Given the somewhat manic urge of our age to reduce expressions and experiences to purely mechanistic modalities of biological explanations, lately there have been attempts at “explaining away” the throbbing vitality of Boléro’s incessant rhythmic pattern and melodic motif to be the outcome of the neurological disorder of progressive aphasia which had marked the beginning of Ravel’s rapidly progressing dementia, likely to have expedited by a severe automobile accident when he was in his fifties. Much to Ravel’s surprise, Boléro became his most famous composition in his lifetime, and after his untimely death had gained significant popularity, and remained his most recognized work. A lifelong Ravel fan, I listen to his peerless piano pieces like Miroirs or Gaspard de la nuit more frequently, but the power and magic of Boléro remains undeniable.
Boléro is no longer, or rarely so, performed outside its purely orchestral interpretation, though it was first publicly performed as a ballet, choreographed by the great Polish dancer Bronisława Niżyńska. Its essential rhythmic and melodic predictability is complemented by a gracefulness of movement that is mesmeric because of its inevitability.
In footballing terms, I suspect something like that is what Arteta and his coaching team are aiming for: an essential consistency and predictability of structure and shape on which graceful movements are built like layers of melodic motifs, driving towards the inevitable crescendos of attacking brilliance. If Arsène’s best teams were sometime compared with the improvisational philosophy of jazz – where great players in a group align on some fundamental rhythmic, harmonic and melodic ideas to then express their originalities in manner that is singularly individualistic but never at the expense of the collective – I find Mikel’s meticulous attention to every detail and the exquisite structural control more akin to classical compositions. It is worth noting though that these two different approaches are not always mutually incompatible: Ravel was a lifelong fan of jazz music, the love for which he openly admitted, in his solitary trip to US – recalled in a poetically imagined novel by Jean Echenoz that I highly recommend to anyone remotely interested in the enigma of Ravel’s life and music. He spent significant amount of time with Gershwin listening to jazz in Harlem, and jazz greats over the years have professed their undying love of Ravel.
And I don’t know about other Arsenal fans outside this wise, understanding and friendly universe of Goonerholics, but I personally have fallen in love with this Arsenal team almost as much I was in love with the great Wenger teams, in days of jubilations and heartaches alike. I now look forward to the next match with an eager anticipation, I enjoy the sublime moments to my heart’s content, and when things don’t really work out as planned, I still feel proud of how the team (and Mikel on the sidelines) behaves collectively in a manner that shows a great combination of humility and determination. I don’t really know why the various people on the anti-Arsenal media and establishment are all about, but I find the behavior of the youngest team in the league coached by the youngest manager as passionate but impeccable.
And to be honest, that consistency of football quality, that unique combination of confidence and humility, that passion and togetherness, those magical moments of exquisite movements on and off the ball, those innovative interpretations of traditional positions, the technical composure on the ball, the repetitive but unstoppable ways of reimagining the space on the football field…those are enough for me as a football fan and as an Arsenal fan. Watching Arsenal gives me genuine pleasure once again and sitting on my living room on the other side of the ocean, it also brings me great joy to see how this Arsenal team is making Faustus Junior feel so proud, and how he senses the connection between the fans on the ground and the player growing.
I don’t know who we will or will not sign in this window, and I don’t know whether we will or will not win the league. But whatever happens, I am looking forward to how this composition evolves in time over the years, as much as I look forward to how it unfolds in the confined space of the football field every few days.
Our away form has been very good this season in the league, though not as record-breakingly impressive as the home form. We have won all but two of our away matches, a rather unfortunate loss away at United and a draw away at Southampton who have over the years gave us, and many other top teams, enough trouble in their home ground. But probably no away match in the league calendar carries as much of an emotional association as the one that we are going to play on Sunday. It has been quite a while we have won there. The 2013/14 league season was the last time, when Tomáš Rosický’s stinging outside-of-the-right-foot (trademarked Rosický?) volley from the right side of the penalty box – following a sharp exchange with Oxlade-Chamberlain – gave us a 1-0 lead in the second minute that we protected with a strong defensive display led by captain Per Mertesacker (ably assisted by two other leaders in Arsenal defense, Sagna and Koscielny), excellent keeping by Szczesny, and a disciplined midfield organized by one Mikel Arteta.
