This must be a problem that faces many other of my fellow bloggers. What to include in this entry. What is so interesting that it can capture the imagination of my small readership? To be frank, my life is very dull, bland and at times characterless. Yet, I still somehow achieve to write about the things that are important to me, record and reflect. Contemplating is the most important thing. It is the only way I am able to come to terms with my predicament, and then move on with the tools that best equip me for the road ahead. Well, here I am. The clock has run out and little progress has been made. Sure, I may have the few potential nuggets of good fortune, this coming week but in the main I am not that further down the road, from where I was in late May.
Defeat. How do you deal with it? Some people deal with it better than others for sure. Greater men are moulded by suffering humiliating defeat but then still having the gallantry to pick themselves up and have great audacity to go into the next battle, with no fear. This, test of character is not for everyone, which is why I am a strong believer in the saying that heroes are born, they made. Arsenal suffered their second defeat this afternoon, at the hands of Liverpool. Quite innocently I have avoided discussion on the subject of my football team. The talk of a drop in form, lost points and key personnel missing, tends to lower the tone and as much of a shock defeat is to the system, it is never an excuse. My tendancy during these dark times for any Gooner fan is to read and reflect the view of our faithful blogger, over at Arse Blog. Visiting his site, on auto pilot every morning. His words on November 23rd, solemnly written with words that ring so true. Like a general about to lead his band of merry men into battle, he concedes that the past few weeks have been tough and that booing a team which has become to a certain extend the victim of its own success is not the answer. This is the time be counted, no matter how you support the team and what you do. To be hearing this from a fellow fan, was indeed soothing, to know that someone else feels the way I do, does make the issue less imposing. But from an unbiased perspective, I know we are missing one player in particular. One of those unsung heroes. We miss him and it is more and more noticeable as each game goes by.
Watching the game against Liverpool this afternoon, the first half was a non-event, as far as Arsenal were concerned. We were outplayed in every part of the pitch and the Reds controlled the midfield. Very disappointing to watch, particularly knowing the flowing inter passing game we are capable of. I have been supporting Arsenal most of my life, and for the past seven years (via Rupert on Sky) and that has to be the worse performance I have seen from the Gunners. In years past, under Wenger, a poor performance, would not be under the microscope, as we were able to churn out results or score the odd late goal. I cannot identify exactly what the course of our on field problems are, but the courses are clearly evident for all to see and the opposition to exploit. If it just confidence wavering, then these faults can easily be put right. I suppose with a keeper that does spawn some nervousness, it does little to lift the confidence of the players at the back.
My Dad would say, that it is only football. We all know it is much more important than just that.
The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.