Monsieur Giroud's Holiday Sublime&Ridiculous but win's a win

Syd the cabbie picked me up at the Cally tube, well nearby as the Caledonain Road was closed, due to the usual weekend invasion of cranes.  I am sure they are taking over. I played with the newly installed 4Gee wifi for free in the back of his cab, as he sought a parking space outside our favourite greasy spoon. What a luxury parking so close, it’s something that can’t be done on match days as parking is restricted.

The café felt strangely empty without the bustle of a match day, Syd had bacon, liver and mash, for a change, and I had the stewing steak and mash. Top tucker as the highly repetitive Frank Stubbs would say on the official Arsenal blog, well he used to five years ago when I could still be bothered to follow the antics of the Maidstone Gourmet and Guners Society. And all credit to them as man, or woman, does not live by football alone.

 Gunnersaurus personally greeted Syd and me into the Royal Oak lounge.

After our leisurely lunch we strolled over to the Royal Oak entrance to be whisked up to club level. We staked out our favourite seats and then got a table to enjoy our free drinks. Gunnersaurus personally greeted Syd and me into the Royal Oak lounge. I felt he was a little overawed to meet two Arsenal Times luminaries, so we stopped his effusive handshakes and moved on, there again he may have fancied the chocolate we were gorging on. I noticed that fish and chips was £13.90, which was what we paid for two meals and drinks in the greasy spoon, but actually they weren’t on sale.

We said hello to a couple of fellow AST members, and then settled down for the main gig on the big screen. I had just read how the team had solved not being quick out of the blocks, well not quite solved as the start demonstrated, and the team and crowd were a little edgy. However the team was soon laying into WBA, if only we had a striker we could have been three up, but Monsieur Giroud was on oliday as ow they say in Belle France, either that or he had eaten too many ott cross buns. He strolled carefully from place to place, and would arrive long after the ball, or poke it beyond himself, the ball that is.

Meanwhile Flapianski was having a flap, but to be fair once he got a feel for the ball, after only 20 minutes, he became rather effective, which was fortunate as Sagna had joined in with  the *Les vacances de Monsieur Giroud. However Arsenal were soon carving up the frenetic WBA, whose crowd booed Cazorla at every touch, some ancient grudge about a penalty kick I think.

With Giroud playing helplessly, it was a good job that the G man stepped up to the plate, a great assist by Gervinho was headed in by Rosicky on 20 minutes and the Emirates crowd cheered as if a trophy was being won and as if they were at the game.

Half time and farewell to club level

My feeling was we could have been 3 up at half time. As we drank half time beverages and devoured a chocolate Easter bunny I bumped into a workmate, who I had never seen there before, hardly surprising as he is in club level normally. He told me he is getting rid of his ticket as the season has been so poor.

On 50 minutes Rosicky hit a Rocket that Foster could only parry and then smashed it back past him. Oh how we roared, this was going to be easy. But of course nothing is ever easy with Arsenal, the team began to showboat and on 69 minutes got caught out of position. Per made a last gasp effort to stop the advance into the area that meant his sending off and a goal for WBA from the resulting penalty.

Now WBA battled away for the equaliser, and probably had most of their chances in this period of ten man Arsenal. Nonetheless, Arsenal still had chances, but like the London Mayor during the Tottenham riots Giroud refused to rush back from his holiday. Why not put on Podolski? I can only assume Wenger is scared to risk him as he is possibly carrying a strain. Instead Arsene demonstrated the strength of his squad by bringing on Gibbs and Coquelin.

The team showed great mental strength to battle on, apart from Giroud that is, to keep out the second goal. This wasn’t a great performance or display of technical ability, but a wins a win and an excellent result. There were also too many below par performances, but importantly the sum was greater than the individual parts.

On 90 minutes, five minutes added time was announced, but the game went on for another seven. As the whistle blew another roar from the faithful at the screening. We knew we would win they assured each other, and unlike last year hadn’t even needed to bribe an ex Tottenham keeper.

Grand end to Grand day

Syd gave me an armed escort back to my local Ladbrokes to collect my winnings on Teaforthree, only a mug bets on the nose on the Grand Scouser Steeplechase, so I had put my money each way on this particular donkey. As I collected my winnings I reflected that 4^th place felt like a trophy, well at least like a few quid.

*Apologies to Monsieur Hulot's Holiday