Happy New Year!
Well thank goodness for that. Real football is back. I can’t get into internationals because I just don’t care enough for it to matter – not like Arsenal. Arsenal IS football.
OK, there’s been Euro 2004 during the summer, and quite a few of our players were out there. I watched all the games with our boys (and the ones with Steps, because he’s only just not ours). Of course by blood I wanted Spain (or England – the beauty of dual nationality is an automatic back up plan) to win, but it didn’t bother me one bit that they didn’t. The only thing really bothering me was our players not getting injured. Mind you I was proud of Sol and Ash’s performances, particularly Ash. I’ve never bought the rubbish about him not being able to defend, and the way he put Flopsy in his pocket against Portugal was almost as delightful as the tabloids having to admit the next day that the Mancs new pin up had been totally subdued by a left-back that they said couldn’t defend! Ash 1 Scum 0.
But that’s over with and now it was down to business. It was over two months since I’d last seen a game, so the 600-mile round trip to a pre-season at Underhill with most of the first team still on holiday made perfect sense. So train tickets were booked, a friend who lives locally went and did the queuing for tickets thing for me. All systems go.
So after lunch on Friday, I threw my bag over my shoulder and took a walk to the station. After picking up my train ticket it was straight to the coffee stand. I’m not normally one for hot chocolate being a tea man (strong, two sugars, and not too much milk if you’re taking notes) but for some reason I seem to have got into the habit of getting one at the station. But there was a more pressing reason this time. Stirring sticks! Now I’ve always been advised not to get my fingers burnt, but if you like sugar in your tea at football grounds it’s unavoidable. Those little plastic stirrers just don’t reach the bottom of the cups and that bugs me, so I always make sure I’ve got a couple of those long black ones with the knobbly bit at the end in my bag. It’s funny how the people that sit around me always laugh at me getting my little sticks out to stir my tea, before asking if I’ve got a spare! So with my drink and sticks I got on the train.
After a quiet, uneventful journey (the best kind) we got to Kings Cross not too long after we were due, and then it was another 15 minute train ride before I was enjoying a relaxing evening with the friends who were putting me up in Enfield. It became so relaxing that Saturday morning was rather short!
Now before I moved up here I used to go to reserve and youth games quite often, but now that’s a rarity so seeing the fringe players in the flesh is always interesting. Of course it was also a first chance to see van Persie in the old red and white. I’m not very good at match reports so I won’t even try to do a formal type report, but…
The first thing that struck me was how right the shirts looked. We were playing in the ‘old’ kit, but although the shirts were obviously numbered there were no names. I really hate names on shirts. They’re there for one reason – money. What does it add – about a tenner? And who does it help? Not fans as far as I can see. If you’re at a ground the letters are two small, and if you’re watching on telly the commentators telling you who’s who over and over.
Anyway, then the game kicked off. They scored first, rather against the run of play, and then we spanked them. In the first half Reyes scored a good hat-trick and led the attack well. Den got one, and was Den basically. Pennant looked good, as did Senderos, but it was two other players that really caught my eye.
The first was Cesc, and no it wasn’t because of his barnet. He was tidy in midfield, always available and always trying to do something good with the ball. Most noticeable though was his awareness. As players moved around he was constantly checking where they were and his head was always up and moving. It really reminded me of the way Bergkamp’s always looking round. And talking of reminding me of Bergkamp, van Persie. Admittedly I’d only really seen him play a couple of times on TV, and whilst he looked a good player I couldn’t see why some people talked of him being a potential Bergkamp. On Saturday I saw it. I’m not saying on one viewing that he’s going to fill Den’s shoes, but there were definitely similarities in the way he seeded the forwards, including a couple of glorious long balls. Not to mention a screamer of a goal.
Lots of substitutions at half time and about 15 minutes later left a very young team by the end, but in a way we got better, winning the second half 5-0. Den hung around long enough to add another from a free kick, Jeffers (yup – still here) scored a hat trick and missed another, and Quincy netted after a good run. 10-1, and a good run out for the players.
Would you like to have played today? Well you could have done. Barnet held an auction, and with a few minutes to go the winner got his few grands worth and had a run. Apparently he’s a Gillingham fan. Anyway, a bit more much needed money for Barnet, and a bit of fun. Even if the Arsenal defenders didn’t give in to the imploring chant of ‘let him score’ from the crowd!
Ten goals (I only count ours) and then it was back to Kings Cross for the train back. No football fans travelling back from matches this time of year, in fact the train was virtually empty. It even got to Newcastle a few minutes early, which has got to be a good omen for the new season. In fact if Match of the Day had been on I would have been home in time to see it.