Our Faceless Masks

  Is it not a crime that those in masks are often the ones given the highest of attention? Masked villains, masked vigilantes and masked crooks. The more intricate the crime, the more stylised the mask. A man in a mask can do far more than any naked faced individual. The mask can hide all the injustices, the lies, the deceits that person holds, their worst inner workings and thoughts are covered by nothing more than a piece of card, plastic or cloth. 

 Then again, a masked individual can be the start of a revolution, their mask becomes a symbol. A symbol of hope, or change. A mask can hide all vices or stand for all virtues. A mask can both create equality or cause discrimination. A country can be united under a symbol, but can just as easily be divided. 

  Our whole lives we are taught to be individuals but to be identical, to be different but con-formative. To stand out from the crowd but be able to seep straight back in. We are called to choose our lives but more often that not our lives are chosen for us. Each choice we make narrows the next. Throughout our day we put on our home faces, our friend faces, our faces for the public and private. It seems we own too many masks.

 With a world so full of masks when can someone be truly free? With each mask we add do we lose a part of our true nature. We become afraid to take off the masks of daily life, to the point that we create an entirely new persona of ourselves, one where society dictates its shaping. Our friends become our handlers as we choose to conform our very faces to beseech acceptance. 

 Through our friends, family and peers do we reinvent our masks, to suit them?Choosing appropriate clothing, food, houses, people and partners that our ‘new’ persona would fit best? Hiding our passions and joy with passions of another’s, all to fit into a society which calls for individualism. 

  This mask we use to hide away our feelings, our fears or our loves, what benefit does it have? We may create for ourselves a life of wealth or fame or even of bliss but does than mean we have created a life perfect for our true-selves? Through continually changing our mask do we in fact create a life that would suit our masks and not ourselves. 

 The things we now believe we love, are they all in fact fabrications we have created in our minds through our ever changing masks. The films we watch, the books we read, the sports we love. Are all of these actually a lie? A lie to ourselves, tricking our minds into believing we like something just because another person convinces us that watching/reading/playing this will enrich our lives and makes us ‘better’.

 Maybe the men and women we see in the news in their masks are actually more true than us. They do what they like and are unconcerned by the consequences or other’s opinions. Or is there a far worse and more logical conclusion…that they too are frauds, hiding behind their many masks. Only their masks are so ingrained and run so deep that they can no longer reshape or change their faces. If that is true then we are in for a far worse future, can this mean that no one is exempt from utterly changing themselves? or does it only show that these masks are part of human development? That we are born to change our feelings, moods, loves, hates. This could show some hope, that these masks are in fact not masks at all but simply stages of life OR does it mean our societies work under the control and influence and the masks show our obedience to them. Do we change for the sake of acceptance or is it more basic than that, our masks are an act of survival in a time where individuality is both encouraged but also thoroughly stamped out.

 The question you should ask yourself now isn’t whether your masks are many or innumerable but what made you continue to read this article and why? The fact that you read through this to the end may tell you more about yourselves than you realise…

"To me, music is the fuel that drives our day dreams"

Simon Armitage

A Game of Two Halves - Arsenal v Barcelona (first leg)

  Arsenal against Barcelona, a match hotly anticipated. Played at the awe inspiring Emirates Stadium. Fans and neutrals both expectant of a sumptuous match, and their hopes were not to be denied. It became a match for the ages, superb goals, elegant play with beautifully flowing, fast paced football. 

1st Half

  With the atmosphere electric the referee Rizzoli started the match. Arsenal fans expecting an all out Barca attack were pleasantly surpised by a forceful and ultra aggressively attacking Arsenal. The first 20 minutes were spent with the Arsenal players enjoying attack after attack after attack testing every inch of Barcelona’s midfield and defence. Van Persie trying his best to edge out Victor Valdes and putting the Arsenal sword to use. The only worrying sign being Song’s foul on Barca’s Lionel Messi resulting in a yellow card (6minutes in). Something of a worry for Arsenal’s defensive line considering it was so early in the match. However Arsenal’s pressure was in full-swing, and Barcelona were forced to resort to defensive manouevres. 

