Cries of corruption on social media followed more dropped points for Arsenal, as cryarsing continues to be the enemy of real injustice in football…
THIRTY-SIX years ago this month I left Liverpool to go to University.
Well, alright it was a Polytechnic, but I don’t know the difference and hardly anyone remembers them, so we’ll go with that.
I was 19 at the time and was leaving behind everything I knew including Liverpool FC. It would be a challenge as I went to pretty much every home game back then though hardly any aways. Maybe I could at least get some of them under my belt in my new metropolitan life.
And so it transpired. Mere weeks after I dropped my suitcase onto a barely carpeted floor in Woolwich, South London, I was at Upton Park to see the top-of-the-table Reds play basement fodder West Ham in the League Cup.
We lost 4-1. ‘Hammered,’ roared the noticeably London-ified Daily Mirror.
Over the years, I visited every major ground in the capital and asked myself the same question.
‘If Liverpool ceased to exist or if I was from here, which club would I support?’
Certain clubs could be ruled out instantly. Chelsea and Tottenham were never going to be for me. QPR may have an excellent kit, but they were, as Danny Baker once said, ‘more of a courtesy side’ and not to be taken seriously.
The stronger candidates included nearby Charlton (one stop away on the train from Woolwich), Crystal Palace (a mate’s a fan and they sing about their own team) and the aforementioned West Ham United (docks, working-class area, wonderfully romantic) though the soft spot I had for them has definitely hardened in recent years.
I suppose they’re all ‘underdogs’. Everyone likes an underdog, but they also like a bit of class. I like credo. A bit of character. For that reason, Arsenal would have been in the running.
I know, yeah.
I love Highbury. Loved Highbury. I love the fact that you have to queue in a terraced street to get into the ground. I loved the Clock End, the marble halls, the kits and the whole history of the place. Also, and this might be a factor, my favourite ever player won a double with them.
In 2008, some mates and I thought about raising money for the late Ray Kennedy, who was struggling both financially and medically at the time. We got in touch with Arsenal and expected the bum’s rush as had happened with other clubs.
We soon noted that the bigger the club, the less likelihood of a response. Hence, Luton Town (skint, players about to go on strike) were great while others refused to even acknowledge our existence (no comment, but numerous).
We needn’t have worried.
Arsenal were great. Of course they were. They put us in touch with the relevant people and some fan groups who did their own fundraising for the great man. There were no barriers between us and the club hierarchy. They liked and appreciated what we were doing and brought us in. A class act. More importantly, their fans were too.
I know, yeah.
I don’t know if this is more a criticism of social media or the eternal neediness of fanbases, but I don’t think the supporters on the old North Bank would have timed the opposition’s goalkicks, I’m fairly sure red cards, timewasting and referee agendas wouldn’t bother those who watched Liam Brady.
I don’t remember a time when the odd injury and suspension they had was painted as a squad on its last legs. Maybe that’s a modern thing. Maybe the actual football is now secondary to the caterwauling around the game.
Oh, I like a moan. Don’t get me started, but the past week has gone practically cartoon and I’ve always thought Arsenal were better than that.
What’s more they’re an excellent team. They were certainly great against us. In patches, at least.
What they aren’t is faultless. There’s still a way to go.
Liverpool were there for the taking last night. Absolutely wide open. Both full backs were poor, the midfield sluggish and the energy lacking all over the pitch, yet Arsenal didn’t capitalise. That would worry me if I were a fan and if Liverpool didn’t exist.
I read Neil Atkinson’s post-match review with glee. ‘Cowards!’, he roared. I’ve never been prouder of him.
He’s right. They didn’t back themselves when they had 40 minutes to make a statement and cut short the nascent Arne Slot era. They doubted themselves and you can’t do that at this end of the table.
They wake up this morning lamenting dropping points against both us and Manchester City. If social media is anything to go by, they’ll blame everyone else. That’s an unhealthy place to be, particularly if you’re going places.
Liverpool took the draw and got out. We just about deserved it, but it was touch and go for a while. That’s alright. Just don’t lose, lads. That’s all I wanted.
There seems to be a rush to glorify Arsenal right now. Maybe that’s a London press thing, desperate to challenge the North West again now Chelsea have dropped a bit. Maybe they’re bigging them up to bring them down again later.
Sometimes it’s unfair to overpraise. They’re still a side in transition and they’re facing the richest club in the history of the game financially backed by an entire state. They still have a long way to go before regular silverware lands and that too is OK. Arteta’s changed them for the better, that’s clear. He’s a bit odd but he’s a power of good for them.
I just wish they’d stop the agenda nonsense, particularly when the benefactors are apparently a side who were admittedly cheated out of a lead and possibly points by the PGMOL last season. I love the idea of Anthony Taylor helping us out.
At the moment, Arsenal are a strong top three side who aren’t quite good enough to usurp City and maybe even us. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t make the next step. Maybe this is their ceiling. If it is, I don’t think it’s enough.
That’s not to say they’re poor or unworthy. They’re still capable of battering a lot of teams, it’s just that they’re not quite there yet. Neither are we for that matter. Hence 2-2.
I wish we could do without all the white noise around everything these days. Agenda this, corrupt that. Some of us just want to get on with singing about our team and seeing if we’re improving.
Stopwatches and watching how officials act in the stands? Nah, that’s not for me.
Anyway, Brighton next.
Rest all of them.
