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  • The BFG’s tower above us
     
     
    They like winning trophies
    Last time I spoke about the hapless Spuds and how our biggest rivals are not really rivals at all. They only manage to be better than us when we are poor. So I never felt the hate that some supporters on both sides feel. Some teams and managers did get under my skin, though.  And today the rivalry that I will talk about is a team that have got under my skin. I came to hate the sight of them whenever we drew them because they always seemed to win. This rivalry all but the younger fans among you will be well aware of. The BF Germans, our nightmare – Bayern Munich.
    The thing is, in these blogs, I am not trying to depress you, and so, when I write about a bad season, I try to find the positives, the good things that happened. And I will try to do so here. It’s not going to be easy. You see, regular readers know that my biggest dream is the Champions League, and these BF’s destroyed the dream season after season, often giving us a football lesson as well. But I could have taken the easy way and only write about English teams because, no matter who I choose in this series, if they are English, I can find plenty of good things. But the BF’s? They haven’t given us much. They are destroyers of dreams, wreckers of worlds, and, as they only appeared on the scene lateish in my life, maybe ensured I will never see my dream fulfilled. We are not even getting into the Champions league lately.
    Bayern Munich? We can beat them.
    Strangely, the earliest competitive match I can find is the Champions League of 2000 and we haven’t played them in any other competition. Of course, if you were to throw a dart at the Bundesliga winners of any season, you would most likely hit Bayern Munich. 31 championships, well ahead of any English club, and us.

    Kanu got the winner or did he?
    But back in those 2000 days, I was starting to feel more positive about our European ambitions. For the first time, we waltzed through the first group stage and got Bayern, Lyon and Spartak Moscow in the second one. We nearly did great in our first match at Highbury, Henry got an early goal and then Kanu got the second on 55. Except Bayern did what they always seem to do to us, they scored and seemed to crush our self-belief on 56 minutes. Ten minutes later and they scored again for the final score. We had a top side out, except for Manninger in goal and Kanu in place of Bergkamp so we had no excuses for quality. Adams, Keown, Vieira, Henry, Pires, Llungberg, Cole, etc., were all there. They beat us 1-0 at home and topped the group. We came second and qualified.
    The truth is, Bayern are one of the legendary teams in Europe, and had to be the target to aspire to. They were who I wanted Arsenal to be, imperious in putting teams to the sword. Feared from the moment you are drawn against them.
    In every direction they are better
    So, in fairness, we can not claim to be their equals. There are only 2 metrics I can find where we are their equal. 1 UEFA Cup and 1 European Cup-winners Cup. But then, they normally play Champions League. Even the German Cup they have won 20 times. Champions league 6 times. Don’t go looking, Arsenal fans, you will only get depressed.

    You shouldn't have taught Arsenal how to gift goals, Kolo
    The next time was 2005. We were getting better in Europe, qualifying for the knockout stages regularly. My heart sank a little when we drew them but we had such good players I figured if we played to our best, we could beat them and others like them. I felt head to head, our players were better than theirs. We were not long past being Invincibles. But in the first few minutes Toure did something that we have become familiar with at Arsenal since then. Our biggest problem, in fact. He gifted the BF’s a goal. They scored 2 more to leave us clutching at straws. Toure gave us that straw on 88 minutes to give us an away goal. We won 1-0 at Highbury but that, our first win against them, was rendered meaningless as we went out.
    A nightmare rolled up in Armageddon
    The next time was the start of a sickening sequence of results. 2013, the knockout stages and at the Emirates they taught us a lesson 3-1 after being 2-0 up after 21 minutes. Amazingly we beat them 2-0 in Munich to record our second meaningless win. Arsene Wenger complained about the away goals rule after the match but to no avail.
    Next year we got them again in the first group stage, and another lesson at the Emirates 2-0. Ok a draw in Munich 1-1 but they go through, we just look on bewildered.
    The Pep knocked out of us
    Next year again, but this time group stage. Pep Guardiola was their manager. 2 late goals gave us what looked like a meaningful win 2-0. Ah, Arsenal, you are having a laugh. 5-1 in Munich and we looked like amateurs and bye bye. Send us home crying? Screaming more like. Who are these BF’s?

