Another 1-0 away win, more rain and a City with 'issues'

I first went to Bradford in 2001 to watch them play Arsenal in the Premier League. For the record Ashley Cole scored his first goal for The Gunners in a 1-1 draw. But it seems the subsequent 10 years have not been kind to the football club or the City.

Although it now one of my local League Two grounds, this weekend saw me return to Bradford for the first time since that match against Arsenal all those years ago. Although the Daggers have played there three times in the intervening period it has always been on a day something else was going on in my life. For our first visit in March 2008 I was playing in cup final and couldn't make it, in December 2009 I was unwell, and then our last visit, in March 2010, was the day of my missus' 40th Birthday party and I had preparations to complete! So I was quiet looking forward to this one...

We set off from Darlington, late as usual thanks to Rees' failure to get out of bed, and although the ground is only 70 odd miles away it took the best part of an hour and half to get there. We finally arrived in Bradford at 2.30pm and my immediate thought was that we must have landed in another country. I always knew Bradford had a high Asian population but this was unreal. After parking in some small retail park about 10 minutes walk from the ground we soon discovered that, apart from a few other fans going to the ground, we were the only white people there! Now whatever your thoughts on race issues or your political persuasions you cannot tell me this is a good thing for our country? Yes, lets be tolerant of other races and cultures but please, please, please do not let us lose our own. The weird thing was considering the high percentage of Asians living in Bradford almost all their fans were white...

With Emerson and myself in the press box as usual we left Rees and Ryan to go in the away end. Of course being a former Premier League venue the facilities were top class. We collected our pass from a lady in reception and asked where we had to go. She said something in the broadest Yorkshire accent I have ever heard, and I have lived up here for ten years, but I did not understand a word of it. I asked her again, and again I failed to comprehend any of it! In the end I gave up and asked Emerson if he knew where we had to go. 'No!' he replied.

We eventually found a red door which said 'Press' so we assumed we had found the right place and were met by another nice lady who asked us to sign in. We were given a complimentary match day programme and a team sheet and were shown to our seats, halfway up the Main Stand just to the right of the half way line. The view was amazing and with a desk and power point it had everything you could possibly want from a press box...

The view from the press box...impressive!

By now the teams were just coming out and Emerson was getting excited. He always loves the bit just before kick off when the players line up in front of the Main Stand and he was manically waving to all the Daggers lads in the hope one would wave back! Unfortunately none did...

The game started, and after Gav Tomlin almost scored inside 30 seconds, we were under some early pressure. Chris Lewington looked a bundle of nerves as he dropped an early cross which saw them hit the bar. With his kicking also going haywire we were getting a little concerned but Mark Arber did the captains role by having a word with the young keeper and it seemed to do the trick.

We soon begun to get on top and after Tomlin had somehow missed an open goal from 3 yards we eventually took the lead through our Barbadian international Jonny Nurse. A bit of a scrappy goal yes, but a goal none-the-less and it was the least we deserved.

Half time saw us go down to the press room where we given complimentary tea and biscuits plus a choice of sandwiches. Emerson did the right thing and grabbed a handful of chocolate digestives while I went for the ham sandwich. Yes I know I have sold out. After years of saying how football should never lose sight of its working class roots I have now become part of the 'ham sandwich' brigade! What can I say??

The second half saw Bradford huff and puff but they never really looked like blowing down our solid defence, with Scott Doe and Arber again outstanding. We should have sealed the points several times on the break but the old problem of not putting the ball in the net was again evident. Then, with about fifteen minutes to go, it started raining and I realised the one flaw with the lovely stand we were in.

Although it had a roof it had no side protectors and was open to the elements so we were getting wet, very, very wet. We realised that the further back you went the drier it was so we moved to the back row just in front of the Bradford fans in the upper tier and next to the local press guys.

Some action from the second half.

We had only just settled in when the scuffle broke out in our penalty area. Damian Scannell, who had only just come on, seemed very upset and I thought he was rather fortunate to only get a yellow card for his part in the incident. With the crowd getting quiet excited Emerson got a little scared as he does not like all that macho stuff and was now just wanting the match to end.

But the fun was not quiet over just yet. From the Bradford free kick the ball went out on the far side and the referee awarded us a goal kick. The home fans around us were screaming at him, saying it should have been a corner, but from where we were sitting it was impossible to tell who the ball had come off last. The official was only 5 yards away so I was sure he had a better view, which I said to the Bradford press guy sitting next to me. Almost immediately we had a break and Medy Elito burst into their penalty area before slipping on the wet surface just as he was about to be tackled. The idiots behind me were screaming at him for diving and telling the referee to book 'the cheating little c**t...' so I casually turned round and told one of the morons he had clearly just slipped over and had not even tried to claim a penalty. The Bradford press guy then turned to me and said 'Oh so you can't tell if it was a corner or a goal kick from here but you can see that he just fell over can you??' Er yes actually...And I thought it was just the average fan that was stupid...

The atmosphere got a little heated in the press box after that and I was rather disappointed we didn't score a second at this point, although Emerson just wanted to move back to our original seats.

'No.' I said. 'We will get wet.'

Plus it would not have been quiet as much fun!

The final whistle brought both joy and relief to me and Emerson, although for very different reasons I suspect, and I set about preparing for the interviews to follow. We were going to be spoilt as both Damien McCrory and Sam Williams were coming up, along with John Still, and were told to wait in the press room. Eventually John came up and conducted his interview with Radio Stu in the stand while we were chatting to Sam and Damien, who both agreed to have their picture taken with a now very excited Emerson.

Emerson with Damien McCrory.

