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You’re above the gossip
Friends…
If you know anything about me, you know that I have tried my very best to stay away from any sort of drama around players, I don’t spread gossip and I surely do not ever talk about player’s personal lives. It’s non of my business, it’s not yours or anybody’s.
Today I’m also not going to address directly the comments going around about player X saying thing Z and some people talking about another player altogether, who happens to be a player in our squad. It’s not worth it. I don’t care about what the fan or fans said. I really don’t.
But what I do care about is how some people are reacting to it, not because I think they’re wrong to react or interact, but just because I know there’s nothing healthy about it. I’m not here to tell you what to do or how to think but, pardon me if this sounds arrogant of me, I have some suggestions that I’m sure will help you in the future.
Firstly, you cannot rationalize irrational behavior. Read that again if you have to. This applies to many, many things in life. You will be way better off, with less BS around you, you will set boundaries in a healthier way and you will be able to create a habit out of this.
Another thing I will say is that people that talk about other people like that, with the aim of getting attention (because it’s not ever about anyone else but the one person that spews the ignorant comment), thrive on engagement. They want to be read. They want to be interacted with. Ignore them, as often as you can.
And trust me, I know it’s hard. Recently someone I follow and whose opinion I respect, said something about my favorite player that I found to be very much click bait. I couldn’t said so many things and wrote a DM, etc etc etc. But why? If that’s what they think, that’s what they think. If I didn’t like how they said it or what they said, that’s MY problem. A few years ago I would’ve absolutely engaged. And then I would’ve been inundated in that. The issue would persist. The drama would build.
And it’s all such a waste of time. Imagine what you could do with the same energy and time that that tiny, absurd, little post took from us.
I love that people care. I love that people wanna defend our players with all our might. It shows that they matter to us. I totally get it.
Sometimes we need to say to ourselves: I’m above this.
I know you are.
d ❤
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Anything can happen
At this very moment there’s a countdown clock on my TV that says 11:23. That’s the amount of time left until the men’s squad play vs Liverpool in what is, for me, the most important match of the year. There’s so much on the line.But I just cannot help to think how this is the same feeling I get with every single Arsenal Women’s game in the WSL. I’m not kidding.
“THAT BIRMINGHAM GAME” has given so much trauma as a fan. And it also has sorta empowered me and gave me confidence. The trauma stems from what we felt as complacency against a team at the bottom of the table which cost us the championship. We can blame ourselves and question how we didn’t beat them as long as we want but the fact is that it happened and we cannot change it. Safe to say we all loved that at least it was vs Louise Quinn, who played a stellar match.
The confidence that I got from it is that a match like that can happen to any team, and that gives me hope, which empowers me to know that anything can happen.
I’m not saying that we will be champions and that Chelsea will lose 2 matches and whatever scenario is needed. What I’m saying is that it CAN happen. Maybe it’s not likely but it CAN. So, why assume that things won’t work in our favor? Why is the default to be a pessimist?
I chose to always believe and if it doesn’t happen I’ll just deal with that and try to get something from it. I don’t understand the whole “expect the worse and be happily surprised” attitude. Seems better that way for me. Its what works. Because it nothing can happen, and things will finish just how the are at the moment then why play any more matches? what’s the point of anything?
With that said, I have a weird feeling that there’s still one result that will go our way to either get us the title, super close to it or even make the CL final.
Those results wouldn’t be luck. These women, on all squads, work so damn hard. Also, I’m hesitant sometimes to say things like: it’s what they deserve only because I also think that other women also deserve the rewards.
Ok, not Chelsea.
d ❤
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de waarheid
Most humans that know the sport know about Vivianne Miedema. As AWFC fans we are so very privileged to have a player of her quality, vision and consistency in our team. The influence she has on players, staff and fans as a whole is truly impossible to quantify, qualify and analyze. In addition, her value and importance to the Oranjeleeuwinnen and to her nation as a whole is simply unreal.
You know this, I know this and even rival fans or people that don’t think she’s the best striker on the planet, would still agree that, objectively, she’s unstoppable and makes every single squad better. For my money, she makes every single team stronger and when she’s not, no matter the form they might have for a spell, a squad is weaker. This is a sign of big players and when you’re the biggest there is you’re going to leave a chasmic void wherever you aren’t.
