HEADS HIGH FOR THE ARSENAL

Resilience:

1. The power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.

2. Ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy

Ability takes you far as does team spirit, a little bit of luck: the cliché that is ‘the rub of the green’, but perhaps the most valuable asset for success is resilience. In a league that is very much a marathon not a sprint and in cup competitions where 90 minutes can decide your destiny resilience is key.

When we were top of the league and Eduardo was maimed the Arsenal folded. When Newcastle did the unthinkable and overturned a 0-4 lead in minutes the Arsenal crumbled. This time around we seem to have that elusive buoncebackability (a lovely phrase that) that has resulted in a tremendous run of form. The time to collapse was after the loss to Sp*rs or the home loss to Aston Villa, but on both occasions the Arsenal rose to the challenge: the sort of response we haven’t seen since the days of the Vieira captained glory years.

The away fans have been tremendous even in the darkest moments but now the Emirates faithful seem rejuvenated which makes home advantage palpable. I think that most sensible supporters will always acknowledge real effort: triers, and this set of players tend to give their all which, alongside the improvements in certain team members, makes for a team that can be believed in.

That the press and Sports media are praising us (for now) I couldn’t give two hoots about, as they are a fickle bunch who will jump on any mishaps. What’s really important is that as supporters a sense of unity has broken out. Heads are being lifted even if some refuse to be anything but down and out about things.

Enjoying the good times is as important as wallowing in the bad and one thing hold true for both staes of mind: perspective.

The real test awaits. If our momentum stalls or if we fail to respond when an inevitable setback crops up will the team be up for the fight? You know what? With this lot I think resilience may be here to stay

Comments

Reasons to be cheerful?

So November arrives with cold weather and grey skies. Arsenal sit in 2 nd place with a great chance to make progress in the Carling Cup with a home draw against wigan Athletic. Poised to win our Champions league group and with six months of the season left have 3 of our five tougher away fixtures out of the way, having taken a respectable 4 from 9. I say respectable as, the Man City away trip aside the draw at Anfield on the occasion of Hodgson’s first game was a good result and the Chelsea game I don’t think anyone can really speak of any injustice. That leaves away games at Old Trafford and Sp*rs (who as we know raise their game for this fixture). With injured players gradually returning and the Polish goalkeepers showing signs of optimism, we’re in relatively good shape. Or so you’d think. Yesterday at the Emirates West Ham were put to the sword late on after some stout defending, a good performance from Robert Green and a couple of missed opportunities. The level of indign...

"IF WE BEHAVE LIKE THEM, THEN WHAT IS THE POINT IN WINNING? "- John Connor

"The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. I wish I could believe that."-John Connor To overcome Skynet was not easy, it involved time, belief and an indomitable human spirit. To beat a machine equipped with superior weaponry and a ruthless access to resources to increase its arsenal took ingenuity and a "never say die" attitude. Abu Dhabi is the ground zero of Skynet and Manchester CXV are the Terminators. The thing about Skynet is that there are no qualms about what their aim is, there are no notions of fairness. "Listen, and understand! Manchester CX are out there! They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop... ever, until someone stops them flagrantly breaking rules"-Kyle Reese In a landscape where one team dominates it is up to a resistance to topple them, this is made hard when using resources that were ga...

HATE

Then Now Earlier today Captain Kirk sent me the following video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG1f-v88-kU&sns=em To say it is both disturbing and upsetting is an understatement. We see the beautiful game as something of a mirror to society and try to look on the community of supporters as a positive force. A set of human beings with some values borne out of an understanding of what this great sport of ours can give us. However, it takes a certain amount of myopia from the Football Authorities to proclaim that all is well. The issues that were amplified over the weekend at Old Trafford cannot be trivialised when we see the full extent of hatred; in any form. The violence is shocking as we see people attacked on a basis that is a result of flawed thinking, and the powers that be proclaim all is well; all is not well. So when I look at those images, I have to ask myself this… http://youtu.be/6RVDQgVxprE

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