So glad you wrote this, I've been thinking something similar for ages since Arsenal started getting criticised by the celebration police. They're essentially saying, "Oi! You! Stop enjoying yourself so much! This is no time for fun!"
Football is a game. It's a mad, stupid, brilliant, infuriating game I'm passionate about, but ultimately the point is to entertain. And we are fortunate as Arsenal fans to follow a team that is so entertaining right now. Why not enjoy a great goal? A hard-fought win? A last-gasp equaliser?
The emotion point is a good one too. Wasn't it the Northern Ireland Women manager who made some stupid comment about women being too emotional? Had he seen literally any man watching football?! It's the whole bleedin' point. Anyway. My point is YES to all that ^^^. And please give the dog a pat from me.
Thanks so much Nick and I couldn't agree more about football being entertainment.
It's funny really, because for some reason (let's just admit it's basically class prejudice) some "entertainments" are given credibility - literature, fine painting etc - whilst other "entertainments" are demoted to childish pursuits. So, along the way football fans resisted the concept that football was entertainment because they were really resisting class prejudice. It's more than mere entertainment, they say. And it IS more, as you know. But anything that doesn't feed you, or clothe you, or house you, is pretty much a way to pass the time: and as such entertainment. Man, I could go on about play and identity and all sorts.
Anyway, I've never heard that quote from that NI women's manager, but yeah, typical nonsense you hear so often.
BTW, I read some of your excellent Kings Of London Great way to approach writing about Arsenal. Great stuff mate. If you haven't read this one I wrote about Granit I think you might like it, bit story, bit history, you know: https://arsenalwonderland.substack.com/p/granit-xhaka-and-the-monk-from-la
Dog has been duly patted :) Have a great day mate.
So glad you wrote this, I've been thinking something similar for ages since Arsenal started getting criticised by the celebration police. They're essentially saying, "Oi! You! Stop enjoying yourself so much! This is no time for fun!"
Football is a game. It's a mad, stupid, brilliant, infuriating game I'm passionate about, but ultimately the point is to entertain. And we are fortunate as Arsenal fans to follow a team that is so entertaining right now. Why not enjoy a great goal? A hard-fought win? A last-gasp equaliser?
The emotion point is a good one too. Wasn't it the Northern Ireland Women manager who made some stupid comment about women being too emotional? Had he seen literally any man watching football?! It's the whole bleedin' point. Anyway. My point is YES to all that ^^^. And please give the dog a pat from me.
Thanks so much Nick and I couldn't agree more about football being entertainment.
It's funny really, because for some reason (let's just admit it's basically class prejudice) some "entertainments" are given credibility - literature, fine painting etc - whilst other "entertainments" are demoted to childish pursuits. So, along the way football fans resisted the concept that football was entertainment because they were really resisting class prejudice. It's more than mere entertainment, they say. And it IS more, as you know. But anything that doesn't feed you, or clothe you, or house you, is pretty much a way to pass the time: and as such entertainment. Man, I could go on about play and identity and all sorts.
Anyway, I've never heard that quote from that NI women's manager, but yeah, typical nonsense you hear so often.
BTW, I read some of your excellent Kings Of London Great way to approach writing about Arsenal. Great stuff mate. If you haven't read this one I wrote about Granit I think you might like it, bit story, bit history, you know: https://arsenalwonderland.substack.com/p/granit-xhaka-and-the-monk-from-la
Dog has been duly patted :) Have a great day mate.