Champions League draw 2026: Page 4 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Champions League draw 2026

Sicario2

Burnwinter if Arteta doesn’t win the league or CL do you want him to stay ?

Burnwinter

Sicario2 Yeah, I think he should go, said it a few times. But then if Arteta doesn't win a major trophy this season, I reckon any fan might feel by the end of it all something is lacking, even something intangible. It would be a strange one.

Don Pacifico

So I know I'm thinking a bit far ahead (I'm a planner, that's how I operate in life, regardless of whether it's football) but I'm looking for advice on how to broach something tricky in relation to our CL run. Basically, I've just clocked that my brother-in-law is getting married on the day of the Champions League final. Whilst there's a good chance we won't get that far (not taking anything for granted), it is a real possibility. And if it does happen, I'm determined to watch it for all the reasons everyone here understands.

My wife's family are not a sports family, so they don't really get the gravity of such an event and whilst my wife understands it from my explanation to her, she has warned me that it won't be well received if I bugger off to watch the game/try to stream it at the wedding. It's made worse by the fact that it's going to be a really small wedding, so my absence would be noticed - it was originally just immediate family (as in my wife but not me!) but then his older brother's wife kicked up a stink that she wasn't invited so I got invited too (FML 😭).

Any suggestions? I'm expecting mostly joke responses but thought it was worth a shot and that I can at least vent my despair! 😂

Qwiss

Don Pacifico I wouldn't worry about it until we actually get there. Its still more like we wont than we will so why stress? If we do make it then you are probably fucked as its on at 5pm which is the most awkward time for a wedding. Sit behind one of the table arrangements and position your phone subtley with it in the way. When we score and you scream "fuccckckk yeaahhhhh..." remember to had "love is amazing" after.

I've done worse at weddings to watch far less important matches. Often had the phone on the table, thats the norm at any of my wifes family weddings as her cousins and cousins husbands will usually do the same. I left the dinner once to watch a CL final that we weren't even in. Missed the actual church part to watch us in an early kick off too. The last 2 were my wifes work friends weddings so that was fine, no one noticed me not there. I even spent quite a couple of hours at another wedding in the same hotel for the craic at one of them.

daredevil

Don Pacifico

It was my sister's wedding earlier in the season when we played at Anfield and a group of us gathered in a room adjacent to the wedding hall to crowd over a dude who was streaming it on his phone. The grooms dad eventually turned up and we dispersed but I would just stream it.

Burnwinter

Don Pacifico It's made worse by the fact that it's going to be a really small wedding, so my absence would be noticed

Honestly I'd negotiate. Discreetly stream the match but make sure to stop and pay attention during the bride's walk, the ceremony and vows. Also during the bride and groom's speeches over dinner. Strictly do not get captured by any wedding photographer or videographer watching the footy.

Give the happy couple a properly thoughtful gift and words. Go a touch above and beyond with other gestures and courtesies to the in-laws. Pre-plan some deflective special gesture to your wife to validate her if she pops off at you. Don't even slightly disrupt any meaning-laden moments of the sacrament. You'll be right. 🤞

I mean, if we're actually in it I don't think you can skip it. Tell them you've waited 20 years for the moment .. .

Burnwinter

Don Pacifico It's made worse by the fact that it's going to be a really small wedding, so my absence would be noticed - it was originally just immediate family (as in my wife but not me!)

By the way who does this?!

RocktheCasbah

Fake Covid?

Don Pacifico

Actually surprised you guys didn't take the piss a bit more! 😂

RocktheCasbah yeah, I did think about faking illness but I'd end up pissing off my wife as she'd know I was lying.

Lukazan I'm pretty close (despite the fact I wasn't originally invited) and agree I think I'm gonna have to be honest about it if it happens. Even if he understands, I know my mother-in-law wouldn't and it took me two years to get her on side! 😬

MistaT living in London, I honestly don't know how I'd manage to avoid it. And I think I'd always feel like I missed out of I didn't watch it live.

Claudius haha, if only.

Big Willie yeah, I hear you. When I got married, I made sure it wasn't an Arsenal weekend when we were discussing potential dates although it helps that getting married in the height of summer is quite a normal thing too!

Qwiss yeah, I know that's the rational thing to do but I'm also conscious that the closer to the actual wedding I get, the more of a dick I'm going to look. I do think streaming it is probably my best bet but because there will be only about ten other people at the wedding, I think it will be difficult to do it subtly.

-- haha, my wife is actually very amenable when it comes to me planning things around Arsenal games. She's not the issue. To be honest, it's mainly my mother-in-law who as I said it took me a while to win over but I'm now like one of her children.

Lukazan

How close are you really to this brother in law? I'm a cold bastard but unless you are incredibly tight I'd just sack it and face the disappointment cast upon you.

Really though, no excuse is likely to wash, as he surely knows you're an Arsenal fan and there's a good chance he'll find out/hear about the CL final.. lying about the reason for not attending is worse than just being honest. He doesn't know you're an Arsenal fan? You aren't close, regardless of them not being into sports. Sack!

I'd also suggest the disproval if you don't attend/shoot off early might be overblown if you weren't even invited to begin with, surely?

MistaT

You can't be skipping a wedding like that mate. It will only dampen your relationship with your wife, and over the long run that will be a net negative compared to any Arsenal CL joy.

Just leave the phone at home during the wedding day and then watch the game late night.

Lukazan

I think the fact you weren't invited to begin with is important here and weighs in heavily on how bad not going would be.

But also - don't listen to me. I would risk ruining a relationship in the family for a few days/years for Arsenal being in a CL final 😂. Perhaps not my relationship with the wife if I was married, though.

Maybe.

Mirth

Meh I’d stream it at the wedding. It’s the most important day of their lives so they won’t notice what you’re up to. I’ve seen in laws do worse

Coombs

Mirth what I was going to say. Just watch it.

QuincyAbeyie

Mirth I wouldn't care at all what the brother-in-law thinks, but my gf would be livid if I did it. 😆

Edit: And Don, please do keep in mind who you're asking. We're all autistic last time I heard.

Claudius

Well, you said it’s a small wedding. So get a box at the final. And they can say their “I dos” at halftime.

FantasticMrFox

Yea, you cant skip the wedding. If you do, your wife will bring it up at some point. Try and stream it on your phone if you are sitting down or worst case go to the bathroom during the second half and stream it there.

Big Willie

Not gonna lie, I'd cancel my own wedding if we reached the CL final, let alone skip an in-laws wedding.

--

Liar

lorddulaarsenal

--

Qwiss if your spouse doesn’t realize or accept that bar a life or death or serious emergency situation, Arsenal will likely take priority, then you probably don’t need to be married to them

JazzG

Qwiss

-- exactly. I mean if it was a regular league match I'd give Don a pass but if we were in a CL final and my wife was giving birth I'd still be streaming and that baby would be named after the MOTM, even if I had to call a little girl Declan.

As other said Dons an after thought for this wedding already, no way he should miss what could possibly be the greatest moment of his Arsenal watching life.

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