Our last year’s away loss there was dispiriting not only because it ended our Champions League qualification chances but also the manner of loss itself: a combination of naivety and tiredness from our part and some inexplicable, but sadly not entirely unexpected, refereeing decisions. Whereas we don’t have any control over the latter, and officiating in the English game has now entered a surreally nightmarish state of affairs, we don’t have any reasons to be tired yet and have had ample opportunity to learn from last year’s mistakes.
This is exactly the kind of match where we will miss Gabriel Jesus, not only his technical abilities and big match nous, but also his street-wise professionalism, and his relentless menace and whirlwind energy. Another chance for Eddie Nketiah to show us all again how much he has come along, and I think he will cherish playing against them the way Saka or ESR do.
The rest of the team more or less pick themselves. In the Tierney or Zinchenko debate by stance is unequivocal: both. :–) I think they do not quite replace each other but offer somewhat complementary qualities. If both are fit, I suspect Zinchenko will start ahead of Kieran as the Ukrainian’s interpretation of the left back role allows us better control over the midfield, allows Xhaka to operate better as an attacking force, and thereby unleashing more of Martinelli’s abilities on and off the ball. It does make us a little bit more vulnerable against speedy wingers and fullbacks down our left side, so Gabriel needs to be at his best, and so does Saliba who typically ends up covering a wide area on both sides of Ramsdale’s goal.
Ramsdale
White – Saliba – Gabriel – Zinchenko
Partey
Ødegaard – Xhaka
Saka – Nketiah – Martinelli
Captain Ødegaard – November-December PL player of the month – had a relatively subdued game against Newcastle at home the weekend before last, and this is a perfect match for him to forget that blip, especially given the fortnight of match rest he has had.
It was wonderful to see Emile Smith-Rowe back on the pitch on Monday’s FA cup away tie against Oxford. He is too rusty to start in this match but let us hope if he were to be introduced later in the game it is only to give him more match practice, after we have already secured a strong lead.
A win in this match would not only strengthen our position on the top of the league but would also give us an extra boost of confidence before a run of games against strong opposition. The North London Derby is known for its often-chaotic nature where form may matter for little if you don’t keep your composure. I believe (hope) that Arteta and his coaching team will prepare the squad mentally to see through the difficult patches of the game and make our undeniably greater quality count at the end. A 3-1 away victory at this ground hasn’t happened in a long time, but tomorrow can bring in a new era of such results.
Enjoy the match everyone. Come on Arsenal!
P.S. Given that I started this preview with a musical reference, and especially to Boléro, let me also take this opportunity to sympathize with other Jeff Beck fans in our readership. He was a guitarist’s guitarist, and for us complete novices and amateurs, the skill, versatility and expressiveness of his playing were a source of wonder and inspiration. Like all true genius, he always sounds ‘…at a slight angle to the rest of the musical universe’ (to paraphrase E.M.Forster’s remarks on C.P. Cavafy).
Like this Arsenal team, you are on another level of sublimity, Dr F. Bravo.
Thank you Dr. Faustus. Ravel’s Bolero. To bring the cultural commentary down a few notches, wasn’t that the background music to Bo Derek jogging onnthe beach in the movie “10”?
Oh. I nearly forgot to agree with you on 1-3 to The Arsenal. COYG. 😀
Hitting all the right notes Dr F.
Hopefully we will start out sharp and leave their fans feeling flat.
2-0 to The Arsenal as I would love a clean sheet in this one.
I posted this link in the last drinks but it wasn’t up long so I’ll do it again
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/14/arsenal-emirates-revamp-captures-buzz-finally-feels-vibrant-again
Thanks Doc,
An interesting piece made all the more so for not once mentioning our opposition by name – surely a first in a match preview and very appropriate.
