2 defeat to the reigning champions at Old Trafford, a substitute appearance questioned at the time for the potential impact to his confidence. It proved a needless worry. He made impressive subsequent debuts as a starter in the Carling Cup and the Champions League group stage, opening his scoring account with a well-taken goal in each match. He would continue in the first XI in the cups, with some inconsistent showings that still had enough quality to get the attention of the English media. Good showings at England U21 level boosted the reputation of the burgeoning talent now known as The Ox.

The Triumph of the Saga

Here's the thing. Following football, particularly in the tribal, obsessive, fanatical way that many of us do, is at least on some small level about escapism. It is about leaving behind the 9 to 5 for a couple of hours on the weekend for the hope of distraction by way of a bunch of grown men running around in shorts kicking a ball. To this event, we wear synthetic replica shirts, despair at minor injustices, abuse pantomime villains, and deify these grown men for getting paid to do what we all did for free for hours on end in our own back yards as kids. We are separate from time, living in a moment that does not really exist. It is the ultimate suspension of disbelief. Pretend for a moment that your bills don't exist, that your boss isn't a fucktard, that the government isn't pissing down your back and calling it rain. 

We go to the football or to the pub to watch the football and get lost in the moment. We have the ability to completely block out all other considerations and allow ourselves to become absorbed in the game as well as the pageantry and buffoonery surrounding it. With laser focus we observe all things transpiring on the pitch. How did he manage that piece of skill? Wasn't he a step offside? Was that a shirt pull? Hand to ball or ball to hand? His foot was definitely high and his studs were showing. Did you see that drag-back? Oh he's blocked off his run. Referee! I am not the best at compartmentalizing my feelings in general but when watching the Arsenal I can block everything else out so, so easily.

Identity Crisis?

In a single statement Robin van Persie has launched large sections, if not all, of the Arsenal support into an identity crisis. Where has our football gone? Ironically, a player famed for learning his trade on the streets, has called into question the very concept behind the so-called "joy of the game." It is not uncommon to read posts from Gooners around the world decrying van Persie's statement and announcing the end of the game as we know it. It is a personal blow, because unlike many recent Arsenal exports, van Persie was believed to be "one of us." He is the last player from the era of the Invincibles. No, he wasn't one of them, he was brought in directly after that achievement, and remained one of the few at the club since with the technical quality and innate footballing bravura to play alongside some of those greats.

Initially I was gutted by the announcement on van Persie's official site. I have been an admirer of this player more than any other since the Invincibles, and given my worship of Bergkamp, Robin is a natural choice as his successor. He has scored some amazing goals, is capable of jaw-dropping close control [a certain pre-season goal against Inter Milan comes to mind], and this past season has demonstrated an uncanny ability to find space in crowded penalty areas and appear unmarked despite the whole world knowing how much we relied upon him as our primary [and at times singular] goal threat. On top of all this he regularly speaks with intelligence and enthusiasm about the game and particularly the attacking, technical, pass and move style espoused by Wenger throughout his Arsenal reign.

Let Loose The Ox Of Chamberlain

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You Are A Legend: Jack Keane

Manager? He's the Sheriff

It might seem a bit odd to feature a Manchester United supporter on this very biased Arsenal corner of the web-o-sphere, particularly to open this series properly. But for myself, the rest of the NY Gooners, a whole slew of New York based supporters groups, expats, tourists, and recurring visitors, Jack Keane is more than a legend. He's a fucking institution.

His support of football culture in this city is unrivaled, and he has nurtured the scene here for longer than the eleven years I've been in New York. He was the bartender at Nevada Smiths for many of those years until he launched the Football Factory at Legends in the Fall of 2010. Throughout the time I've known him he has always been quick to share a word about his team, your team, or any club inbetween, and do so with the utmost respect for and love of the game. His presence behind the bar encourages a vibe that I doubt exists many places in the world.

Here Come The Arteta

Well won Arteta. He might fancy a dip here.....YEESSS!

I think a lot of Gooners were well pleased as news filtered through late on the 31st of August that the Arsenal had prised Mikel Arteta away from Everton. Having just released one of the best midfielders on the planet back to his little home town side, and let the chinless androgynous mercenary many thought would replace him go as well, we were looking well short in the middle of the park. And I'm not just talking about Jack's height. To make Mata's worse, our target to replace Cesc in the market went to Chelsea instead.