    Guardiola taught us a lesson
    Our biggest nightmare, that is who. 2017 we get them again, first knockout stage. Carlo Ancelotti had replaced Guardiola but not the score. 5-1 in Munich and it was dreadful to watch. A pub team against the masters. The tie was over but I felt at the Emirates we could salvage some pride. Theo Walcott scored on 20 and we were 1-0 at half time. No real chance of winning the tie but I was hoping for a respectable score. Eh, hello, we went back to being an amateur team, they threw the ball into the net 5 more times for three 5-1’s in a row.

    And so did Ancelotti twice
    We were supposed to be Arsenal, not a Sunday kickabout team. There was only one way to watch these final 3 games against our BFG rivals, with your hands over your eyes.
    Arsene Wenger was our manager for all these matches here. I can only imagine the pain he feels when he hears the name Bayern Munich.
    Destroyed and made fun of
    And so, what does it mean? I’ll tell you what it means. The BF’s are laughing at us. They are laughing at me if they read this blog. For me pretending that we are rivals. Arsenal the bums, is what they think. I doubt if we have been beaten so easily 3 times in a row ever. And they don’t care that my biggest dream is winning the Champions League, and they don’t care that I am getting older like my dream.

    Close to the end, Arsene
    But surely we are Arsenal? Surely we can come back? Howabout these Arteta youngsters standing up to these BF’s at their own stadium in a Champions league final and sending them home screaming and crying with a 5-1 victory? That is one way I can say there is a metric that says we are better. C’mon the Arse!
     
     
    Нотингам Форест отстрани Арсенал за Купата на Футболната Асоциация още в 3 кръг на турнира. Единственото попадение в срещата бе отбелязано от Люис Грабън в 83 минута. Голът на сметката на домакините дойде след груба грешка на Самби Локонга в средата на терена. Като цяло ''топчиите'' бяха абсолютно безидейни в представянето си и си тръгват възможно най-рано от турнира. Странно е да отбележим това, че играчите в изцяло бял цвят не успяха да отправят нито един точен удар посока вратата на Нотингам. Хората на Микел Артета така и не успяха да се справят със сгъстената отбрана на домакините, а бракът в подаванията бе твърде недопустим. Да, Арсенал излезе на Сити Граунд с миксиран състав с оглед отсъствието на ключови фигури, но някои от стартовата 11-ка бяха титуляри. След това отпадане, ''артилеристите'' ще трябва да се съсредоточат върху битката за класиране в Топ 4 и предстоящите 2 полуфинални мача с Ливърпул за Карабао Къп. Освен всичко друго, в момента е отворен зимният трансферен прозорец и сега доста погледи са вперени в Еду Гаспар, Микел Артета и собствениците на клуба. 

    Стартовата 11-ка на Арсенал снощи: Бернд Лено (GK), Седрик Соареш, Бен Уайт, Роб Холдинг (С), Нуно Тавареш, Самби Локонга, Чарли Патино (първи старт за Арсенал), Букайо Сака, Мартин Йодегор, Габриел Мартинели и Еди Нкетиа. 

    Резерви: Аарън Рамсдейл (GK), Киърън Тиърни, Калъм Чеймбърс, Пабло Мари, Сеад Колашинац, Омари Хъчисън, Салах-Едине, Мика Бийрит и Александър Лаказет. Двубоя пропуснаха Смит Роу (травма в областта на слабините), Такехиро Томиясу (травма на прасеца), Гранит Джака (Ковид-19), Фоларин Балогън (Ковид-19), Пиер-Емерик Обамеянг, Томас Партей, Никола Пепе, Мохамед Елнени (последно изброените заради КАН) и Габриел Магаляеш (наказание заради червен картон).

