<![CDATA[Queen City Gooners - Blog]]>Thu, 07 May 2026 23:53:36 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The Queen City is Red]]>Fri, 02 Aug 2019 20:55:00 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/the-queen-city-is-redAs I am sure most if not all of you know, Arsenal visited our fair Queen City a few weekends ago, bringing us something I know many of us thought we would never see: Arsenal live in Charlotte.  Being the cynic that I am, when the rumblings began that Charlotte was on the shortlist of cities that Arsenal might be visiting, I was more than skeptical.  LA, Denver, DC, maybe Atlanta if in the south, but not Charlotte.  This is just my opinion, but it feels like our city has been fighting a battle that the city council was winning, being pessimistic on the idea of Major League Soccer in the city and stamping out any rumors of an MLS dream until recently with the announcement of a possible MLS expansion.  Despite hosting the International Champions Cup (ICC, a friendly preseason tournament for European teams) four times previously, with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, it's as if Charlotte sometimes forgets the sport's very existence.  Nonetheless the announcement was drawing nearer and once it happened, myself and the rest of the QCG board began to put into place the motions of what it meant for us to be a hosting supporters club.  Many of us had been to the New York and California friendlies in the past but we were tourists, visiting these larger cities with awe and some jealousy.  Now it was our turn.
A whirlwind of meetings and ambitions, what did we want to do, how were we going to get tickets, what could the pub do, questions all flew threw our brains and onto paper.  It was madness, exhausting and exhilarating.  Yet it all came together with only minor setbacks.  Tickets in hand, Ri Ra's with our support and Arsenal America's help, this weekend came to fruition in glorious fashion.  I knew it was going to be a busy weekend so I took a half day from work and headed down the pub at 2pm on Friday to kick of the festivities.
Walking off the light rail it didn't quite dawn on me that this city was going to be as red as it was.  Being a part of the Queen City Gooners since 2012, visiting Winston Salem with the NC is Red event in 2013, Gooner Gras in 2017 and many Carolina Goonerfests hosted by us, I knew that the city and the Carolinas boasted a strong contingent of Gooners from all walks of life, but walking into the pub on Friday was just the tip of the Gooner-filled iceberg.  I walked up to the bar, chatting with some out of towners from Texas sporting Arsenal kits, saw another face from years past and some I didn't know but eagerly chatted up about the city, AirBnB's and Arsenal in general.  As the day went on, it started to get to business time, assisting Ri Ra's in setting up for the Q&A with the famous Arseblog himself, Andrew Mangan and the great Robbie Lyle from AFTV and other odds and ends that needed sorting out.  The doors began to open for a first come first served table arrangement.  The tables quickly filled and soon it was standing room only, then the back of the whiskey room to the front table near the stage was filled with Gooners packed like sardines.  
Andrew and Robbie were awesome, every question answered with the love of the team and us fans in mind, doing something we all love: talking about the Arsenal.  I was thrilled when we reached out to Andrew and Robbie and they agreed to do the Q&A.  I spent a couple of years blogging for the QCG because of my love of Arseblog's work.  I have always liked writing and getting to write about the Arsenal was a dream come true for me.  I got burned out with work and such so I stopped writing but I never stopped reading and listening to Andrew Mangan's commentary.  That night, listening to Robbie and Andrew speak, began to rekindle that love of the medium for me.  Even in the miserable, sweltering heat of the packed pub, you could see the faces listening and laughing as they spoke.
The next morning I got there early to help set up for the block party that Ri Ra's painstakingly put together for us.  A near scare with a shifting ladder while ambitiously attempting to hang a banner between two lamp posts aside, it was the most fun I've had in Uptown Charlotte.  Meeting the legendary invincible Ray Parlour, drinking beer and chugging water, chatting, singing, wandering inside to beat the heat, meeting new people and soaking up the merriment of the celebration of Gooners from across the States and abroad as we prepared to see our team in person. 
The match was excellent.  Getting to see the young aspiring kids and the veterans in person was incredible.  A solid 3-0 win was icing on the cake as we watched our team that we all follow play in Bank of America Stadium.  The crowd, chanting our famous chants, singing for Ozil and Aubameyang, the ringing of “Eddie, Eddie” as Nketiah banged in two goals, a bright start for an aspiring young talent.  Martinelli's speed and Ozil's backheel were two more moments that really stood out for me.  To be honest it was just the occasion, soaking it all in that was most memorable of all, even for a glorified friendly.
I sit here reflecting on how much this club means to all of us.  To see the “#we care, do you?” signs around stuck out to me.  I know it is a jab at the board and Kroenke in particular, but to see us all in Charlotte this weekend it is very clear: we really do care.  Walking around the block party, it was hard not to stop and talk to fans I have seen over the years.  From Gooner Gras to Goonerfest, I have met so many people and a lot of them are close friends.  A friend I met years ago though Arsenal, we go to concerts across the state, another is my fellow comic book nerd, some I spend Monday nights with playing board games, a dozen or more of them are invited to my wedding in January.  My wedding itself, is being held at the very pub where I watch the Arsenal every weekend.  It's something I have never felt in all my years of sports or general fandom.  It's a weird logic defying situation.  To say it's a family is a cliché, but in a strange way it is just that.  These are people that you look forward to seeing every weekend from all walks of life, brought together by the love of one team from England, so many miles away.  For two days though, that family of supporters in my home city, expanded to 34,000 strong in the stadium where we watch the Panthers play.  Walking down the street it was a sea of red and white.  Charlotte was truly red, in a state where a shade of blue is named after it. (Carolina Blue)  
Charlotte, the unassuming city that was looked at as an afterthought when in a list of cities that included LA, Denver, and DC, became a haven of Gooners.  Everyone I talked to was blown away by what we did here this past weekend.  By we, I mean all of us, Queen City Gooners and all the other countless supporters groups that flocked down south to sing in full voice as we marched down to the stadium.  All of us, who packed the pub to listen to Andrew and Robbie give their honest words about the club and fandom.  All of us, who braved the heat in the Ri Ra hosted block party, merrily carrying on with friends, old and new, young and old.  So yes, we do care, all of us and our Queen City got to see just what it was like to have a city that was red for the Arsenal.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank so many people for the weekend:
To my fellow QCG, who we had many meetings trying to hammer out logistics.
To Arsenal America, for their support in this endeavor.
To Ri Ra's Irish Pub for putting on the best block party for Gooners this side of the pond, our home and host of the QCG every weekend.  They are simply the best pub hands down.
To Arsenal for giving us a chance to show what great support they have here.
To Andrew Mangan and Robbie Lyle for coming to our Q&A and Block Party
And most of all, thanks to everyone who came out, had a drink with us, cheered and lost their voice chanting, we couldn't have made this so special without you


