Choke

Choke
Pronunciation: \chōk\

transitive verb: to check or block normal breathing of by compressing or obstructing the trachea or by poisoning or adulterating available air

intransitive verb: to lose one's composure and fail to perform effectively in a critical situation

In other words, Aston Villa, and very very nearly, Man U. I must say I really had mixed feelings watching that game on Sunday. For 80 minutes, Man U were choking, trudging towards losing their 3rd game on the trot, and staring the prospect of implosion right in the eye. I quite enjoyed it, of course. The thought of Man U losing 5 for the season, the same as us!

But alas, it was never to happen. Overtaken as it was by an even bigger choke. That it came from Villa also gave me immense joy of course. So we're now 6 points ahead, when it could have been 8 behind had Villa not (CHOKED!) with 10 minutes to go against Stoke. (Hey, it rhymes!) How can Villa outplay Man U for a good 75 minutes and then just...choke? Oh well. That's why they're fifth. Heh heh. Touch wood.

Ah, the joys. Unfortunately, Chelsea didn't so we aren't any closer to them.

Before I get to tonight's game, a word of apology for missing the review for the game against Citeh. Had guests in the Arsewiper household, and couldn't get a glimpse of the game apart from the first Ade goal. What can one say though: two assists and two goals from our previously missing Cesc and Ade. Nice. It was one of those thoroughly professional and efficicient performances we've missed. Early goal in each half, to dispel any nerves or doubts, and to then coast through with a big game in mind today.

I must say it was interesting that Le Boss started with Cesc, Song and Denilson. Apart from Cesc's obvious impact, I must give Song credit for a really sublime pass to Arshavin at the end of the first half, from which the Arsh nearly scored. Despite all his faults, he does have an occasional (read: rare) magic touch, and this one was a gem. It was like this flick with his right foot, with him facing the wrong way, perfectly into the path of Arsh in the box. Yum.

As for tonight. Bobby Pires has in recent days stoked the flames by being all reminiscing and bitchy about Le Boss, and in particular about how he was treated by being substituted in Paris against Barca:

“Leaving Arsenal was the most difficult decision of my career. I was lucky enough to be an Arsenal player for six years and I wanted to finish my career there."

“But what happened in the final against Barcelona made me feel that Wenger didn’t have a lot of confidence in me any more."

“This was the worst moment of my career, that’s for certain, what happened in Paris in the final.”

You know, I love Bobby Pires. God knows, there have been many a time when I wished we had Bobby back in the team. Even with his slowish big-balled running. He was right there in all our best times, and best teams, but why didn't he just take the damn 1 year extension to his contract? That's the first thing. If Dennis could see through his career at Highbury content with the occasional hero's reception to a substitution, why couldn't Bobby?

Second, our goddamn goalkeeper got sent off. Someone had to come off. Now let's look at the line-up that night in Paris. Who could Le Boss have taken off instead?

Eboue - No way we'd have taken off a defender
Kolo - Ditto
Sol - Ditto
Arsely Hole - Ditto
Hleb - Perhaps, but he did/does have younger legs
Cesc - No way
Gilberto - No way
Freddie L - Perhaps
Henry - Yeah, right

So there. Bobby's basically saying it should have been Freddie instead of him. And maybe since the final was in Paris, he should've been kept on just for that. Yeah right. Look, let's say it was a toss up between Freddie and Bobby. Managers have to make decisions, and I stick by his. For Bobby to raise it all over again is just sad.

Le Boss has said the right things in response:

“He wanted to go because he wanted a longer contract than one year and you know our policy."

“So I believe that he decided to go. He was aware that he would not definitely be automatically first choice. I can understand that. He was at the stage of his career where he wanted to play regularly and, at 33, to come in and out, it’s difficult. Don’t forget, he's almost 36 now."

“But he is someone who I would have loved to have stayed longer. He was such an example, him and Dennis Bergkamp. They were quite similar. You give them a ball and they could have stayed out there on the training pitch the whole day.”

The reference to Dennis is perhaps cheeky. I hope so. What he didn't need to do was justify his decision, which he'd done earlier:

"But I had to take one offensive player out without taking Henry out because we had to play on the counter-attack. You keep your strongest, quickest player in the team on the pitch.

"Maybe [I regret it], it’s very difficult to say. We were left with Hleb and Fabregas, who were offensive, Ljungberg as well – then Gilberto. We had already one defender left in there."

Anyway, enough of this. The game proper, and of course RVP's still injured. But we do have Cesc, Ade, Walcott and Nasri, so it should be just nice. I feel good about the game. All we need is a goal, and I think on current form, we really should be good for one if not two. So long as we don't lapse into being lax. I don't think we will. The players will know that this is a super chance to get it right and get to Rome. So fingers crossed.

As for me, the great thing is that we won't be wearing yellow. I hate it. Absolutely do. Put us in the red and white, and we'll kick anyone's ass. Even the white third kit was pretty worthwhile. Someone should do a statistical examination of how we've fared in the various away kits.

So off we go. More tomorrow - hopefully good news!