Haha that's a great observation ;)
Enjoyed this insightful piece from @mattspiro.bsky.social on how Gabriel Heinze has sharpened Arsenal's appetite for the challenge.
Loved this quote from Edouard Cisse: "They're like two volcanoes. One that erupts occasionally (Arteta) and one that erupts all the time (Heinze)."
New Handbrake Off podcast. In that absolute sweet spot between Mansfield and Leverkusen, talking Max, the cluster of games leading to Wembley, and handling stupid questions. With @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social and Art de Roche.
pod.fo/e/3a272d
I don’t know. These decisions are a million miles above my head.
Who has laid on a bed of nails and torn their own fingernails out in shame because Arsenal dare to be top of the league playing in such a beastly way?
If not, chirpier options are available. Here's Handbrake Off, with @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social and @gunnerblog.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/39d63f
Shhhhh ;)
A nice relaxing chat on Handbrake Off in keeping with the prevailing mood described by @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social as 'football is pain'. @adrianjclarke.bsky.social took it in his stride but still chose a song (which I didn't know) about making things complicated. After a win!
pod.fo/e/39b3a4
He is available for selection
Welcome to an episode of Carry On Handbrake, which took an unexpectedly bawdy turn towards the end. A few giggles as well as the usual chatter as we look ahead to the weekend. With @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social and Art de Roche.
pod.fo/e/397a9d
😆
Anyway, 30 years and someone out there still trusts me to write about football ;)
I suppose the moral of the story is this:
Have a go at what you love. If it all feels too much find a quiet space (hopefully more salubrious than a tiny toilet) and breathe and think. It might just work out... X
I covered some of the experience in a piece for the Guardian a few years ago.
"When the final whistle blew I looked down at my notebook and felt the blood drain from my face." Oh yes. Somehow I found a moment of clarity, an introduction, and did it.
www.theguardian.com/football/201...
I had a notepad and pen, and a word count of 450 words for The Observer. Only far, far too much had happened during Wimbledon v Aston Villa for me to make any sense of it at all.
3-3. Two own goals, a penalty, and a last minute goal = total imposter syndrome.
Who thought I could do this?
30 years ago round about *now* I found myself sitting in the press box toilet at the back of the stand at Selhurst Park in a panic.
It was my first time writing something to be published in a national newspaper.
It was also the worst case of writers block I ever experienced in my life. 🧵
I think about this tweet every time I feel something online start to curl its annoying little grip into my head
Arsenal have waited ages for the attack to catch fire. Eze and Gyokeres, uninhibited and aided by Saka's renewed excellence, looked like the players Arsenal always wanted them to be.
May not be such easy pickings every week so let's see if it is a turning point.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...
Handbrake? What handbrake? Eze and Gyokeres speed through the gears at Tottenham. A decent chat here with @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social, @adrianjclarke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/3951f8
Arsenal have waited ages for the attack to catch fire. Eze and Gyokeres, uninhibited and aided by Saka's renewed excellence, looked like the players Arsenal always wanted them to be.
May not be such easy pickings every week so let's see if it is a turning point.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...
What it means.
The welcome on the approach up Tottenham High Road. Keep your wits about you on and off the pitch…
Congratulations. Uplifting and original and undeniably you. Thanks for sharing your great stuff and greater story.
Overheard gallows humour on the (very) delayed last train out of Wolverhampton.
“Bring back Chamakh!”
“Bring back Park!”
“Bring back Lord Bendtner!”
“Bring back Lucas Perez!”
We aren’t even at Coventry. X
Bukayo Saka is set to do a decade of first team football at Arsenal as a home-grown one club man. That is pretty rare these days.
He keeps signing those contracts. Here's some words on a beautiful bond between player and club. 🔴
www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Also, Producer Robby has started putting together a Spotify playlist of our 'let's have a song' section, if that floats your boat. Some of it is pretty decent ;) x
open.spotify.com/playlist/6cg...
Would it be a terrible thing if everyone on the Handbrake Off podcast agreed that the same person was due a custard pie? That and much less important Arsenal-related stuff here. With @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social and @adrianjclarke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/39079f
If you want a little distraction to help you move on here's a beautiful account of the "greatest 15 minutes" of Kim Källstrom's life, during Arsenal v Wigan in the FA Cup. I really love this.
arseblog.news/2016/07/kim-...
Still reckon everyone will be dropping points between now and May so all to play for.
Been mulling over the lack of attacking flow/freedom this season. Is it more down to Arteta's structure? Or too many forwards being a bit off form quite often?
As usual, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle of both.
A lot depends on liberating attacking confidence in the coming weeks.
Time will tell the value of this point. It was certainly hard earned after Arsenal got Arsenaled via set piece hell. Mosquera and Rice produced game saving moments. Not so easy to find match winning moments though.
Second hardest game of the run-in out the way.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
