Cesc and the Spanish Press

June 6, 2010


Morning all,  picking through the rumours today, it was hard to decide what to use as post as all the stories seem to be equally ridiculous. We are no nearer to knowing if anyone else will be signed before the World Cup or decisions about the future of Almunia, Gallas, Campbell, Silvestre or Senderos – a lot of centre-backs in that list!!

However London put on this interesting comment for us to share ………………..

For all those who are unaware, Spain has two main sports news papers: Marca which is as good as owned my Real Madrid and El Mundo Deportivo (the world of sport) as good as owned by Barcelona.

The Cesc saga doesn’t feature in Marca there simply is no interest but as you would expect our Captain gets top billing in Barcelona’s very own version of Pravda.

On today’s front page they have a big picture of Cesc with his hand on his head and a woe is me expression on his face, above it the headline reads “Vendedme ya” which translates to mean, sell me now. The story goes on about how he has tried to get in touch with Wenger, but to no avail, to plead for his release; he is portrayed as some hard done by Catalan held by those nasty English against his will, desperate to get home.

The other interesting thing on the front page is a poll asking how much they think Barça should pay for him. These are the figures to date.

Less than 20 mil 20%
Between 30 and 40 mil 32%
Between 40 and 50 mil 31%
Between 50 and 60 mil 6%
Between 60 and 70 mil 2%
More than 70 mil 8%

I was quite surprised to see that over 70 mil was as high as 8% but then I thought about it a bit more and came to the conclusion that it must be mostly Arsenal supporters….. I have voted for more than 70 mil five times already.

Well, if we are going to lose him I want to see them be made to bleed.


Could Cesc become a Legend?

June 3, 2010

Posted by andy

This post was written by andy before Barcelona made their offer and Arsenal told them where to shove it .

What makes a legend ?

All this talk of Cesc leaving got me thinking of his standing in comparison to some of his predecessors. Is Cesc a legend ? and what makes a legend ?

I was born in 1972 so my opinion of The Arsenal greatest players probably varies from that of some of the older and some of the younger guys (and girls) on here, but here goes…

I probably really started taking an interest in the team in the mid eighties and can remember Sansom and Anderson but to me then the heroes started to emerge. O’leary as a father figure bringing on the ultimate in Tony Adams.

If I had to name legends to me it would be Adams, O’Leary,  Merse, Rocky, Bergkamp, Pires, Freddie, Bould, Smith, wright, Parlour, Dixon, Vieira, Henry but why ?

Is it just the time that you were at your most interested or is it that they were better than what we have now. My thirteen year old son thinks Cesc is the best thing ever but to me I personally wouldnt put him up there with the greats that I remember. If I think back to the side of the late nineties i’d struggle to fit him in. It may be that as we get older we think of the past greats with far higher esteem than perhaps they deserve and I do remember old guys talking to me as a young man about players of the past who were legends at the time but quite frankly look s**t compared to the players of today.

Maybe its attitude, I’m not great with stats so dont bother to dis-prove me but O’Leary played over 600 games for us, Adams his entire career. Dixon, Winterburn, bould, Seaman over 400 games each.The likes of Bergkamp, Pires. Henry and Llungberg were foreigners who made The Arsenal their club and we made them heroes.

So is it this that makes you a legend or winning trophies?

Do I remember Rocky because he won ‘X’ number of cups? No.  Could I tell you how many winners medals Adams has? No. So is it about being successful?

Is it commitment? Adams = Arsenal, Pires , Bergkamp and Thierry still talk of the Arsenal with absolute love, not for the honours, but for the memories.

In my opinion there is no rule for whether you are a legend or not. It isn’t about success, it isn’t just about time served. I personnally think it’s about belonging. As a fan its about a player looking like he’s fulfilling your dreams (sounds a bit wanky I know but thats the best way i can descriibe it).

If i could have 1 wish it would be to play for The Arsenal (It could never happen coz im crap) but I want to see those there play like its an honour to wear the shirt.

Is Cesc a legend. IMO not yet. But he could be ? Who would be your Arsenal Legend?


Where did it all go wrong – Cesc?

June 2, 2010

Where did it all go wrong……………………………….

