Kevin Whitcher's Arsenal Blog

  Dundalk 2 Arsenal 4   Europa League Matchday Six Thursday 10th December 2020, 5.55pm It would, of course have made a great away trip. I mean… Dublin (although granted, December might not be the most pleasant month, weather-wise, to be visiting Ireland). As it was, Arsenal completed their Europa League group stage commitments in an empty Aviva Stadium. Apparently, in spite of the lack of fans allowed to watch, their European matches were switched from the far more characteristic Oriel Park (pictured) due to the facilities required by UEFA – I am guessing for the media. It certainly can’t have been for the quality of the playing surface, the rugby union markings all too visible. The irony of this was that Dundalk certainly didn’t play in the style of Ireland’s international team back in the days of Jack Charlton, who would have used a roughed-up pitch to their advantage.   Thinking of Charlton, who passed away earlier this year, it’s interesting how the death of footballe...

Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0 Europa League Matchday Two Thursday 29th  October 2020  8pm The great shame about this Europa League group game was that Dundalk’s fans were not able to make the trip to witness their team play at the Emirates. They don’t get too many chances for this kind of experience. Granted, Gooners would have enjoyed trips to Vienna and Ireland themselves, but they’ve had plenty of opportunity to see their team in some amazing venues over the years.   Europa League and Champions League matches on the continent are going on with fans in the stands, appropriately distanced from one another. And here’s the thing – the virus does not spread so easily in the open air. So we have fiascos like Norwich fans gathering at Carrow Road on a home matchday to watch the game being played on the pitch outside on screens in hospitality areas… where the spread of COVID-19 is far more likely. Madness.   My own view on the virus is that the vulnerable are protected and supporte...