    Смени в хода на двубоя: Киърън Тиърни вместо Нуно Тавареш (треньорско решение в 35 минута) ; Александър Лаказет на мястото на Чарли Патино (69 минута) ; Седрик Соареш отстъпи мястото си на Сеад Колашинац (91 минута) ; 

    Жълти картони: Габриел Мартинели (74 минута).
     

    Фото кредит: Флашскор БГ

    Микел Артета след края на мача: ''Не показахме нищо от това, на което сме способни. Качеството в играта и представянето ни като цяло бяха на едно твърде ниско и незадоволително ниво. Не успяхме да създадем достатъчно опасности в последната третина от игрището. Нямаше хъс, а липсваше и концентрация. Чувствам се наистина разочорован от това, което показахме. Искам да се извиня на нашите привърженици.''



    Следващата среща на Арсенал е този четвъртък, 13 януари, от 21:45 часа българско време. В нея, ''топчиите'' гостуват на Ливърпул в първи полуфинален мач за Карабао Къп. 

     
    Лондончани гостуват на Нотингам Форест в мач от 3 кръг за Купата на Футболната Асоциация. Двата отбора се срещнаха за последно в този турнир през януари 2018 година, когато Форест надигра Арсенал с 4:2. Срещата тогава отново бе част от 3 кръг на надпреварата, а ''артилеристите'' отпаднаха безславно от турнира. През септември 2019 година Арсенал си върна частично за това поражение, като разби Нотингам с 5:0 на Емиратс в мач от 3 кръг за Купата на Лигата. Днес двата отбора отново ще премерят сили в най-стария футболен турнир в Света, който впрочем чества своята 150-годишнина. Доста символичен ден, защото на него през 1863 година е роден Дейвид Данскин - основателят на Дайъл Скуер, познат ни днес като Футболен Клуб Арсенал. Нужно е да отчетем и това, че крайният победител от двубоя ще бъде ясен още днес, защото преиграванията за ФА Къп отпаднаха поради усложнената ситуация с пандемията и сгъстения график на мачовете. 

    Кога: Днес, 9 януари, 19:10 часа българско време. 

    Стадион: Сити Граунд, Нотингам.

    Телевизия: Диема Спорт 2.

    Рефер на двубоя: Крейг Поусън.

    Новини: В групата за двубоя със сигурност няма да попаднат имената на Пиер-Емерик Обамеянг, Мохамед Елнени, Никола Пепе, Томас Партей и Габриел Магаляеш. Бившият капитан на Арсенал трябваше вече е да е с отбора на Габон, но вместо това е с позитивен тест за Ковид-19. Останалите изброени състезатели (с изключение на Габриел Магаляеш) са вече със своите национални отбори именно за участието им в турнира за Купата на Африканските Нации. Габриел Магаляеш ще пропусне срещата заради полученият червен картон срещу Манчестър Сити на 1 януари.
    С оглед отсъствието на някои от полузащитниците, все повече се спекулира, че Чарли Патино ще направи своя дебют като титуляр с екипа на ''топчиите''. Младокът вече записа една среща на своята сметка, като дори успя да се разпише в нея (победа с 5:1 над Съндърланд). Чарли Патино попадна в групата и за двубоя с Норич в края на декември, но така и не успя да запише минути. 
    Мейтланд-Найлс също няма да попадне сред избраниците на Микел Артета с оглед финализираното споразумение с Рома за преминаване под наем до края на сезона. В договорът му няма да фигурира опция за закупуване. Очакава се тези дни и Фоларин Балогън да бъде отдаден под наем. Най-близо до подписа му е Мидълзбро.
    Продължават драмите около двубоя с Манчестър Сити. Футболната Асоциация на Англия глоби Арсенал с 20 000 паунда, като причината е ''лошото'' поведение на играчите в червено и бяло в 59 минута на срещата (моментът, в който Стюарт Атуел показа втори жълт и съотвено червен картон на Габриел Магаляеш). 
    Мартин Йодегор и Габриел Мартинели бяха номинирани за наградата "Играч на Висшата лига'' за месец декември. Микел Артета пък, бе включен в списъка с имената при мениджърите. Всеки желаещ може да удари рамо на нашите момчета и мениджърът на Арсенал в официалния сайт на клуба.
    Завършваме новините преди срещата с това, че днес Арсенал ще играе в бяло. Лондончани са се обединили заедно с Адидас в инициатива, която има за цел справяне с престъпленията, извършени с хладно оръжие и борбата с насилието сред младежите. Екипът няма да бъде пускан в продажба и ще бъде използван от играчите само и единствено в откриващата им среща в кампанията за ФА Къп.



