{"id":3353,"date":"2021-05-13T00:01:43","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T23:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=3353"},"modified":"2021-05-14T06:51:37","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T05:51:37","slug":"bus-parked-at-the-bus-stop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=3353","title":{"rendered":"Bus Parked at the Bus Stop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1317672547\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/1317672547?et=D-siOjHBRk56GTSVaFoHYg&amp;tld=co.uk&amp;sig=jIHd0PrnzwoeWraJSzITQzR1HXFf4K-EbpzAYtY7eyY=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Tonight we beat Chelsea in the league for the second time this season. I think that is something to be pleased with!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And yet, I\u2019ve gotta say that it hurts how little that actually matters\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the fixture list came out, perhaps a few of us looked at this game, so close to the end of the season, and wondered what might be riding on it? The answer is not a lot. Chelsea themselves still look good for 4<sup>th<\/sup> place and guaranteed Champions League football. They also have the FA Cup final and the Champions League Final to look towards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have an outside chance of playing in a new European Competition that is for teams who have not proven themselves good enough for the Europa League *cue Mr. Burns-style shudder*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, results against lesser lights have been our downfall in a season when we have been the masters of our own mediocrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The funny thing is that after Jorginho gifted us a goal I actually felt quite confident we would win. Or at least I think I did \u2013 perhaps I just did not care very much if we lost?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Portuguese made an awful backpass that Kepa just managed to paw off the line. However, it went to Auba who squared for ESR to bobble one in. The SKY team were desperate to give Andre Marriner credit for not giving an indirect free kick for a backpass. I am no expert, but Kepa looked well within his rights to make a goal-line save, and if that was what was the backpass rule was meant to prevent then I\u2019ll drink a beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*two minute pause*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, perhaps that was what the backpass rule was meant to prevent, as I am bravely drinking a penance beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from being given a goal, we were not great (although I should point out that our high-press was effective in forcing an error, even if we were fortunate that it was such a calamitous one). Saka was out of the game as a right wing back. Holding, Mari and Gabriel played in a three at the back with KT on the left. Elneny and Partey played central. Auba floated about ineffectively up top (no service and he does nothing if you don\u2019t feed him) with ESR and Odegaard behind him on the left and right, respectively. It was a bit of a mishmash of a team and a formation, and perhaps it was a judgement on the players in our current squad that the manager felt it was his best option. Or perhaps it was just a shot in the dark to try to get a performance from us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who knows?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this point in the season it is hard to suggest that we have any revelations about the team heading our way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what else did we learn, if anything?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Partey needs a proper partner before we judge him, but he has not convinced anyone yet\u2026 Apart from me. He has convinced me that, whatever aspirations he has to play further forward, he should be the deep-lying midfielder. He was harshly given a yellow in injury time when he went down asking for a penalty. That would have been a soft decision, but I thought he might be busting a gut to get a shot away for his first Arsenal goal. Apparently not. He made a great run and then allowed himself to be funnelled safely into the channel. If only the chance had fallen to Elneny \u2013 he would have put his foot through it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chelsea actually put in a performance quite reminiscent of us this season. They controlled possession, were the better side, created some decent chances, missed those chances, gave away a needless goal, and could not find a way back into the match against a determined side who defended deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They were unlucky to hit the bar twice in ten seconds at the end. Apparently, there are some Gooners who do not consider hitting the woodwork twice to be a sign of nearly scoring a goal because these efforts do not count as shots on target. Personally, I do not see it like that, and when Giroud volleyed a lovely effort into the bar after Leno pushed Zouma\u2019s header against it, I thought Chelsea were unlucky not to score. Which made me quite happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then again, early in the game Mari hesitated to step onto a Gabriel pass to allow Havertz (whose face seems to have too much bone but not enough flesh \u2013 I bet he is a mean vampire at Halloween) to run through at Leno and, luckily for us, Lacazette his one-on-one chance over the bar. (Bit harsh on Laca, I know, but he has missed a few this year.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team in blue also had a goal rightly disallowed for an offside after a ball was flicked on from a corner. Before VAR intervened, the sound system belted out The Fratellis\u2019 \u2018Chelsea Dagger\u2019. If only the disallowed goal had been a dagger to their hearts, instead of just a minor frustration in the least important match they will play anytime soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whoever our set-piece coach is he needs to take a long look in the mirror. We do not look secure defending corners. Our own short corners are woeful. Our corner takers consistently take corners that do not provide anyone a chance to attack them. When anyone attacks one of our corners they never seem to have any conviction that they will score. All of which means we score very little from corners. It is such a basic area to improve and the fact that we have a bloke who is supposed to specialise in this rubs salt into the wound. As does the fact that Bellerin cannot take a legal throw-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of Hector, he came on and had a shot on target after our best move of the night before injuring himself as he stretched to clear a lofted ball. Soon after he was replaced by Chambers. Personally, I have no idea who our first choice right-back is, so I wanted Cedric to come on for Chambers, so we got a look at all of them in the same game!