The talks stalled in a typical bit of brinkmanship from our club, and in the end it took a transfer request and a drop in wage demands from Arteta to push the deal through at the eleventh hour. Typical Arsenal. After a loyal stint at Everton and despite being central to their plans, he was desperate to take the chance to join us and get his shot in the Champions League and to push for the Premier League title. Before he even took the pitch he took one for the team.

We All Took The Red Pill, Now We're Dodging Bullets

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee:  Anthony Taylor

Arsenal 3-3 Norwich City         5 May 2012
Benayoun [2]           Hoolahan [12]
Van Persie [72,80]   Holt [27]

                                     Morison [85]

Now I know that in the twittersphere and other places of cyber-angst the build-up to this last home match revealed some proper jangling nerves, and on evidence of the ground atmosphere at the Grove and the flat performance on the pitch, that anxiety was very much alive in the physical Gooner plane,  if not just a little worse. When I arrived at the Factory after another lovely unannounced subway diversion it was 2-1 Norwich, prompting me to quote Rashida from earlier in the week as my greeting to Steven, Ed, and the Captain, already seated at the lower level bar: What in the actual fuck?

Apparently Benayoun scored a pearl of a goal from the dressing room and we felt the job was done. That early score belied our recent trend of coming out in the last handful of games flatter than an old white man’s ass. As if to make up for that, in the following fifteen minutes we conspired to gift the visitors two goals and with it the deficit that we apparently need to stir us from our perennial late season torpor. The Captain explained that while we deserved to be behind, the goals still had that special jammy quality that only the Arsenal concede. As to make up for that unique talent, we seem to do it with alarming regularity. This whole improvement of the hospitality at the stadium on match days is going just a bit too far.

Not Your Father's Football

"Foreign glory hunter." You get this a lot if you tour the comments sections of many Arsenal blogs or other football fora. I'm long enough in the Gooner tooth to understand that Arsenal are a club many a neutral love to hate. I can understand that. In the thirties Chapman took a team from the 'soft' south of England and transformed them into the best club in the land, dominating in a manner that the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United wouldn't do for decades.

In the late nineties and early naughties a bookish looking, diet-conscious, tee-totaling Frenchman came along and upset the holy equilibrium of lad football culture by taking the same glorious club to still unequaled heights. In less time than it took Alex Ferguson to get his hands on a league title, Arsene Wenger did so three times and along the way produced an unbeatable team, rocking the throne of Ferguson's United with a bunch of hardly known cast-offs from the continent and beyond. When money was proving the way in the newly anointed Premier League, Wenger showed them a cheaper solution without sacrificing all the swashbuckling style. 

A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Football Please

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Brittania Stadium

Referee:  Chris Foy

Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal             28 April 2012

Crouch [9]               Van Persie [15]

Knowing that none of the other "big" sides have come away from the Brittania with anything more than a single point, and that the Arsenal have only ever got full value there at the very high cost of Aaron Ramsey's leg, you could say this trip to the Factory came with some anxiety mixed in with the usual excited anticipation.  A change to the subway schedule lost me an extra 15 minutes and served to rumble my nerves that much more, despite the attempt at soothing it with delicious, football-gods-appeasing bacon.

The angst of my late arrival was calmed somewhat by the discovery that our spanking new NY Gooner flag was making its debut on the main level. I sidled up to the bar underneath it to find Tin Lid, TJ, Kaiser and a one-nil scoreline to the towel boys courtesy of a Peter Crouch header. Ed and the Captain would join moments later. Apparently Chris Foy had already booked Dean Whitehead for a studs first tackle in the first five minutes, but it still looked to me that Stoke were going to put in another shift of overstepping the margins of fair play.

Close The Deal

Recently I wrote bemoaning the typical canned comments about lessons learned with respect to winning against lower-table opposition. For the past handful of seasons we have witnessed Arsenal sides of varying permutations raise their performance levels when facing sides competing for European places, only to shit the bed when facing the promoted sides and/or relegation fodder. 

To wit, I was referring to the loss to QPR and the subsequent win versus Man City. While we followed that win with another against Wolves, somewhat addressing this tendency, we went into the Wigan match at home perhaps feeling that just showing up would secure the points. It only took ten minutes for the visitors to exploit our lethargic start and secure their first ever victory on our ground. Our performance that day was especially galling because there was every indication that Wigan would give us a game, having just beaten United for the first time full stop, after only losing to Chelsea on the back of some offside howlers and taken three points at Anfield before that.