    Думите на Микел Артета преди мача: ''Стартираме битката в състезание, в което имаме страхотна история. Разбира се, че искаме да го спечелим отново. Преди това обаче, е нужно да мислим мач за мач. Истината е, че всяка една среща в този турнир е изключително трудна. Отиваме в Нотингам и сме наясно с атмосферата, която ни очаква. Ще дадем всичко по силите си, за да се класираме напред. В момента разполагаме с един изключително млад отбор. Отбор с перспектива. Важното е да не правим прибързани действия и да мислим с нагласата, че искаме да побеждаваме във всеки един двубой.''

    Игра с прогнози във форума на ASCB: 

     
    По пътя към номер 15 в турнира! 
    A Spursy story

    Throw in the towel, Spuds
    White Hart Losers
    Historically, of course, we are far better then the poor old Spuds. Our trophy cabinet is far bigger and much more recent. They look back into the distance for their glory days, we don’t. We cannot deny, however that in recent years their league form has been better than us.  Young Spuds, then, might feel they have bragging rights, they got to a recent Champions League Final to equal us in times we have got to that final. In fairness, we got much closer to winning it than them. And competed in it far more times.
    But what is it like to be a Spurs supporter? I have some friends who have this affliction and they seem very normal on the outside. The biggest problem, in my opinion, is their obsession with Arsenal because it is hard to make a strong case. On almost every metric, they are inferior. That must be galling. They have 2 ancient top flight titles (1951/1961) bestowed on them at White Hart Lane. Hey, we have two far more recent, in 1971 and 2004. We went there to win the title and they couldn’t stop us. Oh, the embarrassment! Red and White yobbos celebrating like crazy on their pitch.

    Liam Brady - one of our true greats
    I have my Spurs binoculars
    Anyway, I am going to try and look at things from a Spurs point of view and see what metrics are good for them. For trophies, they have 4 league cups to our 2 and 2 Uefa cups to our one (we might just turn that first one closer this season, I am always hopeful). As they are the minor cups, they is no joy for them in this area, we are way ahead in league, FA Cup and Charity Shields. They were the first English winners of a European trophy, The Cup-winners Cup in 1963, but few of their supporters can remember that. Ours, in Copenhagen in 1994, is etched in the memories of huge numbers of our fans.
    In terms of overall wins, we have 84 to their 66, we have beaten them 6-0 as against their 5-0. Even at White Hart Lane, we have 28 wins to their 36 as opposed to our 41 to their 19 at our home. We have 21 undefeated matches against them, miles ahead of their 5, and they have 4 wins in a row compared to our 6. It is all gloomy for the poor Spuds, the Spursies of all Spursies.

    Bergkamp - wow what a talent
    We had far better players
    But the purpose of this blog is to give you my take on things, not a history lesson. In truth, Tottenham didn’t impact that much on me when I started supporting Arsenal, we had a short spell of being great, we won the double to equal their top 1961 team and we were challengers for a time after the double until it all fell apart, and then Terry Neill came along to give us superb FA Cup runs. We had lots of Irish players and probably the best player in the league in Liam Brady. Since then, Bergkamp and Henry have also been the best players in England. I suppose the flawed Gascoigne might have been in the 90’s and maybe Gary Lineker was a contender for that distinction but he was so much of a poacher that I feel few would have regarded him as the best footballer. Ardiles and Glenn Hoddle were lovely players as well. Honestly, though, in my time, and particularly since Wenger and Graham, we are far ahead in quality of players.

