What a weekend: Skywalk, meal and Spurs women & men games
What a weekend: Skywalk, meal and Spurs women & men games
Yes, what a
weekend. It all started with me going to London on Friday, and in the evening I
went with Hanna to do the Spurs Skywalk.
Friday- Skywalk
Got to
Tottenham early, visited the Spurs shop and then went to queue for the Skywalk.
We then had to change into protective gear. But because of a thunderstorm, it
was nearly cancelled. But half an hour later, we were allowed to go.
First, you
were given a safety talk with a video to watch. Then we were on the move, up a
steep ramp with safety hooks attached to the side rail. Once up, we had an
amazing walk/ view until we got to the Spurs Cockerel. Everybody reached out to
touch it (small things, or big things please certain minds), then professional photos were taken.
Our phones
had been taken away from us (for safety reasons) however, once at the top, we
were given them back (briefly) so that we could take our own photos. Then we
gave them back to the guide. Luckily the rain held off. I didn’t do the sky
abseil, so a steep walk back down (which was more difficult, as I have
arthritis in the foot and knee). The whole episode took about 45 minutes. I
certainly would do it again. After that, then to the Spurs shop for the
professional printed out photos. Which I had previously booked and paid for. Hanna
also enjoyed her time. Among our group (climbing up the Skywalk) was a couple
from Blackpool, Spurs, Arsenal, and a few other denominations. All friendly and
chatty.
There is
also parking nearby, which you can purchase for £6.50. So we went by car. Once
it was all over, a quick trip back to Goodmayes (where I was staying) and then a
couple of glasses of wine.
Saturday- Meal
The next day
Hanna treated me to a meal at Hawksmoor in Nightsbridge (as it was my birthday
weekend). A fantastic steak meal with starters and desserts. And a bottle of
wine between us. The waitress threw in the desserts – compliments of the
restaurant because it was my birthday (well, on Monday it is). A fantastic
restaurant, I would certainly go back there again.
Sunday – Spurs men and Ladies match.
Left Hanna’s
at 9.30 (Hanna didn’t go). Arrived at the stadium at 9.30 and had to wait until
the Spurs shop opened at 10. Did some shopping; bought a Spurs rug, a
programme, a Tottenham puzzle and other stuff. Sadly no X-L away shirts, which
I thought was pretty bad and lost sales.
Met my
friend Steve at the Premium entrance. Because his friend Peter was too ill to
go to the match I was invited by him to the Spurs Restaurant (which he
pre-booked). Had a fantastic three-course meal. Then chatted to other friends,
made some new friends. Then Met Liz and Tim, with Janet joining us. Brilliant
meeting up with old friends, which I missed because of the lockdown.
Spurs v Arsenal match
Kick-off at
2pm. I was sitting next to an Arsenal family, but we had a pleasant talk, very
friendly. Obviously, they weren’t happy with how things turned out (except the
woman’s match, but they didn’t stay for that).
Son scored
in the 79th to give us a 1-0 win over our Arsenal rivals in an energetic
friendly on Sunday.
This victory
and Son’s goal (with thanks from Japhet Tanganga) ensured we finished our preseason
groundwork with a brilliant victory in front of 25,000 supporters (why they
couldn’t allow more when only a week later there will be a full capacity!).
It was the
final match in The Mind Series between us, Arsenal and Chelsea. We drew with
Chelsea 2-2 at Chelsea on Wednesday after Chelsea had beaten Arsenal 2-1 at
Emirates Stadium last weekend.
As for Kane,
he was absent but to be honest, we didn’t really need him as we achieved our
goals in our preseason matches.
Nuno named a
strong line-up with Hugo Lloris returning in goal and Son leading our attack.
Nuno
Espirito Santo said of Kane: "Harry is with us... I will speak with
Harry probably as soon as possible because he is already at [Spurs' training
ground where he is isolating]. Not today; today was the day of the match, but
we have a training session [on Monday], and with social distancing I will
hopefully speak with Harry." But according to the press (if you
can believe them), he has already agreed on personal terms with City. But then
again, read another paper, and you get something else.
On Cristian
Romero (our new player), Nuno said: "He didn't train yet with the group, it
is true. He finished the last game with a problem. It is much better now but we
have to be very careful first, not take any chances. Like all the players,
[Giovani Dos Santos] didn't have many sessions, Hugo [Lloris], we have to
manage a lot of aspects until we decide to put the player on the pitch. But he
is here; he looks good. When he starts training in a normal way, he will become
an option."
Back to the
match: Son shot wide from the edge of the box in the sixth minute and should
have scored 10 minutes later when side-footing straight at Bernd Leno after
good work from Lucas Moura. Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette began to inspire
things and tested Lloris with a 25-yard shot which he turned behind before
hitting the post with another effort from a similar distance. Alli was booked for a late tackle on Nicolas
Pepe, however, we creating the best chances.
Son teed up
Alli as he arrived in the box, but he could only hit the post from close range.
One of the
interesting moments – right in front of me – was when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and
Arteta exchanged words of anger early into the second period after the former
came close to colliding with the latter as he attempted to keep the ball in
play. Arteta poked his finger into Hojbjerg's chest as he had argued that he
was out of his technical area. This caused referee David Coote to come over and
intervene.
Kieran
Tierney and Xhaka were booked for late challenges before we hit the woodwork again
just before the hour mark. Davinson Sanchez flicked on Son's free-kick from the
right to the far post where Alli tried to turn it goalwards, but he hit the
upright again.
Going back
to the European Championships final, we saw three black England players get
racially abused (one of them was Arsenal’s Saka). Our fans ceased their panter
for this Arsenal game by warmly applauding Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka onto the
pitch. He was introduced in the 63rd-minute for his first outing since he
missed a penalty in England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy last month.
We always
looked the more likely to score against an inferior Arsenal side. They hadn’t
won a game in this Minds London competition, a competition that excluded all
other London clubs.
Eric Dier
clipped the crossbar with a late free-kick, which condemned the Gooners to
their second consecutive preseason defeat.
Arsenal
begins their Premier League campaign on Friday night at Brentford while we host
Manchester City next Sunday. On paper, Arsenal have the best chances of winning
out of them and us. But you never know (surprises often happen in football).
After our
victory over the Gooners, a poor Spurs ladies side lost 4-0 to Arsenal Ladies
(which kicked off at 4.45), but to be fair, it was a friendly (we did have a
few standout women, though). By the time the ladies came on the pitch, most of
the 25,000 crowd had left, leaving a few hundred spectators.
Today I went
out with my daughter and grandchildren on my actual birthday (9th),
overall it has been a great weekend. So, if I come over as somebody who is pickled, then you know why.
Be safe, Glenn
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