When I think about Viv though, I don’t think about the goals, the passion, the gloves… I do admit I think about the bun because I now sport a man bun in her honor… but back to the topic. I don’t think about on the pitch stuff when she comes to mind. Rather, I feel this incredible energy, vision and humility that is much more powerful and has more potential than anything within the confines of the white lines.
Of course, I’m not the first nor last to say this. Her attitude and personality have been featured in many interviews, blogs, videos, etc. We all know she’s special but I’m here to say that she’s 1000x more special than we think.
There is a “Wengerism” that I love and I use all the time. It says that to truly appreciate things we need to “create chronological distance” between us and the event. By the way, that has to be the name of a future album for me.
Viv’s football brain is developed beyond description and her ability on the pitch in undeniable. But the person, the human, the intelligent human is an incredible force and I’m here for it and support her in every single thing she does.
Her writing is incisive, poignant and extremely intelligent. All the articles she write push boundaries and do so with eloquence and truth.
It’s almost like I feel, no that she’s TOO BIG for the club, etc… it’s that the club and anything she’s involved with is too small. I don’t mean to disrespect and anything and yes “no one player is bigger than the club” blah blah blah. But I kinda feel it like that with her.
There is a infinite amount of quotes from her I could cite. Her self awareness is uncanny and her ego is so tiny, its just inspiring. But my favorite quote of her recently was during the Man City match when she was asked about the girls playing at The Emirates and she said that that stadium wasn’t the men’s stadium but that it was the club’s stadium.
INSERT MIND BLOWN EMOJI OMG
I never thought of that. Not in my feminist, equal opportunity, socially conscious mind. What a perspective… what a point of view… what a simple truth.
Viv is the truth.
d ❤
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Red shorts to follow?
Empathy is paramount in life. Also, as a fan of women’s football I’ve grown to practice more empathy and I have become, I’d like to think, someone that has the ability to put myself in other people’s shoes. I’d like to think that I have an open mind and heart as it relates to imagining how hard female footballers have had to fight, battle and such.
Regardless of how much I may try, regardless of how long I have been married, regardless of how open and willing to listen I am, as a man, the reality is that I simply cannot understand what it’s like to live through the biological cycles that women experience.
This post ins’t about trying to explain it, nor is it about assuming that I have the least amount of comprehension of the topic, physiology, menstrual cycles, hormones or anything at all, really. What I do want to express is how happy I am that the lionesses have decided to start using blue shorts instead of the traditionally white ones.
As you know, AWFC use white shorts on the home kit and I think it’s only a matter of time until that changes. Why wouldn’t it? It makes sense to me. Whatever situation applies to white shorts, doesn’t matter if it’s for the national team or a club team.
I understand tradition and things like that but there has to be a time where things shift and compromises are made. I mean… women footballers have been making compromises their entire lives.
It’s only fair.
d ❤
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Massive growth
I love the growth of the game. I honestly and truly do and I hope it keeps going and going. It’s what women deserve, it’s what little girls deserve and it’s also what all kinds of people deserve. We all deserve the sport to grow. It has infinite benefits to us all.
I only started seriously following women’s football in 2019 during the World Cup and the growth I have seen in every way, shape and form in the sport has been nothing short of astonishing. I’m talking about growth and expansion and evolution in all areas of all areas of all areas of the sport. I have honestly never seen anything like it.
It seems like the athleticism has progressed and the players are just better and better. New blogs, podcasts and YouTube shows enter into the space exponentially. The community as a whole has mind blowing reach. The brands that are supporting the sport get bigger and basically anything you can think about related to the sport is growing and getting better.
Of course there are things that can be better. UEFA can do better, FIFA can do better. Society can do better, and so on. Among the things that I wish were different or better is the involvement on questionable owners and where their money comes from.
I love the idea of Arsenal having competition but what I dislike is the growth of Chelsea and Man City, two clubs that are among the biggest financial dopers in the history of sports. I have a lot of empathy and I understand why players would play for those teams but the idea of having Putin’s best friend be your boss and the guy that signs your checks sits very bad with me. I’m not judging the players, I’m judging the fact that he is allowed to be in that position.
Why must we allow dirty hands to have an impact, as positive as it has been, on the game we love? Well, that’s life and nothing is perfect and I’m sure fans of those teams have different opinions. Moreover, I might need to rethink my opinions but as it stands, I’m completely ok with the thought of Man City being sanctioned and Chelsea being relegated just because I don’t like them.
d ❤
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the importance of being Wrighty
It’s absurd to try to summarize the importance of Ian Wright. Not only for what he has done and continues to do for Arsenal but also as important is what he does for AFWC and the women’s game.
