Healthy Rivalry

I read Jhamoy’s latest article regarding of the word “Hate” and “Spurs”. There are many points I agree, a few I disagree.

First of all, the word “Hate” is only a word. When someone says I hate Man U or Chelsea or Spurs, it doesn’t mean they want to kill them. As far as I’m concerned, it’s only a way to expression one’s emotion, and out of convience. Afterall, it sounds silly if we say I dislike Spurs/Chelsea/Man U stuffs like that right?!

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Inherited Hate

Hello Gooners! Jared (not from Subway) is back with a 3rd post. Sorry for the hiatus, college can get busy.

Oh btw, thanks a lot for reading my last post all that way back. I didn?t think that many people would read it! Thanks for all of the great feedback I can obviously see there?s a lot of tactical talk here, but I wanted to post about an issue or a ?non ? tactical? thing. So I said, ?Oh why not.”

Anyways, my post today is inspired from a reply post that SCJonathan made in my last post. In his reply post, there was an interesting topic he hit upon. And I know I should hate Sp*rs, but growing up in the US and having been a follower for 10 years, I really do not hate them. I just view them as a team standing in our way for success.? What he said in that part really hit me. Everywhere I go, everyone I talk to, and every site I go to that has to deal with Arsenal always talks about the heated rivalry with Spurs. They also mention other less heated rivalries with other teams. I?ve heard them being called healthy rivalries.

As a relatively new Arsenal fan, definitely less than 10 years, and a user of common sense, I see and understand why these rivalries are there. But, because I have not been an Arsenal fan for so long, ?or maybe because I am not a rightful fan? (see my last post, probably nowhere to be found now), I feel that I have a similar opinion about our rivalry with the Spurs. It is hard for me to, in such a little amount of time, pick up this hatred against the Spurs. Maybe not hatred for some, but a strong dislike. I believe that Arsenal fans, especially abroad, should not feel that they are required to instantly hate Spurs with all of their might as soon as they choose to support us. I think that SCJonathan is true in that they stand in our way to success. Any Gooner can agree on that. But I don?t feel that any hate or dislike against Spurs makes you a ?better? or ?truer? Gooner.

I may not hate Spurs as much as an Islington born-and-raised, but that doesn?t make me any less of a fan. Inherited hate is something that should not be required of any Arsenal fan. (cont.)
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Arsenal v. Everton…

I hope my OTHER preview didn’t get in… as I had us playing AT EVERTON, as opposed to being home!!!
That does change things a bit…

but they do have good players and are playing well…
4 wins- 1 loss- 4 draws and they currently stand 6th in the table.
(only loss at Boro 2-1)

Andy Johnson leads the league in scoring with 6 goals… (tied with Kanu)… and he and James Beattie up front can cause anyone some problems. They are solid. Arteta Cahill and Carsley are pretty good midfielders… I would imagine they will look to play defense first against us, and try and frustrate us some… and the set pieces and corners could kill us again…
The longer it stays 0-0… the more they will be confident of getting points from the match, or perhaps stealing a win.

If we can manage to score first… then the chase is on… they are forced to chase the game some, and we can use our speed to counter and pounce. They surely still remember 7-0 to the Arsenal! Don’t we all?

I like us 2-0.
One in the first half… one in the 2nd.
I hope Aliadiere gets to play. I’d love to see him start, but 20 minutes at the end would be a good reward. He deserves to play.