Mundesley is famous for three things. Firstly I live there for much of the year, secondly it has a beautiful beach – in the Trimingham direction which we love to run our dogs on – and thirdly it is known as God’s waiting room.
But there is a fourth highlight. I love going to my local Premier, aka Mundesley Convenience Store, which is quite literally across the road from us where I often buy a newspaper, the occasional lottery ticket and have a bl00dy good chat with “retail assistant plus” David Tustain about all things football, most often involving his beloved Arsenal.
So without further ado, this is what David thinks of the state of Arsenal, Norwich City and the PL nation.
How did you get into the Arsenal [pardon my expression] then David?
Like you Martin, I originate from East London and in the Walthamstow/Leyton area, and all my mates were into Arsenal, West Ham or Leyton Orient. I chose Arsenal early on and by the time I was eleven, my sister had a boyfriend who was a massive fan and that kind of confirmed my belief.
First game?
Wimbledon at Highbury in 1995 – the year you were relegated, unfortunately.
Dragging you back into the right now, what do you reckon of Unai Emery?<
I like him to be honest but he’s not the right man for the job. The cracks are showing and we seem to be taking too many backward steps. He is under contract until the end of the season and our Board will stick with him for that time.
Is that a cynical bid to avoid paying compo?
No, I don’t think so but it could be sensible for all parties.
It’s not quite clicking for you this season. Why do you think that is?
Too many mixed messages from Emery and coaching staff to our players. And there is no consistency in selection. I sense a bit of desperation in Emery because Mesut Ozil has been completely cut out only for Emery to say he is “training well”. I don’t feel Emery wants Ozil and many of our players are fed up with playing out of position
Yeah, we know a bit about playing people out of position ourselves. So to lighten the mood a bit, who have been your favourite Arsenal players over the years? Mine are Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp and Lee Dixon for what it’s worth.
Easy – Tony Adams! He was Mr Arsenal! Your choices are all good but I’ll single out Ian Wright. He knew where he came from, put everything into the Club and loved the fans as much as we loved him. He still engages with our fans now, which Kevin Campbell does too. Even if you’re not a Gooner you should love Wrighty [agreed – Martin].
As I openly admit on MFW, Spurs are my second team – and your local rivals – so what do you make of the Jose Mourinho development?
I’m glad we swerved him. We really dodged a bullet. Daniel Levy runs a tight ship and now he’s got in somebody who can only buy success. I don’t want Mourinho anywhere near my club and my Arsenal mates agree with me.
“You’ve only come to see the Arsenal” from your lot on Saturday?
Probably. Arsenal away are a very different set of fans and very vocal. Real diehards and like you said nobody dislikes us.
What do you think of us so far David?
The lack of investment is starting to show. Injuries have hurt you badly but Teemu Pukki remains a gem. You remind me of a jigsaw puzzle with too many bits missing. You should certainly stick with Daniel Farke, whatever happens.
And in classic MFW style, what’s your score guess for Saturday?<
It’s a tough one. Particularly on the road, we are a calamity at the back. I’m going for 1-1 or 2-2.
Many thanks to David and I’m sure we’ll hear from him again before the “return leg”. And thanks to Raj at Mundesley Premier for taking the picture and allowing me [temporarily] into the till area. Even though David says Raj is a Liverpool fan!
Hi Martin
Well the breaking news that Emery has gone will I suppose up set Farke plans a little for this game but I can see City just having the edge on Ass-enal on Sunday.
Seems Sky don’t read or listen to the statement from both Rogers and Poch, Rogers has stated he wants to see out the season at Leicester and Poch said he promised the Board that he would never manage Ass-enal yet Sky still has them as joint favourites to take the position.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
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Hi Alex
It could only happen to me – who else could offer an Arsenal preview on the very day that Emery finally bit the dust?
An Arsenal mate [not David as in the article] reckons Freddie Llunberg and Steve Bould will be in charge on Sunday.
Does this development do us a favour? I’m not sure tbh.
Anyway that’s all for them to worry about and not us.
Cheers.
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Hi Martin
Funny really that as you say a good article up staged by the news from Ass-nal, one to look back on later in the season lol
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Yeah
The funny thing about it is that David really thought Emery would be at the Emirates until season’s end.
I’m really not trying to be clever but when I heard last night’s result I knew it was game over for Unai.
The thing that makes me laugh is the timing – it could only happen to me:-)
Cheers.
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Well, one of David’s predictions has failed. Emery has gone, so that just leaves his score prediction. Let’s hope he’s half right, and we get two, but we also keep another clean sheet. Onwards and upwards!
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Hi Jim
You’ll notice I didn’t predict [for once] in the original article.
I thought our forthcoming match would be Emery’s last stand tbh. But not so.
Freddie [never could spell Ljunberg, and can’t be bothered to look him up] and Bould have a big job to do to in order to lift their squad. Let’s hope they fail in that task.
Any money on Poch? Stranger things have happened.
Thank you.
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Arsenal have obviously been struggling to find their best XI and most suitable formation and it doesn’t seem likely they can solve that in two days. But I don’t think Emery’s departure does us a favour simply because it probably means Ozil will play, and have a point to prove. If you have someone of his calibre and can get him firing he’s capable of winning matches, certainly against teams like us, on his own.
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Hi Keith
Unless I’m wrong [which I often am] I think Ozil played against Southampton?
Well, he’ll have Aarons and Amadou [Tettey is apparently out for ‘family reasons’] to deal with and I don’t expect him to get the space he thrives on. He’s a great player but a moody ba$tard. We’ll see on Sunday.
ps I wish they’d kept Emery until Sunday, I really do:-)
Thanks.
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Thanks Martin (and David);
So, the Arsenal board have pulled the trigger……the things these big clubs do to avoid a defeat to the mighty NCFC…
I suspect that all Farke’s plans will now need a swift rethink as surely Freddie and co will Arsenal more defensively secure.
With that in mind I’ve had to change my prediction from a home win to a rather nervy draw!
O T B C
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Hi John
Freddie will have had 48 hours with them at best and we’ll soon find out if that proves to be enough.
I find this one almost impossible to predict but I’d settle for your draw.
Thank you.
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A City win could see Arsenal drop to 10th after the weekend just 5 points above relegation zone and 22 points away from top and we are in December, Sunday’s game is huge for both teams.
Steve Bould IMO is part of the problem at Arsenal, the ever present link with their glory years but no motivator, has a job for life it seems.
I reckon a visiferous cauldron of noise at Carrow Rd on a chilly Sunday afternoon will be all we need to put on a performance and take a rare 3 points from the Gooners.
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Blimey Colin I hope your last sentence proves apposite:-)
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