This was just straight-up not enjoyable. 0/10

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Pet updates:

Not particularly enjoyable. Not blaming VAR for the loss, when you have 30 shots you should probably finish one of them, but I’m just tired of how VAR is used at this point. Oh well. 3/10 wouldn’t watch again.

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Pet updates:

Cosmos sleeps with Olive’s toy

Not going to say that I enjoyed that because I don’t think I breathed the entire time, but a point at Anfeild is great. So, 8/10 but wouldn’t watch again.

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Pet updates:

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

A very enjoyable match. Something has awoken in Kai Havertz and I am here for it. 10/10 would watch again.

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Pet Photos

Not a particularly enjoyable one. Probably did enough to win it, just didn’t take our chances well in front of net. Also, I need to remember that elbowing people is allowed now, I keep forgetting that. 5/10 wouldn’t watch again.

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Pet Photos

The cats react to the non red card call.

In a match that felt like a weird fever dream, I will happily take a last minute winner from Declan Rice. Though not sure if I would want to relive that again, so because of that: 8/10.

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Pet Photos

A fun start to the match and perhaps not as a fun ending, but a win is a win. Also, every time I think that Saka is reaching his ceiling he gets better. 7/10 would watch again.

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Housekeeping

Some quick housekeeping for the newsletter. The schedule of this newsletter is going to change a bit for the holiday period. Instead of a weekly round up of all things Arsenal it will be a short newsletter after each match with a drawing from the match that just happened. The idea of sitting down and typing out a round up during a very busy Arsenal period is proving daunting to me.

Second, if you happen to be in Philadelphia this weekend, there’s an Arsenal Philadelphia charity event I will be at. Drinks, panel discussion, book signings, watching Arsenal, all of it. Tickets here.

Podcast

This week on the Poorly Animated Arsenal Podcast we discuss the match against Wolves, Apple Watches, if the team doctor could get sent off, plus my cat gets fed live on the show, all that and more!

Pet Photos

Watch the animated version here

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

We needed this. A match where we scored nearly at will. A match where all the people that needed to get going would score a goal. 10/10 no notes.

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Pet Photos

Watch the animated version here

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

First off, apologies that there was no newsletter last week. I came back from London and was feeling all good and dandy, then two days later I wasn’t. Turns out it was Covid, so I took the week to rest up. Feeling all good now.

Second, I was going to mention this in last week’s newsletter but I was interviewed in the Athletic about the origins of Poorly Drawn Arsenal, why I do things the way that I do, and why a Walrus is the logo. You can read that here if you wish to do so.

Anywho, Arsenal.

We had two nice wins this week. The first at home in the Champions League in a pretty dominant 2-0 win. I know the scoreline doesn’t scream dominate, but Sevilla had one shot the entire match and it happened with almost the last kick. So, that ticks the dominant scorebox for me.

The second win, also at home, was on Saturday against Burnley. There were a lot of really great moments from this match. Trossard putting his body on the line to score a goal, Saliba behaving as if the Premier League is too easy for him, and Zincenko challenging his inner Daniel LaRusso and karate-kicking the ball into the net for Arsenal’s third goal.

But, one thing I want to talk about from that match is Kai Havertz. My podcast partner, the walrus but real name Hunter, has a theory and that’s that Havertz reminds him a bit of Ben Simmons. As a Sixers fan that gives me some PTSD, but for those that don’t follow basketball, Simmons was known for being a good passer, good at driving towards the basket, good defensively, but allergic to shooting. Havertz seems to have picked up that allergy as well.

I have a theory on how to fix Havertz. The man just needs to score a goal from open play by any means necessary. I know he has a goal already but it was from a penalty. He needs the confidence of firing one in from a sequence of passes. Now, that’s a bit hard when every time you are in the box you are contemplating shooting the ball, passing it, or digging a hole in the ground so you don’t have to pick either option, but I have a proposal.

I’m proposing that we attach a ball to Kai Havertz, pick him up, and throw him across the goal line. That way he remembers the feeling of putting the ball in the net. This will unlock whatever mental block he’s having around shooting.

Now, there are some legally questionable hurdles that might stop this plan from coming to fruition. I actually looked this up which is terribly uncharacteristic of me and tossing your own teammate might be considered “plays in a dangerous manner” which would violate 12.2 on the official rule book. So, while I would recommend doing this in match, it seems like an ideal training exercise for London Colney.

This should get Havertz back on track in no time.

All the links and photos of my pets are below as per usual,

Poorly

This week’s podcast:

In this week’s Poorly Animated Arsenal Podcast we discuss pretty much everything I wrote above but in audio format and with silly animations. Fun!

Apple Podcasts | Wherever else you podcast

Olive and Velma update:

Watch the animated version here

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the animated version here

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

A bit of a short one today. I’m still in London and am in fact typing this up on the tube. I wouldn’t call it the most ideal place for creative writing, but it is a place where one can write.