The interviews were good although nothing out of the ordinary was said. The players were both pleased with the performance, happy with the clean sheet and three points, although Sam seemed a little disappointed he had not scored. John was full of praise for everyone and although he didn't say it you could tell how pleased he was with the start we have made to the season. I asked him if the lack of goals was a worry and he said it was, but not as much as it would be if we were not creating any chances! He seems to have a lot of faith in young Brian Woodall, who looked excellent when he came on, and Jake Reed and is sure the goals will come. But after three wins from four games you cannot really complain!

Sam Williams with his new best buddy!

With that we went to meet Rees and Ryan before heading for our usual post-match McDonalds. Back in the retail park, which again resembled a different country, we discussed the match and the social problems of the City. There were riots here a few years ago and it is easy to see why. How this situation has been allowed to happen might go some way to explaining the recent riots in other areas of the country, but that is for another day and another blog. For now we were just happy with another good away win and a place in the top five, just one point off the top!

My next away assignment will be at Rotherham in September, or should that be Sheffield, where I hope to meet up with some of the lovely Millers fans we met at Wembley last year. I always thought we would be play them again soon but I was rather hoping it would be in League One. Perhaps next season it will be...

Money talks...but does it have to??

To say Arsenal are in crisis would be an exaggeration but these are certainly worrying times down at The Emirates. Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to a limited Liverpool side showed just how weak the current squad is and it seems many fans are losing patience.
With Cesc Fabregas gone, Samir Nasri almost certain to be next and, apart from Gervinho, only kids coming in, there is no doubt the team is in transition. But is Arsene Wenger really blame for this current situation?
Do you think he does not know what the team needs? Of course he does. You do not win all he has won without recognising weaknesses within your own squad. He knows the club needs a centre back, a defensive midfielder and a replacement for Fabregas, and I am sure he has been doing everything he can to get them. The problem is not Wenger's unwillingness to splash out £40million on a player, it is the wage structure of the club. A wage structure that has been in place as far back as when George Graham was in charge.
Yes, the club can afford to pay the transfer fees for players like Juan Mata or Jadson but can they meet their wage demands? And would they even want to? Would it be fair on Robin van Persie or Jack Wilshere to pay any new arrivals twice as much as they have been getting? Would that be good for team spirit or in the best interests of the club?
But perhaps the real problems are further afield. With clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United willing to pay players in excess of £100k a week, why would anyone come to Arsenal for £80k? Even if they were winning trophies it is unlikely they would attract the top, top players as the prize of Champions League football, which is the ultimate stage for any footballer, is clearly not enough. No, money talks and that is the bottom line. Would Fabregas have stayed if his team had beaten Birmingham at Wembley in February? Would that have kept Nasri happy? It seems very unlikely...
So the club are now at a crossroads. Do they give up on their principles to satisfy the needs of the fans or do they stick to their guns and risk dropping out of the top four? Personally I hope it is the latter. Arsenal have always done things the right way and have spent the last six years building a good young side while remaining financially secure, so it would be a shame if they were to abandon all that to chase the quick bucks.
The counter argument, of course, is that it may be better to splash out now to ensure Champions League football again next season, and all the riches that brings, but there is no guarantee that would happen anyway? Liverpool have spent a fortune since January but are they any nearer the top four? On the evidence of Saturday's match I would suggest not, but I guess only time will tell.
Whatever the pros and cons one thing is clear - the next ten days will be a pivotal time in the history of Arsenal Football Club and possibly for the game as a whole. I look forward to the outcome with baited breathe and, whatever your club, I think you should too...

A new season but same old problems...

I went to my first away game in 1981. 30 years ago this very season. On average I have been to around 15 away games a season, so that is somewhere in the region of 450 games. I have seen some truly awful ones too. Cup defeats at places like York and Wrexham, 6-1 league defeats at Everton and Man. United and more 0-0 draws than I care to recall! However I cannot remember enjoying an away game less than this one.
Of course it was not supposed to be like that. The first game of the season is always about optimism and looking forward to the nine months of football ahead, but even before kick off up at St. James's Park the atmosphere was somewhat muted. Many fans, it seemed, had given up on the team and manager before a ball had even been kicked. Not us though. Oh no.
So I set off from my new flat in Darlington with my three lads in tow, looking forward to the new season. Emerson (8) and Ryan (16) were both in their new 125th anniversary home shirt while myself and Rees (18) opted for the new blue one as we headed for the station for the short trip up to the Toon.
Arriving in Newcastle with still an hour and half until kick off we decided to pop into a local pub to catch the scores from the other games on the TV and have a pre-match soft drink to loosen up the vocal chords. Our first point of call was O'Neill's opposite the station but we were told kids were not allowed in. We were met with a similar response at The Lounge just up the road so we decided to cut our loses and walk straight to the ground and get a drink there instead. Emerson always likes to get in early anyway as he enjoys watching the ground fill up.
So we arrived at the away end at 4.45 and climbed the 300 odd stairs up to the concourse area. Anyone that has been to the away end at Newcastle will know exactly what I mean! Usually by now the atmosphere would be rocking but not today. To say it was subdued was an under statement. All the talk was of Cesc and Samir's imminent departures and a lack of new signings, although personally I was looking forward to seeing our one major new signing, Gervinho, make his Premier League debut. We made our way up to our seats and saw the players warming up. With no Jack it meant a midfield of Rosicky, Ramsey and Song supporting Andrey, RvP and the new Ivorian...still a very good side though.

Emerson, Ryan and Ress before kick off.

As kick off approached the atmosphere did begin to build and Emerson was already enjoying himself, singing, dancing and waving his arms about as he loves to do! My favourite part of the whole season is seeing the teams come out for the first time and after 30 years that excitement never wanes.
Perhaps the doubters would have been silenced had Gervinho scored inside the opening two minutes, but he fluffed his lines and slowly an all too familiar pattern developed. We passed and passed and passed but failed to deliver a final ball. Without Cesc, Samir and Jack we lacked ideas and while Gervinho looked lively, I cannot recall their keeper having to make a save in the first half, despite us having 90% of the possession.
But unrest in the stands was already evident with the chant of 'Samir you're a c**t' gaining momentum. Thankfully Emerson did not really understand as he asked if Nasri was playing. 'No,' I replied. 'So why are they singing his name?' he asked. I just thought it best to change the subject!
Of course I was not joining in with that nonsense as he is still and Arsenal player, and you cannot blame him for wanting a move. I guarantee all the idiots singing that song would not turn down a better job offer with better pay and prospects. Why should footballers be any different? And we will get top dollar for him...