    Gascoigne: Good but flawed - like his team
    We shared few but Pat Jennings was the most egregious steal of all. Terry Neill came from Tottenham and soon after took Pat from them. Both Northern Ireland, both deemed as gentlemen of the game, they are well regarded by both sides, particularly Pat, who went on to have the best period in his career with Arsenal and Northern Ireland from that time.

    Henry -our greatest?
     
    And even now?
    As I have said at the start, the only metric the Spuds have to talk about is recent years in the league and Champions league. We qualified, in total, 21 times for Champions league/ European cup and they 6. Since they first qualified in 2010/11 they managed 5 times, we got 8. We qualified twice for the old European Cup to their one in, you guessed it, 1961. And we could have had one more in 1989 except for the Heysel Stadium disaster.
    The League in recent times? Yes, they have an advantage, they have finished above us the past six seasons but we were in front for so long before that it is hard to count. I am hopeful this year will reverse the trend.
    Even Chelsea are now better
    Anyway, I could try here to search for a way to show, from a Spuds point of view, how their team is better, but each direction that I go in sends me down a blind alley. We are better, simple as that. If they won the double for the next 12 years they would be better than us, but that’s never going to happen. The most likely scenario is that for as long as any Spurs fan is alive today, even new born kids, brainwashed from the cradle, they will never catch up with us. If we had our ten great years as I talked about in a previous blog here we would have an argument to being the best team in England. That is a dream denied the Spuds, as they would need an unprecedented long great spell to get that position.
    The problem they have now is that Chelsea have appeared and even historically have a strong claim to be the better team in London than them and are certainly currently the best team overall on recent form. Even blinkered Arsenal fans have to recognize that.  They could even overtake Arsenal as the 3rd best team in England if they have a really strong spell. Abramovich has shown he has the winning touch time and again. Win or be fired is his motto. Should be on the crest, in fact.
    As for managers, the visionary and revolutionary Chapman, the supreme creator and undefeated Wenger, and the tactical and coaching genius that was George Graham. I can’t remember any Spurs managers, sorry.
    My magic solution
    So what can Spurs do? If West Ham get ten great years they could also overtake them. It is all looking dark for the boys in white. But luckily for all you Spuds out there, I have a solution. It is a magic one. Do a Wimbledon and go somewhere else. I would suggest Cambridge. Not so far away, just over 50 miles. A historic city and they will surely never be able to overtake you as the best team there.

    Do one, Mr Levy
    You see, Mr Levy, you were never really good enough to be our big rivals, we beat you everywhere I look, even when it matters in your own home. We have Chelsea to worry about now and they are really good. Unfortunately, you are not. Go to Cambridge, we have bigger fish to fry.
     
     
    Where can we finish update:
    Well, I got the score right 2-1 against Man City, although unfortunately the wrong way around. We played very well, but we cannot afford such silly moves by Xhaka and Gabriel. They did wrong things and I hope Arteta hauls them up over it. We are not going to win matches against top teams with ten men, particularly when they have 12. That level of performance gives us hope. Long may it continue, Champions league is still a live dream.
     
     
     
    В първия епизод от шоуто "Плюс" за 2022 с Мартин Миндов и Даниел Джалев хвърляме лек поглед назад към срещата с Ман Сити и обсъждаме хубавите и не чак толкова хубавите неща. След това е време за дългоочакваните(от нас) първи Годишни Награди на Подкаста на Арсенал-България, в които си говорим за най - открояващите се неща през изминалата календарна година. Enjoy!

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