  Barcelona eventually began to find their feet, and began grinding against Arsenal’s midfield causing a rather long and lacklustre midfield battle with neither side able to produce much more than small unsuccessful attacks.Messi misses a fantastic opportunity for his side to go ahead, getting the ball past the Arsenal keeper, only for ball to go just wide off the right hand upright.

Unfortunately for the Gunners Barcelona were not willing to be contained and after a clumsy challenge by Song, a free kick was awarded.Taken by Sergio Busquets, he quickly made use of it and 30 seconds later David Villa was celebrating a goal inside the penalty area assisted by the infamous Lionel Messi.

Arsenal 0 -1 Barcelona

Unhappy with just one goal, Barcelona begin a relentless barrage at Arsenal, causing numerous saves by Wojciech Szczesny. Arsenal have to withstand a constant stream of attacks however Arsenal begin to cause Barca some troubles in return. Fabregas’ strike on goal is only saved by the quick thinking of Ex Man Utd player Gerard Pique, and Walcott’s later effort is thwarted by Andrade Maxwell. 

The half time whistle is blown, both fans and players alike buzzing from the atmosphere. Its  Arsenal 0 - 1 Barcelona. Barcelona seem to have the upper hand and few pundits think Arsenal will be-able to claw their way back into the match, even the bookies seem swayed that Arsenal are unlikely to finish the match with a win.

2nd Half

Rizzoli blows his whistle and the second half begins in earnest, the expectation is that Barcelona will end up either holding on to a well earned win with a single goal or try and emulate last years battering by beating Arsenal with another 2 or 3 goals. The resulting 45 minutes would prove otherwise, and the Spanish giants would be shocked by Arsenal’s coming storm. 

Arsenal immediately put their stamp on the 2nd half, with astonishing and superb shooting and passing prowess. Barcelona fans are left standing in stunned silence as the gunners, take the fight to them. Fabregas shoots but Abidal is there to block it, a minute later Wilshere takes a shot, saved by the fantastic Victor Valdes. 

Xavi causes a stir by narrowly missing, reminding the Arsenal fans and players that Barcelona are still winning and are just biding their time, waiting to pounce on another goal. But seconds later Arsenal are back on the offensive, this time Van Persie missing the goal, his shots still not quite hitting the target and he sends the ball well wide. Again Van Persie has a shot but to no avail followed by another chance going astray for Xavi.

Subsitutes start their jogs across the side line, waiting to be called to play. First Keita comes on for David Villa followed by Arshavin replacing the yellow carded Song, and a couple of minutes later Theo Walcott is called off to be replaced by Nicolas Bendtner. Arsenal appearing to favour a more attacking approach while Barcelona go for the defensive, hoping to fill any gaps left in the Barcelona defence. The changes would change the dynamic of the match from here on out, Arsenal’s attacking options and fresh legs giving them the advantage. 

Arshavin makes a quick impact with a shot which is saved by Valdez but a minute later the Emirate’s fans erupt in cheers and celebration as Robin Van Persie scores a sensational goal. Scoring from a seemingly impossible angle, he sends the home fans into pandemonium. 

Arsenal 1 - 1 Barcelona 

Joy mixed with excitement surrounds the Emirates stadium, finally the match is back to level pegging, and Arsenal appear to have the upper hand. With just over 10 minutes to play could Arsenal steal a win? 

For the next few minutes the Arsenal fans have to watch with baited breathe as their players have the ball, and control the game, a few fouls by the Barcelona players intermittently disrupting play. However just 5 minutes after Van Persie’s wonder strike Arsenal do it again. This time with Andrey Arshavin scoring, the substitute who had only 10 minutes earlier arrived on the pitch was already staking a claim to the winning goal. Assisted by Samir Nasri.

Not wishing to waste their chance, Arsenal’s frontmen and midfield decide to try and score yet more, with Van Persie, Wilshere and Arshavin all trying to help Arsenal to a 3rd goal.

