Similar to other home games this season, this was a 1-1 draw. Everton took an early lead, and then sat back, with men behind the ball, and made it very difficult for Arsenal to get an equaliser. As they would, because they are not expected to just come to our stadium and roll over for us. Arsenal had 91% of possession in the second half of the game (a Premiership record, apparently), but could "only" equalise, not find the winner.
Another frustrating game, but if we aspire to win the League, we really need an answer for when teams come to our ground and play like this. At the moment, that is the difference between Arsenal and Chelsea or Manchester United. It is all very well saying "they didn't want to play football, they just sat back and defended", but the best teams should be able to overcome this.
Aside from the game, I am really growing to dislike Arsenal's new stadium. Arsenal have clearly tried to build the ultimate santised corporate football experience, for all their new "customers". This involves throwing people out for such terrible things as standing up, singing, shouting and swearing - all things that are to be expected at football matches. People will say "just because they are expected, doesn't make it right" - and there are a lot of very sheltered individuals saying exactly this - and complaining to stewards and police about it. Those stewards and police then take it upon themselves to throw people out for very little reason at all.
Apart from anything else, throwing out your "customers", that have spent £35+ on a ticket to get in (which is not exactly cheap), you have to be pretty sure that they deserve it. But Arsenal seem to be turfing people out at the drop of a hat, in some parts of the stadium at least. It is deeply annoying that they seem to be going to war against some of their most loyal fans - all in the misguided pursuit of some new money from some new fans who weren't there 10 years ago. There might be 30,000 people on the season ticket waiting list, but that does not justify the imposition of a police state in the stadium.
This is not just confined to Arsenal, of course - much of the Premiership is trying to create a sit down, shut up, happy clappy sanitised atmosphere. Which may well be the future of football in this country, but I absolutely cannot stand it. When the new fans, that cannot stand a bit of standing, swearing and shouting, get bored and find a new pursuit, we will all be a lot better off. What they are complaining about is not exactly even close to the football experience of old, there are hardly people fighting, ripping up seats and chanting racist abuse - just people that want to support their team vocally.
In the meantime, I am seriously considering not renewing my season ticket for next year - if I had to do so now, I would not. I just want my "matchday experience" back. Going to the stadium and being forced to sit down, be quiet and not shout and scream, is not what I pay £35 a game for. Football will kill itself if this continues, and I won't be around for the funeral.
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