Morning:
13°c
Flicking idly through the sports channels yesterday in search of amusement, as any book-averse moron will do when stuck in bed with the flu, I stumbled upon a real delight. With the imminent Emirates meeting in mind, ESPN Classic was showing the 1971 FA Cup Final between Liverpool and Arsenal, for whom Charlie George won both the trophy and the 20th Century's second League and Cup double in frenetic extra-time.
The nostalgia quotient was quite a double in itself. The sight of John Toshack, George Graham, John Radford and the rest trundling around a sun-dappled Wembley invoked a special glow, because this was the first match I ever watched with real intensity.
Added to the warmth a middle-aged man must experience when reminded of the day his seven-year-old self fell in love with football, meanwhile, was a sense of poignancy at watching such a stoutly English occasion just as news was breaking of the melodramatics in the Arsenal boardroom.
To think of that endearingly-pompous club falling into the chubby clutches of that Uzbek sea monster (technically “oligarch”) Alisher Usmanov . . . well, it was enough to force a chap to pep up the Lemsip with a shot of 12-year-old malt, just to counteract the shock.
It hasn't happened yet, of course, and perhaps it never will.
But the rancorous departure of Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith — a name that belongs more to the genteel Arsenal Stadium Mystery era, when we were all good friends and jolly good company, than to this increasingly vicious Battle for the Emirates — puts another 15 per cent of Arsenal shares into play.
Should Usmanov and David Dein snaffle them, their Red And White Holdings will have a large enough shareholding to trigger an automatic takover bid.
In which case, needless to say, there would be every chance of Arsenal becoming the last of the Big Four to become foreign owned.
Ructions of this kind are a novelty for Arsenal and if the surviving directors need guidance they are no better tutors than the visiting counterparts from Anfield. Liverpool may have enjoyed a little tranquillity of late but one suspects that's because embittered co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have called a truce to facilitate the sale of the club both are thought to want.
The role reversal in the respective boardrooms is echoed on the pitch.
For once it is Arsenal whose League challenge has faded after a promising start and Liverpool who are serious title contenders. So quixotic is Arsene Wenger's side, that Arsenal might be fancied to win. Yet so durable have Liverpool become that it's hard to imagine them losing.
Taking the form line through Chelsea, whom both have beaten at Stamford Bridge by a single goal, the draw is clearly indicated but it must be said that Sunday's match lacks its usual anticipatory savour. Historically this may be the grandest of all English fixtures, and has lit up all three domestic competitions.
Among so many memorable meetings was the captivating 1987 League Cup Final, when for the first time Liverpool lost a game in which Ian Rush scored, not to mention the post-Hillsborough decider two years later when Michael Thomas won Arsenal the title with virtually the final kick of the season.
Now the fixture list barely feels English at all, what with Usmanov seemingly closer to equalizing the Big Four score by making it American Investors 2 Ex-Soviet Plutocrats 2, and with so few of Her Majesty's subjects scheduled to play on Sunday (God willing the Premier League follows the Football League's example and adopts a quota system but you have to doubt He will be).
So you'll excuse me if I return to ESPN and the 1971 FA Cup Final to wash away the distaste in a nostalgic bath of sideburns, Kenneth Wolstenholme's Empire tones, and the immortal vision of a North Bank boy splayed headlong on the Wembley turf after winning the Double for the stronghold of permanence and tradition we ritually knew back then as the Bank of England club.
Reader views (6)
OK, apologies for the 'stupid' remark Rob, but I don't read this paper very often and I was just utterly incredulous at your response to the article in question.
I still don't see how this article was disparaging to our club though, and took all the talk of nostalgia of the '71 double & memories of a young boy on the North Bank to make Matthew a Gooner.
We are exceptionally well positioned financially for the forthcoming recession, far more than most other Premiership clubs, but that still doesn't detract from the fact that we have some serious internal political problems at the moment - or that with injuries to key players, (and maybe being light a couple of players too) we're inconsistent and misfiring at the moment.
Maybe Matthew Norman IS normally anti-Arsenal, I just haven't seen it myself and didn't see it in this article here.
- John, London
Dear old Norman the spreader of disaffection,indeed!!He grovels to us when we are vastly superior to his lot. Now he is getting that little bit more confident.John you should know you enemy mate.It is as important as knowing who your ally is. It is essential to any true fan,my friend.But, Usmanov is a worry.
- Lloydthegooner, london
John, before you suggest people are stupid you need to be aware, very aware, that Mr Norman is a staunch Tottenham fan & is always busy trying to encourage disharmony where Arsenal are concerned. Since David Dein left, Arsenal have not competed at the highest level. We desperately need him back as he was responsible for employing George Graham & Arsene Wenger, bringing in the process huge success. I feel, in order to compete, it is time to bring in wealthy backers such as Mr Usmanov & in my opinion Jose Morinho as manager. The set up is looking stale & needs an injection of passion & top class players. The alternative this season is a battle for 4th place with Aston Villa. If this satifies you then so be it.
- Rob Gooner, North London
Eh? Pardon me Rob Gooner from North London, but are you stupid? Exactly which article are you responding to? The one above seems to have been clearly written by an Arsenal fan - what's with all the 'Spurs supporter' nonsense?
Is that what you call anyone who disagrees with you? I'm a Gooner and I don't want that bloated, corpulent Russian crook taking control of us either - as I sincerely doubt his motives for doing so.
Saying that all is not well in The Arsenal boardroom at the moment, or that we currently have problems in midfield, isn't being 'anti-Arsenal' - it's simply stating the bleeding obvious!
- John, London
It's always amusing seeing Mr Norman jealous rants about Arsenal. As happy as it would make him to see Usmanov take control at Arsenal, it won't happen. Also, Mr Dein has parted company with Usmanov's Red and White Holdings
- Ali, Lindon, UK
Another thinnly veiled attack on Arsenal from Spurs supporter Mr Norman. Football has moved on, Arsenal have amazing training facillities, a superb new stadium, a great manager in the process of creating a team full of youthful promise. I have no problem with David Dein returning backed by the funds of Usmanov. Before you rudely comment on his looks, I would suggest a quick glance in the mirror Mr Norman, hardly an oil painting! Enjoy mid-table Harry's relegation battle & his efforts in the second rate Carling & UEFA cups. Incidentally, I agree with you in respect of Daniel Levy, he has managed to take you from the brink of Champions league qualification, for the 1st time in your history, under the excellent Martin Jol, to becomming the laughing stock of the premiership. Funny thing is both of us werent alive last time Spurs won the league!
- Rob Gooner, North London