Second half about to get under way.

The second half did not produce any better football but it did at least provide some talking points on the pitch. Alex Song did what we all wanted by stamping on that odious twat Barton, who then ran off to tell the fourth official. What a hard man he is. But that was only the start. With about fifteen minutes left Gervinho was clipped by Barton in the penalty area and went over, all-be-it rather dramatically. The referee, Peter Walton, waved away our appeals and Barton took the law into his own hands. After picking on Diaby last season he was at it again as he grabbed our new boy around the throat and tried to lift him to the ground. Now I'm not saying Barton is racist or anything but there does seem to be a pattern developing here...I'll leave you to join the dots...
I actually felt sorry for Gervinho as if you were in a new country and were being manhandled by an idiot with a stupid haircut the likelihood is you too would react. He did with a little slap that sent the tough guy falling down as though he had been shot and Walton produced a red card. No not for Barton but for Gervinho! Genius! As the Ivorian sadly trudged off the pitch all hope we had of a winning start went with him.
The idiots in the away end wasted no time in venting their feelings with chants of 'spent some f**king money' directed, presumably, at Wenger
I really wanted us to score at this point just to see how he would react. Would he shut up and celebrate or stand by his principals and continue with his moronic chanting? What do you think? The fickle twat would have no doubt have been singing 'we're going to win the league...'
The final whistle blew and while I was frustrated we had not won a game we had dominated I just could not understand the boos that were ringing out around me. The guy in front was of course one of the first to jump on this bandwagon too but before I could say anything the guy next to me jumped in and started having a go at him. Soon others were joining in and I have to say it was sad to see Arsenal fans fighting and arguing amongst themselves. It's the first game of the season for crying out loud...No it's not new players we need but new fans, fans who appreciate what we actually have, not these glory-hunting morons who do not understand anything about football.

Not even a drab 0-0 draw can curb his enthusiasm!

So a rather sad end to what should have been a great day but no doubt these scenes will be repeated throughout the season unless things change behind the scenes, which, lets face it, is unlikely.
Luckily Emerson still enjoyed himself and his synopsis of the day was that he was disappointed we hadn't scored but he was blaming the ref for not giving us a penalty! That boy knows more than fans three times his age...
After our usual stop at McDonalds to reflect on the days events we returned home just in time to catch the highlights on MOTD. Yes it was a penalty, yes Barton should have been sent off (again!!) and yes we lacked a cutting edge, but hey things could be a whole lot worse. We are financially stable, we are still unbeaten despite being down to 10 men away from home and as Emerson said, 'Gervinho is pretty good ain't he?' Yes he most certainly is...

1-0, correct goalscorer and plenty of rain...A day out in Macclesfield

Just 12 weeks after our relegation back to League Two had been confirmed at Peterborough, the new season was here again and many things had changed. Greeny and Romain had both left for pastures new, Robbo had retired while we had several new players and a new home kit to enjoy.
For me though one thing had stayed the same. Despite rumours to the contrary I was back in the press box for our opening day trip to Macclesfield and as well as my usual companion Emerson, this time I was joined by his older brothers Rees and Ryan, who are spending the summer with me.
The journey up was an absolute nightmare. The driving rain clearly did not help but it seemed everyone and his mother was on the English motorway network and most, it seemed, only wanted to drive at 50mph! Not ideal when you are running late to begin with...
We eventually arrived in Macclesfield to find the match had already kicked off. With all the turnstiles now shut we walked into reception and were led through the executive suite to the ticket office. The woman in charge was a rather unpleasant individual who seemed determined to make life as difficult as possible for us. After waiting for around ten minutes she finally returned with my press pass and we were told to walk half way back around the ground to the 'Late Gate'. Once there we were told we were not allowed in and had to go back to reception! After explaining that we had just been sent from there in the first place, and we were of course missing the game, we were eventually allowed in, although the older lads had to pay and decided to sit in the away end to 'sample the atmosphere.'
The press box was at the back of the Main Stand, opposite the away end, and was a very cramped. By the time we had settled down it was nearly half time but thankfully it appeared we had not missed too much, as the game had been largely uneventful up to that point.

