Arsenal 1 - 2 Bournemouth...

Well, that was rubbish. Perhaps nobody expected a thrilling afternoon at the football, but that was the dampest of dampest squibs. With Man City on our tail in the Premiership too, we needed a win. 

What we didn't need was our full-strength side going down to a first-ever home defeat by Bournemouth. 

And we didn’t have one single shot on (or off) target in the last 20 minutes on the pitch. Woeful. 

To further compound the defeat, any momentum we might have had for next Wednesday's pivotal Champions League semi-final second leg at Paris St-Germain was dealt a blow by yesterday's 2-1 loss to the Cherries. 

To salvage any glory this season we need to head to the French capital to overturn a 1-0 loss from the first leg.

So, a miracle, please. Or at least a ‘bon effort’. 

All that aside, it was lovely to meet the @gaygooners before the match. 

Onwards and upwards, my friends.  

And hello to Roger. His first time at the Emirates. 

“Yes, we’re the guys in red, Rog” 😂

@Arsenal  

#COYG  

#ARSBOU

@gaygooners

Here We Are @ Lyttleton Theatre…

Last night, Stuart and I went to see the UK debut of Stephen Sondheim's final musical, 'Here We Are' at the National Theatre on London’s glitzy Southbank. 

Meh. Stuart left at the interval. I ploughed on through. 

It started off ok. The usual Sondheim plotting; a company of characters - played here excellently by Tracie Bennett, Jack Butterworth, Chumisa Dornford-May, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Richard Fleeshman, Harry Hadden-Paton, Cameron Johnson, Jane Krakowski, Denis O’Hare, Martha Plimpton, Paulo Scot, and Rory Kinear - find themselves in an unusual situation and speak/sing about it in an amusing fashion. 

In this case, the musical is inspired by two of Luis Buñuel's films, the Discrete Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Avenging Angel. Both of these films are about poshos eating. The first film is about them trying to have a meal out but failing as there is no food, and the second film is about posh people trying to leave a room after a meal but again failing. 

Indeed, when the musical tries to blend in some of the surrealism from those films with Sondheim's signature style it just looks stupid. Posh people behaving badly can be funny - but add high-heeled shoe obsessed bishop, a gun, a water shortage, a war, a dodgy piano, a death or two, and even a dancing bear and we are on thin ice. I had to check the program to see if the kitchen sink had a walk-on part. 

The pacing felt uneven, with certain sections dragging unnecessarily. Complete plot lines and character developments went absolutely nowhere. It was frustratingly average. Even for Sondheim. 

And the main reason why people come to a musical is to hear people sing, right? What songs we got in Act I were perfectly pleasant, but as far as I can tell there was no singing in Act II at all.

Shame really. 

⭐️⭐️ 

The 80s @ Tate Britain…

Last week Andrew and I went to the Tate Britain in London’s glitzy Pimlico to see their 1980s photograph exhibition. 

The show offers a vivid snapshot of a transformative decade, capturing the era's dynamic energy and cultural shifts. 

The collection showcases many striking images, mainly in black and white, that reflect the bold fashion, political turbulence, and burgeoning pop culture of the time. Each photograph tells its own story, from gritty urban scenes to vibrant portraits, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia. 

We both recognised so much of what we saw. 

Street parties, dinner parties, demos, misogyny, racism, homophobia, social deprivation, political unrest are all represented; Greenham Common, Poll Tax riots, Section 28, New Romantics, poverty, art, music, collectivism…. 

The curation is thoughtful, highlighting both iconic moments and lesser-known glimpses into everyday life, making it a compelling experience for both history enthusiasts and art lovers.

We loved it. We lived it. 

I enjoyed it so much, I went again yesterday with Paul.  

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Arsenal 0 - 1 Paris St-Germain...

Lovely though it was to meet the @gaygooners before the match, things were less cheerful at the Emirates Stadium.

 

The initial chorus of cheers and whoops from the home crowd soon died to a dissatisfied mumble.

 

Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg against PSG was less a football match and more a masterclass in how to squander momentum, misplace passes, and mismanage emotions — all under the dim glow of a stadium that seemed to have mistaken itself for a library.​

 

Ousmane Dembélé needed just four minutes to remind Arsenal that defensive lapses are best left in the past, not repeated on Europe's grandest stage. His goal, a slick finish off a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia assist, was the culmination of a 26-pass sequence that carved through Arsenal's midfield like a hot knife through butter. ​

 

Arsenal's response? A disallowed goal from Mikel Merino due to offside, and a touchline tantrum featuring set-piece coach Nicolas Jover being physically restrained by Mikel Arteta. It was a scene more befitting a reality TV show than a Champions League semi-final.

 

The Emirates, once a fortress, offered all the intimidation of a polite golf clap suggesting that the home advantage was more theoretical than actual. ​

 

As the final whistle blew, PSG walked away with a 1-0 victory, leaving Arsenal to ponder a performance that was as uninspired as it was ineffective. With the second leg looming in Paris, one can only hope that Arsenal finds both their voice and their form — or risk being silenced entirely.

 

Onwards and upwards, my friends.  Allons-y! 

 

@Arsenal 

#COYG 

#ARSPSG

@gaygooners

 

Go Exterminate, Gunners!…

Tonight the mighty Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final. 

Our new right-back certainly looks like taking the fight to the French!  Go exterminate, Gunners! 🔴⚪️

@arsenal

#daleks

#doctorwho

#ARSPSG

#COYG 

Punch @ Young Vic…

Last week, Stuart and I went to see James Graham‘s fantastic play Punch at the Young Vic in London’s glitzy Waterloo. 

Short review: Punch is a gripping play that delivers sharp, quick-witted dialogue with an emotional… er… punch. I, along with much of the audience, cried buckets. 

Longer version: Based on Jacob Dunne's memoir "Right from Wrong" it tells the true story of Dunne, who, in 2011, fatally punched James Hodgkinson, leading to Hodgkinson's death and Dunne's imprisonment for manslaughter. 

The play explores themes of violence, redemption, and restorative justice, depicting Dunne's journey from a reckless youth to a man seeking forgiveness and understanding. 

It premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in May 2024, where it received critical acclaim for its poignant portrayal of the impact of a single act of violence.

Now in London, it has lost none of its impact; the raw energy of the action and dynamic characters kept us on the edge of our seats, making every moment count. 

It was a bold, unflinching exploration of human conflict and resilience.

All the cast are great, but special mention needs to go to Julie Hesmondhalgh and Tony Hirst who are both outstanding.   

Likewise, David Shields who plays Dunne, deserves every acting award going.   

Go see, when it transfers to the West End (or indeed Broadway) later on this year. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Silent Disco @ Natural History Museum…

 Last night Darce treated me to a night dancing with the dinosaurs. 

The Natural History Museum had flung opened its doors for a silent disco. Three different soundtracks, three different colours red/green/blue - you choose. 

Ironically it’s quite a communal experience. You see other people listening to a tune and dancing so you tune into it and sing along. It was brilliant. Go go go.