THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Fans have it rough

Yes, this has come up before, but ...

I have a terrific job.

What could be better than watching sports events, talking to the people involved, then offering up thoughts and opinions for readers who care about these very same games?

Speaking to groups and such, I’ve often said that I get paid to see what thousands of people shell out cash to witness.

Pretty good gig.

And here’s the thing ...

Even though I try to write through the eyes and spirit of our readers — in other words, leaning toward the teams they care about — victory or defeat does not mean the end of my world.

Some losses come close, like Gonzaga’s two appearances in those national championship games, or the Mariners’ final series in search of a playoff spot last season.

But however much I wanted the Zags to grab those titles or the M’s to reach the postseason, I still had to write honest, cool-headed accounts of the games.

(Um, maybe I got a TOUCH beyond cool when the officials screwed Gonzaga against Carolina in 2017, but that’s rare for a journalist. Even for me.)

WHAT I’M trying to say here, really, is that my job doesn’t allow me to drop all armor of professionalism and just be a fan.

Just as well, too, because ...

Good grief, it would be gut-twisting to handle that.

See, outside of my work here at The Press, I AM a fan of Arsenal Football Club.

Maybe even more than a fan.

“A Gooner for Life,” as we say so proudly.

Honestly, I don’t know how you Seahawks junkies, Mariners followers, Zags devotees and Wazzu diehards manage to do it.

I can’t even fathom how you sleep after a tough loss — you know, a game that was won until ...

NOOOOO!!

That’s the kind of soul-crusher I’m talking about.

The subject is right in the front of my mind today because I’m preparing myself for a heartbreaker.

My beloved Arsenal are on the verge of finishing fourth in the English Premier League — which doesn’t sound like much, but the EPL is far and away the toughest competition in the world, and the top four teams earn a place in glamorous (and financially bountiful) European Champions League.

The Arse were not supposed to be here, not with three matches remaining in the season.

We have the youngest club in the Prem, by far, and even the most optimistic Gooner wondered if we could, maybe, challenge for the Champions League a season or two from now.

IT ALL started like a train wreck, too.

This season, I mean.

Three quick losses to open the scorecard — nine goals allowed and none scored.

Yet here we are, sitting in fourth place, four points ahead of the old enemy — Tottenham Hotspur, which is just a few Tube stops down the road in North London — and the Champions League miracle is close enough to touch.

This coming Thursday night, Arsenal plays at Tottenham.

A win would clinch fourth (and haul us within a point, at least, of third-place Chelsea).

However ...

A loss, which happens to us disgustingly often at Spurs, would leave us one tiny point ahead of them — meaning, essentially, we’d be out of room for ANY error.

We would have to win on the road at tough and improving Newcastle, and then at home against Everton on the final Sunday, to be sure of keeping that death grip on fourth place.

IT HAS reached a point where it’s hard for me to watch.

We survived two weeks ago against hated Manchester United when the Devils’ Bruno Fernandes (yes, that’s really their nickname) hit the post with a penalty shot.

Then this Sunday, in front of a roaring crowd at home, our young striker Eddie Nketiah banged in two goals against Leeds — almost before everyone could grab a beer — and it seemed we were going to be allowed an easy afternoon.

Things looked even better when Leeds’ Luke Ayling got sent off with a red card for a dangerous foul on our sensational young winger Gabriel Martinelli.

Up 2-0 against 10 men?

Facing a team that very well could be relegated (dropped down a division for finishing 18th or below in a 20-team league)?

Hah.

Sorry, but Arsenal don’t DO casual afternoons.

We squandered about half a dozen lovely scoring chances, then Leeds scored in the second half on their FIRST shot of the match (yes, really) to cut the margin to 2-1.

So, we had to hang on.

The players suddenly seemed as nervous as the fans.

A point-blank header from Leeds’ Rodrigo with seconds left could have set fire to Arsenal’s entire season, but somehow it nestled into the arms of keeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Saved.

Literally.

I remember thinking: Why did I get up at 6 a.m. to put myself through this wringer?

Of course, that’s nothing, when you consider ...

Living hell coming at Tottenham, and then if/when we lose, two must-win games against scary opposition.

I’m telling you ...

I admire fans.

It’s brutal and it’s terrifying and one crazy bounce of the ball ...

Oh, brother ...

Meet me at the fridge.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published monthly during the off season.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”

NOTES ON TODAY’S COLUMN: For you grammar buffs, yes, it was intentional that I matched Arsenal (singular) with verbs “are” or “were.” That’s simply common usage in Britain when referring to sports teams -- and, even though I couldn’t find a place for it in this column, the ground (as in grass, dirt, the playing surface) is ALWAYS called “the floor.”

Fun, yeah?