While we don’t condone the use of negative coping mechanisms here at Cannon Towers, we do acknowledge that sometimes the only way to deal with watching certain Arsenal games is to get a little bit squiffy.
Drink up
While practically every game this season should have been watched while intoxicated, there are a few which have required it a lot more.
Although some people are able to just turn the TV off and go outside, or even better, down the pub, others, such as the fans in the stadiums or us poor s*ds working for Arsenal websites have to watch every. Single. Minute.
And sometimes, there’s no way you can watch it sober.
If you look back even further, it gets pretty depressing.
We even put it to you on Twitter, and here are some of your completely understandable responses in no particular order.
Premier League v Newcastle – 4-4 (2010/11)
Arsenal went 4-0 ahead before dodgy refereeing and bad luck allowed the Magpies to claim a point.
Premier League v Manchester United – 8-2 (2011/12)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W66gKiqXkxA
The less said about the day Arsenal fielded their youth team away at Old Trafford the better.
Champions League final v Barcelona – 2-1 (2005/06)
It still hurts.
Premier League v Chelsea – 6-0 (2013/14)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwf8WPjs7K0
Kieran Gibbs got sent off for an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain handball, which pretty much summed up that shambles of a game.
Premier League v Manchester City – 6-3 (2013/14)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MazxbSqTLFY
One minute Arsenal looked fine, the next we were shipping six again.
Premier League v Crystal Palace – 3-0 (2016/17)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6F7pzKzuYc
Losing 3-0 to a team battling relegation… nice.
League Cup v Reading – 7-5 (2012/13)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdBuK1e7_8E
Arsenal went 4-0 down before coming back and winning 7-5 in extra time in one of the weirdest game I’ve ever watched to this day.
FA Cup final v Hull City – 3-2 (2013/14)
Although Arsenal won their first FA Cup for nine years, going two-nil down within minutes was pretty horrific.
Champions League v Bayern Munich – 10-2 (2016/17)
We knew it wasn’t going to be pretty after losing the away leg 5-1 but COME ON.
Champions League SF v Manchester United – 4-1 agg. (2008/09)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAhoPA-wwnk
Bloomin’ Ronaldo.
Champions League QF v Liverpool – 3-5 agg. (2007/08)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i39yT8hqpjU
There’s only one thing more painful than getting knocked out of the Champions League and that’s getting knocked out by your rivals. Plus, I’m pretty sure Emmanuel Eboué can turn anyone to drink.
Premier League v Liverpool – 5-1 (2013/14)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3NbADXbR08
Arsenal shipped 17 against Chelsea, City and Liverpool all in one season. I was very drunk that year.
Premier League v Tottenham – 2-0 (2016/17)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Yt37YUbUg
The win for Spurs at White Hart Lane, which could and should have been greater, signified how terrible Arsenal were compared to how well Spurs were playing. Gross.
FA Cup SF v City – 2-1 (2016/17)
I was not expecting to win that one so was pretty plastered by half time.
FA Cup final v Chelsea – 2-1 (2016/17)
The same as the semi-final v City. Almost four days on and I’m still not even 100% sure I actually believe we won that.