I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Ian but if I had to guess, I’m pretty sure that he would be the first one to say that I’m giving him too much credit, that this isn’t a real thing and that he is nowhere near as important to Arsenal Women as Vic Akers, Kelly Smith, etc etc etc.
The best way that I can attempt to explain what I mean is the following:
When the conversation about who is the best player ever comes about we usually hear the debate be centered among Pele, Maradona and Messi. For me, the question I always go back to isn’t “who is the best player ever?” but instead: “who is the most important footballer ever?”
The answer is a clear one: Johan Cruyff.
Not because I’m obsessed with the dutch, but #14’s playing, his philosophy, his coaching. He did it all, in a very specific way that had a profound impact.
So in my opinion, to a certain degree, Wrighty is as important to Arsenal as Cruyff is to world football.
He’s an Arsenal legend, we all know that…He is also a fantastic pundit, podcaster, has a great taste in hats, and moreover he often uses his voice and speaks out for social causes and loudly stands against racism and misogyny. On top of that the way he champions the girls is legendary in itself. Goes to virtually every match, tweets and posts about virtually every single player in the squad. Supports in every which way… you get the idea.
This is not something you’re hearing for the first time and it also never gets tiring to give him credit. On the same token though, I would guess that Ian feels it’s natural, it’s common sense and absolutely effortless.
Imagine if 5 or 6 more legends would be like him! Image the impact that could have.
Wish at some point we don’t have to imagine it.
d ❤
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a case against emirates stadium
Even though I totally understand what it would mean for the girls to play every match at The Emirates Stadium, I just wanted to argue against in a way. I think its a great idea and a great thing to strive forward too, for sure. It would mean so much to the players and the club.
However, it is my belief that if we really want to give the girls what they deceiver we should give them their own stadium. Doesn’t have to be Emirate’s size but big and great enough to be a stand alone, quasi independent entity.
I would call it The New Highbury or The Vic Akers Stadium.
Name a stand after Maria.
Have the girls play CL matches at The Emirates like the men did at Wembley.
This would be so incredible, wouldn’t it?
It would be their own thing, their own identity, their own entity. It would be THEIRS.
ONLY theirs.
Like, I know what the emirates would mean and all that but I just think it would be way cooler if the girls had their own thing. The thought of them having to do the same thing as the men to get to a truly high level in people’s eyes or whatever is something that doesn’t sit well with me overall.
I know that that isn’t the actual idea behind them playing there and sharing it full time with the men, I totally understand that. I also understand there’s infinite money involved and it’s not that easy. I get it. I’m just saying it’s what I feel they deserve and the idea should be explored by the powers that be.
d ❤
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The more The merrier
Many, many, many years ago I started and stopped and deleted and re started many Arsenal blogs. I must have tried no less than 6 times. The main reason why I stopped was because I had no real confidence in my writing. I wasn’t sure I had what it took from a tactical analysis stand point nor did I think I had a good enough style of writing. Self doubt crippled me from a lovely endeavor.
Through my life as a professional musician I have learned to cope with the impostor syndrome and I have acquired tools that have allowed me to face fears, to not doubt myself, to believe in what I’m doing and so on and so forth. The principles are applicable to anything, but I just never actually did it in the blogging world.
One of the factors that held me back was the insane amount of blogs that existed. It’s absolutely insane to think about it. So many options and why would anyone ever read what I have to say about Arsenal?!
I kinda still do feel that in a way BUT I’m taking the same approach here as I do with TAWP… My goal is to add value, to motivate, to challenge, to inspire and empower. I am a champion of all things AWFC and if you are reading this and feel you want to create something but aren’t sure, I’m here to tell you that you are not alone and that you are not alone, know what I mean?
All things considered, the AWFC content landscape is not very populated. There is only a handful of podcasts, a small number of YouTube shows and same goes for blogs. The more content, the more options, the more alternatives the better.
If you want to start a podcast, please do it. Same goes for a blog or YouTube show.
I understand how tough it can seem and how intimidating it all is. I’m here to tell you that not only do I know you’re capable of doing it, but also to remind you that it has never ever been easier to do anything life this in the history of ever.
When I started my first podcast about 7 years ago it was so damn hard. Now anyone can do it in a fraction of the time, with logos and editing and everything in between sorted out in minutes. Don’t even get me started with AI which an be an omnipotent tool.