The view from the press box

I had the pleasure of siting next to the guy who was working for the Press Association and what an eye opener that turned out to be! He spent the whole game on his mobile phone going through every piece of action as it happened...'Ball played out of defence by the Macclesfield No. 4, left footed into the inside right channel...' This went on for the entire match and became rather tiresome after a while. And I thought Alan Greene was annoying...
Half time at least brought us some relief, as well as a nice cup of coffee and a sandwich, while I used the time to catch up on exactly what I had missed. This basically amounted to a shot from Luke Howell that was easily saved  by the home keeper and a Jon Nurse effort that went wide. Oh and a great save from Chris Lewington which we had just caught as we walked into the ground.
The second half began, and to a backdrop of the PA guys dulcet tones, we looked to be playing rather better. New boys Howell and Sam Williams were looking good and it wasn't long before we took the lead. Gav Tomlin whipped in a great free kick from the left and Arbs rose to head it goalwards at the back post. The ball looked to be looping in but Medy Elito and Williams both arrived to bundle the ball home from virtually right on the line. Arbs wheeled away in celebration while Elito was also getting some congratulations so it was unclear exactly who had scored.
With a low roof and a CCTV camera blocking our view the PA guy had been unsighted and asked me who had scored. I was sure it was Elito so, without thinking of the consequences, that is what I told him. Within seconds he had immediately released that information to the BBC and Sky while the stadium announcer also gave the scorer as Elito on his/my say so! It led to some debate in the press box as a local reporter seemed to think Williams had got the final touch while others thought it was Arbs goal. Shit, what if I had got it wrong??  Oh well it was too late now...
Back on the pitch and it was developing into an exciting game with chances at both ends. Lewi was having a blinder in goal for us and made two terrific saves to keep us in front, while their keeper also did well to save a close range Scott Doe header.
But the games biggest talking point occurred with just over ten minutes left. A mistake at the back by Arbs forced Lewington to race off his line and block efforts from first Emile Sinclair and then Rob Draper. The referee, on the advice of his assistant on the near side, decided he had handled outside the area and produced a red card, much to the anger of the lads in green and everyone in the away end opposite us.
Our view seemed to suggest the officials had indeed got it right and it did at least give James Shea the chance to make his debut. Emerson was particularly excited about this as he had gone about us signing an Arsenal goalkeeper for the last few weeks...
The final ten minutes was quiet exciting as Macclesfield threw everything at us, but we defended well to seal a great opening day away win. Meanwhile the PA guy was still on his mobile and was now marking the players out of 10. Most of the Macclesfield players were getting 5's and 6's (harsh I thought) while several of ours were getting 7's. Arber was given a top mark of 8 while Lewington only managed a 6 despite his earlier heroics. I could not let that go and told him that surely he deserved at least a 7, and thankfully he saw sense and changed it! But then came the really interesting bit. The guy was asked about the possession and with nothing more than his eyesight to go on he said, and I quote, ''Lets call it 60-40 in Macclesfield's favour!'' Really?? So next time you see the possession stats in the paper or on TV remember that it not done by any scientific method, it is just made up by a fella in the stand!

Our players walk off after a great away win

After the game came the usual round of interviews and first up was the great man himself, John Still. He was overjoyed with the result and the performance, especially baring in mind the injuries we had been suffering. He said Shea had been carrying a knock and should not even have been on the bench while Nursey was also injured and would not have played had others been fit. He also hinted at some changes for the Carling Cup tie at Bournemouth on Tuesday evening. As we were walking back to the changing room area he asked us about our journey as they had left at 9am and not arrived until 1. I said we had encountered similar problems and had missed the kick off!
With the rain making a comeback we decided to make our way out of the players entrance to meet Rees and Ryan, who were waiting for us looking rather wet! We hung around for a bit as Emerson wanted to have his picture taken with Shea but as he failed to appear Nursey was only too happy to do the honours, saying he was looking forward to his chicken pizza on the journey home!

Nursey with his new best mate

With that we set off to McDonalds to reflect on a good start to the season while I was left wondering if I had got the goalscorer right. After apologising to Arbs on Twitter that night for taking his goal off him I later discovered, via The Football League Show, that I had in fact been right all along and yes, it was Elito's goal! To say I was relieved was an understatement...you guys don't realise the pressures I have in my job!
So, after 12 short weeks away, football is back and boy have we missed it! Next up for me is a trip to Bradford in two weeks, riots permitting of course!

Looking ahead to the new season...the alternative view!

For the first time in about 25 years I am going into a new season not expecting Arsenal to win anything. And you know what? It is a great feeling!

Usually I foolishly think we will win the Premier League, the FA Cup and possibly the Champions League as well, and every year when our season unfolds, usually around February and March, I have this overwhelming feeling of disappointment. That is not good for my overall well being so I am not going to put myself through it anymore.

No, this season will be different. With Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City looking even stronger this year my only concern is that we can hold off the challenge of Liverpool and Spurs to seal 4th place again. And I fully expect that we will...

Yes, with a favourable draw we could go far in the domestic cups - possibly reach the Carling final again should we select a strong side in the earlier rounds - and as long as we avoid Barcelona we could reach the last four of the Champions League, but that is about the limit of my expectations for the coming season.

This has nothing to do with the lack of any major signings so far or the potential losses of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. No. I fully expect Wenger to make signings and I fully expect us to have a more balanced squad this time around. However I just do not feel we will have significantly closed the gap on the top three to really challenge.

Don't get me wrong I am not complaining. In a sense it is a relief. I am now able to look forward to the season without the usual weight of expectation baring down on me, and I fully expect to enjoy all the more for that.

Of course the plus side is that any success will may have will just come as a bonus, like winning the Littlewoods Cup in 1987 was after all those years of frustration.

So my plea to all you Arsenal fans out there is come and join me. Forget about winning the league or any of the cups, forget about spending £80million in the transfer market, forget about who may or may not leave us. Just look forward to nine months of football where we will probably win a few matches, lose a few others, score quiet a lot of goals and probably win the race for 4th place.

You may believe that is not good enough, as the success you have witnessed between 1987-2005 has made you greedy, but unless you want to go through all that heartache again next March just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride with me. Come on what other choice do we have???