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was a first half moment when Holding blocked a shot after a move that was partly excellent from Chelsea and partly us ball-watching. I am pretty sure he blocked it with his hand but we won this evening\u2019s VAR lottery and no penalty was awarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mikel Arteta was bullish after the game in his interview. He was extremely angry with the way some of his comments in his last presser had been construed, and it is hard not to believe a bloke so visibly furious at stories in the papers that he had thrown any of his players under a bus. Which is fair enough. How would you feel if the national press said that you were like Jose Mourinho?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yeah. Pretty angry, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In such circumstances then well might you, too, look like a human velociraptor as it readies itself to go in for the kill. All eyeballs and tight skin and the menace of hidden incisors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What? It was only me that got that impression? Nah, you lot are lying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing I think we must take serious note of is how hard our players worked and how much they wanted to win. In a match that will probably prove a dead rubber there can be no doubt that they gave their manager everything tonight, and I think that is another reason to be encouraged ahead of next season. Elneny got MOTM and fair play to him. I also thought ESR worked his balls off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Right, I have started on a high and ended on a high. As this awful season limps to a close you could not ask me for more than that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope we manage two more wins to end on as much of a high as we can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until next time, have a good one, Holics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>THE CONVERSATION:  EPISODE TWO<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>And again&#8230;the second part of the conversation, and the second part of our Double Celebration<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">GHF.com are pleased to release this, especially considering the Arsenal events of these past couple weeks.  <strong>Lift your spirits<\/strong> by watching the second episode of two video conversations with Bob Wilson and Pat Rice about Arsenal&#8217;s 1970-71 Double year, on the 50th Anniversary of our FA Cup win over Liverpool at Wembley.  Remember to donate to <a href=\"https:\/\/willowfoundation.enthuse.com\/pf\/goonerholicsforeverforwillow-24136-5ca24\">Willow<\/a>, or bid on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?page_id=2492\">GHF.com Auction<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Click on the image below (or on the Youtube link below that) to watch<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong> &#8220;Episode Two: Double Glory &#8212; The 1971 FA Cup Run&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video oncontextmenu=\"return false;\" controls=\"\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ghf_ep2_fa_cup_double.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Or, watch here:  <strong>&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/tXKX_cJKyow\"><strong>Episode Two: Double Glory &#8212; The 1971 FA Cup Run<\/strong><\/a>&#8220;<\/strong> (on Youtube).  This is especially helpful if you&#8217;re having any loading issues with the link to the one the site is serving above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us know what you think in the &#8220;drinks&#8221; section below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>THE AUCTION<\/strong>:  NOW ACCEPTING BIDS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/auctionitems-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2891\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We are also pleased to remind you that our auction of signed 1970-71 Double memorabilia <strong>is now open for bids!<\/strong>  For full information, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?page_id=2492\">The Double\/Willow Auction<\/a> tab above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just a taste&#8230;the lots offered are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Lot 1<\/span><\/strong>: A 1971 Cup Final replica shirt signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham &amp; Charlie George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Lot 2<\/span><\/strong>: A 1971 Cup Final programme signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham &amp; Charlie George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Lot 3<\/span><\/strong>: A second 1971 Cup Final programme signed by Bob Wilson, Pat Rice, Frank McLintock, George Graham &amp; Charlie George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Lot 4<\/span><\/strong>: Bob Wilson&#8217;s autobiography, &#8216;Behind the Network&#8217; signed by Bob Wilson &amp; Ars\u00e8ne Wenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All proceeds from the auction go to the Willow Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"534\" height=\"154\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image.jpeg 534w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image-300x87.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image-75x22.jpeg 75w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Embed from Getty Images Tonight we beat Chelsea in the league for the second time this season. I think that is something to be pleased with! And yet, I\u2019ve gotta say that it hurts how little that actually matters\u2026 When the fixture list came out, perhaps a few of us looked at this game, so [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3353"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3353"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3382,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3353\/revisions\/3382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}