Comments on: Childhood Arsenal Heroes and Villains‏

By: Norfolk Gooner

Norfolk Gooner — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:32:39 +0000

George Eastham! Now there’s a name to conjure with. I remember him taking a penalty, he trotted about four paces, on seemingly “spaghetti legs”, and side footed the ball past the ‘keeper who had dived the wrong way in any case. Magic!!

By: Rasp

Rasp — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:30:52 +0000

Morning all,

……. New post …….

By: evonne

evonne — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 07:12:52 +0000

I was Robert Pires with his Alice band, always running, always smiling

By: LB

LB — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 06:41:33 +0000

“Yes.. when I take an “imaginery” shot and score..Radford always springs into my mind” (neamman)

I thought it was only me who did this but I realise from this comment that every football supporter must imagine themselves as one of their football idols or another.

I, like Rocky, always imagined I was Liam Brady, I am left footed and played midfield.

By: 26may1989

26may1989 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:56:03 +0000

Loved Ray Parlour – was very pleased to have been at Anfield for his debut – he conceded a penalty but still looked like he’d have a great Arsenal career. And so he did. Complete hero!

By: neamman

neamman — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:49:07 +0000

Haa..how coulkd I forget TA!!! What a captain.. not so fond of him post Arsenal though. I also liked the Romford Pele as he reminded me of my brother in law.

By: neamman

neamman — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:45:54 +0000

Yeah I didnt like Edu’s exit.. but he did give his all when on the pitch, even when he knew he was leaving. Didnt they let him take a penalty when we beat Everton 7-0 knowing it may be his last time to score for us? That being said.. he was just so nice in person I had to list him.

By: neamman

neamman — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:43:27 +0000

Yes.. when I take an “imaginery” shot and score.. Radford always springs into my mind. I would have loved to see the 30s team.. the way we dominated the decade means we must have had some great players.

By: 26may1989

26may1989 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:41:00 +0000

Love the post – Herb’s a few years ahead of me but only a few, so seeing name-checks for the likes of Supermac and Chippy is great.

I know I’m meant to limit myself to childhood heroes, but I can’t resist.

Heroes: Jennings, Brady, MacDonald, O’Leary (the player, not the manager), Willie Young, Sunderland, Davis, Sansom, Anderson, Petrovic, Talbot, Rix, Stewart Robson (but not the pundit), Whyte (I liked him, including when he played up front), Nicholas, Ian Allinson, Perry Groves, Merson, Alan Smith, Wright, Limpar, Parlour, Kevin Campbell, Rocastle, Thomas, Bould, Adams, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, Vieira, Overmars, Petit, Henry, Bergkamp, Pires, Kanu, Ljungberg, Cole (yes, even him!), Seaman, Luzhny, Lauren, Silvinho, Lehmann, Wiltord, Gilberto, Sol Campbell, Fabregas, van Persie (still….), Walcott, Arteta, the Ox, Song, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Szczesny, Sagna, Rosicky, Wilshere, Arsene Wenger and George Graham 1986 to 1991.

Villains: with apologies to neamman, Edu (for manipulating a Bosman exit after the club had spent years supporting him through forged passport scandal and long term injury before seeing a single good season from him), Anelka, George Graham for the post 1991 period, Nasri, Gallas and Adebayor.

By: Gooner In Exile

Gooner In Exile — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:26:58 +0000

I wonder if our childhood heroes will ever be surpassed, for those born in the 90′s it is because to find a better attacking four as we had then will be nigh on impossible. But for those of us who go back a bit further is it just because we pretended to be them? (this may apply to the blokes only). They were our first loves.