Photo credit: Gooner fanzine editor and journalist @laythy29
I like 3pm away day kick offs, even when a 380 mile round trip is part of the day. You don’t have to get up in the middle of the night, and you’re home in time to watch Match Of The Day. We left St Ives on a glorious morning at around 9am. A splendid breakfast was taken in an American Diner on the A1 somewhere near Newark. After a trouble free journey we found ourselves rolling into Burnley not long after 1pm. To pick up our tickets we had been told to go to Burnley Cricket Club, home of the great Jimmy Anderson, the Burnley Lara. A ten minute stroll and we were there, with the Gooner travelling faithful enjoying themselves in the sun and boosting the bar takings for BCC.
A beer and some greetings to friends old and new (including the guy who sells the Gooner under the railway bridge on the Hornsey Road) and it was time to walk the five minutes to the ground (as the picture shows, it really is right next door to Turf Moor). In we went. The picture at the top of this piece shows the Arsenal fans taking up half of the stand behind the goal at one end, with what proved to be the most vociferous Burnley fans by the side of us, kept apart only by a thin dividing line. More of this anon.
We had all been delighted by the team announced. The same back five as against Norwich, Partey holding and then a very attacking front five of Pepe, Saka, Odegaard, Auba and ESR. The gladiators came onto the pitch, weirdly, from different ends of the ground. Sean Dyche, hot from his new four year contract, strutted across the grass to his dugout in a bright white shirt and looked King of all he surveyed.
We started brightly, with Tierney frequently in action on the left and Pepe seeing a lot of ball on the right. Partey was looking imperious in midfield, shrugging off tackles and making intelligent passes into space. At our end, although Burnley were pumping in crosses to Wood, we dealt with them well, Ramsdale frequently coming and catching, not punching the ball. Bob Wilson would have been delighted. On the half hour, we saw the first really significant move from Saka. He picked up the ball just inside the Burnley half and ran straight at the Burnley defence, who scattered in panic. He was just shaping to shoot when he was cynically chopped down by Westwood.
Three players gathered around the ball, Partey, Pepe and Odegaard. We were right behind the ball, and so had a great view as Odegaard stepped up and delivered a fabulous shot, up and over the wall and right into the top corner, giving Pope no chance. A real moment of magic, of fabulous quality, which brought back memories of Santi at Wembley. The Arsenal faithful went absolutely ballistic – to the extent that your correspondent was sent sprawling into the next row. Many came to my rescue as my 16 stone was hauled back into position. Thanks guys!
We saw out the first half and took a one nil lead into the interval.
Burnley had clearly had a half time talking to from the ginger testicle because they came out with more purpose. The centre backs, Tomi and Partey continued to mop up the crosses, with Ramsdale again dealing well and confidently with anything coming his way. But we were struggling to get out. We bypassed the first press with ease, but kept losing the ball around the half way line, inviting Burnley back onto us. On 60 minutes, White, who had done well in the air, but struggled with his distribution, turned and passed back to Ramsdale. The pass was woefully short and as Ramsdale came charging out at Vydra. He took a tumble and Taylor gave the penalty. Ramsdale furiously disputed the decision and VAR invited Taylor to take another look. Now when the ref is invited to go and look at the screen, it’s usually a sign that he is being asked to overturn his decision. So it proved. Ramsdale had just got a touch on the ball (MOTD showed me) and so, correctly, no penalty. We had the incredibly pleasant sight of Dyche standing, hands on hips, looking furious. The travelling faithful greeted this with joy and hilarity. The local faithful, to our left, rather less so.
It was at that point that it kicked off. No, not on the field, but in the stand. Plastic bottles were hurled across the dividing line and threats were loudly exchanged. The stewards, caught in an unenviable position, struggled to contain it. I have no idea who started it, but both sides were giving it plenty. Yes it was largely harmless plastic bottles and coffee cups, but the lad in front of me was hit (fortunately in the chest and not the head) by a 10mm spanner. Who brings a spanner to a football game? I avoided any damage, but was hit by a packet containing stuffed olives; cheese and what I think were sun dried tomatoes. I could be wrong, but I think it was friendly fire. I’m not sure if Burnley even has a Waitrose!
Meanwhile on the pitch, our gallant defenders continued to repel all boarders. Ramsdale made one incredible save. Up front, Burnley’s increasing desperation was leaving counter attack possibilities for us. But it just wasn’t clicking. We butchered half a dozen three on two positions. ESR did get sight of goal, but shot weakly. Time and again we tried intricate passes that were misplaced and misplaced, or our close control was poor and the chance was wasted. I saw a bit of the later Villa game on the way home, in a pub in Doncaster where we were having some supper. Two of Villa’s three goals came from shooting when they had sight of goal. Our lads kept refusing to put their laces through the ball. We need to sort this out.
Well, as you know, we saw it through. Gabriel, Ramsdale and Tomi were simply magnificent. Standing up to the physical challenge, putting their bodies on the line, apart from that Ben White backpass we never looked like crumbling in the face of the onslaught. I read somewhere that we had 75 successful challenges in the game. Partey was excellent until he came off (he and KT3 were apparently cramping and were replaced by Lokonga and Tavares. ESR seemed to pick up a knock and was replaced by AMN.) I give Odegaard more than a pass because of that sublime goal, but Saka, ESR, Pepe and Auba had poor games.
Also, plastic bottle throwing apart (which evidently continued after the game), the away fans were magnificent, as they have been in all the games this season. Very loud and constantly supportive. This was a day for cheering crosses headed away, tackles made and blocks put in, rather than beautiful football around the opposition penalty area.
I would have taken a one nil win away to Burnley like a shot before the game. Now we have a midweek Carabao Cup home game against AFC Wimbledon (will we see Patino?) before the NLD next weekend.
Now, how do you get olive and tomato stains out of a t-shirt?
