Blue day all round, thanks to Ade
Yet there was a hint of pride in the voice of the City fan, who informed us that apparently the silver Audi R8 belonged to Petrov and the white and blue one with the custom-paint job was Stephen Ireland’s (but then I guess the no. 7s on the side were a bit of a giveaway), as if to suggest that the ostentatiousness of the cars alone confirmed City’s newfound status amongst the footballing elite.
Hopefully Manchester United might burst City’s rapidly inflating balloon Sunday. Although such desires are an indication of the downsizing of Gooner expectations. In the past we’d have been up for City and even our sworn enemy, Spurs, hoping they’d take points from United in order to prize open the door for our own title challenge. But after losing two of our opening four and based on our form in recent seasons, only the most blinkered optimist would be focusing on anything other than the results which might best enable us to consolidate third or fourth.
If Saturday’s game achieved anything, it was to let Ashley Cole off the hook as the chief target of Gooner ire. There was a silver Lamborghini parked in front of the fleet of Audi R8s and there was some speculation as to whether this might’ve been Adebayor’s. His subsequent performance suggested he’d be perfectly suited to such a tacky motor, all flash and no genuine class.
Unlike many Gooners, I was fairly ambivalent about Adebayor prior to Saturday, as to my mind I couldn’t really bear a grudge against someone who is merely a product of the mercenary modern game.
I can fully appreciate Adebayor wanting to stick two fingers up at some of our fans. I didn’t appreciate the decidedly racist tone of the opposition fans’ chant when he wore an Arsenal shirt and although it was inevitable, I’m no less disapproving and definitely won’t join in, now that our lot have adopted this offensive ditty.
A classier act would’ve appreciated that merely by putting the ball in the back of the net, was all the pain he needed to inflict on those who’d taken his name in vain.
As he ran the entire length of the pitch, to rub it in, there was time enough for anyone with an ounce of common sense to appreciate quite how irresponsible his actions were.
Not that I’m condoning some of those Gooners below us in the lower tier who allowed themselves to be provoked into quite such a rabid, almost primeval response, but I was truly grateful not to be caught up in it. For several minutes it was like witnessing a stomach-churning flashback, as fans, police and stewards all lashed out at one another and defenceless civilians were dragged from the melée in a distressed state, struggling to catch their breath.
Adebayor’s feeble post-match apology would’ve sounded even more hollow if someone had been badly hurt. As for the stamping incident, I have to admit that I’m a little disappointed that the club gave official sanction to Van Persie getting on his high horse. Anyone who has played the game knows just how easy it is to lash out at an opponent in the heat of battle and our hot-headed Dutch striker could’ve as easily been the offender as victim.
But then perhaps in this instance the noble virtue of forgiveness has fallen victim to more practical considerations and having failed to take points off City on the pitch, we’ve adopted a “by hook or by crook” approach to try and ensure they drop points elsewhere, in Adebayor’s absence.
Time was when Machiavelli was more likely to be the “libero” at AC Milan, than the chicanery on which the Gunners’ Champions League qualification depended!