The final 5 minutes, Arsenal fans are counting down the clock hoping that they can hold on to this lead. Barcelona are once again on the attack, Messi and Alves trying their luck. In fact, Koscielny and Djourou save the gunners from a late equaliser. There are whistles coming from terraces mixed with songs and chants hailing a historic win (however presumptuous) but their prayers and songs are not thwarted and the referee Rizzoli finally blows for full time.

The Final Score ending Arsenal 2 - 1 Barcelona. A score wholly unpredicted considering the 1st half, but the 2nd half turned likely defeat into an emphatic and well deserved victory.

A true game of two halves! 

"If the painter wishes to see beauty that enthralls him, he is master to create it, if he wishes to see monstrous things that are frightening, or that are funny or laughable, or truely compassionate, he is their Lord and god. And in effect, all that which exists in the universe as essence, presence or imagination, he has it first in his mind, and then in his hands."

An extract of the Legendary speech of Francois I, king of France, and his testimony of Leonardo Da Vinci recalled by Benvenuto Cellini (1539).

The ‘Ice Cold’ Dutchman

  At the height of Arsenal’s 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ period, the squad boasted the likes of Henry, Reyes, Wiltord, Keown, Campbell, Ljungberg, Viera, Pires and many other greats of Arsenal. Even with Arsenal’s impressive rear-guard, midfield and wingers there is only a single player who can call himself the Catalyst to it, Dennis Bergkamp.

  In 1995 Bruce Rioch, Arsenal’s newly appointed manager decided to change the philosophy of Arsenal from ’boring’ to Goal Scoring. His vision was to transform the Gunners into an attacking, fluid goal gluttiness force. Taking note from the dutch team Ajax he chose to put his faith into Inter Milan’s Dennis Bergkamp, and so his arrival was heralded as a new direcetion for Arsenal and not a cheap one at that, Arsenal forked out £7.5 million for the dutchman.

“I have every confidence that Dennis will produce a remarkable performance for the team” - Bruce Rioch

  The fans were expectant, Bergkamp was known for scoring, he was a product of the Ajax youth team and brought through the ranks by none other than Johan Cruyff, a truely phenominal player - turned coach, who perhaps only Pele has ever emulated.

 Bergkamp’s arrival was not so rosey as Rioch had hoped, the dutchman failed to score in his first seven senior outings. The English press called for his head, pointing towards his lack of results considering the fee they had paid for his talents which were severely lacking at the time.

  However if Rioch was beginning to rue his latest transfer he was to be rewarded by a brace from Berkamp at home to Southampton, and the dutch star didn’t look back, scoring 11 goals in 33 appearances in his first season. His fame for goal scoring was well founded as he continued to barrage defenders across the world,  causing mayhem to any midfield and utterly destroying the confidence of teams who chose not to take his shooting prowess and eye for goal seriously.  

  Arsene Wenger’s appointment the following year could have caused worry to Bergkamp and his first team place, but Wenger’s Monaco side was known for it’s attacking style and Bergkamp needn’t of worried. Wenger was seen as a complete unknown to many fans and his appointment was questioned, considering his last team (between Monaco and Arsenal) was a relatively unknown Japanese team, Nagoya Grampus Eight. Wenger would become synonymous with the Gunners, bringing glory to the club, especially between 1997-98 and 2001 through to 2005.

During the 1997-98 season Arsene paid homage to his class dutch striker:

“Can you not say he is the best player in the world right now? If there is a better one, then I have not seen him. “

  Over the next 11 years Berkamp would become a idol to football fans and players alike.His goal scoring was emphatic, but it was his lethal assists that was his real threat. He was able to create chances for his fellow strikers out of nothing. Causing chaos and confusion as he threaded balls through defenders, his intelligence and eye for exploitation on goal meant he became a huge danger to any opposition. Providing superb passes, pin-point accurate Bergkamp desimated any chance for any defensive line being able to cut him out of play.

  His career at Arsenal cemented him as an all time great for the gunners, his tactical knowledge and intelligent play meant he could play with any player. Wenger saw him as the perfect tutor to Robin Van Persie, like Bergkamp Van Persie is not known for his tap-ins but for his bullet shots, shooting from outside the box and creating panic inside the oppositions half. Bergkamp’s rifle-like shots seem to have been adopted by Van Persie and to great affect.