Premier League review 2010-11...Exciting relegation battle disguises a lack of quality

Listening to TalkSport or Sky in the aftermath of 'Survival Sunday' last weekend you would think we had just witnessed the greatest season in Premier League history. But does an exciting relegation battle really equate to a good season?
I have to say I was as enthralled as anyone by the final day drama. The bottom three seemed to change by the minute as the goals went in all over the country but don't kid yourself it meant the league was better as a result. In fact I would argue quiet the opposite is in fact true.
In a 'normal' season the relegation battle will come down to two teams fighting over one place in the last week. The fact that this year saw five teams challenging to avoid two places on the final day simply means there were more poor teams in the league than usual.
The pundits would have you believe that the gap from top to bottom has shrunk - as Wolves could beat Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion could beat Arsenal for example - but in truth it merely meant  the top teams were not as strong.
Take the previous years' Champions Chelsea. They scored over 100 Premier League goals in the 2009-10 season as they won the double. Were they as strong this season? No. An average Manchester United side, certainly in terms of their great sides of the recent past, won the title by nine points and lost just four games yet they looked far from inspiring for much of the campaign. In the end they were able to win games when it mattered but do not kid yourself they are a great side, as we found out when Barcelona taught them a lesson at Wembley this weekend.
Manchester City won the FA Cup and finished 3rd, but with their squad and resources you have to say they under-achieved, while Arsenal and Spurs both dropped down a place to fourth and fifth respectively. Hardly an improvement.
Further down the table sides like Everton and Aston Villa were nowhere near as strong as in the past while Liverpool needed a strong finish to end up in the top six, having been in the bottom three at one stage. So no, the gap is not closing, the top sides have just got worse.
Meanwhile, at the bottom, any one of eight or nine teams could have gone down the standard was so poor. West Ham United ended with the stigma of finishing bottom of a bad bunch while the likes of Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, Wolves and Stoke City all survived despite being no better than average Championship sides at best.
But while the quality was certainly lacking it did lead to one of the most exciting seasons for many a year. Mistakes led to more goals, there seemed to be a thrilling late comeback almost every week, while 4-4 and 3-3 draws were not out of place. Similar to most local pub leagues then...
But what makes a for strong league anyway? The fact we had three teams in the last 8 of the Champions League and one in the final for the fifth year out of the last six? Possibly, but I would argue the strength of the bottom sides determines how good a league is, and when the likes of Stoke and Sunderland finish in mid-table it can only mean one thing. The league is nowhere near good as Sky and TalkSport think it is. Exciting? Yes. Competitive? Certainly. But until we can produce sides capable of playing the type of football we saw from Barcelona at Wembley on Saturday evening we can forget all about being the best in the world.

2010-2011, the good, the bad and the ugly!

So, a season that began with a last minute equaliser in the sunshine at Liverpool back in August ended with a last minute equaliser in the sunshine at Fulham in May. And boy oh boy what a ride inbetween!
Despite some strange results, like home defeats to newly-promoted West Brom and Newcastle, and worst of all to Spurs after leading 2-0, we somehow managed to be in the race for all four trophies heading into February. We were playing some good football and looked virtually unbeatable at that time but then came the fall. And what a fall it was.

Tiote makes it 4-4, the moment it all went wrong

It all began at Newcastle in mid-February. Leading 4-0 at half time we somehow managed to cling on for a draw after Abou Diaby was sent off, and our quadruple dreams disappeared within weeks. The Carling Cup Final will go down as one of the most frustrating days in our history. Once again we capitulated to inferior opposition on the big stage, and as much as I love Wenger I have to say this has happened far too often during his reign. Galatasary 2000, Liverpool 2001, Chelsea in the Champions League quarter final 2004 all spring to mind and there have been many others as well.

Defeat at Wembley hurts

That last minute defeat finally killed what little confidence we had left. Okay, the defeat away at Barcelona in the Champions League was unlucky in as much as the sending off of Robin van Persie, with us ahead on aggregate, was a complete joke, but the fact we managed not a single shot on target over the entire 90 minutes perhaps suggests it was the right result in the end.
Our FA Cup dreams again suffered an unlucky defeat at Old Trafford in a tie we dominated for long spells, but there can be no such excuses for our Premier League capitulation. The writing was on the wall with consecutive goalless home draws with Sunderland  and Blackburn, sandwiched inbetween a 2-2 draw at West Brom - where we had found ourselves 2-0 down. A 3-1 win at Blackpool briefly raised our hopes but the Liverpool match summed it all up. Only this Arsenal side could go 1-0 up in the 96th minute and still not win!

Kuyt scores the 100th minute equaliser

Then, after throwing away a two goal lead against Spurs for the second time this season, it was all over when Tamir Cohen headed a last minute winner for Bolton. The last few games did not really matter, hense how we managed to beat Manchester United one week but then lose at Stoke and at home to Aston Villa, to not only miss the chance of finshing second but to end up 4th in what had, for so long, been a two horse race...
But it is easy to let the last couple of months cloud your judgement on the whole season. The period between November and February increased expectation and had us all believing but did this group of players over-achieve then or under-achieve in the run-in? Possibly a bit of both.
Overall it was a strange season. Manchester United were far from convincing in the early months yet looked set to go unbeaten until defeat at Wolves on the day of our Newcastle capitulation. Cheslea set of like a train only to suffer an horrendous winter before finishing strongly to take the runners-up spot. Liverpool spent some time in the bottom three, Blackpool some time in the top six. Meanwhile we often looked good but flattered to decieve and possibly paid the price for going for all four trophies with a squad not capable of winning one.

The surprise package of the season?

But this summer could be the watershed for Wenger. The chants of 'Where's the f**king money?' at Fulham show exactly how the fans feel and unless he spends big in the close season the pressure will really be on. However I believe this squad are very close to greatness. The return of Thomas Vermaelen will help shore up the defence next season, as will the emergence of Wjoceck Szczesney in goal. Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere will only improve while there was no better forward in the second half of the season then Robin van Persie. With the addition of a centre back (Gary Cahill or Chris Samba perhaps??) a holding midfielder (Scott Parker??) and a naturally wide player (Stewart Downing or Adam Johnson??) we could have the resourses to really push for honours next season. But it seems more likely we will sign some unknown young foreign players who may or may not be good enough but will no doubt be much cheaper.

Beating Barca, the highlight of the season

So that was 2010-11. The good (Chelsea and Barca at home), the bad (the Carling Cup Final and almost everything that followed) and the downright ugly (Newcastle away). Not the greatest season, granted, but not the disaster many fans would have you believe either. It saw our first major cup final at the New Wembley, a great win over Barcelona and lots of wonderful, wonderful football. Yes, that elusive trophy once again eluded us but things could have been a whole lot worse. Couldn't they??

