Bay Area Gooners

Arsenal through the lens

If you were unable to watch Arsenal’s mid-week Champions League match against RC Lens, you owe it yourself to at least see the highlights.

It was a bit like watching a Harlem Globetrotters match or an Oprah special, You get a goal, and you get a goal, and you get a goal! Perhaps this is why Premier League teams are often reluctant to play football against Arsenal, preferring instead to park the proverbial bus and dare the Gunners to break them down.

Please, please let some of the fluidity, swagger and dominance we witnessed Wednesday spill over into Arsenal’s weekend matches.

Transatlantic Trip Kits are back!

At the request of Gooners who missed out the first time, we’re bringing our Transatlantic Trip Kit back for a limited time only.

Emblazoned with our logo, Maggie McGarry’s as our sponser, a numerical nod to our patch of 49 square miles, Arsenal’s Invincibles, and San Francisco’s own 49ers, and featuring the late Patrick Dunphy, on the sleeve.

Beginning today through December 10th, you can order them from Olive & York.

Order here! Ends December 10th!

They will probably not arrive in time for holiday gift giving, but we have a lovely certificate I can supply you with, to present to the recipient and let them know what’s coming. Just drop me an email.

Back at the pub tomorrow for a 7am kickoff against Wolverhampton, and it looks to be a real test for Arsenal, as Wolves have defeated the likes of Man City and fought Newcastle to a draw.

Look forward to seeing you at the pub tomorrow!

Best,

Mark

Did you save room for Arsenal?

Hope everyone was able to enjoy time off this week with friends and family. Don’t worry if you over indulged, as long as you saved a little room for Arsenal.

The Thanksgiving holiday and another dreaded interlull behind us, it’s now back to business for the Gunners. Annoyance at Trossard and Jesus playing a full 90 minutes for their countries, aside, here’s hoping we pick up where we left off.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re coming!

In case you missed it, here’s the latest in our Ooh to be a Gooner series, where we profile Gooners at the pub!

Hope to see you tomorrow! We’ll have BAG t-shirts and scarves for sale, if you’d like to get a jump on your holiday shopping.

Best,

Mark

Ooh to be a Gooner: Sean

The latest in our series profiling the Gooners joining us at Maggie McGarry’s on match days.

Sometime around 1999, San Jose high schooler, Sean Estill found himself in search of a team. Playing FIFA 98 with his skateboarding buddies, they supported clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, Juventus, Chivas and even Spurs. Initially drawn to Arsenal by their French connection and their style of play, the more he learned, the more he becamed attached.

Flash forward to 2015, Sean is living in San Francisco and finds a coworker who also supports Arsenal. This particular Gooner, Nick hips him to the Bay Area Gooners and Maggie McGarry’s and Sean’s been coming to matches ever since.

Of the Bay Area Gooners, Sean says he loves the community, No other supporter group has the same feel. BAG is welcoming, fun, has great attendance and a culture of camaraderie.

His all-time favorite player is Thierry Henry while Saliba and Saka rank as his current favorites. When asked about manager Mikel Arteta, Sean says, I’m quite happy with him these days, although I accept he is young and still growing as a Manager. I question some decisions, but above all, he has brought the club back to fighting for the top. We’ve had so many painful dark years, so its great to be competing again, with one of our own as Manager. I back him and want to see further progress this season.

Sean has had the pleasure of seeing Arsenal play in London, LA, San Jose and New York, including a big group trip to the Emirates last season. His support is ever expanding, The Arsenal is a special club, and I’m proud to support it. The club and the supporters are welcoming, accepting and diverse. I’ve actually got my whole family to join in and it is the only team we all support together. I hope to keep the support going with the next generation. COYG!

We’re continue to share stories of our Gooner family at Maggie’s. If you’re a regular, who’d like to be featured, talk to me at the pub.

Cheers, Mark

Six ways to Saturday

Arsenal’s decisive win Wednesday over Sevilla in the Champions League group stage served as a bit of a palate cleanser, but The Travesty on Tyneside is still stuck firmly in one’s craw.

To have VAR examine an opposition goal for 4 possible violations and still stand could only happen to Arsenal. Topped off with several unpunished assaults by Magpie players, it’s enough to make one believe in conspiracy theories.

There was a bit of every Gooner in Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments. His rage was our rage. Hopefully, by Saturday, I’ll be able to say, I’m not angry anymore.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re coming!

The match viewings at Maggie’s have been really good this season. We’ve been getting a nice mix of regulars, first-timers, out-of-town visitors, and a few prodigal Gooners, returning for the first time in years. This is our last weekend match until after Thanksgiving, so I hope to see you at the pub!

See you Saturday!

Best,

Mark

The hammer came down

Just like that, the hammer came down and our league cup run is over. You’ll hear Gooners rationalize it as freeing Arsenal up for more important things, but the truth is, it was an anemic performance all round.