But it all depends on us. On taking action. On actually doing it.
This is why I’m writing this blog.
I’m not a journalist. I’m not an author. I’m not pretending to be a respected voice in the community… I respect those professions and those positions so much.
I just really love the idea of consistency and giving.
Thanks for being here with me.
d ❤
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a week to remember
Wow.
Just WOW.
These two results, back to back have been something very special to witness. Comeback wins, each in a very peculiar way, has shown that this squad has so much spirit and fight. I didn’t always see it to be fair, and it’s been a glorious thing to witness.
The two elephant sized ACLs in the room (or are they ACL sized elephants?) in the room are very ironically missing… we all know Beth and Viv are out for a while and we also know how much their personalities drives the team. We have seen them getting so emotional after the Conti Cup win, crying and cheering on the team.
At some point I felt that their absences were just too much for the team. You just cannot replace people like that. Right when I started feeling that, the girls started to prove me wrong, as I usually am. They started playing better and you could almost feel like they were doing it for them.
I do have to say that the rough period I felt magically coincided with Jonas benching Katie McCabe. Of course I’m being sarcastic. To me they were always intrinsically linked. KT makes any squad better, all the time, no matter when you are reading this. Moreover, any squad without her is depleted and made very weak.
I spoke about that HERE and I also did a full podcast on Katie back in September of 2022 (here) .
I can’t not think that having a full squad isn’t a better situation. I would be crazy to write that we would be better off without 6 of our best players and as crazy and silly as I can be, I’m not THAT crazy.
The best way I can describe what I’m feeling is by saying that anything is possible. Which is very different than saying or thinking “there’s no way we can win vs ______”
This team!!
d ❤
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women’s football made me a better person
My first memory in life is watching the Dutch national team with my grandma back in Venezuela .I love football. Always have and always will. I’ve been obsessed with it, much more than I’ve been obsessed with music, believe it or not.
At one point I wanted to be a footballer for real. Watching countless matches and playing the sport helped me become a better player, a better teammate, a better athlete. It made me develop consistency and all the things associated with sport, even at a very, very, very low level.
You guessed it right: I sucked and I never ever had an actual shot. However, I bloody loved it and still do now more than ever.
As a fan, with my whole heart invested in Arsenal and the dutch national team, I experienced so many emotions and learned about loyalty, authenticity and developed a sense of belonging. Ironically this sense stemmed from not belonging but that’s a topic for another post.
I’ve never actually had my heart broken in a relationship, but as a football fan I have lost count.
But for all that love and obsession it wasn’t until I started watching women’s football that my life as a football fan truly began. My life has been exponentially enhanced by it and I am convinced that I have actually become a better person all around.
My mind, heart and soul opened up to a whole new world in which everything seems aligned. It has also allowed me to put into practice more than ever a social responsibility I feel I owe to the Arsenal community. A world of inclusivity, of patience, of empathy, a place where my expectations where challenged (not of the sport itself but expectations of ME as a person and fan) and much more.
To draw a quick parallel to music… my friend Max and I were on tour last year and as we’re sitting on out plane we were talking about how much we loved punk and hardcore music, as we always do. And then he said something that I actually heard him say about 7 years earlier but had forgotten how perfect the statement was:
“Listening to jazz makes you be a better musician. Listening to hardcore makes you a better person”
Arsenal women are my hardcore.
If you’re reading this is because you already get it and you already feel that way. We care about these players on a deeper and more profound level than with any team we’ve ever supported. As I mentioned on the previous post re KT etc… we care about their hearts, their emotions and mental health.
The other day I was driving and started thinking about how these women, from all clubs, have always been and continue to become role models for young girls. But given that I am self absorbed I started wondering how that affected ME. I thought about how I wouldn’t have the same access to the players if I was on pitch side or at a signing or something like that and how I feel alienated when I hear interviews or programs and they only talk about players being a role model for young girls.
Like… what about me? haha
Seriously though, what truly made me open my eyes was that as silly as my complaint was, imagine how alienated women have been from the sport basically FOREVER. It’s absolutely wild. Forget about women’s football for a second, but just how hard it’s been for women to be involved in football in general.
It’s wild.
To a degree I feel I owe to every single woman who has ever kicked a ball, who has attended a match, who has covered a tournament, who has photographed a training session etc etc etc. I owe you for your bravery, your patience and your love for the game.
If you are reading this and this applies to you. THANK YOU
d ❤
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A very subjective look into AWFC 