Bent double adds to the Gunners gloom

Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 2
by Ricky Butler at The Emirates

If ever a match summed up a season it was this performance from Arsenal as they concluded their home fixtures with a whimper on Sunday afternoon.

Having seen all four trophies slip away in recent weeks, Arsene Wenger's side looked a pale shadow of the team that had thrilled us through the autumn and winter in an opening 20 minutes as poor as anything they have produced in 15 years under the Frenchman.

With the fans staging a pre-match demonstration over price increases and lack of investment in the team, it was exactly the start they could have done without as Darren Bent, the finisher who many feel Arsenal lack, showed exactly what he could bring to The Emirates with two cool finishes in the opening quarter of an hour.

Yes, the defending for both goals was nothing short of shocking, but it should not take anything away from Bent who took his goals with the confidence of a striker who passed the 20-goal mark once again.


But after such a poor start Arsenal rallied and went on to dominate the next 70 minutes without ever really looking like getting back in it. Robin van Persie, who has been in sensational goalscoring himself, struck the post while Aaron Ramsey, in for injured skipper Cesc Fabregas again, felt he should have been awarded a penalty after a firm challenge from Richard Dunne left referee Michael Oliver unimpressed.

As the team went off to a chorus of boos at the interval, Wenger changed his system, bringing on Marouane Chamakh for Sebastian Squillaci, and threw everything forward. The bold move almost back-fired within five minutes of the resumption when Bent made use of the extra space at the back but he showed the other side to his game with a weak finish that presented keeper Wojceich Sczesney with very few problems when he really ought to have completed his hat-trick.

That was a rare foray forward from Villa in a second half totally dominated by the hosts but in a now all-to familiar tale, Arsenal passed and passed their way to nowhere in particular.

Van Persie almost created a goal for Kieran Gibbs, who was denied by veteran keeper Brad Freidel, when he could have taken the chance himself, while Ramsey and Theo Walcott also came close to giving them a lifeline.

Wenger threw on Nicklas Bendtner for the once again disappointing Andrey Arshavin and Arsenal did finally get the ball in the net with fifteen minutes left - Chamakh heading home a cross from Backary Sagna - but Oliver upset the home fans again by disallowed it for a pushing offence that only he spotted.

But in a grandstand finale, van Persie forced the ball home from close range after Bendtner had burst into the area, his 21st goal of the season and his 20th since January 1st, but it proved no more than a consolation as Villa held out for a rare away win.

The lap of appreciation at the end took place in a half empty stadium as the Arsenal fans had long since had enough and you feel this summer could be the most important of Wenger's reign. His side are close to giving the fans the trophies they crave and with a little tweaking here and there they could do it next year. But with Manchester City, Liverpool and Spurs all ready to challenge it could be a difficult time ahead for Arsenal.

Wenger, however, was only looking to next weeks final match at Fulham. he said: "We want to do well next Sunday. I want to finish on a better game than that.

''For the first 20 minutes here we were non-existent. We were not focused enough. Were we a bit scared after recent bad results? I don't know.

"We want to give the fans what they expect and when you don't do that they are entitled to be unhappy. But let's not go overboard, we are not fighting relegation.''

Maybe not but a seventh season without a trophy may well be one too many.

Arsenal - Szczesny 6, Sagna 7, Vermaelan 6, Squillaci 5 (Chamakh 45 7), Gibbs 7, Ramsey 7, Song 7, Walcott 6, van Persie 8, Arshavin 5 (Bentdner 62 7).

Aston Villa - Friedal 8, Young(L) 7, Dunne 8, Collins 8, Walker 8, Downing 7, Delph 6 (Heskey 90 5), Petrov 7 (Bradley 80 6), Young(A) 6, Reo Coker 6, Bent 7.

Man of the match - Van Persie. Did everything possible to lift his team.

Referee - Oliver 5. Failed to give Arsenal a blatant penalty and disallowed the Chamakh header for reasons known only to himself. The youngest referee in the Premier League and it showed.

Attendance - 60,023

League One, thank you and goodnight...

The biggest game in our history. How many times have we heard that over the last few years? Well they say the most important game is always the next one, so after beating Carlisle this final day trip to Peterborough was the biggest game of our season at least.

I had spent the week in a state of flux. One minute I was convinced we would get the required result and stay up, the next I was convinced that Walsall and Notts. County would both win, against Southamton and Brighton respectively, thus sending us down. Then, all of a sudden, it was Saturday morning...

The trip was a fairly straightforward one for me, just 165 miles south down the A1, so after setting off at half-past-ten, Emerson and I arrived in Peterborough just after 2pm. After parking up we made our way to the ground to collect my press pass. I had been in two minds all week whether to sit in the press box and 'work' or stand with the fans in what was sure to be a great atmosphere. In the end the press box won, mainly because I was unsure if I would doing this again next season so I wanted to make the most of it in case it was the last time.

London Road, the venue where our fate would be decided.

We collected the pass from the club shop and were then admitted to the Main Stand via a side entrance. The press box was, as is usually the case, situated at the back of the stand on the half-way line and this one was enclosed in what appeared to be a polyester box. With ten people in there it was like a sauna with hardly any air to breath and was not the most comfortable place to be in on a warm May afternoon.

Now I am not one who is against women being involved in football, and I have met some very knowledgeable and intelligent woman in the press box before (particularly the one working for Rueters at Oldham - smart and fit, the perfect combination!!) but the two in here put the argument for woman in football back 20 years.

One was working for a local radio station and every so often she would shout updates into her microphone with the most inane nonsense you have ever heard. She clearly had no understanding of the game or any of the players, and while I would never question her knowledge of the offside law, she was the biggest argument against women ever being given jobs in football.