Your score prediction may be a little bullish – I’m thinking a 1-0 to the Arsenal just for old times sake.
UTA.
Thank you, Dr F – fortissimo !
3-1 sounds like music to my ears 😉
Bravo, dr F! A spirited, thoughtful and warm preview. These musical comparsions are not just perfect metaphores but I think this was/is the way how Wenger and now Arteta had seen football.
Thank you!
I quite like the score you suggested. Let be it!
COYG
Une belle pavane pour un poulet mort. Merci.
2-1 for the Arsenal.
Not the sort of match preview you’d get on many blogs ! Thankyou Dr.F for your erudition and originality
Yesterday’s Citeh result gives us virtually a free hit today but this is Tottnumb . It would be immensely satisfying to beat them and we can but I’d take a point . The Mudryk reversal and the late Chav equaliser in the WSL are irritating but would be forgotten if we win today.
More worrying is a suggestion that Jesus has had a setback and may not be back for some time . We need to focus on field today but we will have much off-field drama in the days to come . 🤞🤞
Great stuff, Dr F.
Starting to be a bit tense here, but hopefully we will all revel in victory later as Spurs’ season un-ravels.
Mudryk signs for Chelsea on an eight and a half year contract ! If he’s a sensation that gives you great security as a club but if he tanks it could be financial disaster ! Presumably it reduces the spend for FFP purposes but still ! How good would it be to see this blow up spectacularly!
I wouldn’t wish being the new Pepe on anyone, but in this case…
TTG@9: To your point, slightly tongue in cheek, I know, Dr F’s preview is what makes this establishment so delightfully unlike anywhere else. To paraphrase the incomparable CLR James, What do they know of football who only football know?
Esso must have been abducted by aliens, so in his absence, the team, as predicted, is:
Ramsdale
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Xhaka, Thomas
Saka, Odegaard (c), Martinelli
Nketiah
Bench: Turner, Tierney, Holding, Tomiyasu, Lokonga, Matt Smith, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Marquinhos
Elnenny is the notable absentee from the bench.
Thanks everyone for the kind words! Writing for you all is a pleasure.
Ned, CLR’s writings on cricket, along with that of Sir Neville Cardus (who was also a music critique) probably remain the finest examples of sports writing.
Elneny must have been injured to not be on the bench.
Come on Arsenal!
Cheers Doc!
Heh @ Ned – no mate was just out getting a bit of exercise. Tense as fuck here.
Cheers, Esso.
Dr F: Elnenny apparently picked up a knock in training.
Cardus and CLR James are as pure joy to read as was listening to John Arlott.
If we are good enough to win this league we have to be good enough to beat these pretenders. Time for a huge effort. Time to show our quality. Time to win in this place. Time for the officials to be even-handed.
Go win, Arsenal!
Come on you reds!
Come On You Gunners!
Bath @18 We are!
An excellent first half from us. Almost total domination. Got lucky with our first but that second was sublime from Ødegaard – passed it into the net.
Same again please Arsenal. Focus!
Come on you reds!
Get iiiiiin
Ramsdale was superb, back to his best.
WE ARE THE ARSENAL
WE ARE THE BEST
WE ARE THE ARESNAL
SO FUCK ALL THE REST
Wot Esso said.
Ramsdale earned his corn today; Lloris did not.
Some handbags at the end, with someone in the crowd taking a kick at Ramsdale for winding up Richarlson. No prizes for guessing which club will get the charge from the FA.
Good call on the score, OM.
But overall, Esso nails it @23.
great preview, faustus. we played the first half like a bolero, the second like honkey-tonk piano.
“tottenham get battered, even in their home…”
Big up all you Goonerholics! Bit tearful thinking of how much Dave would have loved today. But there you go, things change and the world moves on.
BUT THE ARFSENAL ARE FOR EVER
Magnificent performance. With and without the ball. Nervy first 15 of the second and sloppy offer of a couple of get out of jail cards to the Scum apart we ran that game.
I would have made TP5 MotM despite Aaron’s superb saves.
Onward.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>