One of the luckiest traits I have as a writer is I’ve never suffered writer’s block. The only time I get close is when Arsenal have a weekend like the one we just witnessed. I’m broken, numb, I can’t quite believe that after so many years of penning words about the thing I love most… we could be about to win something major?
Very exciting.
Plenty of time to romance about all of that after we’ve squared something away, but right now, I’m on another planet. Life is very, very good on the Arsenal front.
So we’ll just do a little bit of digest stuff today…
Shirt Guy…
The curious case of the Arsenal away day fan who went to West Ham United away and unfurled a shirt with CHAMPIONS on the back of it.
Who was he? Why did he do it? How come no one knows him and he hasn’t been outed?
I’m still struggling to understand what the point of that total nonsense was — and the immediate hit pieces from the usual publications does lead me down the path of conspiracy theory: he was a plant. A paid-up actor from SAG. No Arsenal fan in their right mind goes to that sort of length to do something so silly unless they’ve been put there by the dark money of the Pro Pundit Super PAC.
Quite amusing how the whole fan base has disowned this person. No one thought it was funny. We all want to distance ourselves from it. Just can’t believe anyone would want to be the main story after the West Ham game. Glad he’s not.
Flop Salad VARftermath
The whole VAR controversy really died a death, didn’t it?
We went from ARSENAL DO THIS ALL THE TIME to… well, we can’t actually find much supporting evidence, to ‘yeah it was a foul, but it took ages to decide’, to ‘yeah, maybe it took 4 minutes because it was the biggest VAR decision of the season.’
Arsenal are being called cheats, yet we’re top of the Fair Play League this season.
No red cards. Least yellow cards. We’ve committed the 7th least fouls in the league. The difference between the least (City) and Arsenal is 20. 3 teams are on the same number as Arsenal, so joint 5th least in the league. What people don’t like is that Arsenal don’t get bullied, we tend to do the bullying, and we’re beasts from set pieces within the rules. All the things they said made us boys are now the strengths that might have made us kings.
Pro pundit class couldn’t find the juice. No agreed narrative. Nothing really to complain about. If anything, I think the whole thing just really did give new life to the idea that Arsenal are treated differently in the media for no particular reason.
Ben White
It sounds like he might not make it back this season which could mean the last game for Arsenal for Ben White was one of the most iconic of the season. That man deserves his flowers, he deserves a trophy, and we need to see him on an open-top bus parade. He’s been a warrior for Arsenal, and he’s probably just killed his World Cup chances to give his all to Arsenal Football Club. What a king.
Spurs Watch
Look, I can’t help it, nor can you. But the view that Arsenal killed West Ham might have been premature. The assumption, from most of us, is if we’re going to win something, we can’t get to a treble this season with Spurs going down.
Maybe time to check yourself on that one, they just dropped 2 points to Leeds United. What does that mean? The final two games for both teams are going to be very consequential. West Ham take on Newcastle, who are done this season, and Leeds, who are safe. Spurs have to do something against Everton and Chelsea. Surely the Chelsea players will get the memo here?
David Raya Contract
Hand of Arsenal and Sami Mokbel say the world’s best keeper ‘has a 1-year OPTIONAL extension on his current contract which has 2 years left.’
This is grand news. We keep pivoting in and out of who our best player has been this season, but we can’t ignore how crazy good this man has been. The saves have been exceptional, no doubt, but is there a keeper in the world with the all-round game he has under pressure? No chance.
This man should be Spain’s number 1 this summer and Arsenal should shower him with money. What a signing he has been for Arsenal.
Timber
The final bit of news is the season isn’t over for Jurrien Timber… yet. The club will push to get him back from a groin injury. You know this player is a total warrior, so if he’s out, it must be quite serious. He’s been playing through pain all season. I am praying with all my being he can be ready for Paris, and if not, that he makes the World Cup this summer. An astonishing talent, but another casualty in the world of full-backery.
Ok, I think that’s me done for the day. Let’s connect tomorrow. Little pow-wow over some Itsu. Shoot the sh*t. Can’t wait. Therapy Podcast coming out EARLY this week, so keep your eyes peeled. x
Absolutely gutted for Ben. He’s had to put up with lot of stick this year and he was finally getting back into form again. Not to mention that we will be robbed of the old and reliable partnership of Saka and White on the wing. I hope we win. He deserves the accolades. Praying for Timber to be back soon! Im not sure if I’m comfortable with the thought of Mosquera trying to stop kvaratskhelia.
Great post Pedro - think you’ve just made that guy with the shirt an icon by talking about him on two posts lol.