Coming a close second however was the other woman, who I later found out was working for the Football League Show. Strange then that she kept shouting out updates from the Premier League games. 'Everton are winning! she screamed. We don't care love, we are only interested in Walsall and Notts. County.

Anyway back to more important matters, and by now the players were out warming up. However, after consulting my team sheet I realised Abu Ogogo was not playing. Thankfully the guy from the Barking and Dagenham Post was sitting next to me and informed me he had been injured in training earlier in the week, but with Greeny suspended it meant we had a new-look right side - Phil Ifil and Darren Currie.

More bad news followed when Femi limped out of the warm up and suddenly it seemed everything was going wrong. Damian McCrory, who had not been named in the squad, was asked if he was fit but he clearly did not fancy it so it seemed Doey, who had also been out injured, was being prepared. However Femi emerged a little later, walking slightly gingerly, but we were told he was fit to start. Maybe things were going to be okay after all...

Danny Green, a big miss.

The atmosphere in the away end was building up nicely now and it seemed the rumours of us bringing 1,000 were not going to be far off the mark. With kick off less then ten minutes away we were entertained by a mascot race and with the Daggers fans going mad behind the goal, Digger won by a mile. Yes, it really was looking like being our day!

With my laptop wired up to the BBC Sport website for news of any goals from Southampton and Notts. County the game kicked off and we were immediately under pressure. With Ifil looking off the pace and slightly (??) overweight it was no surprise when their opening goal came from down our right. The tricky Mendez-Laing outpaced both Ifil and Arbs before firing under Robbo, who appeared to slip as he came off his line.

But we responded with one of the best performances I have ever seen from a Daggers side. We simply ripped them apart and created six, yes six, clear-cut opportunities to score before the break. Currie hit the post twice, Akinde missed two one-on-ones while Romain and then Akinde fired wide as we dominated the team who had finished 4th.

Yes we missed the chances but it was exciting stuff and had all on the edge of our seats. Plus Walsall were 2-0 down, no thanks to the Football League Show woman who seemed totally uninterested in the Football League.

John Akinde, had the chances to save us.

Half time saw a Peterborough steward pass around a plate of sandwiches, which Emerson and I were only to happy to accept, but Emerson was now wanting to sit with the fans for the second half so he could 'sing the songs.' With his older brother Rees standing behind the goal I said he would not see anything if he moved, so after a short debate he decided he would stay in the sauna with me for the second half.

As you all know things did not quiet go to plan after that. Peterborough played much better and we could easily have been 3 or 4 down before they inevitably scored a second. CMS looked as though he did not want to score as he missed a couple of easy chances but it was a shame he hadn't told McCann to miss too as he didn't think twice about smashing home from the edge of the area.

We brought on Bas and DJ Green and really went for it, and had we scored at this point I really think we could have done it. Romain saw one effort cleared off the line while Nursey then missed a gilt-edged chance with a close range header ten minutes from time. That proved to be the turning point as they finished us off with two goals in two minutes, CMS finally doing the wrong thing to make it 4-0. The good thing was it gave us all ten minutes to accept our fate and at least it meant I could stop looking at the Southampton score.

The final whistle brought the inevitable tears both on the pitch and in the stand, although not in the press box where Emerson was surprisingly chirpy. 'We played well though didn't we, Dad?' he said and I had to agree. It was hard to feel upset when the lads had given everything.

So while the players and management team went over to applaud the fans away to our left, and throw various bits of kit into the stand, we went down to pitch-side to try to grab an interview or two. We were told to wait as the players wanted time to recover their composure but within ten minutes Arbs had emerged looking totally devastated. He said how disappointing it was but he was proud of the performance and said it was never a 5-0 game. He also said that he loved all the lads but if we had a player like CMS we would have been safe. Finishing on a slightly brighter note he said he was now going home to his wife and two boys who would try to bring a smile to his face. He looked at Emerson and smiled at him as he said it and I have to say that brought a lump to my throat. The lads had given everything all season but it wasn't quiet enough in the end.

I then saw Darren Ferguson emerge from the tunnel and gatecrashed his interview with the local press. He mentioned something about getting Scott Griffiths back on-loan from Chesterfield for the play offs after an injury to all the other left backs at the club and he said that he knew he could come in and do a job for him, but the arrival of John Still soon cut short my encounter with Fergie's son.

No doubt you will have heard the interview he gave on the BBC but the one thing that stuck me was how proud he was. We had been relegated but he wasn't feeling sorry for himself or the team, he was just immensely proud of what we have achieved. After shaking hands and having his usual little chat with Emerson, the great man disappeared back down the tunnel and we prepared to make our way out.

My new mate Fergie Junior!

By now the ground was empty so the only way out was through the players entrance and we could see a few Peterborough fans waiting behind the barriers to get autographs of their heroes. In front of us was the Daggers kit man who was getting ready to load the stuff onto the coach, and as he emerged through the doors the Peterborough fans gave him a loud round of applause. Next through were Emerson and I, both in our Daggers shirts and me with my bag over my shoulder. I'm not sure if the Peterborough lot thought I was someone far more important but as we went out we also got a round of applause! Emerson of course loved it and was grinning madly but I felt slightly embarrassed, although I politely smiled as we walked past them. But it was a wonderful end to what has been a wonderful season...although there was more to come.

The great John Still with my lads Emerson and Rees.

We then met my older son Rees and his mates in the car park but they wanted to wait for John Still to come out. Eventually he did and was only too happy to stop for a chat and have his picture taken with Emerson and Rees, which of course made their day! And with that we left for McDonalds where the five of us had kick about in the car park with a football we had found, before leaving Peterborough and League One behind....hopefully not for long!

Why I hate Manchester United part 1...1979-1991

Most Arsenal fans hate Tottenham but not me. I just feel sorry for them. In over 30 years I have never seen them as a serious threat to us and unless I hadn't had it programmed into me from an early age I don't think I would even care much that about them either way now.