Bollocks to Cake

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee:  Mike Dean

Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea    21 April 2012

For the past two seasons, my birthday and the Arsenal tend to mean one thing. Or more specifically, one point. A few seasons back it was a drab nil-nil versus a Man City side clearly uninterested in getting off the bus, so they just parked it in our ground. Last year it was a shambolic display against Spurs, where we dropped a two goal lead and I ended up sharing a slice of the cake the Kaiser brought with some of the spudlings there after spending a good chunk of that match screaming obscenities at them. Not a lot was different this time around, except there was no cake.

I arrived at the Factory for the early kick-off and made my way downstairs, a Dogfish from Liam in hand, to discover about a dozen chavskis huddled around and not an NY Gooner in sight. In trickled Barry, Ed, the Captain, Rashida and Chandler one by one, the last two opting to take in the match upstairs to avoid the chavs. Probably a good idea and had I remembered properly at the time, it was upstairs with Liam when we tonked them 5-3.  We must have used up all the goals in that game.

Lessons Learned?

One topic that we discussed at the Football Factory on Sunday, with regards to the quality of the respective performances by the Arsenal and Manchester City, was the question of which team looked more like title contenders. We were having difficulty getting the ball in the net, hitting the post 3 times, missing open goals, and even clearing our own goal bound shots from the line. But our commitment and superiority were obvious and without bias there appeared to be only one deserved winner on the pitch. City, on the other hand put in the same kind of performance that ended with scoreless draws on their last two visits to the Grove, showing a complacency that belied their position in the title race.

The display from Wenger's charges matched the requirements of the occasion. There is no question City have quality in abundance but in contrast to recent April's the team found wanting wasn't wearing red and white. I was disappointed to see Chamberlain on the bench at the start but understood the need for a late spark and given Gervinho's absence it seemed just about the right decision.  And even if Benayoun wasn't great on the day, with him on the pitch we had all of the required threat and the chances necessary to beat them. That we eventually did so speaks about our character and our desire to put the QPR result right and to return to winning ways. Some may even say that we did just that.

Them Little Feets Was Going Like This

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee:  Martin Atkinson

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City    8 April 2012

Arteta [87]

For this crucial fixture, before heading to the Factory I tried to soothe the PMT* with some eggs, biscuits and delicious bacon, and took in some of the United-QPR match. Not to be outdone by the poor officiating in the Chelsea-Wigan match, Lee Mason and his crew offered up an encore with another crucially incorrect offside, compounded by the shameful dive [that still today no one will call a dive ‘cos he’s English, innit?] of Ashley Young.

I’m not saying United couldn’t handle QPR at home without the advantage, but that doesn’t make it any more tolerable that they were once again benefactors of generous officiating at Old Trafford. That makes 8 penalties for them at home this season in the league, 8 more than the Arsenal have enjoyed. I tweeted before our match that I hoped the home cooking would continue at the Grove. If you’re thinking that’s foreshadowing, you’re right. Sort of.

It would only take 15 minutes to realize that hope of home-cooking was wasted. Kompany barreled through the back of Van Persie for as clear a penalty as you could get, and we only got a corner kick out of it.** If the hand on Young’s back was a sending off then Kompany should receive a season-long ban for the amount of contact he made in comparison. From the ensuing corner, RVP pinged a header off the crossbar via an unwitting Vermaelen.

Little Mozart

Rosicky sticks it to the Scum

Tomas Rosicky signed early in the summer of 2006, and took the number seven shirt previously worn by Robert Pires. Then he celebrated joining the Gunners with a 30 yard rocket  and a deft second against the United States in first round of the World Cup in Germany. After a subdued debut season he became an integral part of the best midfield quartet in the 2007-08 Premier League, alongside Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, and Alexander Hleb.  That season the Arsenal led the league until February with a game based on quick passing and swarming pressure in the middle third, and Rosicky was a key component until late January, when he suffered a hamstring injury that would keep him out of the Arsenal side for the better part of two years.