Most football fans are aware of the story George Best loved to tell of how he was staying in a top London Hotel, where having just quit football he had enjoyed a few drinks and a particularly good night at the tables in the Casino,

To celebrate he phoned room service and ordered a couple of bottles of Champagne. The waiter who delivered it happened to be an Irish Man Utd fan. On entering the room he was confronted by a huge bed on which lay a half naked Miss World, surrounded by bundles of twenty-pound notes with the thousand pound bank wrappers still on them.  He looked, placed the tray on the dressing table and as he presented George the bill to be signed asked. “ George where the hell did it all go wrong”

To me that sums up the Arsenal predicament at the moment, having come through some seriously stringent times, virtually owning their new purpose built stadium and training facilities, in the best financial position of the any of the top British clubs with the possible exception of Chelsea and City both of whom owe there good fortune to rich benefactors from abroad.

The Arsenal now find themselves with cash available to refresh their injury ravaged squad and add an experienced player or two to encourage and the lead the phalanx of talented players assembled at low cost by Arsene Wenger.

Yet there is an element of their support that keep asking in whatever way possible, where did it all go wrong?

Every negative that can be found, rumoured, imagined or invented is gleefully dished up, as proof of our imminent demise. Forget the cruel injuries at crucial times, forget some diabolical refereeing that has halted momentum and cost us vital points. Forget that Champions league qualification has been achieved year after year.

Disregard a lazy press, that delights in disrespecting the club for refusing to pamper to their desire for easy headlines, by employing rent-a-quote PR men to fire ten-a- penny sound bites, designed to appease those whose demands that we chase the improbable or impossible, are only matched by there inability to understand which is which.

Ignore all these, along with the fact that our key players have for years been the subject of shameful tapping up, by overseas clubs and affiliated press, designed at the very least to unsettle and destabilise but mainly aimed at enticing them away.

Where did it all go wrong? It didn’t we punched above our weight given the financial constraints, put upon us by the property development so vital for our future. We negotiated all the perils and pitfalls outlined above. We played our way into the hearts of a new generation of fans and delighted a vast army of older fans, brought up on the cynically predictable football, of the Pre Wenger years.

Despite this in recent weeks since the season end and before the Transfer Window even opens, every blog, paper and media outlet has again witnessed an outpouring of opinion as to how soon our captain and playmaker will leave the club, maybe he will, maybe he wont and just maybe if he does, he will do as many of the Wenger boys before him have done, wake up one morning, review his career and say “sod it, where did it all go wrong?”


Why is Cesc Leaving?

May 31, 2010

Morning all. With still no clear answers to the ‘Cesc is going, Cesc is staying’ debate – disastrous PR really from a top English club – I thought we could guage the feeling among supporters by having a poll.

Obviously we know that he has a deep love for Barcelona and that a return to his boyhood club was always on the cards. But why now? Barcelona have come calling but he is our captain and well loved by all at Arsenal.  I don’t believe he loves Barcelona more than Arsenal so we have to look for another explanantion.

We have watched him being targetted by opponents for some harsh treatment during the past season. Of course if you’re playing against Arsenal you need to be able to stop Cesc having possesion and working his magic but too many fouls without retribution must surely anger the young man. Where’s the protection?

Cesc and others in the team have consistently gone public over the need to sign a couple of world-class players to complete the jigsaw.  What has Arsène promised him? Does he believe that Arsène will deliver?

How important is money to our Fab4? Barça can offer him higher wages than we ever will and make him a very rich man. But look what we can offer him ………………

At Arsenal he is loved, he is our Captain. If Arsène can fulfill his promise to add to the squad players that will help bring out the best in this team then we will go on to win silverware. But if he leaves we’ll never know.


Now Arsenal Must Speak

May 27, 2010

I have been tolerant of Arsenal’s almost total silence surrounding the issue of Cesc Fabregas and his supposed move to Barcelona, but now things have changed.

Up until yesterday there was, literally, nothing of substance to suggest our captain might be wanting out.

Sure, there was endless froth from the newspapers, both here and in Spain, but all based on an unsubstantiated claim by one journalist that Cesc had met Wenger a week and a half ago and demanded a move. The same hack said the deal would be done and dusted by last weekend, so that tells you how reliable he is.