Oh to Be a Gooner,
-Brandon, Queen City Cannoneer

]]><![CDATA[Soccer and Community]]>Wed, 06 Sep 2017 14:12:05 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/soccer-and-community
Game 3 of the Premier League Campaign for Arsenal was horrendous and you've all probably read or watched all the blogs, podcasts etc about just how bad we are and the reasons why.  Everyone has their own ideas and frankly we as fans have very little control over what happens at the club.  We all wish we could impose a bit of our will on the board or managerial staff but we can't.  So instead of having you read another depressing dissertation on the state of Arsenal Football Club, I've decided to talk about something else.  
If you've been following the Queen City Gooners for the last few years, then you have seen us talk about Project 658 and the Street Soccer 658 Open Cup tournament.  The QCG have participated in this tournament for three years and its been a lot of fun to play in.  Each year we have added a team to participate with a full three teams entered.  If you've never seen the game played, street soccer is a fast paced 4 on 4 (three outfield and one keeper) style game played on a court with some significant rule changes like no offsides and protected keeper areas.

I played keeper on team 3 and got a bit banged up because I decided to forgo elbow pads this year and it was a decision I  regretted.  Court burn hurts everybody.  Despite this I always have a blast playing the game and watching others take to the court.  With three teams playing under the lights of our Queen City, we had plenty of chances to watch our fellow Gooners compete for a little bit of local glory.  Our Team #1 took home the trophy over Summit Coffee in a hotly contested final that saw us win 10-8.   The trophy will be proudly displayed at Ri Ra’s in all its glory.  A video of the finals is on the QCG Facebook page so you can see the game being played.  For all the fun we had it is important to note what the Project 658 is about and why we support them.  

Project 658 is a charity organization that uses Street Soccer 658 to improve the lives of the homeless and refugees in cities across the country.  It is an opportunity to talk and support those from all walks of life.  The organization is a beacon of hope for those families and individuals at risk.  While having fun competing for local glory it is important to remember that the tournament is more than just friendly competition.  It helps bring us together in the soccer community as humans.  You get to talk to those from the homeless teams and learn their stories.  You get a chance to meet new soccer fans, friends and competitors from years past.  With the world news being sometimes bleak and horrifying, a moment of enjoyment playing soccer in downtown Charlotte with so many people shows us just how powerful the unity of the game can be.  

The tournament has grown over the last several years with the Homeless cup and Corporate cups and adding a few teams to the Open cup, to the endeavor it was this year.  There were 16 teams in the Open Cup and next year it could grow larger.  As the game of soccer grows in this city it becomes more important to grow the community, the men and women at Project 658 with Street Soccer 658 show us all the tangible positive effects the community brings.  

This community is reflected in the Queen City Gooners ourselves.  We as supporters group have grown so much since the start in 2011.  I remember sitting at the bar in 2012 watching college basketball when the bartender noted my Arsenal jersey saying “you know the Arsenal supporters group meets here?”  I didn't know it then but that chance encounter has led me to some friendships that I value highly.  Each year we at the QCG want our numbers to grow not just to be the largest group in the area but to be a place of camaraderie and friendships.  We all share a great love of the Arsenal.  We laugh at Tottenham, we cheer when Giroud scores a goal from an impossible angle, we yell in frustration when we lose.  We all have our own lives but for those 90 minutes we are a community of supporters and a family to grow the game.  Our numbers have grown tremendously and we love seeing new faces come into the pub.  Week in and week out, win or lose, we want that pub filled with friends ready to chant, yell and share a pint.  

When the team struggles,  we struggle together.  It's such a strange thing being a fan.  So from one Gooner to you all: come on down to Ri Ra’s, meet some new people, cheer on the Arsenal and remember to always laugh at Tottenham.
Sorry for the more serious post but the with the abysmal start to the season I wanted to write something a bit different.  The international break is good opportunity for us all to take a breather and hope the team can regroup and come back stronger.  