This was a chance for a number of squad players to bolster supporters already shaky faith in them. There are so many of us in the Kai Havertz “I want to believe” camp at Maggie’s, but this outing did nothing to shore up our doubts.

No time to dwell, as the Gunners head to Newcastle Saturday. This will be a stern task though Newcastle don’t seem quite as puissant as last season. But then, neither do Arsenal.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re coming!

Because of the time change, the 10:30am kickoff might be the latest start to a weekend match (outside of a final) we’ve ever had at the pub. If previous late starts are any indication, the pub should be hopping.

See you Saturday!

Best,

Mark

A is for Arsenal, also anxiety

Nervy late moments in our mid-week Champions League match against Sevilla, but don’t let it diminish two stellar goals by Martinelli and Jesus. Martinelli’s was reminiscent of his legendary goal a few seasons back at Chelsea. Also laudable was our stout defense with a rock star performance by Tomiyasu.

Next up, Sheffield United, who have one of the worst starts ever to the Premier League era and on paper, look like easy pickings. But as all Gooners know, Arsenal rarely make things easy. Here’s hoping they don’t wait until so late in the match to join the fray as they did at Chelsea.

There is late news that both Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus will be out for a few weeks. Also, can we talk about the inconsistent play of Martin Ødegaard? Our Captain does not entirely seem himself and along with the injury news, my Arsenal anxiety level is creeping up.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re coming!

While I always try to capture the true Gooners at Maggie’s for each match, sometimes the crowds makes it challenging.. I’d love if any photographers (aspiring or otherwise) who take photos during the matches, shared them with me.

We’ve been getting really great crowds for the later matches, but now it’s time for y’all to show up for something a little earlier. Hope to see you Saturday!

Best,

Mark

On the rebound

Loved the late fight back from the Gunners on Saturday, but feel a little fortunate to snatch a late draw from the mouth of defeat. The lads seemed a step behind for most of the match and made an ordinary Chelsea team look like contenders.

No time to dwell as Arsenal head to Spain to face Sevilla Fútbol Club in another Champions League group stage match. The team needs to rebound not only from the weekend’s frustrating effort but their last Champions League debacle against RC Lens.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re coming!

Sadly, the Man is keeping me down and I’ll be unable join you at Maggie’s for the match.

Best,

Mark

Old familiar foes

Another dreaded interlull behind us and Arsenal’s triumphant win over Man City begins to fade into memory, as we prepare for the lads to get back to business.

This might seem like a good time to face Chelsea, currently sitting in 11th, having won only 3 matches. But two of those were their most recent, so woe to us if we take them for granted, just when they may be finding their form.

I truly loathe Chelsea, easily as much as any of our other rivals and hope we trounce them on Sunday. Saka, Saliba, and Trossard all are questionable for the match due to injury, so how sweet would it be for Havertz to have a big “revenge match” performance against his former club. Here’s hoping.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re coming!

Great to be headed back to Maggie’s. Lovely late kickoff ensures the pub will be packed. Get their early to get a good seat.

See you at the pub!

Best,

Mark

Rollercoaster of love

Just over two months into the season, we’ve hit the first real dip in the Arsenal supporter r ollercoaste r. Our trip to France ended up so much sour milk, with RC Lens taking advantage of our sloppy defense and Saka limping off. Again.

And of course, it would occur just prior to our biggest match of the season thus far. Man City visit the Emirates this weekend, and while they’re missing a few key players, they are still the team to beat in the Premier League.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re coming!

These matches with Manchester City always have the added importance for Gooners at Maggie’s because of the exiguous City supporters group one occasionally encounters at the pub. You might not see a lot of them during the regular season, but they always mange to turn out in droves for matches with Arsenal.

Thus, it is incumbent upon us to use our overwhelming numbers to maintain our pub dominance. Please join us as we sing, There’s only one team at Maggie’s. And of course, the framed dollar bill, now named for Patrick Dunphy, hangs in the balance. We claimed it after the Community Shield, and can hopefully retain it Sunday.

Last weekend’s domination of Bournemouth was marred by constant streaming issues with the Peacock app in the first half. This was not the pub’s doing as viewers at home and in pubs all over the U.S. were experiencing the same disruptions. Regrettably, NBC Sports has relegated Sunday’s match to their shitty little app, so fingers crossed we don’t encounter any problems.

See you at the pub! Get there early to ensure yourself a prime seat!

Best,

Mark

The champignons league?

Fine effort by Arsenal to crush a hapless Bournemouth, 4-0. However, Saka and Jesus going off limping is worrisome, especially given Martinelli and Partney are still out. Saka was amongst the top 10 most fouled players in the Premier League last season and that irksome trend appears to be continuing.

Quick jaunt to France for tomorrow’s Champions League group stage match again RC Lens before the big weekend showdown against Man City.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re coming!

Work will keep me from the pub tomorrow but I’ll see you Sunday for the big one.

Best,

Mark