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I had the pleasure of being at the match this weekend. If Arsenal wants to sponsor me to be there the rest of the season, I can guarantee more results like the one on Saturday, I wouldn’t complain. I was sat in the clock end, so I had the perfect view of Eddie’s third goal and the whip that he had put on it. It very much felt like that kind of shot where you go “Eh, I’ve already scored twice, might as well try this.”

Another nice moment on Saturday was Tomiyasu grabbing his first goal for the club. After the match he revealed that the goal was dedicated to his mom who had passed away last season.

I’ll have more clear thoughts on this trip when I return. Either on here or in the animated podcast. It’s hard to wrap my brain around but one thought I want to work out of my brain is that I love Arsenal.

I know that seems very obvious because I spend my free time drawing little cartoons about Arsenal, but when I say I love Arsenal, I guess the deeper meaning is that I love the people around Arsenal. Your Andrew’s, Elliot’s, Clive’s, Dave’s, Mike’s, Lucy’s, Alex’s, etc. That’s what makes Arsenal to me. It was lovely seeing some friends after a long time this weekend and it was nice meeting new ones as welll.

I’ll have something a bit more polished next week,

Poorly

Some pics:

I don’t have pictures of Olive and Velma because, well, they didn’t come with me. So here’s some pictures I took so far on the trip

Arsenal played pretty sluggishly in the first half of the Chelsea match this weekend. A lot of people are trying to figure out why that is the case. Was it the weather? Does Arsenal always struggle in the match after an international break? Did Chelsea play well for the first time this season?

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I think there’s a pretty obvious reason that Arsenal struggled this weekend and that is Ben White’s new hair.

Now, to be clear, I’m not blaming Ben White at all. I’m able to separate the hair from the man. I’m not even really blaming the hair, when we get down to it, the blame is on Ben White’s hairdresser who I’m sure upsold Ben White when he walked into the shop.

You see, Arsenal has a history with players dying their hair bleach-blonde. In the summer of 2019, Mesut Ozil showed up to training camp with bleach-blonde hair. He didn’t make a league appearance until mid-November, ended up making only 18 league appearances that season, and played his last game for Arsenal in the spring of that season.

Going even further back, Aaron Ramsey showed up to the Wales training camp in the Summer of 2016 with bleach-blonde hair. His Arsenal season started on the sidelines with a lengthy hamstring injury, he made his least amount of appearances since 2011, and he had his lowest scoring season during his last six years at the club.

Now, we need to talk about the elephant in the room. Leandro Trossard.

Blonde Trossard has been with us since May roughly. His performances have not slipped up like Ozil or Ramsey’s had. There’s a solid argument for saying that his performances have gotten better. In fact, Trossard is the very player that scored the equalizing goal against Chelsea this weekend.

It is my belief that Trossard’s substitution rebalanced Arsenal’s blonde equilibrium. Not only did these two bleach-blonde players cancel each other out, but positionally Ben White played in the back on the right side and Trossard played in the front on the left side. Perfectly balanced. As all things should be. A masterstroke of a substitution by Arteta.

Now, there is good news for Arsenal fans with this hair development from Ben White. The seasons that Ozil and Ramsey both dyed their hair ended in FA Cup wins for Arsenal. Perhaps, we can see the same thing this season?

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All the links and photos of my pets are below as per usual,

Poorly

This week’s podcast:

In this week’s Poorly Animated Arsenal Podcast we discuss pretty much everything I wrote above but in audio format and with silly animations. Fun!

Apple Podcasts | Wherever else you podcast

I’m leaving on a jet plane:

Hi, I’m coming to London this week. I hop on a plane on Wednesday night and land in London on Thursday morning. I’ll be at the Sheffield United match this weekend. Say “hi” if you see me, I’ll be the one in the Arsenal kit. Can’t miss me.

But, if you do happen to miss me during the match, right after the match I’ll be at The Armoury signing books for the book I illustrated.

Olive and Velma update:

Watch the animated version of this podcast here.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

I know that this newsletter rounds up the week that was for Arsenal with silly drawings, etc and I know that Arsenal supposedly played a match in the middle of the week that they lost. But, hear me out, I’d much rather spend our time just talking about the Man City match. I didn’t draw anything from the Lens match, I don’t think we collectively had any fun watching that, and I don’t think the Arsenal players enjoyed playing in that either. So I’m going to skip it.

I was in New York on Sunday watching the match at O’Hanlon’s, one of two Arsenal bars in Manhattan. When Martinelli’s goal went in pandemonium broke loose. I was lifted in the air and that person nearly fell backward into a table as I was in their arms. That person asked for my consent, to which I said “What?” because I couldn’t hear a thing in the chaos. Next thing I knew I was in their arms as they screamed in joy. I don’t tend to watch Arsenal matches with other people, I’ve got my own workflow for Poorly Drawn Arsenal, so I don’t know if getting lifted in the air is normal at O’Hanlon’s, but I will say that it was fun and I recommend it for anyone needing a place to watch in NYC.