Four years later, only Rosicky remains from that midfield and it’s no surprise that his return to form has coincided with the longest winning streak Arsenal have enjoyed in the league since that season. Perhaps due to his injury absence, he doesn’t have the best numbers in terms of goals or assists. In fact he endured a seemingly endless drought in front of goal in the League for Arsenal. Endless that is, until Spurs arrived at the Grove heavily favored to pull of a league double against the Arsenal.  His inclusion in the first XI at that time was surely down to his return to fitness and form, aided in no small part by Aaron Ramsey’s reverse trajectory in both departments.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Loftus Road

Referee:  Mike Dean

Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Arsenal         31 March 2012

Taarabt [22]            Walcott [37]

Diakite [66]

Upon arrival at the Factory I discovered that despite the awesome gigantitude of our new flag [let’s be honest, because of it] we were shunted upstairs once again to the main floor, where tourists to New York probably don’t want to see a big fucking cannon. In the end it was probably better that way. In our last four encounters with Herr Barton in the League we have dropped seven points and received three suspensions.

Instead, we were spared the ignominy that defeat to Joey Barton was sure to bring from other supporters clubs, particularly the Chelsea mob downstairs. There are also delicious IPAs on draft behind Liam’s bar, even if he has to walk a country mile to get to them [of course we ordered them separately to force multiple journeys]. So, if you’re going to lose to a pseudo-intellectual twit bossed by a pseudo-managerial twat, at least you can drown your sorrows in a nice ale. Or eight.

Easy Does It

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee:  Phil Dowd

Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa  24 March 2012

Gibbs [16]

Walcott [25]

Arteta [90]

Saturday morning arrived and I packed up for my first trip to the pub in a while. Huge flag. Check. Bottle of Woodford. Check. [There is a certain symmetry that on the day I honor this bet, we play Aston Villa]. Regina joined me this time for a rare foray into the sweary, smelly nether regions of the Factory. I introduced her to Liam before heading downstairs to hang the new NY Gooners flag. He apologized to her. It’s what most people do when they find out she’s my girlfriend.

The game barely got going enough to realize Djourou was in for Koscielny before Heskey clocked the former in the face with a deliberate elbow. Predictably TJ and I disagreed. Also predictably, as with most Phil Dowd officiated affairs, I’m right [Then again, he’s got all that podcasting nous and I just make meticulous drawings of joyous Arsenal moments to dull the pain of the recent barren spell]. 

Sir Chesney

best. keeper. ever.

Wojciech is badass. Anyone who can break both arms and then come back in a couple of years to take the starting goalkeeper spot at a top club has to be. There were noises for some time about the maverick Pole and his abilities, but when he went on loan to Brentford in 2009 the noises were substantiated by a string of fine performances. At a time when there was a distinct anxiety in the Arsenal back four, fueled by a lack of confidence in our two first choice keepers and their inability/unwillingness to communicate and organize, here was an authoritative and cocksure 19 year old who had no problems shouting at his defense, and even less problems making spectacular saves.

His dad took a swing at Roberto Mancini. He’s a bit mental. He clearly enjoys defending penalty kicks. At Brentford in his second game he saved one. In his Premier League debut he faced Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford and put him off enough to sky the kick. Against Udinese this season in the Champions League qualifier he saved a crucial spot kick by Antonio Di Natale to protect our advantage and secure a position in the group stages. And most recently after a taste of divey Suarez, he just got up and made a double save on Dirk Kuyt at Anfield to set the tone for our defensive display, and maintain the momentum from the thumping derby triumph in the previous match.

Speaking of the scum, he also hates simians. Better than that he just loves Arsenal. Who can forget the Barca celebration? Or the way he sang with the away support at Wigan? You can overhear someone call him a legend in that Wigan clip, and you’ll get no argument from most Gooners, even though the kid will only be 22 next month and is still just in his first season as our number one.  Szczesny’s form in the first part of the season saw him produce a world class save just about every match, and has completely squashed the nagging calls for Wenger to dip into the transfer market for a world class keeper. We’ve already got one. His name is Sir Chesney. 


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It's Good To Have You Back

For a variety of reasons I have only been able to take in the last several matches via Twitter feeds, match reports and the like. It's quite a feeling to be losing a match 1-0 getting into a car to go to the airport and then discovering we won in the last minute just as I emerge from security and head toward my departure gate. Nothing takes the edge off a 15 hour flight like victory stolen from the jaws of defeat [It sounds awfully weird writing that phrase 'correctly' with respect to the Gunners].

