Diary of a Gooner

Diary of a Gooner - Anticlimax

Gunnerblood speaks of his dislike for the off season, and what may be instore for the world cup.


Diary of a Gooner - Anticlimax

You know what I mean. We build ourselves up so much towards the end of the season and then 'pooof' it's over. Now we find ourselves in the no mans land of 'the close season' and I for one, hate it. At least we are
in the year of a World Cup, otherwise we would have to spend the summer watching swimming on the telly or pretend that we actually care who wins Wimbledon.

Personally I have mixed feelings about the World Cup. Being Irish, I am obviously disappointed that my own nation won't be there. I am not going to say we were unlucky, becasue we weren't. We had it in our hands and we threw it away, but all the same it's a pity as I feel the boys in green always bring something special to the party.

No offence to England, who I hope does well (but not actually win it, I couldn't bear to listen to it for the next 40 years :~), but I will be cheering for the Ivory Coast. I would love to see success for one of the worlds emerging football nations and despite the fact that I can't stand the obnoxious lump they have up front, they have Kolo at the back and more than anyone I can think of he deserves some success.

Anywho, I just hope we get to see a tremendous festival of footie and that you knock nine types of crap out of Sweden. I am living in Sweden at the mo and when it comes to sport, these guys bring arrogance to a whole new
level. If I have to sit through one more conversation about the 'immortal' Ibrahimovic there is going to be bloodshed.

So, back to matters Arsenal. In the past week we have seen a true footballing icon (Bergkamp) retire and just the other day Bobby Pires decided to seek challenges new a Villareal (or maybe just warmer weather!). Let nobody underestimate the impact that these two guys made
here. In terms of quality, vision and technique you could scour the world and find none better. They both took time to settle in the English game and both had to endure a huge amount of stick (remember O'Leary blowing
kisses at Robert??), but it is plain to see who has had the last laugh.

Pires brought a sharpness and finesse that has rarely been matched in the English game and Bergkamp is an impressive candidate for the greatest ever overseas player to grace these shores. We owe them much respect and a great debt, for they were part of the Arsenal renaissance. The period of time, marked most notably of course by the arrival of Wenger, that has seen us go from mediocre middleweights to world beaters, who have this season brought low some of the so called giants of the European game. What now for Juve and Real?

The arrival of Rosicky is for me a fantastic fillip. I hate waiting all summer to see who we are going to capture and who is ultimately going to slip through our apparent grasp. A signing of this quality, this early is
just what the doctor ordered to help me cure these close season blues.

So roll on the World Cup I say and then after let us all hope and pray that the time is easy passing until we are once again tormented by the passion we share.

And please, no table tennis on TV, it just makes me nervous.