But yesterday Cesc delivered a series of comments that are so enigmatic they have been given diametrically opposed interpretations by different sets of readers.

Here’s what he said about a conversation he had had with Wenger:

“It was probably the greatest conversation I’ve had with anyone in my life.

“I respect him so much and I don’t want to say too much about this.

“He told me to concentrate on my football and to concentrate on the World Cup.

“He told me to leave it in his hands and he will deal with whatever happens with my future. That’s what I’m doing. Just concentrating on football.

“I just want to be focused for the World Cup because it’s the most important thing.

“The rest is the future and I’m not interested in the future. “It’s not up to me anymore. It’s just now about Arsenal and whoever it has to be and that’s it.”

Right, so that’s as clear as Thames mud.

Based on those words I have seen headlines on Newsnow ranging from “Fabregas’ frank Wenger talk reveals Arsenal exit” to  “Fabregas will be at Arsenal next season.”

Comments around the Arsenal blogosphere seem just as conflicted. For some Gooners Cesc is offering sure fire proof that he loves us and isn’t going anywhere and, furthermore, Wenger must have told him about his amazing transfer plans for the summer and that’s why Cesc is staying. Blimey, talk about adding two plus two and making seven.

Others are interpreting the words to mean that Cesc has said he wants off and it’s just a matter of negotiating the price.

The trouble is, either interpretation could be right, or both could be wrong, his words could mean something else entirely.

In these circumstances, and with the issue now out in the open, it is intolerable for Arsenal Football Club not to make a statement on the matter.

Yes, we’ve had a bit of a burble from Peter Hill Wood, bless him, but his words only confuse matters at the best of times.

It is now time for Wenger or Gazidis to issue a statement saying where the club stands on the issue. To do any less is to show utter contempt for the supporters who keep the club going and will be doing so long after Wenger and all the players have moved on.

I don’t care what the statement is as long as it clarifies the situation and puts an end to this febrile sense of uncertainty (although my preference would be for a pronouncement that although we have had an approach from Barca, we have no intention of selling our captain for any price).

We’re waiting Arsenal, and we’re listening. Now SPEAK.

RockyLives


The Truth About Cesc Fabregas and FC Barcelona

May 25, 2010

Posted by guest writer Deepak Israni*

The Greatest Club In the World? Apparently its FC Barcelona. Like butter wouldn’t melt, the club from Catalonia have everyone from Sepp Blatter to Alex Hleb verbally masturbating – and perhaps otherwise – over them. They are the saviours of football – a club who won’t let any corporation adorn their shirts. They play exciting football – apparently a new brand of team attack and defence (which Sacchi’s AC Milan team of the early 90s did to far better effect). Such is their standing in the world that they can get away with all but tapping up Cesc Fabregas for the past few seasons without even so much as a call to Mr.Hill-Wood – or so he tells us.

Well I say £^&* Barcelona and so too does today’s guest writer Deepak Israni. Deepak is a Madrista at heart but is an ardent admirer and supporter of the mighty Arsenal. Below he outlines why Barcelona really need to just come down a peg or two…….. or ten!

BREAKING NEWS: In transfer rumors, Barcelona are hell-bent on signing Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Well that will never get old, now will it?!

This is the story every year, and now with the Catalans having their presidential election in the summer which sees Joan Laporta doing whatever he can in his power (which includes signing David Villa) to tip the scales in favour of his backed candidate so that he can move onto national politics and STILL have a say in what FC Barcelona does,  it was obvious that such rumors would only escalate in number.

The worst part about all this is that Cesc hasn’t done a single thing to calm the rumors, instead he is signing a little kid’s Barcelona jersey, adding fuel to all the rumors.


If Cesc does indeed sign for FC Barcelona, then Cesc is the biggest most ungrateful b1tch on the planet! And if you think that I’m being harsh on the Captain, then tell me, if bailing out on the club that gave him all the opportunities that he could only dream of at his childhood club, and made him the player that he is today in pursuit of more money and trophies isn’t acting like an ungrateful b1tch, then what is?

Cesc Fabregas despite being an Arsenal academy product……oh wait…….are you guys still living in a world run by FC Barcelona and believe that he is a Barcelona product?

