{"id":6753,"date":"2022-10-10T03:21:31","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T02:21:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=6753"},"modified":"2022-10-12T14:15:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T13:15:03","slug":"a-california-yankee-in-king-mikels-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=6753","title":{"rendered":"A California Yankee in King Mikel’s Court"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A joyous crowd from the North Bank lower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Well, finally. In so many ways, finally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal played the Mugsmashers\u2122 (trademark Arseblog) at the Emirates late Sunday afternoon, hosting them in what was hoped to be the tail end of a run of six games without scoring against them from open play. And, with the spirit of Tommy “Lamb” Shanks raised a bit, and that of Dave Faber raised considerably higher, Arsenal ran out 3-2 winners after an intense, exciting, and memorable game that your humble correspondent from California was blessed to watch live from the North Bank Lower. (And I wasn’t even the furthest travelled…Osaka Matt was in from Japan!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lest anyone think that the slogan we share here, “Goonerholics: Virtual Bar, Real Friends”, is just fluff, let me show you another picture, one that has been nearly three years in the making:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Clockwise from lower left: BTM, Scruzgooner, Bathgooner, ClockEndRider, Osaka Matt, Steve T., Son of Steve T., Son of Countryman100, Countryman100, Mrs. Scruz, and Son of Baff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Not one of the above knew each other (except relations, filial or marital) prior to landing in the Drinks of Dave’s blog. Since his passing we’ve created this blog (with others who sadly couldn’t be present) and our own community that embodies the “real friends” aspect of the tile set in the ground at the Grove. And we had the pleasure of meeting for lunch prior to the game today where we raised multiple glasses to absent friends, and in Goonerholic’s memory. We invite you to join our community against future celebrations of Arsenal, real friendships, and our lost, and terribly missed, spiritual leader. Comment in the drinks below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After lunch it was off to the game. As we walked down Stroud Green Road we made our way with an increasing number of our fellow Arsenal fans. Just before we reached the Arsenal tube station, a stroke of luck: a bit of paper tumbling towards me in the wind turned out to be a \u00a320 note, which I grabbed happily and took as a good sign of things to come. The singing began in earnest on the stairs leading to the Ken Friar bridge, and then we were in the ground. CER’s friend David (is that right, CER?) handed us beers, and met two more friends who sit near to him. The concourse was buzzing with chants and clapping. And then it was time to take our seats. I won’t explain the physiology of what I was feeling, if only for TTG’s sake, but let’s just say I was delighted when the green of the field rose into view as we walked through the tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We lined up with a mildly surprising formation, with Tomi at left back, otherwise it’s as you were from our previous league win against the Scum (see Ned’s fine preview linked above or at right). Liverpool played their new-look, Rangers-beating 4-2-3-1, with Thiago and Henderson holding behind their dangerous front four. And it didn’t matter a damn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: I did look at a timeline and the goals to get the names right. From the North Bank lower it was a far piece to see, but in the first minute of the game we broke that six-game duck with a goal from Martinelli. After Liverpool kicked off we won the ball on the right, and Saka brought it forward at pace. He squared above the box for M\u00f8, who put a peach of a throughball to the onrushing Martinelli, who calmly slotted home from the left past a despairing Alisson. It was an amazing thing to see live, even at a distance; the Grove exploded in delight and joy, which was an amazing thing to feel. It was Arsenal this season, in a nutshell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 1 – 0 Liverpool (Martinelli, 1′)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will say that watching the game live it’s much more difficult to write a blow-by-blow report as we often see here, though kudos to whoever can accomplish it. I can’t. Despite (or, wonderingly, perhaps because of) much wine, negronis, amaro, beer, and whisky drunk before the game, comparing it live even to OskartheDog’s (RIP) oversized TV view is a nonstarter. Sober or otherwise, the speed, the sound, the movement, and the way the teams interact are just not visible in the same way on the television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liverpool tried to answer, but our defense held firm. There were moans from the away corner for a handball (as if they could see it, happening as it did right in front of us) as Jota struck the ball against Gabriel’s arm inside our box, but from fourteen millimeters, basically; VAR correctly gave them no love. Nu\u00f1ez struck a shot in that Ramsdale parried away to be cleared by the defense, and then on the break Saliba blocked their inbound cross for Ramsdale to push away again. We weren’t making very easy going of it through the middle of the first half, and finally on 34 minutes Gabriel miscontrolled a long ball over the top which fell to Diaz, who squared for Nu\u00f1ez to equalize. It was coming, and was perhaps our lowest moment of the first half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 1 – 1 Liverpool (Nu\u00f1ez, 34′)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the crowd just roared, and chanted, and stood and sang, giving our boys the energy to lift themselves after that setback. And lift they did. After a series of fouls, free kicks, an enforced injury substitution of Firmino on for Diaz, and a yellow card for M\u00f8 we struck back. In the last minute of first half injury time Jes\u00fas stole the ball from Thiago in our defensive third, and passed forward to Martinelli streaming up the left. He pulled up and took the ball on his right foot, arrowing a pass across the back to an unmarked Saka on the back post. Cue pandemonium again in the stands, and roars again, this time of appreciation for the tenacity and skill of our Arsenal lads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 2 – 1 Liverpool (Saka, 45’+6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a way to end the half, and going in to the locker room up a goal had to make the oranges and gatorade taste that much sweeter. For me, at my second live Arsenal game, it was so exciting and happy-making. A huge thank you to CER for sharing his son 21st Century Gooner’s ticket with me (the lad is away at university; enjoy the hat, 21CG, we’ll meet another time!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly after the second half began Alexander-Arnold ended his ineffective day (England, what?) being taken off injured, replaced by Gomez. And about five minutes later our nemises Jota and Firmino combined to score a really nice goal, fortunately at the far end of the pitch; I could see Jota’s throughball running straight to Firmino, who followed Martinelli and placed it past Ramsdale into the same corner of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 2 – 2 Liverpool (Firmino, 53′)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was depressing, and yet immediately after they scored the crowd roared to life again, chanting “Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal…” Again the team was lifted, and after some Liverpool substitutions we began to bang on their goal trying to knock it open. A series of attempts were saved or blocked (this time right down below us; our movement and interplay was a joy to watch), and then Xhaka sent in a cross to Jes\u00fas waiting in the middle of the 18-yard box. He was rendered unable to field it, I found out later, because Thiago kicked through his foot. The referee pointed to the spot, upheld by VAR and vehemently protested by the Liverpool players while Jes\u00fas was getting treatment on the pitch. The ref even had to go over and explain to the coaches what was going on, or to tell them to stop yapping at one another (I still don’t know). But no matter. When play resumed Saka stepped up and struck a beautiful penalty low to Alisson’s right, restoring our lead and inspiring pandemonium in the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 3 – 2 Liverpool (Saka, 76′)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From then the final quarter hour (plus eternal stoppage time) played out, with MA8 bringing on KT3, Eddie, and Vieira for M\u00f8, Jes\u00fas, and Saka, respectively. All three players were sung and clapped off, as appropriate. All three gave everything they had to the game, and their replacements slotted right in. Liverpool sent everything they could at us, but nothing got through, and at the end of stoppage time we were back atop the league, and singing it loudly and proudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is so satisfying to write “Arsenal 3 – 2 Liverpool”, not least because we beat them solidly, make no mistake. From what I can see they’re about the level where a 4-2-3-1 can beat Rangers, but not the league leaders. And boy, do they miss that bastard Man\u00e9; he provided a certain steel to their spine, and they have not replaced it (yet). Let’s hope it’s a long time before they do (I have to wonder who’d come to a mid-table side languishing, as Steve T pointed out over postgame drinks, below Fulham).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We probably won’t win the league, but it doesn’t matter a damn. MA8’s and (bloody) Edu’s 5-year plan is just more than halfway through, and we are seeing the results of trusting that process, both on and off the pitch. The boys played with passion, grace, and fire, never letting their heads drop and bossing a flailing Liverpool, ripping them open from the first. By the end of the game they had nothing with which to answer. And for this Californian it was one of the best sporting nights of my life, as well as one of the best days to meet old friends for the first time. Best of all? I get to look forward to returning to King Mikel’s court when we play PSV in ten days!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many thanks (again and again and again…) to CER for the ticket and the companionship to and from the game, Bath for arranging the pregame drinks and lunch (and being savior for a certain someone after the postgame drinks!!!), and to Countryman100 who has worked for a couple months to help me plan and arrange all of this. Here’s to Goonerholics, forever!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well, finally. In so many ways, finally. Arsenal played the Mugsmashers\u2122 (trademark Arseblog) at the Emirates late Sunday afternoon, hosting them in what was hoped to be the tail end of a run of six games without scoring against them from open play. And, with the spirit of Tommy “Lamb” Shanks raised a bit, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6753"}],"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\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6753"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6780,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6753\/revisions\/6780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}