Until next time.  Come on you Gooners!
For more information on Project 658 visit www.project658.com. 
]]><![CDATA[And So It Begins!]]>Mon, 14 Aug 2017 01:03:38 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/and-so-it-begins
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It's that time of year again, finally.  A new Premier League season is upon us and we as Arsenal supporters are eager to see if the squad additions over the off-season will be what we needed to get us crowned Premier League champions.  Last season didn't exactly end like we had hoped but an FA Cup win over Chelsea helped minimize the pain a bit.  
The off-season was pretty good (I’d be happier if we kept Szczesny). The signing of Kolasinac and Lacazette was a boost to a squad that while bloated, felt thin in key areas.  One of the main reasons we struggled last season was in defense and a solid defender like Kolasinac hopefully will help that.  From what I've seen in the two matches we have played it appears that he was the correct choice.  The next military tank needs to be called the Kolasinac.  Lacazette has an important role to play season more so if Alexis does leave.  We signed him to be a leading goalscorer and to be a game changer like Alexis.  
Last season was frustrating on so many levels.  We had a squad that was very good but would play with a lack of conviction or confidence.  So many matches that we lost or drew.  A toothless showing against Bayern Munich in the Champions Alexis, opening day defeat to Liverpool, lackluster North London Derbies etc, the list goes on.  Something in this club has kept us from maintaining a sustained title challenge for years.  We either start poorly, fight to get in the top 4 or start well and fall out the hunt.  Either way we can see the writing on the wall and we are left hoping something will change.  Fortunately we may be seeing that something this year.
With several players like Alexis and Ozil heading into the final year of their contracts we have to make a decision: sell or risk losing them on a free transfer.  Normally we would appear to play hardball but then sell to the highest bidder just make some cash.  Wengers press conferences so far have been tough.  He has made it appear that we will not be selling Alexis.  Now while I’m skeptical that we will hold to this, if we decide not to sell Alexis it sets a new precedent for the club.  We have been viewed in recent years as a pushover club in transfers, being able to sell low and buy high.  To say no to expensive offers for a top player knowing that they have the option to leave at the end of the season is very bold.  The gamble will take some time to see if it pays off though.  If we win the league with the team we have without selling Alexis then it will be a great gamble.  Otherwise it could be viewed as foolish.   Regardless it's a gamble we have to take because we are better with players like Alexis and Ozil then without them.  Keep them and sell the dead weight.
Unfortunately with us being in the Europa League instead of the Champions League we have to balance our squad.  We will have to be careful who leaves as if we cut too many players then we will be forced to play many starters or kids in both the league and Europe.  Players like Wilshere, Gibbs, Ox, and Perez may not make the cut.  Opinions on these players varies but unfortunately they are fringe or squad players and may be sold to make up for a possible loss on Alexis.  Wengers has a tough decision to make as the transfer window closes.
The Community Shield and the opening match of the season both resulted in wins but showed us that we will not be able to win the league without a fight.  Sounds obvious but far too often do we watch this team walk onto the pitch and think the other team will step aside for us.  We fought hard against Chelsea in the FA Cup and in the Community Shield and both resulted in wins.  Against Leicester we looked poor in defense and had to come back several times in order to win.  Only Arsenal can score 4 goals for a heart attack inducing win.  Now I've seen some people rail the squad,  Ox, Ozil, Xhaka etc for poor play.  It isn't always unwarranted but I looked at the match Friday as a proof to my point.  The squad didn't give up and we kept coming back.  Individual performances can be improved and squad rotation can help but what you can't always fix is mentality and drive.  
Going back to my earlier point about the matches last season.  At 1-2 down and 2-3 down I was thinking that it was déjà vu.  But we didn't roll over.  Last season this would have been a loss but this was a win.  It's only one match so I can't say that we have changed completely but it's a positive.  We still need to fix some defensive errors and clean up the squad but so far so good.  Three points is better than none.  A match against the orcs in Stoke.  Another tough test for this squad but one we can win as long as the drive it there.  
Until next week.  C'mon you Gunners!

]]><![CDATA[Weekend Reflections]]>Fri, 30 Sep 2016 15:34:18 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/weekend-reflectionsWinning doesn’t get much better than it did on Saturday against Chelsea and here I am midweek, still smiling and laughing every time I think about highlights from that game where we crushed Chelsea into dust.  It may not have been a 7-0 drubbing, although it certainly could have been, but 3-0 at home against a team that has been a real thorn in our side is a massive victory and boost to morale.  The entire team played so well it was hard to even pick a man of the match.  Follow that victory with a 2-0 win over Basel in the Champions League, another match that was a masterful performance.  One can really get used to winning like this.  
The way we played both matches is exactly the kind of football we expect out of Arsenal especially with the amount of squad talent we have.  Going into the match with Chelsea, I knew this game was going to be a test of how far we were and what we needed to improve.  One could argue that the Liverpool match showed us that and to be fair that is true but Liverpool doesn’t have the animosity or the recent history of being a hurdle for us.  With their Russian billionaire owner spending millions of pounds a year and Mourinho’s antagonistic style of play and baiting we have failed to show that the Arsenal way could overcome it.  Finally we have shown that our style can work against them and we ripped them to shreds in the first half.  Every pass, tackle and movement was nearly perfect.  A true joy to watch.  As we dominated them in possession and attacking chances, we were so solid in the back that I never felt like they were going to score.  The ONE clear cut chance they had we snuffed out by the sprinting and well timed challenge of Hector Bellerin.  
The match against Basel was the same.  We were dominant and assertive as we controlled the game.  Walcott in particular was outstanding in both matches.  I single out Walcott not just because of the goals but because of his overall play has been to a new level that we have not seen out of him.  Those who know me will tell you I have been on the “sell Walcott” side of the transfer speculation and if he plays like this all season I would be so glad to be wrong.  I have often described of having only two modes: run and shoot.  The last few matches he has showed us something new.  He made defensive tackles, was effective in passing and made dangerous crosses.  His decision making was superb and he made himself a presence throughout the match instead of fading like we expect him to do.  Because Walcott was a better right winger, I feel like Sanchez is playing a better striker role as a result.  I do not want to get carried away, obviously two matches isn’t a large enough sample for us to get an accurate conclusion but all the signs of a more cohesive attacking lineup are there.  The drive needs to remain as we head into the weekend match against Burnley.  
We made Chelsea look mediocre, we comfortably handled Basel, now comes another test: lower opposition.  As a team we should smash, Burnley pose a threat to us because of how comfortable we have looked for the last few matches.  We must not get ahead of ourselves and stroll onto the pitch as if we already won.  To do so, would likely kill all the hard work and progress we have made.  It is unrealistic to assume we will put 3 or more goals against every opponent this season but as long as we win and look strong in the process I think this squad this year can do something special.  We just need to take each game slowly and build upon the successes of the previous matches.  We still have to face the league leaders, Manchester City and it pains me to write this, Tottenham.  If we continue this form we are on then I do not see why we can’t defeat them as well.  City under Guardiola are dangerous for sure but we are showing what we can do as well.  Tottenham are Tottenham, on their day they can play well but are just as capable of blowing up as we have been, ie final game of the season where they completely fell apart.  I made a comment last week at the pub that if we continue our current form then the November 6th North London Derby is going to be a huge match for us.  One that we cannot take lightly.  It’s too early to worry about it now especially since we got other important matches ahead of it plus Goonerfest this week here in Charlotte.
Goonerfest weekend is this Saturday and Sunday.  If you haven’t listed yourself as going to any of the events on Facebook yet, please do so, as we need a relative headcount.  We have 3v3 street soccer hosted by Street Soccer 945, Footgolf at Sunset hills golf course and a brewery crawl on Saturday and the match on Sunday.  We have visitors coming from many of the Carolinas Supporters groups.  It’s going to be a great weekend.  