No, my hatred has always been reserved for Manchester United. It all started on Cup Final day in May 1979. My mum had been visiting friends in Cornwall and was travelling home on the day of the Arsenal v Manchester United FA Cup final. Apparently a group of drunken United fans had got on the train somewhere between Exeter and London (so not a recent phenomenon that United fans come from the South-East then??) and proceeded to terrorise the passengers with their aggressive behaviour. As a 9 year old, seeing my mum so upset really got to me and watching the final that day was the first time I was aware of wanting one team to really beat another. Alan Sunderland's last minute winner therefore not only made me very happy but also cemented my support for Arsenal and began my long anti-relationship with United.

The goal where it all began

My next encounter with them was four years later. The 1982-83 season was my first as a season ticket holder at Highbury and we reached the League Cup semi final where we would meet United. The first leg at Highbury was one of my worst experiences watching football. The London-based United fans, known as the Cockney Reds, smashed up the Underground on the way to the match and that was the first time I had really been aware of violence at football matches. Things did not improve once inside the ground and amid all the fighting United scored four times to all but end our Wembley dreams. I did not go to the second leg at Old Trafford a week later but I heard it had all kicked off again as they completed a 6-3 aggregate success.

The League Cup semi final programme from the night I'd rather forget

As fete would have it we were drawn to face United in the FA Cup semi final later that same season. The match, at Villa park, was my first big away trip outside of London or Ipswich and it was meant to be a day to remember. Well I would certainly remember it but not for all the right reasons. It had started well enough as a goal from Tony Woodcock, my idol at the time, gave us a half time lead and I can still recall the feeling of elation I felt when that goal went in. But it did not last. Second half efforts from Norman Whiteside and Bryan 'man of the match' Robson killed my Wembley dreams once again although it was events after the match that will live with me forever. My friend and I, both 14 the time, were with a group of Arsenal fans making our way back to the station when we were chased by a gang of United nutters in Birmingham City Centre. We somehow found ourselves in a multi-story car park where it all kicked off and me and my companion were forced to hide behind parked cars as blood was being spilt all around us. Imagine the scene at the beginning of The Football Factory when it all kicks off outside the pub, well it was almost exactly like that. Scary stuff for a 14 year old. I'm still not sure exactly how we got home that day in one piece but once again United fans had ruined my big day.

United ruined another big day

Two years later I was at an Arsenal v United game at Highbury in February 1985 when news came through that the Cockney Reds were in the Clock End and trouble was imminent. I had grown up a lot in the period since that semi final in Birmingham so when a big surge occurred mid-way through the first half and I saw United fans punching out at everyone around them, I took great satisfaction in extracting a little revenge of my own. 'That's for Villa Park,' I said as my fist connected with one of the United fans and while I am not proud of it now it certainly felt good at the time! During this little scuffle United apparently scored a goal but none of us were aware of it and in the days before mobile phones and scoreboards we left thinking the game had ended goalless. In fact when I was asked by a West Ham fan on the Underground on the way home how we had got on I told him we had drawn 0-0, so imagine my surprise then when I watched the game on Match Of The Day that evening to see Gordon Strachen had scored to give United a 1-0 win...

Gordon Strachen - scored the goal that no one saw!

The FA Cup threw us together again in February 1988 and again there was plenty of trouble on the Underground before the game. United fans are easily the worst I have ever encountered as they were always so random with their attacks, picking on innocent people as their violence seemed to be unconnected with football at all. Anyway, on this day we would come out on top both on and off the pitch. The Arsenal boys were in no mood to take it anymore and then on the pitch things got even better. A crowd of over 50,000 saw an own goal from Mike Duxberry and a great header from Alan Smith give us a 2-0 half time lead but Brian McClair pulled one back for United early in the second half. We looked set to hold on until the final minute when United won a penalty but McClair blasted the kick high into the North Bank and I have never celebrated a non-goal as much before or since. Again the phrase 'Thats for Villa Park' was rolling around in my head as I jumped around like a nutter!

Brian McClair - his misery brought so much joy

The following April I made my first trip to Old Trafford for a vital league encounter. We were top of the table but had Liverpool breathing down our necks and the papers that morning were full of pictures depicting Tony Adams as a donkey. In those days the away end at Old Trafford was a terrace behind the goal with United fans in the seats above and we spent much of the match trying to avoid stuff being thrown down at us. Classy...However it all appeared worth it when Adams headed home right in front of us and the celebrations were amazing with us all going absolutely mental. Watching the video back now is still a joy to behold as the Arsenal fans dance about behind the goal. Unfortunately Adams then scored an own goal to make it 1-1 which led to the inevitable 'Eee Orr' chants from the United fans above us, and there was a rather tricky trip back to the station to negotiate as we again encountered the neanderthal element of the United support.

Tony Adams - Scored at both ends

The ill-feeling that seemed to exist between the fans had begun to spread to the players as my next trip to Old Trafford in October 1991 saw it all kick off on the pitch. The controversial nature of our goal, where Andres Limpar's shot may or may not have crossed the line, probably didn't help but midway through the second half the United players started acting like their fans. McClair was definitely getting revenge on Nigel Winterburn for his mocking of him when he missed that late penalty three years before as he kicked him several times in back, and it all kicked off from there. It led to a mad atmosphere in the ground and an even madder trip back to the station but the repercussions saw us deducted two points and United one, although it didn't stop us winning the title again.


It all kicked off on the pitch

So there you have it, part one of the reasons why I hate Manchester United. Coming up in part two will be United's first Premier League win at Highbury, Charity Shield fun in 1993, United fans in the Clock End in 1994, Overmars wins the league 1998 and another FA Cup semi classic in 1999 including the Ryan Giggs chest wig in all its glory! Not to be missed I'm sure you'll agree...