Whatever will be, will be
We're going to Wembley
Que sera sera!
Best. Night. Ever.
Hokay, so it wasn't exactly the most brilliant game I've ever seen. But it was my first Arsenal match--hell, it was my first football match--and it was an FA Cup quarterfinal AND WE WON after going a goal down in the first half...yeah, that all adds up to a fucking amazing time.
First off, let me say that live matches = fantastic. I don't see how anyone could make the "soccer is boring" argument after going to a professional game. I totally didn't think the whole short sleeved shirt thing through very well, so I was a little chilly during the match. But I didn't really notice it when the ball was in play because I was too engrossed in the action.
The other team's attack is so much more nerve wracking live too; every time Hull were at our end we were on the edge of our seats screaming "GET RID OF IT!" And by "we" I mean me, the guy sitting next to me, and his son, who looked to be about five or six. Baby's First Football Match or something, it was cute. The dad spent half the game explaining things to him, like "Number 23 is Arshavin, he's the best player on the field" or "Arsenal just made two substitutions. Niklas Bendtner came in for Song, although God knows why..."
Quick rundown of what I saw: Defense was very lethargic early on but picked up and did pretty well after Hull's early goal; Arshavin and Vela had a few lovely little exchanges; Walcott doesn't seem to like running down the middle of the pitch but also couldn't seem to get his crosses right as he had some surprisingly poor passes; Song had some unsurprisingly poor passes; Gibbs made a few great tackles; and Bendtner missed a shot or three. Most notably, he scuffed an easy chance where the goalkeeper wasn't even in sight. Credit to Hull's defense on that play though, they did well to clear the ball off the line. Overall, we should stop passing once in a while and actually attempt to shoot the ball. Novel idea, I know.
First glimpse of the stadium
View from my seat
The boys warming up
Gunnersaurus sighting!
Right before kickoff
New kid being awesome
Lull in the action
Arsenal attack that amounted to...zilch
View from my seat
The boys warming up
Gunnersaurus sighting!
Right before kickoff
New kid being awesome
Lull in the action
Arsenal attack that amounted to...zilch
I met two guys from Leicester walking back to the tube station after the match, who were very curious as to how a Yank came to be an Arsenal fan. They were also really excited when I told them I was from DC, and then they wanted to talk politics with me. And then on the train I sang "we've only come to see Eboue" with two other guys. Football is a great icebreaker; I haven't talked to this many random strangers in one day since like recruitment.
I come home to hear that apparently Cesc spit at Hull's assistant manager...? He claims he didn't (although what are you going to do, say "Actually yes, I did. Got a problem with that?"), but in that statement he also claimed he has never spit on anyone on the pitch before.
Um, Cesc? I think you may be forgetting this little encounter. And yeah, I know spitting is gross and the opposite of classy and all that, but I hate Ballack and might possibly spit on him too were I given the chance. (Ditto the whole throwing pizza at SAF thing, if that's true.) So more power to you. But I do hope this new spit-cident didn't actually happen.
Phil Brown also claimed that the only reason Hull's keeper was booked for time wasting was because the ref succumbed to pressure from the crowd and Wenger's complaints. All I have to say is, if he wasn't time wasting, then he is the slowest human being alive. But only when Hull were up a goal, of course. As soon as they started losing, every time he got the ball it was back in play immediately.
Curious...
I dunno, Brown's whole post match spiel sounded a little bitter. He was blaming everyone but his own team. But whatever, sour grapes. We won, we won, nah nah nah nah nah nah! And wow, I'm childish.
*Yeah, I know the Hull/hell pun has been beaten into the ground already. But leave me alone, it's one am and I can't think of anything wittier. Plus it was really cold at the game, so nerr.
7 comments:
Reading this is impressive...at the end of the day, its an American reacting to an FA game...
Sarah, I'm very happy for you. I hope it means as much to you as it seems to, and I can't wait to experience something like this for myself...you've "greased the wheels", so to speak...
Gosh I can feel your excitement like I was there myself...! The pics are superb, love the gunnersaurus! Too bad about Eduardo but I'm so happy you wore the shirt... it's almost like he was there after all.
I agree, football is a great social lubricant, you immediately know you have something in common with people wearing the same colours and that you probably share the same sentiments before/after the match - it makes it so much easier.
And wow, was that your first football game ever? Epic! Isn't it exciting? Careful it's contagious!
Social lubricant, Ven? *Stifles giggles*
Anyway! :OOOOO Sarah!! I was so happy Arsenal won, I was checking the score all the time for you and was all :S when it was 1-0. Yay for Vampiresy :D
I'm so happy for you though, it's like you've accomplished your no 1 goal in England! Btw were you or were you not entranced by Nasri's shorts region? Seriously!
And lastly - GUNNERSAURUS! :D
Hey Sarah,
I live in DC also and will be heading to the UK for my first game soon. How were you able to land tickets to the home match? Let's discuss. Congrats on the cool experience.
Good on you, Sarah. I agree with your "icebreaker" comment. Nothing like footie to spark convo.
OMG! Gunnersaraus irl :O
Wowow - sorry for the lateness but this is like one of your dream coming true!!
I wish you could go to more games before heading back.
And get a bit closer to Voyeur's lair...
Hahaha - sports is one of the best icebreaker - definitely beats the weather convo.
Too bad that I only met Red Manc fans on the train today :(
Though... it's kind of tempting to tell them your anagram for their team: A Cemented Shit Run...
gold find!
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