Well the Emirates cup wasn't all I expected... I mean it was ok – and a fun day out to see the new players but in all honesty it wasn't the same as last year. The teams felt distinctly 'b' and the effort was c- - still, it was nice to see Adebayor putting in a few nice efforts – including one run where he went through just about everyone before sticking it wide.
The game against Juventus – we was robbed with a goal that was about half a mile off side... the lino made some gesture to say the sun was in his eyes, or something, so he couldn't read it... Hmm - mildly suss in my book.
The second game against Real Madrid – they was robbed! They had a clear penalty shout and had it denied where as we had a dubious penalty shout and had it given...
You sort of expect that kind of thing in, say, a testimonial match – but not a 'competitive friendly'. Ade scored the penalty and kissed his badge and ran in the general direction of where he expected the Red Section to be – alas they didn't turn up for this one and orange quadrant remained fairly quiet throughout... which was the other disappointment – there was not a massive atmosphere and it seemed a lot of tourists had shown up... much like your average carling cup fixture against some mugs we're going to smash – strange faces all around.
Hamburg, who I would have considered the underdogs, won it in the penultimate match with the sack load of points from a 3 goal lead – they played well... this meant that we would have to beat Real 4-0 to win the 'competition' – it was never going to happen, hence (maybe) the kick-a-bout attitude in the final match. I wish I had stuck a few quid on Hamburg – wonder what the odds were... hang on, dodgy decisions all round and Hamburg winning - things are starting to stink a bit.
Sophia had a nice time but got a bit bored/overwhelmed during the second half and went home with her mum. She got to meet Gunnersaurus Rex before the match started though... we waited for ages at the bottom of the stairs as he worked his way around to us – Sophia got more unsure the closer he came, and I thought he wasn't going to make it round (which might be a blessing) but at the last moment before he had to fuck off before kick off he saw us and made a special effort by sprinting over to us to make a big fuss of Sophia. Sophia's initial concerns were realised as what, to a 3 y/o, was the equivalent of Godzilla bearing down on us, at speed, in an Arsenal shirt. Gunnersaurus though – consummate pro – quickly recognised the signs of abject terror and leapt back and did this silly dance where he waggled his tail and did all this other shit that kids innately find hilarious. Sophia – still unsure – obliged to shake his hand – and on reflection decided that she quite liked him.
For me, on reflection, the one thing that drew any real concern, in comparison with last year's event, was that there didn't seem to be the same team spirit and all-for-one attitude in the squad... it could be that they are getting serious about the coming season and see this event as trivial nonsense – or it could be that something has broken in the hearts and minds at Arsenal. Also – just what the fuck was going on with the referees... and does this mean that we have started playing 'the game' already?
C'mon Arsenal...
