Well... I don't know about you but that was all pretty horrible for me to watch... this is how I saw it:
Dynamo would be happy with a point to bring them up to 6 points with the aim to get a further 3 from Fenerbahce and improve their goal difference – this would mean that Arsenal would be left with 9 - level with Porto who were clearly going to win from early on yesterday – but miles ahead on goal difference. That would still give Dynamo a chance of qualification with a Fenerbahce win and IF Arsenal and Porto decided to make a game of it AND Arsenal beat Porto.
This meant that Dynamo came out with a draw in mind and stuck everyone behind the ball... now – not only was it obvious that Dynamo were playing for a draw it was also obvious that we really didn't want to get ourselves too exposed at the back as a point would suit us fairly well (as I believe that Porto would have been happy for a 0-0 kick about to put us both through with us winning the group – we have history in this with Porto).
Anyway... all in all it just about added up to a really shit match involving Arsenal players gently strolling up to a brick wall and giving it a few tentative kicks... Dynamo flung in some reckless challenges – but they were more 'for show – fuck off' reckless than out to do damage. RvP was targeted as 'one to wind up' – but it didn't really come to anything. Was the Gallas goal offside? Dunno... maybe – I couldn't see it and quite annoyingly they don't show replays in the stadium for anything involving a referee decision anymore... what I do know though is:
William Gallas he's our mate, he's our mate, he's our mate!
William Gallas he's our mate, he hates Chelsea!
William Gallas he's our mate, he hates Chelsea!
Nice to see the more savvy elements of the crowd can see through all the media spun shit and give the man his due. Also someone else who deserves some respeck is Bendtner for getting the goal. Was it dodgy? Were Dynamo ready for the drop-ball? Should we have kicked it back to the keeper? Who gives a shit – Bendtner got an uncharacteristicly good first touch and finished under pressure. 3 points – I'll take 'em and I'll take my hat off to him... and his pink boots. It also means that we might see a game against Porto as it'll be winner goes top of the group!
You know Bendtner has had a hard time from the fans of late but they need to realise that he's only 20... ok – sometimes he has the touch of a rapist and his hold up play 'needs work' to say the least but the rest of his game is sound as a Pound… err - Euro… hmmm.. um.. Krugerrand! With a little time and work on the weaker aspects of his game he could be a real impact player for us.
Anyhoo – talking of Krugerrand's – who the fucking hell is Ivan Gazidis?
I would listen to the interview from Hill-Wood on his appointment but, you fucking guessed it, it's on Arsenal TV Online and the fans need to pay through the fucking nose to hear about the very important changes that are afoot in their club. I and many others buy a season ticket yeah – so as 'signed up fans' who not only give our support on match-day but also donate a significant portion of their disposable income to the club; we should be given access to this information as a matter of mutual respect and duty... call it a 'bundle deal' if it helps Kroneke sleep at night.
So who the fuck is Ivan Gazidis? Check the polished up 'what we want you to hear' blurb from the MLS:
"Ivan Gazidis joined Major League Soccer in April 1994, two year's before the League's inaugural game, as a member of its founding management team. He provides vision on all key strategic and business decisions made by the League.
Gazidis oversees all aspects of competition for Major League Soccer, including, under the League's single-entity structure, the negotiation and administration of all international and domestic player contracts. Gazidis led the team that negotiated MLS's groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement in 2004 and has spearheaded the development and implementation of such innovative player initiatives as the Designated Player Rule, the MLS Reserve Division, the MLS Youth Development Initiative and the MLS Diversity Program. He also manages all day-to-day operations for the league, including stadium event and security issues, disciplinary issues, and player, coaching and refereeing matters.
Between 2002 and 2006, in addition to his MLS duties, Gazidis led the development of Soccer United Marketing's International division as its President. During this time, SUM entered a difficult game promotion environment in the United States to emerge as a highly successful business and one of the leading commercial soccer companies in the world, developing and implementing winning strategies for the Mexican Soccer Federation and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the innovative concepts for thriving new club competitions such as InterLiga and SuperLiga and highly successful American tours for teams such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and the England and Argentinean National Teams, among others.
Gazidis is a member of MLS' Competition and Technical Committees and the Chairman of the League Disciplinary Committee. He has also served on the National Board of Directors of the United States Soccer Federation and is the Co-Chairman of the historic and important Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition. He is the Chairman of CONCACAF's Statutes and Regulations Committee, and serves on U.S. Soccer's Technical and Rules Committees. Gazidis also sits on the Industry Council of the United States Stadium Managers Association. In 2003, Gazidis was honored as the recipient of the Commissioner's Award, presented to the group or individual that has made a difference in the League and the sport in America.
In recognition of his extensive experience in the area of player contracts and international transfers, Gazidis serves as one of ten worldwide club representatives on FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber, which decides international contract disputes arising within the field of soccer.
Born September 13, 1964, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Gazidis moved to England when he was four years old. Gazidis attended Oxford University, graduating in 1986 with a Master's Degree in Law. While at Oxford University, he was twice awarded an Oxford soccer "Blue," playing against Cambridge University at Wembley Stadium in 1984 and 1985. He took the Solicitor's Final Examination at the Guildford College of Law in 1987 and worked as a corporate lawyer in London and Los Angeles until 1994, when he was recruited by Major League Soccer. Gazidis is a lifelong soccer fan and continues to play in local Connecticut leagues.
Gazidis resides in Connecticut with his wife and two sons."
That doesn't sound too bad... well – apart from coming from a rich, non-black, 'establishment' South African family (never a great combination)... although, to be fair they are sports mad and he got out when he was 4. He's clearly a football nut and has taken his law degree to this field too i.e. sports contract law... he's also proper snooty 'old school tie' – so he should fit in with the other members of the board perfectly then.
But is he dodgy and what will he bring – that's the real question AND why announce this appointment in a such an 'under the radar' way? The board at Arsenal has been strengthening itself of late, there must be a plan afoot!?
We, as fans, must ask ourselves just what this plan is and, more importantly, is it in our best interests?