Come on you Gunners!
]]><![CDATA[A Wealth of Options]]>Fri, 23 Sep 2016 21:14:03 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/a-wealth-of-optionsIn the dying minutes of the match against Hull City Saturday, the usual events occur: paying for your tab, saying bye to our fellow Gooner friends all smiling because we are about to win in a comfortable manner, etc., then without warning Xhaka cracks off a 30+ yard shot that sails into the top corner of the net.  The explosion of cheers was deafening.  What was even more humorous was the multitudes of those who looked down for a minute and missed it because it happened so quickly.  It was one of those late goals that are essentially meaningless on the day but yet mean so much in context of the faith of the fans and the state of the club.
Arsenal are a big club that can attract big talent no matter what our harshest critics say.  We have players like Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Koscielny, Xhaka and Mustafi and talented players still developing like Bellerin.  I said it during the Facebook live show a few weeks ago that our squad looks almost complete for the first time in years.  We have experienced veteran leadership and young players that are working hard to prove themselves.  This provides competition for all positions on the pitch.  For too long we have had the staple starting XI players that never changed no matter what.  A lot of the time it was down to not having any players to switch too.  It became frustrating to watch players fail to perform and get picked week in and week out.  I often single out Aaron Ramsey as an example of the “safe from being benched” clause. 
Ramsey is an enigma of a player.  One who showed signs of brilliance early but has never paid off.  This is partially due to his horrific leg break he suffered at the feet of the brute Ryan Shawcross.  Ramsey’s critical development was stifled due to that injury and with the exception of two seasons, has never scored more than 6 goals.  His peaking season was in 13-14 with 16 goals where it seemed like the Ramsey that Wenger had always promised was finally here at last.  Not so.  The following season he scored 10 goals, then 6 and now he is back injured again.  He isn’t a bad player, he just hasn’t worked out like we would like him too and frankly we often shoehorn him into the squad regardless of his current form.  Wenger picks players in slumps and hopes they will play their way out of it.  Rarely does this work.  Sometimes a bit of ruthlessness goes a long way.  That being said our squad has been light on options and the alternatives haven’t always been promising either.
The lack of options truly has been our downfall over the last several years.  During the exodus of our top players, we struggled to replace them with equal talent.  The scramble to replace RVP, Fabregas, Nasri, etc., created a real vacuum in the squad.  We signed Giroud, Podolski, Park Chu Young, Santos, Arteta and Mertesacker.  Of those only Giroud and Mertesacker are left and Mertesacker is injured.  Arteta was a leader but his aged performances showed that while his brilliance was still there, his best years were behind him.  Giroud has been a solid acquisition as he plays the style that Wenger wants out of his strikers.  He holds up the ball well and is an aerial threat (something that is horribly lacking without him).  His goal threat is ever present as he does have a knack for scoring the acute angle difficult shot but standing over a simple shot on goal, you always wonder if he will miss.  Despite his flaws in speed, Giroud is a good player and one that we need in this team.  For too long however the goal burden rested on his shoulders and he was never going to be a 20 goal per season striker.  We needed a backup to give him a break.  Danny Welbeck was looking to be that player but once again injuries have hampered his career as well.
Every other player on our squad capable of scoring goals isn’t a striker.  Sanchez, Walcott and Ox are all wide players.  Wenger has tried to play Walcott up top, but his poor first touch and tunnel vision often means he loses the ball when he should be holding onto it since that is the style we like to play.  Sanchez can hold the ball well but his stronger qualities are when he is facing the goal and attacking, using his dribbling, passing and shot skill to his advantage.  Like Walcott, with his back to the ball he doesn’t perform up to the level required.  Both of these players are better out wide where their speed can be a danger since we often don’t utilize speed in the center of the pitch.  With the signing of Lucas Perez, perhaps the squad can be set up to give Giroud the ability to be an option and not always the rule.  We saw Perez perform very well against Nottingham Forest in midweek and while not Premier League level, it may have been just the kind of match he needed to get going.  As the season wears on and the injury threat ever looms, we need players who can take pick up the torch and see out the race.
I keep using the word options because that’s what we want to see at Arsenal: options.  No longer do we have a thin injury prone squad that will need luck to see out a title campaign.  Depth is finally a reality after we have been begging for it for so long.  The time for excuses is over.  Performances are all that matter now.  We have a Premier League title and a Champions League crown to win.  These need to be priorities and without depth they were mirages that faded away as we got closer.  I try to avoid getting too excited but it’s hard not to be.  We beat Hull 4-1 and Nottingham Forest 4-0.  I know they aren’t the best teams but they are the kind of teams we used to draw 1-1 with or lost 2-1 due to late blunder goal.  To really state our case as a title contender we need to put Chelsea to the sword this weekend.
One of the monkeys on our back is the now Mourinho-less Chelsea squad who at times look strong and at others weak so the jury is still out with them.  Now is the time to pounce and use the momentum generated by two back to back emphatic wins to really crush that mug Diego Costa and his band of Cobra Kai thugs.  They had a toothless squad last year and we couldn’t beat them.  That is unacceptable.  We need to put the past behind us and really have a go of it Saturday.  A big win at the Emirates could really help the mentality of the team and give the fans a lot of confidence moving forward.
Another cracking Xhaka long shot wouldn’t hurt either…
Let’s all hope that we continue our run of good form this weekend.  Also don’t forget about Goonerfest coming up on October 1st and 2nd and please hit “going” on the Facebook event pages if you plan to attend the festivities.  
Until next week, come on you Gunners!
]]><![CDATA[Pre-Hull Musings]]>Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:21:53 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/pre-hull-musingsIf you watched the Queen City Gooners Facebook Live Show before the match against Southampton, you saw how excited we were that Arsenal made some late signings at the close of the transfer window and we were eager to see them play their first match in that famous Arsenal red.  It's hard not to be excited when we finally spent some money on players, and ones that are designed to fill holes in our squad.  My prediction of 3-0 was optimistic and probably overly so, but I was hoping that our new boys would get off the ground running and start our title chase against Southampton.  
What resulted wasn't what a lot of us were looking for but it was expected coming into the first game back from an international break and with a game against PSG looming the distance.  It wasn't exactly a bad performance but it wasn't a stellar one either.  It was alarming that it took another penalty from Cazorla to win the match but hey a win is a win.  Our midfield looked lost as Cazorla, Coquelin and Ozil weren't on the same page at all.  The forwards drifted around without much purpose and weren't getting the service from midfield.  Our defense was solid however, and really only let a few chances for the Southampton offense.  The goal came from a set piece and it unluckily came off of Cech so I am willing to write that one off.  Aside from an early horrible pass, Mustafi played well alongside Koscielny and our fullbacks were on point.  Kos' work rate is phenomenal and he deserved that amazing overhead kick goal.  If you haven't seen it, stop reading, look it up and come back.  I'll wait...
I didn't watch the match against PSG because I am unable to watch at work and I forgot to DVR it according to the reports I read, it wasn't worth my time anyway.  I read a lot of angry posts from fans but as annoying as not winning is, a draw away to a team like PSG is not a bad result.  We will have to bring our A game against the remaining teams in the group stage and avoid another fiasco in the group stages that leaves us second and facing Barcelona or Bayern Munich.  Just like the league, Arsenal are more than capable of  winning it but we cannot afford to make stupid mistakes or take a mental holiday.  Wenger likes to boast about making the Round of 16 every year but we never advance, its like a formality, even a joke sometimes.  For once, can we make a statement? Players like Ozil, Alexis, and Koscielny don't play to make the round of 16.  They play to be competitive in the big stage and Arsene needs to realize that his experiments don't always work and forcing them isn't going to get us anywhere. 
Watching Alexis at striker is a prime example.  All of the things we like about Alexis are wasted when he plays striker.  We don't play to his strengths in that position.  I have said this before that we always play our strikers as if Giroud is there.  Alexis is not a “hold the ball and wait for attackers” kind of striker.  He is a dribbler and a shooter, he plays better facing the goal, not with his back to it.  As such he moves too freely and we are often left with a gap in the center that nobody fills.  The free roaming Alexis is why we like him.  Walcott suffers from this same problem as did Podolski.  These are players that are not suited for the role that Wenger expects out of our strikers.  I am hoping that with the signing of Perez, Wenger is planning on altering our attack strategy when Giroud is not playing.  Having several attack styles is beneficial because our opponents may not be set up for one or the other.  Too often we have seen our attack fail, because we focus on the passing game and trying too hard to replicate all those perfect pass goals like the Wilshere goal against Norwich.  Throw in a shot from an acute angle or a 25 yard shot outside the box.  Work the keepers more.  You cannot score if all you do is pass and never take a shot.  I am not condoning shooting all the time, but we often bang our heads on the table at the pub as we watch a scoring chance dissipate because we tried a pass across the mouth of the goal instead of just shooting.  
Another gripe I have been seeing is the anger over the lack of Xhaka's place in the starting XI.  I agree to an extent.  He is a player bought for a very important role and to not see him play is aggravating.  If you weren't going to utilize him in the match against the Saints, then why didn't he play against PSG?  He is fit enough to be on the team sheet, then he is fit enough to play.  At the same time, we get irritated when Wenger experiments too much so if the team changes too drastically and we lose, then he will be blamed for not picking the normal starters.  I am not letting Wenger off the hook, I am simply playing devil's advocate here.  I do agree that Xhaka should be playing but Coquelin and Cazorla are not bad players and should be able to do more.  This is a team game and the team is at fault too.  If we tossed a 16 year old kid in the defensive midfield role and he makes a mistake that is one thing, but these are experienced players who we know are can play well.  Cazorla has been monumental and Coquelin's arrival really helped us out.  He is a veteran player now.  Xhaka will have to fight for his place to start and Coquelin, El Neny and others will have to fight to earn their spot as well.  This is a good thing for the club.  We have not lost since opening day.  We drew to the champions and to PSG.  The sky is not falling yet.  These signings will have their day and due to the midweek game, I am pretty confident Xhaka will make an appearance against Hull this weekend.  We have to be patient and that's a hard ask for Arsenal fans.  We have been asked to be patient for a long time now.  We want results and we want them now.  The season is still young. 
Sorry for the short post but as I missed the Champions League match I just want to get back to the league and see our Gunners get on scoring form.  
Goonerfest is around the corner.  So please keep an eye on the Facebook group and your email if you are on the mailing list.  If you are not please go to our website www.queencitygooners.com and sign up.  We have a bunch of fun events planned with groups across the Carolinas  attending to make this an amazing event.  Be a part of the fun!
Also we have the Facebook Live Show, starting 30 minutes before each match so if you can't be at the pub, tune in and send questions that we can answer live on air.  We also like the live audience so if you do come down to the pub, feel free to sit down and have a listen.
Come on you Gunners!

