So, Arsenal against Hull City.
Overall I thought we performed okay. We got in Arsenal's faces but obviously we're taking on a team who are light years ahead of us in quality. 3-0 is the sort of result you expect in this game, so while naturally I don't like to see us lose I'm completely unconcerned about the scoreline.
I like to see what our opponent's support has to say before and after they play us, and looking at some of the comments from the Arsenal lot online they seemed to be under the impression that losing this game was going to ruin our Christmas, and quite possibly the next one as well. Er, no. Our biggest match over the Christmas/New Year period wasn't last night's, it certainly isn't Manchester United on the 27th, or Chelsea on the 9th - it's Bolton on the 29th, as this is the match we're most likley to pick points up from. And points make prizes, or something.
I think there's a section of the Arsenal support who seem to be developing a rather unhealthy obsession with seeing us fail, which is jolly nice for them I must say. Watch it - that's how Stoke City started out, and you don't want to end up all embittered like them.
Anyway, for me there were three key points. First there was the stamp by Nasri on Garcia, which the Frenchman should really have walked for. This resulted in a bit of fisticuffs which could really have resulted in cards being shown to several players from both sides, but in the end only Nasri and Hunt were booked. Having seen the incident replayed a couple of times, I'm a little unsure why Hunt was booked as there were players from both sides doing a lot worse than he did - I can only assume it was for his cowardly attempt to headbutt the swinging fist of an Arsenal player?
The penalty decision was a bit soft to say the least, but Geovanni's kick was poor - I think he was trying the trick of taking it slow and hoping the 'keeper dived before he kicked it. Of course, Almunia didn't move (save for a couple of yards forward off his line) and he was easily able to save the weak shot. Had it gone in and we'd got the scores level things may have ended up differently, but that's the way it goes.
The free kick that led to Denilson's goal was beautifully taken, but the decision to award it was as weak as the penalty decision. The player slipped, simple as that.
Comedy moment for me was the shot of the Arsenal subs bench - as you might expect, they were all hat and gloved up, and were wearing the biggest puffa jackets I've seen outside of the Bransholme-Hull city centre bus, but the poor little darlings were sat there with blankets over their knees so they could keep warm. Bloody massive blankets, emblazoned with the club crest.
The. Great. Bloody. Girls.
I have a suspiscion that Jack Wilshire's mum rolls up before matches in the manner of Mrs Pike on
Dads Army, lambasting Wenger for sending her poor boy out in the cold and doling out blankets and scarves to him and his team mates.
Le garçon stupide...
