By Myles Palmer
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DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA 2 ARSENAL 0
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Makaay 9, Tristan 25
It was men and boys.
Why did I waste my time writing two previews of THAT?
But the lovely thing about a football team is that you can share it with friends and family.
My best friend Doug phoned at 5.30 p.m.
“It’s about a performance,” he said.
“I agree.It’s not about getting a draw.It’s about a performance It’s about how long the game lasts.”
My son Michael phoned from Sheffield at 7.30p.m.
He has been to all the European home games for the last four years : Kiev, Lens, Fiorentina,Barcelona, Deportivo. At Wembley and at Highbury.
But now he has started at university in Sheffield.
He said, “These northern monkeys aren’t showing it on ITV. I’ll have to find a pub.”
“It kicks off in 15 minutes, ” I said.
“What do you reckon?”
“We’ll do well to lose 1-0.”
“As good as that?” he said.
“Find a pub and call me at half time.”
“OK, will do,” he said, and hung up.
MICHAEL DID NOT PHONE BACK AT HALF TIME.
After the game I called my lifelong Gooner friend.
“Mitch, where do we go from here?”
“Highbury on Sunday,” he said, laughing.
Then Alexis phoned
He said, “Edu looks like a player.He’s not one-paced.He should be given a run of five games.He’s got to play Kanu and Edu.Pires had his worst game for Arsenal,Van Bronckhorst is lightweight,Wiltord should be sold to Barnet. Henry obviously wasn’t fit so I wouldn’t blame him too much.”
What did I think?
It is too late to say what I think.It’s 12.54 a.m. It would take far too long – I would be here all night.
I already said it anyway.Deportivo La Coruna v Arsenal was about how long the game lasted. And it lasted nine minutes.
I’m off to bed.
22nd November 2001