]]><![CDATA[Transfer Deadline Thoughts]]>Thu, 01 Sep 2016 17:21:25 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/transfer-deadline-thoughtsA win and two transfers in just a few days?  I don’t believe it.  Seriously, I feel like I am going to wake up and see Almunia in goal and Chamakh as striker.  Now I know our situation isn’t that bad but after the less than stellar start to our season it was starting to border on absurd that we were going to go into the season without reinforcing the squad in key areas again.  Xhaka was welcome as was Holding but we were still so light in options, both on offense and defense, that gooners everywhere were imploring the club to spend money.  With the transfer window closing we got two more players, Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi. The Mustafi chronicle was one I honestly was going to leave us burned as the deal appeared to be dead in the water when Valencia said he wasn’t for sale.  Perhaps, losing Mertesacker and Gabriel to long term injuries or shipping four goals in our opening match was the catalyst we needed to get the wallet opened and money spent.  At £35 million, he is our most expensive defender to date.  Unfortunately for the club this was going to be an area we had to spend big.  While Holding is a capable backup player, his inexperience at the top level means he needs to be eased in the squad.  Chambers looked lost in the opening match and a loan spell at Middlesboro will do him some good.  Regular first team football will hopefully get him to the place that Wenger wants him.  Sending out a defender is a gamble but Wenger is clearly looking at a Mustafi/Koscielny center back pairing with holding as a backup.  Mertesacker and Gabriel will come back when healthy but at least this was we have reliable cover and won’t have to rush anybody.   Just as important as a defender was a striker and after several seasons of failing to sign the elusive 20 goal scoring striker, we nabbed Lucas Perez from Deportivo la Coruna.  Grabbing 17 goals in 36 appearances last season was obviously the main draw for him and we will hope to see him continue that form into our season.  An older player at 27, he looks to be a capable and reliable squad player.  We have yet to see how Wenger will line up our forwards after his acquisition but I look forward to seeing how he will be utilized.  With Theo’s effectiveness waning, Perez will give us options not just in the number 9 role but also on the wings.  I would like to Wenger divert from his usual 4-2-3-1 formation and try a 4-4-2 with Perez/Alexis and Giroud as a striker pairing.  I feel like we can be predictable in our line up and having multiple game plans can throw a wrench in the opposition setting up against us.  We have players like Sanchez, Theo, Ramsey (when fit), Ox and now Perez, who can play in a couple different positions and give us options to set up differently.  The more we are effectively creative, the better we will be at dealing with various teams.  Only the manager knows how he will employ his players and we can only hope that they are used effectively.   With the new signings also comes the news of Jack Wilshere being sent on loan to possibly Bournemouth or Roma.  When this is published I am positive that loan deal will be completed to one of them.  Wilshere is a great player, and one I rate highly for his tenacity and skill but also a player I feel is going to be surplus soon.  Jack has been around a long time as an academy player.  Wenger and the fans clearly want him to succeed.  I am not so sure that this Arsenal team fits him anymore.  For so long Wilshere has been the player that was promised to be a midfield dynamo, a future captain and more.  Unfortunately he spends so much time on the operating table and on the injured list that the team has moved past him.  He cannot improve his game because of the major setbacks that his injuries creates. I often compare him, unfairly at times, to Abou Diaby.  Diaby was a midfielder who looked to be a real driving force for years, but suffered so many injuries that he was never able to get back to form and continued to cost us money while not contributing as a player.  Jack is approaching that level in my opinion.  He appears in bright flashes, reminding us the player that is there, but never staying healthy long enough to make a difference.  Another reason Jack is such a fan favorite is because he is one of us, a gooner doing what 99.9% of us never get to do, play and score goals for his team.  It’s something we can vicariously live through so it is special to see a player like that come through the youth system and really connect with the fans in a way some players can’t do.  It’s moments like the now infamous bus chant singing along with gooners about what we think of T*ttenham that endear a player to fans and make them a favorite.  Wilshere’s talent only makes us want him to succeed more and be a homegrown player that is a leader.  As the years have gone on, he has stagnated slightly.  Since 2010 he has made 101 appearances in the league and scored 6 goals.  His appearances have dropped consistently since 2010-11.  0 in 2011-12, then 25, 24, 14 and 3 in the following seasons.  So yes, he has played more than Diaby but each season his involvement gets smaller and smaller.  It’s sad to see because there isn’t a gooner around who doesn’t like him but I have a hard time seeing where he will fit in the squad if he can’t stay healthy.  Should Wenger leave at the end of the season and Wilshere misses games at his loan club due to injury, it may be the end of his career at Arsenal.  I hope that doesn’t happen but he is going to need a big season to help him maintain a place at Arsenal. So with the exception of Wilshere going out on loan, the transfer window will close without much shock.  Gnabry signing a permanent deal at Werder Bremen was a bit of surprise to me as I liked him a lot and thought he had potential but his potential was wasted on the bench and with players like Ox ahead of him it was tough to see him getting higher in the pecking order.  I wish him luck in Germany and hopefully we will see good things from him in the future. International break being in full swing means there is not much else going on.  So we will have to wait a bit to see our new signings in action wearing the red and white. Oh to be a Gooner.]]><![CDATA[As the Transfer Window Closes...]]>Fri, 26 Aug 2016 21:16:02 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/as-the-transfer-window-closesSorry for the late post everybody.  As I sat down reviewing what I wrote I began to take note of the general tone of the entry.  It was one of frustration and anger.  After reading it several times, I decided to scrap the entry because I realized that my thoughts could have been compiled better.  So instead of that I decided to write something a bit different.