It feels good to finally win against City, which I recognize is not a controversial opinion for an Arsenal fan to have. It was the first time in the league since 2015. I think the reason it feels so good is because last year, losing to City twice very much felt like the end of our title chase. Getting this match out of the way so early, and winning it, makes me believe that we are in the title race again. That maybe we can finally do this.

I would like to take the very end of this to say thank you to everyone who came out to the book event in New York and everyone I met at O’Hanlon’s. It is truly humbling to have the experiences that I’ve had. Someone gifted me a scarf, someone made me a beaded bracelet that says “Poorly Drawn NYC” on it. The whole weekend touched my heart and made me feel incredibly lucky to be in the position that I am in. Next up, at the end of the month, London.

Poorly

This week’s podcast:

This week’s Poorly Animated Arsenal Podcast is, well, not animated. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts. We discuss my trip to NYC, the win against City, and what Arteta must do when he’s hiding in a game of hide and seek.

Apple Podcasts | Wherever else you podcast

Last chance to vote for me:

I’ve been nominated for Best Artist in the Football Content Awards. Voting closes this Sunday. Now look, the idea of someone named Poorly Drawn Arsenal winning an award for Best Artist is just so incredibly funny. So I’m going to push through my discomfort and politely say that if you are interested in voting for me you can do so here or down below on the bigger button link thing.

Vote here

I’m going on tour:

Hi, I’m coming to London. I want to meet you if you would be interested in meeting me. I illustrated a book and there’s an event for it. This event will take place at The Armoury right after the Sheffield United match on the 28th of October. We will be signing books, etc.

Olive and Velma update:

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Sorry for being a bit late on this one again. Lots of travel and life things happening this week. As a result, there’s also no podcast this week since I was actually at a wedding instead of watching the game this weekend. That makes it a bit hard to podcast or even a bit awkward.

“Does anyone have any objections as to why these two should not marry?”

“Yes! Havertz!”

So, this is a bit of a light newsletter and next week may be as well since I’ll be in New York for an event on Saturday, more details below, and watching the game at O'Hanlon's on Sunday.

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I have a very set routine when watching matches at home. It usually involves writing some notes down on my computer, Olive lying next to me, and my iPad within reach so I can start drawing something as soon as I have my “ah-ha, that’s it!” moment. That’s a bit hard to recreate in public. I guess it could be considered as anti-social. So, as a result, when I’m traveling, things are a little lighter and a bit later here.

I don’t have a ton to say about a match that I didn’t really watch, but I will just highlight one moment. The Kai Havertz goal. Obviously, it’s very nice to see him score and have an incredibly catchy song.

I can’t imagine I’m the only one sitting on a train, having a completely normal time, and then just blurting out “WAKA WAKA.” But, the moment that really captured me, was the team's decision to hand the ball to Havertz on the penalty, so he could have the chance to score his first goal.

Equally as capturing was the team celebration afterward. Kai Havertz's head must have been slapped at least twenty times by happy teammates. I still find this a weird way to celebrate as a side note, but whatever. It was nice to see the entire team be happy for Kai, including Odegaard pushing him towards the fans so he could have his moment in the limelight.

It’s moments like this that truly make me love this team. We can be fun to watch. We can be really good at putting the ball in the net. But the moments that stick most with me are when we give someone a chance to score when he needs it, when Odegaard pushes a teammate toward the fans so they can have their moment, and when Ramsdale cheers on a teammate who has replaced him. The support that the team has for each other. It makes them feel human for a bit.

Anywho, information on how to vote for me for an award, details on my trips, and a new cat are all below,

Poorly

I’ve been nominated for an award lol:

I’ve been nominated for an award. I feel weird about awards. Not when my friends win awards, I think that’s really cool and thoroughly deserved, but for whatever reason, when I am nominated, I struggle with that.

All that being said, I’ve been nominated for Best Artist in the Football Content Awards. Now look, the idea of someone named Poorly Drawn Arsenal winning an award for Best Artist is just so incredibly funny. So I’m going to push through my discomfort and politely say that if you are interested in voting for me you can do so here or down below on the bigger button link thing.

Vote here

I’m going on tour:

Last chance for tickets for the event at The Ground on October 7th! We will start with a screening of the movie "Invincible" followed by a panel discussion with Dave Seager, Mike Feinberg, Alexis Guerrreros, and me! After the panel discussion, there will be a book signing. Plus, there will be drinks. Lots of drinks. It should be a fun time. It’s a limited-size event so get your tickets for that now.

Get NYC tickets!

A second event will take place in London. The last time I was in London I saw William Gallas score with, let’s call it his nether region, so it’s been a bit. This event will take place at The Armoury right after the Sheffield United match on the 28th of October. We will be signing books, etc. That event doesn’t have tickets, just show up!

Olive and Velma update:

So, uh, we have another cat. We are fostering/may be keeping it/I don’t really know what’s going on, but I know that there are now two cats in the house.