By now we're all well aware of the Premier League record the Arsenal just set for consecutive comeback wins. But this team had to make comebacks already this season, so why does it seem so surprising? We shipped two marquee players without the expected big-name replacements. We pocketed the cash and brought in a few journeyman players, missing out on the likes of Juan Mata. Then we dropped two clangers.

The mauling at Old Trafford wasn’t exactly unexpected, even if the margin was more than anticipated. The capitulation at Blackburn compounded that result. A hand-ball assisted goal by Van der Vaart was the decider in the loss to Spurs.  Afterwards we went on a run that saw us climb from the relegation zone right back up to the top five with a series of gritty performances. If the football wasn’t exactly flowing, the points were steadily accumulating. We thrashed Chelsea at the Bridge and won a Champions League group that appeared to be the toughest draw, whereas the wealthy Manchester clubs crashed out against far inferior competition.

O Captain, My Captain

we've got the best player in the league

It’s hard to believe there were doubts about Robin Van Persie’s credentials as a leader when you look back over the season he is having. Even as a longtime admirer of his playing ability I have to admit that he continues to impress in this regard. Amy Lawrence sums it up rather nicely in her piece for The Guardian. No disrespect to Henry or Fabregas as players but they don’t have a patch on RVP as a captain. He arrived with questions over his temperament and survived questions of his durability and we are now seeing the man, who grew up loving the club he now plays for [see him as a kid in the Arsenal kit on Stuart MacFarlane’s Flickr], emerge as a leader to rival Vieira and Adams. He inspires this Arsenal side. His technical ability was never in doubt. In fact, the likes of Bergkamp, Henry, Van Basten, and Cruyff have testified glowingly on behalf of his footballing skill.

Walking In A Bergkamp Wonderland

that goal against Newcastle

The only thing missing from this drawing is the brick that Nikos Dabizas shat right after that indelible flick and turn from Dennis Bergkamp. To add insult to injury he was muscled off the ball by the Dutchman, who then gave Shay Given the eyes to the near post and passed it into the far corner cool as you like.

Suuuuuuuuper, Super Lob...

Take A Bow Son

This was the year that Robert Pires announced himself to the Premier League properly, with a masterful season that got him the Football Writer's Association's Player of the Year Award and the likes of Bergkamp, Vieira, Henry, Ljungberg, and Adams to bow to him while he accepted his league winner's medal on crutches. A bad knee injury in the spring ended his season and World Cup hopes but he was a revelation to the Arsenal that year and would become a key figure in one of the most lethal left sided attacks in the top flight for several seasons to come.

This is the lob against Villa--- incredibly deft first touch with the outside of his right boot to flick the ball over and inside his marker, then with the second touch a wonderful side-footed half-volley over Peter Schmeichel  to secure a vital three points away from home. A truly superb football player and the type of legend you want desperately back at the club in some capacity behind the scenes. Hypercool, super Robert Pires.

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Well That Was A Bit Special

from the road

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee: Mike Dean

Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur   26 February 2012
Sagna [40]                                    Saha [4]
Van Persie [43]                              Adebayor [31 pen]
Rosicky [51]
Walcott [65, 68]

For various reasons I have missed the last 3 matches down at the pub. Before Sunday, the title of my latest entry has been kind of mocking me. Ok, not kind of. Remorselessly fucking mocking me. Never give up. Right.  After each cup defeat I was sorely tempted to post something to address the irony of my conclusion in that previous report to the subsequent performances [or lack thereof].

Knowing that I would in all likelihood be unable to view this North London Derby didn’t help the pre-match tension, I have to say. With Mike Dean in charge and Phil Dowd between the two managers, there was even less optimism. 7amkickoff noted beforehand that we have never won a NLD with Dean in charge.

Never Give Up

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Stadium of Light

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal    11 February 2012

McClean [70]                Ramsey [75]
                                          Henry [90]

There are times when football is pure entertainment, at others a necessary distraction. After the work week leading up to this match, and the last performance versus Blackburn, I was hoping for both.  It seems every available preview made a significant point about the 120 minutes Sunderland played in midweek while we were rested. Nevertheless, I found myself continuing the Star Wars theme from the roll call for this trip to the Stadium of Light. My first thought upon arrival at the Factory was "I have a bad feeling about this." 

