NUFC vs. Arsenal – at least I was in the country to watch it on TV at a sensible time.
All the best laid plans & all that. Bloody typical that this season our first league game was away in Newcastle at 5.30pm and the Champions League qualifier is a week later than normal. Not that we should be playing at this stage of the CL, but that’s another story.
Oh well, will have to save my next live competitive Arsenal game for my next trip back to the UK.
I’ve tried to come up with a synopsis of the game – 24 hours on the plane home gave me plenty of time to think – but my view is just being twisted by the s***bag that is Joey Barton.
I know Alex was a lucky boy not to go unnoticed with the stamp and Geo shouldn’t have raised his hand, (by the way, it was a penalty and Barton should have walked as well!!) but there is one common denominator, ‘Joey Barton’. Abou, last season, ‘Joey Barton’. Stubbing cigarettes out on team-mates, ‘Joey Barton’. Assaulting the general public, ‘Joey Barton’. Certain players did their crime, did their time and came out with class, dignity and a new found purpose. Joey did his time, and came out with a much more balanced view on life…a chip on both shoulders!
Respect is a word banded around football a lot these days. It’s difficult to summon up any respect when you see the lowest common denominator on the pitch each week, spitting and snarling at all around and then claiming to be the victim! Thank god he only got one England cap (one too many in my opinion).
Anyway, rant over.
The Nasregas free Arsenal teams first run out:
Andrey Arshavin – looked more interested and was more involved than he has been for the past 12 months. Maybe the responsibility of being the main creative edge of the team will do him good.
Gervinho looks a good purchase. A winger who beats his defender and drops in quality crosses, a novelty which is very much appreciated. Rambo also slotted into the centre with composure beyond his years.
Things aren’t looking too bad – we just need a couple more reinforcements and avoidance of any major injuries.
Wednesday morning (AEST), and our unwanted date with Udinese, will be a truer test for the post Cesc/Sam team – a test we really need to pass with flying colours.
The return of Jack would be a bonus, here’s hoping that the ‘unspecified return date’ doesn’t stretch like Verm’s did last season.
Right, 2 hours til Singapore and a chance to see if Arsene has spent any of our millions!
On the last leg back to Sydney now and at least we can all get on with our lives. Phone went into meltdown as soon as I switched it on at Singapore.
Cesc Fabregas is now a body in a cemetery that can be replaced. You don’t want to lose your best player, but his position had become untenable and, quite frankly, the whole saga was just getting boring. A world class player who unfortunately didn’t stay long enough to earn Arsenal legend status.
Players come and go and the club remains. As a friend of mine Paul Ponting tweeted: ‘You support the club and not the player’.
As I said earlier, it’s now down to Wenger to reinvest wisely and Jadson from Shaktar seems a good start. Also, it will be interesting to see if Nasri has a change of heart, as he would be the main man at the Emirates now (that is unless he’s been sold while I’ve been in the air!!).
Right, onwards to Sydney and back to Sunday morning kick offs!!!
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