Let me clarify. Barcelona themselves claim that Carles Puyol is their academy product, but in fact he was SIGNED at the age of 19, Cesc Fabregas joined Arsenal at the age of 15, if that doesn’t make him a product of Arsenal’s academy then what does? More can be learned from a team at the age of 15 than 19.

There are many reasons why I believe that Cesc Fabregas shouldn’t leave which include FC Barcelona being a dirty hypocritical institution unlike the popular image of them, created by them and their controlled media. But that might not apply to Cesc, because he’s a Cule by birth and he may already have made up his mind to return home. But I won’t let that stop me from pointing out what FC Barcelona are all about!

The first and foremost reason that I believe Cesc shouldn’t leave is the lack of opportunities. He joined Arsenal for the same reason, and him leaving to be a bench player for Barcelona when he is already the captain of one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, is odd.

There is no way he will get a starting place in the Barcelona midfield. The Blaugaranas play Xavi Hernandez in Fabregas’s position, there are rumors about them selling Xavi Hernandez but it seems highly unlikely. Then the second position is of Seydou Keita, ain’t no way in hell Barcelona will remove their insurance policy in the middle, Cesc is just not big enough. The only one he can replace is Sergi Busqets who is a good enough ball winner, and has the Plan-B of winning the ball back—which is, that he’ll go down like a sissy whenever he loses the ball so that the play of the opposing team is broken down and Barcelona get the ball back. They like to play two DMs, they want all the protection in midfield they can get, Cesc isn’t cutting into that team.

The second reason is that Barcelona play like sissies though they might advertise that they play the most beautiful football in the world and that Arsenal try to copy their style of football. Those who have watched Barcelona play know that they roll the ball around between their back-line and sometimes the midfield and then take it back to their defense again, who would chuck one up for Messi or Ibrahimovic, hardly beautiful.

Their play is a different version of negative football which includes ball-hogging doing nothing with the ball so that the opposing team can’t do anything. Why leave a team which plays beautiful attacking football where you are an integral part of the system for a crappy ass team where you’d be stacking in a high number of passes and would be looked at in awe on Sportscenter, but in reality you’d be passing to the defenders!

And now the last, but not the least, and probably the most important reason why Cesc shouldn’t leave is that Cesc probably wouldn’t have the same satisfaction in winning a trophy where the success is bought. The Blaugaranas might claim that it’s only their rivals—Real Madrid who do all the spending –  but we all know it’s all false.

Their sheet is as splattered with big money transfers in the recent years as Real Madrid’s. Dani Alves, Arsenal’s own—Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (second highest money transfer—€85 million = Eto o’ + €45 million), Dymtro Chyngrinsky (who’s apparently a waste of €27 million, a bench player), Eric Abidal (similar amount to Arsenal’s biggest signing—Andrei Arshavin), Gabriel Millito (€22 million, for a player who remained injured for the major part of two seasons, and this was his third season at the club), Seydou Keita and now the first signing of the summer—David Villa (€45 million).

The expenditure (money spent in purchasing players – money recouped by selling players) of FC Barcelona in three years is more than Real Madrid, yet they proudly say that they don’t spend money and “make” their players. It’s nobody’s fault but their own that they sign expensive players that they don’t really play and make it look like they use their own academy.

Arsenal are pretty close to a title now, actually they always are, last season showed how the Gunners have matured but the injuries to key players are a major problem, the new training regime might lessen that. With Arsene Wenger finally diving into the transfer market to sign replacements, this might be the year of the Gunners, which partly depends on whether Cesc stays or goes, if he stays good, if he leaves, then it depends on who is going to be his replacement.

It’s all up to Cesc, he can choose to be Captain of Arsenal or he can leave to sit on the bench of FC Barcelona, but need we remind him of a certain Alexander Hleb, who is still picking the thorns out of his ass!

Cesc can choose to do whatever he wants, Arsenal will be happy either way, they’ll be happier to see him stay but won’t be disappointed to bag whatever is remaining of the €60-70 million after buying his replacement.

