From Brendan : Standard etc
Hi Myles
On the one hand, I have to admit that I find the Evening Standard a little bit annoying in its coverage of Arsenal.
On the other hand I quite enjoy the fact that Standard journos seem to be far more interested in the Spurs “story”, and that means that Arsenal is not really given a lot of attention and that suits me fine.
When Arsenal does get attention, it is usually dismissive. Even when they do well there’s some kind of downer.
Yeah, I get why the Spurs story interests people. Lots of young English players, a young and dynamic manager. And I get why the same old Arsene is not as compelling to many. But is it the same old Arsene? I wonder.
And are the “Arsenal on verge of crisis” stories still credible?
I started this message before today’s (Sat 3 Dec) games. Now it’s after, and I’m sure that a bright spark at The Standard will find a reason why Arsenal are close to doom and Tottenham are the most interesting and exciting team in the world.
Talking of which, if I was Dele Alli, I’d just emigrate after that dive. Seriously, join the foreign legion, mate.
I know you rate him highly, Myles, but I there’s diving and there’s DIVING. Alli embarrassed himself to an extent which I think it would take really quite an astounding effort to try and match today.
In the MOTD interview afterwards, Łukasz Fabianski showed why as a character, as a man, he’s worth two Dele Allis (OK, the lad can still grow up, I suppose. ).
All the best!
Myles says:
You’re sophisticated and rational, Brendan, but maybe a bit tribal.
Maybe a tiny bit paranoid about Arsenal coverage.
That Dele Alli dive was not only cheating but absurd cheating
By doing what he did so early in the game, pretending he had been clipped as he raced out of the penalty area rather than into it, Dele Alli invited ridicule.
I HATED TO SEE THAT. But I still like him.
If England had five players with as much bottle as Dele Alli, they wouldn’t have lost 2-1 to Iceland.