Opening day at Ri Ra’s was incredible even if the result was less than stellar.  Gooners from all over Charlotte came to watch our beloved Arsenal take on Liverpool in what was on paper the match of the weekend.  The regulars who have been with us for years mixed with so many new faces, those who heard about us in various ways, all ready for a new season to get underway.  Getting an early goal really set the tone for what we hoped to be a promising match but in the end after going down 4-1, the 4-3 final result looked closer than it really was.  We left for the day, dejected that we lost but the atmosphere was still amazing among us all.  Smiles and laughter, a bit at ourselves and the bewilderment of what we just saw, but mostly it was all of us in one place cheering and yelling in frustration as a group of supporters who for one reason or another love this club and want it to succeed.

As I said in my first post of the season, a loss at the beginning of the season doesn’t mean relegation and a win doesn’t mean the title is ours.  The cliché of “it’s a long season” rings true, especially when you suffer a tough loss out of the gate.  Once that loss occurred and the dust settled, we eagerly awaited match number two, away to the champions Leicester City, but a team we beat twice last season.  There was reason to be optimistic that the first match was just a one-off.  We had veteran players back in the squad, especially the return of Koscielny who was a rock in defense and with Holding, kept a tidy clean sheet that we desperately needed.  Also the rumblings of a possible defensive signing means that maybe the frustrations would come to an end soon.  A dull 0-0 draw ensued.  It was a defensive performance, away to the champions so it wasn’t a terrible result, but after two weak displays from the squad.  Patience was wearing thin.

Two matches in and we are becoming frustrated.  The frustration isn’t necessarily at the players but the manager and our lack of transfers this summer.  Maybe we are products of the instant gratification age where we have access to everything at the tap of a smartphone screen so waiting for a transfer for the entire summer makes us irritated.  It’s the waiting that kills us and the dread that despite the holes in our squad, we won’t do any more business and therefore looking at another season of injuries with a threadbare, overworked squad.  The digital information age has given everyone an outlet to speak out and dig deeper into the dealings of the club, something I am not sure Arsenal or the manager have accepted.  It’s like your grandparents refusing to get a cellphone or a computer.  The denial that technology has taken over every facet of our lives and working with outdated methods.  Arsenal strive to keep every deal in the dark until the last second.  With cellphone cameras and the internet, one picture of a player outside the Emirates can be sent around the world in seconds.  It’s the lack of transparency and the enigmatic and often defensive comments about transfers that further annoys us.  When probed, we hear the same few remarks.  It’s tiring to hear it over and over again.  Every club in the premier league does the majority of their business ahead of the deadline day.  It seems like we are the ones who wait until the last minute.