First of all, not having a midweek game for a set of about 15 players who have featured almost every match up to this point is not the same as being rested. Second, if any manager knows how to conserve resources, get behind the ball, and counter attack it's Martin O'Neill. Third, our team doesn't need the kind of complacency that we showed based on the assumption that the opponent will be tired. And fourth, there is a much more glamorous tie on the midweek horizon where a trip to the San Siro awaits. This does not a cocktail for a winning Arsenal performance make.

Welcome Bac

all you see is Bacary Sagna

I think there are a good many Gooners who would have spoken very highly of Bacary Sagna before this season. In 2007-08 he was selected to the team of the year by his fellow footballers and has maintained a high and consistent level across his Arsenal career since. In recent seasons he has stepped up his attacking play and improved his crossing, while maintaining his defensive tenacity and physical strength.

This year, he started on that same trajectory despite the team’s miserable start but we have been robbed of his services by a broken leg sustained at White Hart Lane in a game that halted the mini-revival after Blackburn.  His absence may have been softened, only for his understudy to also come up lame. Instead his period out has seen our attack suffer, teams regularly profit from attacking down our right flank, and recently a run of dropped points that has undone the real revival we enjoyed post-Tottenham.

His return could not have come at a better time, as we enter into a period of very difficult fixtures across three competitions. He hasn’t featured much yet as he regains fitness, but with a little luck he will be up to full speed very soon. It’s good to see you, sir. Welcome Bac.


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That Was Unexpected. And Fantastic.

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee: Andre Marriner

Arsenal 7-1 Blackburn Rovers     4 February 2012

Van Persie [2, 38, 62]                  Pederson [31] 

Oxlade-Chamberlain [40, 54]

Arteta [51]

Henry [90]   

                                

I must apologize for the tardiness of this post. A polar bear fell on me.

Speaking of tardy, I got to the Factory in the third minute and joined Carissa on the main level with Liam behind the bar. Unlike my last late arrival, the Arsenal were not so gracious and scored about 90 seconds before.  That lack of hospitality from the home side would become a trend on the day. No need to ask who scored though. Our captain does like his goals versus Blackburn. Ever since his first season in 2004-05 when Van Persie emerged in the FA Cup semi-final, he’s had a thing for scoring against the Blackeyes.

The question that also just about didn’t need asking was who set it up. It seems the thing you have to do with Theo is speak authoritatively about how he doesn’t get THAT many assists and he fucks around and busts a triple. Walcott, gotta say it was a good day. My opening volley was that at kickoff Song had more assists than Theo on the season, with Van Persie and Gervinho level.  If I have to make ridiculous bets and wear egg on my face with this kind of trivia to drag this Arsenal side over the line then so be it.

Which Bourbon Will That Be Jack?

from the factory floor

FA CUP Fourth Round

Ashburton Grove

Referee: Mike Jones

Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa                  29 January 2012

Van Persie [pen 54, pen 61]       Dunne [33]

Walcott [57]                                    Bent [45]

After 45 minutes this was a glass three quarters empty. But after an hour the glass was quite full. The usual mistakes undid us in the opening period, as the Arsenal set about this fourth round tie with purpose if not precision. Vermaelen had a rocket of a free kick punched away, Van Persie hit another into the wall, and we had yet another half of possession without much threat. It was a low key morning with most of the 4^th round program taking place on Saturday and in general the mood at the Factory was fairly amicable between us and the NY Villans. Inevitably, they went ahead when one of their numbers infiltrated our grumpy inner circle to chat with Barry.  

Aston Villa looked dangerous on the few chances they created but otherwise tried to concede possession and hit on the break. Early on, the visitors singled out Coquelin, who did well without looking fully comfortable, and Agbonlahor was proving a real handful.  I think it was their first corner, and just like in the Champions League earlier this season when Chamberlain got caught on the right, Villa pulled a little training ground short corner routine, Keane stood one up to the back post and Dunne hammered in the header over Koscielny and a couple of other red shirts. I’d moan more if it weren’t the umpteenth time it has happened in recent years.  Then again, I’d moan because of that too.

Lack Of Depth Means Lack Of Width

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee: Mike Dean

Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United     22 January 2012
Van Persie [71]                  Valencia [45] 
                                       Welbeck[81]

Arrival at the Factory was early for this one, necessitated by the overwhelming majority of United supporters that frequent the place, and I was greeted by a pair of them at the door. The banter started there, but in generally good spirits from Mark. Billy however seemed a bit ‘ready.’ More on that later.

