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Arsenal get some credit for their unbottling but there\u2019s also some criticism for their approach. It was ever thus.<\/p>\n
We have gone full Arsenal with this Mailbox; we are saving some Carrick and co for later. Mail us at theeditor@football365.com<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u200bThis is an amazing opportunity for Arsenal to lose their 5th European final in a row. Bottletastic!!! \u2026Budapest is a long way to go to get spangled by PSG or Bayern. To me, the greatest plot twists are the ones that leave you with only three words at the end: \u201cWhat\u2026the\u2026f***?\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019ve only truly experienced that feeling four times. At the end of Fight Club, Memento, Old Boy and The Sixth Sense. Do yourself a favour and watch these four films, if you haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been searching for a fifth for years and I think Arsenal winning the Champions League and not the Premier League might be it.<\/p>\n Just picture the scene. Arsenal finally get the biggest trophy in club football and the first reaction from rival fans is still: \u201cYeah but they bottled the league.\u201d The literal champions of Europe being bantered for not winning England would be football discourse at its absolute dumbest and, therefore, funniest.<\/p>\n The awkwardness would be incredible. Pundits tying themselves into knots trying to explain why conquering Europe somehow isn\u2019t enough. Rival fans desperately searching for loopholes because they can\u2019t process Arsenal fans having a European Cup over their heads.<\/p>\n And the thing is, both sides would somehow be right. Arsenal would have achieved the one thing every club dreams of, yet the \u201cbut no Premier League\u201d jokes would never fully die. It would be the football equivalent of a movie ending where everyone leaves the cinema arguing about what they just watched.<\/p>\n Which is exactly why it belongs with the other four. READ: Four games in 25 days stand between Champions League finalists Arsenal and unfathomable glory<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Diego Simeone, when prompted and baited to talk about referees: \u201cI\u2019m not going to get into that. We all know it\u2019s a foul. We all thought that the ref had got it right. I\u2019m not going to get involved in that because I don\u2019t want to make excuses\u2026 If we got knocked out it\u2019s because our opponents deserved to get through; They took their big chance.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s Diego Simeone, one of the wildest and most manic managers in the game. Has he considered that the grass hasn\u2019t been measured, though? Is it not \u201ccompletely unacceptable?\u201d<\/p>\n Good luck to Rice and Saka; Eze if he plays. But by god it\u2019d be bloody brilliant if this lot stack it yet again. \u2026Arse fans: yes you will finally win the title. But at what cost? You\u2019ve had to watch turgid, time-wasting, manipulative rubbish all season. Arteta has gone gung-ho for win at all costs.Your alleged fan Sir Starmer is a very appropriate reflection of your current team.And look what\u2019s about to happen to him.<\/p>\n Well done. You must be so proud. \u2026Arsenal fans promise to be insufferable. How will we tell? In other news, the sky promises to remain above the ground. I\u2019ve written in being very critical of Arsenal a few times recently, but I must say I might have been wrong. They have been outstanding last two games (still 10 mins left in this one).<\/p>\n So fair play and well done! If they win anything, they\u2019ll deserve it!<\/p>\n Also great to see 5 or 6 English players starting!<\/p>\n Anyway, well done Gooners, and on to the big one on Saturday (the National League South Play Off final, in case you\u2019ve been under a rock). \u2026I\u2019m not sure what the correct term is \u2013 the \u2018 reverse bottle \u2018?; to \u2018 unbottle\u2019 something?; pumping the \u2018 bottle brakes\u2019 ?; the Mother of all \u2018 anti-bottles \u2018?<\/p>\n Whatever the right way of describing it is, we\u2019re sure as hell seeing it now. I really hope you got your mass order in for Arsenal branded plastic water bottles in early enough. A license to print money methinks! It\u2019s hard to put into words just what last night meant.<\/p>\n I\u2019m used to a nervous Arsenal home crowd. Whether it was Highbury or the Emirates, the crowd has generally been quiet. Unless it\u2019s North London derby day.<\/p>\n I can remember one match where it was literally just me and one other bloke in the North bank singing the Arsene Wenger\u2019s red and white army song.<\/p>\n But yesterday. Just wow. As I walked through the Arsenal fans, I saw this red smoke and through the smoke the team bus emerged. Literally never seen anything like that at the Arsenal.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve no idea what happens from here on in, but last night I didn\u2019t recognise my own club\u2019s fans. And I kinda liked it. What\u2019s with the sudden whining and crying about the usage of the \u2018Bottle\u2019 football slang?<\/p>\n For years, we Arsenal fans have endured the bottle jibe thrown at us, seasons after seasons, with someone even making it a live performance art \u2013 literally with an Arsenal water bottle.<\/p>\n So after Sunday\u2019s Everton v Man City match, now its suddenly silly, inappropriate, and an abomination to use it?<\/p>\n I\u2019m mean Man City did in fact threw away a 1 nil lead and a 3 points Win \u2013 and this is a perfect example of a bottle job. And it is perfectly appropriate for football fans to criticize City for bottling that.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no reason for us to \u2018play nice\u2019 and be expected to behave like gentleman in the world of football rivalries.<\/p>\n If we score first but end up losing to West Ham next match, i will be absolutely okay with anyone who would sneer at us for \u2018bottling it\u2019. In fact i know many gunners including myself would criticize the team if this happen (touch wood).<\/p>\n So let us continue calling a spade, a spade; a bottle a bottle. (Really not sure what your beef is; the Mailbox on Tuesday called it a bottle job<\/strong>as did we in our match reaction piece<\/strong>. You are seeing whining and crying where there is none. Well, none until you came along \u2013 Ed<\/em>)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n
Ben Teacher<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Dave H, Bucks<\/strong>
Ps Sod the Celebration Police.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nWill Arsenal deliver a classic plot twist?<\/h2>\n
Gaptoothfreak, Man Utd, New York (Honourable mention: The Usual Suspects)<\/strong><\/p>\nArsenal: Insufferable<\/h2>\n
Tom G<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Pat CAFC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Badwolf<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\nFair play to Arsenal<\/h2>\n
Paul, TUFC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
James, Liverpool<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\nDear Arsenal Marketing and Merchandise Department\u2026<\/h2>\n
Ted the Jambo<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\nAt last, the Arsenal fan view<\/h2>\n
Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\nCalling for Bottle fairness<\/h2>\n
Alex Pang, Singapore Gunner<\/strong><\/p>\n