* All at Arsenal, Arsenal would like to thank Deepak for taking time out to write up this post. If you liked what you read you can find more at his own blog on Real Madrid called “Football Through the Eyes of Real Addicts”


One more year please Cesc …. or we’ll never know

May 20, 2010

Written by kelsey

I see no reason why we can’t continue to debate all the hearsay about Cesc, even if our club is not making any statement at the moment, which is only to be expected as no deal has been negotiated.

Cesc is our best player. It may be an overstatement to say that the team has been built around him, but certainly his creative style of football epitomises the way we want to play. The belief is that this summer, we would add to the squad, a few missing pieces in the jigsaw, and see the emergence of the balanced team that would get us to the top once more. It would be such a shame if Cesc left and we never get to see how good it could have been with him surrounded by players worthy of his talent. Give us one more year Cesc – Barça don’t need you yet.

There is talk that Cesc has been tapped up by Barça, but the law in Spain is quite different to that in England, and if that was the case, it could take 3 to 5 years to go to court, and even then it would be extremely complicated and with no definite result gained.

I have no doubt that Cesc will leave, if not this summer, then next summer, it’s the worst kept secret in football. If he stays, how would you  feel if having  played the season for us fully committed,  regardless of how we do, he waived goodbye? In addition would Cesc be able to turn his back on a winning side?

The scenario is different to Henry and Vieira latterly, as they both had given us several years (as Cesc has done) but in a winning side.

It is difficult to express what I mean by writing as opposed to having an actual conversation, but personally however great a player he is, it would leave a bitter taste in my mouth if he stayed, went on to have a great season, even won something for the club and then at the age of 23/24 left.

Apparently he says he wants ‘his future settled’ before the World Cup, so surely the onus is on him to make a statement. Obviously if he is leaving, and every aspect seems to  have been discussed,  the small point as to how much we would get for him is still unknown. Barça have just spent big on David Villa – do they have the money to pay us what we think Cesc should be worth?

I think Wenger would like to keep him one more year, whilst grooming his natural successor in Ramsey, but he is still so young, and no-one can predict how he will bounce back after the injury.

One thing I am sure of is that there will be much more activity this summer with more players leaving and arriving than in the previous four years, but then again Arsène has stated that the team doesn’t need a massive overhaul ….. the torture continues.


Beautiful, the summer has officially arrived – Cesc is off to Barça!

May 19, 2010

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!

Every blasted damn summer its the same old shit.

Henry is leaving. Vieira is leaving. Fabregas is leaving. It isn’t a summer at Arsenal FC unless our best player is leaving and quite frankly its getting boring.

Henry and Vieira both left when their back and knees were respectively knackered. Now, Cesc is as fit as a fiddle so you can bet your bottom dollar that Wenger will fight to keep him. He will promise him the sun, moon and stars to keep him and hopefully for us, we’ll see the sun (keeper), moon (center back) and stars (forward) on their way to the Emirates.

It makes absolutely no sense for Cesc to leave now.

He is young, Captain of one of Europe’s biggest side, that side’s biggest name and the key cog in our machine. Moving to Barcelona guarantees him nothing – not a place in the starting XI and not trophies. Remember Barcelona went from winning every trophy possible and supposed World Domination to barely scraping La Liga this season – you can say deservedly but Real Madrid gave them some run for their money.

Cesc is probably like the rest of us – anxious to win some silverware, but unlike us he can actually do something about it. During 2009/2010 was there anyone more committed to the Arsenal cause?

He scored and in all probability played with a broken leg against Barcelona at the Emirates.

Remember his cameo against Aston Villa? Remember the joy in his face when he scored against the Spuds? Cesc loves The Arsenal so why would he want to leave? The thoughts that Barcelona would say “now or never” to him is complete trash because they know that Real Madrid would be thinking “great stuff, you take your time Cesc, we’ll have you when you want to come back to Spain.”

More than anyone, Cesc knows what disruption can be caused by players leaving. RvP stayed last season when all the papers said he was off and once again I expect Cesc to be no different.

Cesc WILL stay. RvP WILL stay. AA23 WILL stay. For a change instead of believing all the meeja and their “understanding” and their bloody “sources” and their “friends of friends” lets believe Cesc when he says he wants to stay. He has always said it – one day he will go back to Spain, EVENTUALLY, but eventually isn’t this summer.