Went downstairs to a half full bar, found Clint there and got some beers. Soon enough we were joined by Barry, Steven, Carissa and Chandler, then eventually Jack. A solid core of NY Gooners to fight the massive United turn-out. Other Gooners were dispersed in small pockets around the place but we braved it in our grumpy clump from just about center stage. The side effect of this is that we're right amongst the enemy, but that is unavoidable for these matches. So, having just chided me about not engaging Jason too much, Steven proceeded to chat with Oro for the entire match. The fucker who Keowned me the last time I was there for Arsenal-United. We are a popular lot for being a bunch of grouchy old men [apologies to Chandler and Carissa].

Get Back Jack

The Boy Who Would Be King

Jack Wilshere can’t come back soon enough.  We are in desperate need of a boost in midfield, some guile and invention, as well as the tenacity that Jack brings.  If he’s able to operate closer to the striker with Arteta behind he can bridge the gap when Van Persie is unavailable, out of form, or plain getting marked. I recall Wilshere setting Chamakh up with some goals early on last year, and I’d like to see if he can get something out of the Moroccan again. He'll also provide cover for Arteta with Ramsey taking the advanced role. He give us answers to a few problems.

Of course the fear is there’s too much expectation and the implication that the urgent need for him is proof of just how callow we are. Especially given his age. On the other hand he was one of the league’s outstanding midfield players last season and had games where he bossed even the likes of Barcelona. So I think it’s fair to say any team would be hotly anticipating the return of such a player. I sure as hell am. 


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Well That Was A Bit Shit

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Liberty Stadium

Referee: Michael Oliver

Swansea 3-2 Arsenal

Sinclair [pen 16]                  Van Persie [5]

Dyer [57]                               Walcott [69]

Graham [70]

I was a few minutes late for the start of the match. Jack pointed out that Arsenal had the good grace to wait until I got to the Factory so I wouldn’t have to ask who scored, only for me to get there, not see the goal, and have to ask who scored.  I ordered an official beer of Euro 2012 forgetting what happened on its debut 2 weeks ago against Fulham. Things didn’t go so well that day.  It only took about half of the first pint for it to have the same effect today, Crap penalty given, and it was level.  It occurred to me that the Carlsberg was quite possibly the reason we were suddenly so shaky in defense.  Next round was a Bass.

The next ten minutes were nervy, Swansea continued to expose our lack of defensive width and we seemed to be in a bit of shock still over the penalty. A habit, we all agreed, we thought had been broken. The same nervousness from the final minutes against Fulham was back again. But we began pressing high up the pitch, got the spacing between our lines closed down, and it felt like another goal for us was coming. It didn’t and we went in 1-1.

The Return of the King

Dumping Carragher on his ass. Thierry Henry.

It will be very interesting to see how much of an impact Thierry Henry will have on the current squad. We have all been well advised not to expect moments like this one, when he turned around a deficit to Liverpool to preserve our unbeaten title push after crushing defeats to United and Chelsea in the cup competitions.

But there he was again versus Leeds, peeling off the shoulder of his marker, same foot-same post, making the difference in a match we needed to win and having the kind of impact we need to provide in Van Persie’s absence. And in some cases, he will be available to play in tandem with the Dutchman, in tasty encounters with United, Milan and possibly Tottenham.

I especially enjoyed the uncontainable joy showing through the competitive rage in his celebration afterwards. The normal scowl spoiled by a grin that betrays an ever-growing adoration for Arsenal. I’m very optimistic about the kind of influence that can have on and off the pitch. 


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He Scores When He Wants

Ripping an unstoppable shot against Chelsea at the Bridge in 2008

In 2008 after Arsenal conceded a two goal lead to draw 4-4 with the enemy down the road, they entered into a period where we began to see the real impact of Robin Van Persie. Nerves were jangling and we went to Stamford Bridge needing to make a statement.

Van Persie did just that with an outstanding brace, first with this effort, about a yard offside but executed with sublime technique and awesome power, and the second a brilliant one time turn and finish. Right foot, left foot, three points.  Heading into January of that season he began a stretch that would last a month and a half in which he scored or created every goal, with other incredible hits against Liverpool at the Grove and Everton at Goodison.

Now he’s just managed that kind of form for a full calendar year, and seems to be growing in every game. That’s a captain worthy of salute. 


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