Years of paying off the stadium debt and being extremely frugal in the process has made being stingy the rule rather than the exception.  Spending on players like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez was starting to look like we were finally opening the wallet a bit more and investing on high quality players.  While other top clubs are breaking the bank for every player on the market, Arsenal do try to not overspend and that’s both admirable and a product of living fiscally sound for several years.  I am not saying we have to spend more than everybody else and frankly, I do not want that.  I often scoff at Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City spending every penny on players because the money they spend affects the prices the league pays as a whole.  This shouldn’t really be a problem for Arsenal as we have the funds to spend but it affects the other teams without deep pockets.  If we aren’t careful, the Premier League will turn into Spain, where a couple teams dominate and the rest just play to pay the bills.

I understand Arsenal wanting to be realistic and nobody wants us to spend 100 million on a player, but at least prove that you are trying to get the best you can.  The worst part is that once the season starts those gaps in the squad become visible to all and the prices go up anyway.  I said after the Liverpool match that the price of every defender we would try to get would go up by 5 million pounds or more.  Striker prices have always been high and even more so because it’s an area we have been needing improvement.  Players coming in need to be at least as good as or better than what we have.  The rest of the league is improving and we are stagnating because we would rather wait for talent to develop instead of fixing what needs to be fixed.  Nobody objected to Rob Holding coming in the squad because he is an option and looking to be a decent one at that, but when you look at our defensive injuries and the length of time for their absence, it is apparent we need depth.  Our striker experiments aren’t working as Sanchez doesn’t play like we expected in that role, but to be fair the team around him isn’t set up for him as striker.  We continue to play as if we have Giroud in the number 9 role which doesn’t suit his game.  We did the same for Walcott and others.  Everything seems a bit disjointed at the moment but hopefully we get back on track.

With Watford this weekend and the rapidly approaching close of the transfer window, it’s time for Arsenal to do two things: Win and sign two players.  All are possible but only one seems probable.  Hopefully the best case happens and we get players and the win.  Right now, we all want something good to happen because if we start with the doom and gloom stuff this early in the season, we aren’t going to have a great time.  We can argue and speculate all we want before and after but at least during the match we want the same goal: win.  The players are talking about having the mentality and the drive to win the title, then there is no better time to start showing it then Saturday against Watford.  Come down the pub and cheer on the Arsenal because no matter how much we gripe and groan we still love watching our favorite team play.