  Bergkamp was not only a profoundly talented player but his personal life showed him as a mild mannered, down to earth professional. Having spent much of his childhood in the Netherlands at Ajax he enjoyed the safety of living relatively near to his home and family. Later he was to join Inter Milan, which he found trouble adjusting with the Milan lifestyle, he spoke of the media being very intrusive and constantly creating fabricated stories:

“One time I had a haircut and they said my hair was falling out because I couldn’t cope.”

 However his critics didn’t have to wait long before his ability was shining and his skillful attacking style of play astounding the Inter fans. He helped them win the UEFA Cup in 1994, a feat he had also accomplished in Ajax earlier in 1992. But the lure of english football and Arsenal was too much to ignore when he decided to end his career at Inter Milan.

Bergkamp saw the move as beneficial as Inter were slowly losing there best and brightest stars, and Rioch took advantage of this offering a contract for the dutch super star.

“I thought: “It’s a big club and it’s the way I want to play football. And Highbury is nice. Let’s see what happens.” I never expected to be there 11 years, but from day one it was exactly how I wanted it to be.”

  Signing for Arsenal he created a legacy at Highbury with a full 345 appearance and scoring 120. His name and presence was felt throughout the premier league, his name shouted across the terraces. His fluid play, and ’Ice Cold’ expression of concentration on the pitch and his model professionalism became legendary.

  No more fitting tribute can be put about him than Ian Wright & Lee Dixons immortalised words:

“He’s the Messiah. We told him to get us into Europe when he joined and that’s exactly what he did.”

  Dennis Bergkamp now trains the under 12s in the Ajax Youth System, possibly following in the footsteps of his idol from childhood Johan Cruyff.

"

I love nice football but it has to mean something…You give absolutely everything, like your life is leading up to this moment.

Dennis Bergkamp

"

Four Four Two

Losing Faith In A habitual Dreamer

  Since the beginning of the New Year a chorus of billions have spoken of their new resolutions. To lose weight, to stop smoking, to start exercising, to see the dreaded parents or grandparents more often. Even to simply have belief that this year will be their year.

  This year, like any other everyone starts bright eyed and hopeful, but envitabley the year causes far more pain, suffering and dissapointment than hope, refreshment or revitalization.

  The question is why do we bother. We all heighten our aspirations during this month, we promise ourselves that this year will be different and that we WILL complete what we first set off to start. But a great many of us secretly know we are set to fail. We joke that we will fulfil our dreams and destinies, and seek higher meaning to life. But the truth is most of us beleive that we will fail in our endeavours…leaving the dreams of  a more successful, loved, healthier us to the realms of fantasy and to the dreamers. 

  Maybe we set our bar too high, we promise to do what we know is the impossible, we choose only the improbable as we know that like every year we shall either give up or lose faith in our own abilities to keep a simple promise to ourselves.

  People have a tendancy to stack up their hopes and dreams so high that they all can come crashing down like a ton of bricks. we build a utopian notion (a city of dreams) of what the year will bring but the dream ends up cracked and dishevelled.

  But their is a ray of hope, the few, often the very few, are willing to see out their ambitions and realise their dreams. This causes either great excitement for us all or sheer dissapointment that we were unable to conquer and fulfill our own destinies.

  However these few miraculous people give everyone a sense of hope, they are people who no doubt will write the great epics, sing the melodies that will reshape music and culture. These dreamers will create better life for all, if only in a miniscule way.The true dreamers in life are often the winners also, they are willing to sacrifice much for their hopes.

  However in a world where success is meassured more often by your income, salary and status. Dreamers are losing their ways as well, their faith is wiped away by societies needs, and its collective dream for corporate success. Many dreamers  will fall short more and more as we drive them away from personal wishes, but direct them to work for societies’ “well being”.

  As we go further and further into the year these once numerous dreamers are forced back into a reality which none have chosen for themselves and ultimately dreamer lose the abilty to dream at all….