​C’mon you Gunners!]]><![CDATA[Expect the Expected]]>Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:42:53 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/expect-the-expectedThe definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  As optimistic as I was before the match, I am wondering if I was insane for thinking that the match against Liverpool would go any other way but south.  Its not that I think Liverpool are better than us or that I have no faith in our players, it is simply that our last seven opening matches have been lackluster and our only win came with a late goal.  By the time this is posted, most of you will have already read many match analysis or reports and have formulated your own opinions about why opening match of the season was such a horror show.
The script was probably written well before kickoff when we were without our two best center backs, the experienced back up, our star midfielder, and our established striker.  Injuries and resting players back from their summer tournaments limited our starting lineup to a slim squad.  Our midfield wasn't anything to be concerned about as Ramsey led the attacking midfield with Coquelin and Elneny.  The fullbacks were Bellerin and Monreal so no real surprise there.  What was alarming is that Wenger chose Holding and Chambers as the center back pairing.  It did not fill me with the greatest confidence but I was still calm knowing that we had Coquelin and Elneny ahead of them to help mitigate the attack.  Sanchez leading the line as the lone striker was fine as he definitely has the qualities to be a striker.  Walcott on the right was not much of a surprise as we are used to seeing him use his pace from this position.  Lastly that leaves a talented but still raw Alex Iwobi on the left.  I would be lying if said I wasn't slightly worried that our squad was under powered and inexperienced to take on a Liverpool squad that is trying to rebuild and prove itself under Jurgen Klopp.
The result of the team selection was going to 4-1 down after being 1-0 up.  The lack of experience and no bite wrote the result in a 20 minute stretch in the second half.  Sure we got a couple of late goals to make the scoreline more respectable but the damage was done.  We lost an opening match at home...again.  Anger and frustration were the emotions of the day.  An all too familiar set of emotions that we Gooners have been feeling for a long time now.  The back to back FA Cup wins are sinking in the horizon as we rode those coattails into a second place finish in the league last season as a result of Spurs being so Spursy.  That hilarious and jubilant day was mostly a bandage on the stab wound that was missing out on the league to Leicester, who frankly, pulled too far ahead for anybody to catch them anyway, like a motorcycle race where a last lap crash takes out everybody but the lead bike. 
I mentioned insanity to start because we are left in the same position again, the same as it has been for many years now.  Every season we watch the gaps in our squad go unfilled entering the season.  We suffer the same type of losses and wins turned into draws.  We repeatedly watch us drop points that cost us so much in the end all because we haven't fixed the glaring problems in the team.  I am not blaming the players at all.  This Arsenal is filled with not only incredible players but experienced ones and young ones.  We all love watching Ozil play the sublime pass, Sanchez scoring a wonder strike and laugh as Giroud misses a sitter, but slots home a shot from the most acute angle it takes a double take to realize what happened.  The same goes for us cheering on Bellerin as he plays a cross into the box one second, then is sprinting down the right to stop a counterattack.  We have so much talent and skill that it makes it that much harder to rationalize a loss.  
Insanity when we lose is watching two of your established center backs get injured in the offseason and not getting a replacement.  Insanity is seeing your striking options getting injuries or playing themselves out of form and not getting another one to help take the load off of others.  Season after season we don't do anything to fix the problems that everyone can see exist.  We were without a true defensive midfielder for years and we finally got one out of sheer blind luck (and the underlying skill) of Coquelin.  We played with fire as we relied on him and an aging Flamini to hold our midfield together.  Finally we mange to get Elneny to assist too little too late last season.  With the signing of Xhaka early, it seemed we were finally learning our lesson and being proactive.  It was all smoke and mirrors as we enter the first game without a striker or a center back.  We are not proactive and barely reactive in the transfer market.  If anything we are static.  We pray to the injury gods every season and every season, those gods smite us but we continue to hope that everything just works out in the end.  Spoilers: it hasn't worked.  To add insult to injury, Iwobi and Ramsey suffered injuries on Sunday so now have to deal with that.  Thankfully, the transfer market is still open so we can grit our teeth and wait for us to make a signing that will give us the edge to turn that second place finish into first place.
I said last week that a loss opening the season doesn't mean all is lost but it doesn't give us the confidence that the season will be filled with trophies.  Our emotions as supporters are often tied to whether or not we win or lose.  This kind of passion and connection to a group of strangers is fascinating.  Our work weeks seem longer when we lose as we trudge to the weekend, waiting for the win to turn or frowns to smiles and our curses to cheers.  Win our match and suddenly we are ready to take on anything.  The first week is even harder as we have been without our Arsenal for a few months.  Sure we have international competitions and some preseason matches to tune to but it just isn't the same.  The season is upon us and we can once again share the gauntlet of emotions the season will bring.  
We take on Leicester this weekend, who lost to Hull, so maybe some hope that we can put last week behind us perhaps?  Time will tell.
Until next week, C'mon you Gunners!
]]><![CDATA[Let the Games Begin...]]>Wed, 10 Aug 2016 18:12:11 GMThttps://www.queencitygooners.com/blog/let-the-games-beginWelcome back everyone to a new season of the Arsenal and with it comes a new season of the Cannoneer.  Sorry for the lack of blog posts on the back end of last year but things got a bit crazy for me and I had to put the blog on the back burner.  No longer! I am eager to get back to writing for all you awesome Gooners here in the Queen City and beyond.  I'll keep this post short and sweet for you as I know all of you are ready for a new season to start and see if we can improve on that league position to get that title into our trophy case, where it belongs. 
To start, I would like to thank our two teams who played in the Street Soccer 945 Open Cup in June as both teams battled the heat and some tough opposition to exit the playoffs with their heads held high.  We are disappointed to miss the final but if we get the invite next year we will come back ready to fight hard and bring glory to our group.  The tournament is for a great cause and we are proud to support Street Soccer 945 and Urban Ministries here in Charlotte.  For more information see http://www.streetsoccerusa.org/portfolio_page/charlotte/ and http://www.urbanministrycenter.org/ 
The summer tournaments are coming to a close and all the players are getting their last minute holidays plans finished as we wait for that opening game against Liverpool.  Being at home you naturally have to give us a slight edge but it wouldn't be the Arsenal if we didn't give a few reasons to possibly question our opening match.  Entering the last few seasons we walked in with our heads high as we looked to start off our season as title contenders, what we got was a loss to Villa, a win over Palace and a loss to West Ham.  Not a glorious record.  Those were all lesser competition, matches we should have won and lost two of three.  Nothing sours a start to the season quite like a loss out of the gate.  Immediately, the finger pointing begins and Gooners lose their minds blaming the manager, or player x, y, or z.  I am not exactly innocent either as I have joined the fray after a bad opening loss but as we have seen, a win at the start doesn't guarantee the top spot at the end of season and loss isn't the end of the world.
This season we get the task of facing Liverpool, a team who isn't the title winning dynamo of the 80's nor is it the weakest team in the league.  They are, however, a team rejuvenated by Jurgen Klopp who are looking for something to prove as they floundered last season under Brendan Rodgers and slightly less so under Klopp.  They have made a few signings and can be dangerous but are completely beatable which means they will give us trouble and will make all of us uncomfortable when they attack.  Both our matches ended in draws last season which means that we give them just as much trouble as they give us.  
We enter this game without the fabled striker signing that we all expected to come before the start of the season and barring any major news in the next few days, we will remain with the same strike force as last season.  With several players in national tournaments over the summer, we may not see Giroud or even Sanchez but the latter could feature as a sub.  Akpom up top or even Walcott as striker are possibilities.  Walcott had a decent game against City and even scored so Wenger may opt to give him one last hurrah as the lone striker.  Ox also had a good preseason and will probably start as Ramsey will likely replace the rested Ozil leaving a space on the right for Ox to fill.  Our newest signing Xhaka may start alongside Coquelin or even Elneny.  Despite the negativity on the lack of striker signing, I still feel confident our midfield and attack can make a dent in light defenders of Liverpool.  
Our weakness is in defense, which has been elevated from “we kinda need another backup center-back” to “DEFCON 2: RED ALERT: SIGN A DEFENDER ASAP”.  Injuries to both Mertesacker and Gabriel have seriously put a hurting on our back four, which was already light to begin with.  Koscielny may not start as he has only recently been back in training which means Wenger will have to decide between moving Monreal to CB and placing the experienced Gibbs at LB, using either Chambers or new boy Holding or both of the young defenders.  I am glad I am not making this decision.  I may sound hypocritical but if we were playing Bournemouth or Burnley, I'd say let the young defenders prove their worth.  Since we are playing Liverpool, my selection would be Monreal and Chambers.  Obviously I would prefer Koscielny to start and play Monreal with him but I am betting on a worst case scenario here.  Luckily, Liverpool face a defensive crisis equal to ours so this match could be filled with goals or a dull affair.  Only time will tell.
This season also brings us to our second season with Ri Ra's Irish Pub being our wonderful hosts.  After the success of last season here in the Queen City at the Irish Pub, we can be glad to call it our supporters club's home.  Opening day is sure to bring a crowd as we have a free breakfast buffet for all Arsenal America members, and $10 for non-members.  Members also get 10% off their food purchases all season with your Arsenal America membership card.  Being an Arsenal America member also helps the group, so sign up and get your Arsenal America Membership pack and enjoy the benefits they bring with our group and theirs.  Tune into our Facebook Live Pre-Game show 30 minutes before kick-off as your hosts give you match info and score predictions.  This is bound to be another great season here in our beloved Queen City and we will continue to be the best supporters club in the city!  I look forward to seeing all of you at the pub this season!
Come on you Gunners!
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