I Love You Arsenal, I Do!Cesc kissed the badge and he meant it.

Cheer up Gooners, the bullshit stories have started so the summer must be here. Sit back and enjoy the weather! Next season “Fabregas 4” leads us out on the battlefield once again.


Cesc is Staying!

May 15, 2010

I want to make a decision about my future before the World Cup”

“If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona”

“Barcelona is a dream I would like to fulfill”

I am very happy at Arsenal, I am in no hurry to leave”

From a statement by our Captain yesterday.  What does he mean?  How to interpret such  ambivalent and contradictory words? How can he be very happy and yet want his future settled within the next 3 weeks? It is puzzling.

The headlines in the press and on the blogs reflect the diversity of opinions, from ” this is  the end of Arsenal, blame Wenger” doom, to the “Cesc is staying, all is right with the World”. Fabregas has made it clear he will eventually move to Barca, he has been unerringly consistent – he will go and when he does it will be a massive loss to the team, Fabregas is our fulcrum, without him the team is not as good. But Arsenal are not one player, there will be life post-Cesc.

And being a positive, cup half-full chap, I see Cesc staying for at least 2 more seasons. Reasons? ….. He has been given a massive increase in wages. We have signed a new forward and will strengthen the defence, giving Cesc even more freedom on the pitch. Cesc will never again have the opportunities he has at THOF in his life –  he is the centre of the club, and the team is built around him which will not happen when surrounded by the superstars (and super-egos) in Spain. Furthermore, Barca have two great midfielders in Xavi and Iniesta  who would start ahead of Cesc, and even Barca need a DM – why leave for a bench seat?  Barca say that they have NOT approached Fab, but we all know the value of their statements!!

Finally, who in their right mind would exchange the climate and culture of London for the heat and tapas of Barcelona? …..  apart from Alex Hleb, Silvinho, TH14 and GvB, and look what happened to them!


Arsenal-esque

May 1, 2010

I was recently watching a Bolton game (how sad!) and Bolton started to play the ball around using intricate passing, fast movement off the ball, and accurate cross field play. The commentator said ” Bolton are playing “Arsenalesque” football ! In the old days it would be called “champagne” football. We Gooners take it for granted, in fact there are many who believe we should be far more direct and cut out the intricacy. To them I say look at Bolton. Their fans are thrilled that Coyle has stopped the kick and run tactics of Allardyce, Lee and Megson, they love to see the ball played on the ground, and the introduction of one of our own has lifted all Bolton fans spirits.

No-one ever mentions United-esque and certainly not Chelsea-esque. As to Dipper-esque – you must be joking!!

We all know what the commentator was referring to, we call it Wenger-ball, and it is to AW’s credit that an attractive and entertaining style can be created whilst maintaining a level of success. Before I am reminded (once again) of the fact we have won nothing for 5 years, I would point out that Barca win by playing Wenger-ball  – they are just better at it than we are  (and they have Messi).

When Mr. Wenger arrived at the club we had been through a decade of some of the most boring football ever seen on the green fields of Highbury. Not for nothing was “Boring Boring Arsenal” sung at every Premiership ground, nor was “1-0 to the Arsenal” our anthem for any reason other than the scoreline was George Graham’s modus operandi. I can honestly say that had GG not left I would have given up my season ticket – it had become that dire. Sure we won Cups, but take Wrighty out of the team and there was nothing to entertain us – no wonder he was such a hero to us in those gloomy days. For anyone who doesn’t believe me when I write how appalling our football was, I refer them to the 3 games at Wembley v Sheffield Wednesday. I challenge you to sit through all 300+ minutes without yawning. Yes, we won the Cup Double, yes we celebrated long into the night, but we knew we were watching tedious fare. Whilst the Spuds thrilled to Ginola and Gazza, we were watching yet another brilliant defensive performance.

Bruce Rioch was clearly a stop-gap until a long term replacement for GG was employed, and it is thanks to Rioch’s foresight that DB10 was signed. He and David Platt gave us fans the indication that the Board, and in particular David Dein had  ambitious plans for Arsenal’s development..

Then Wenger arrived. Bergkamp flourished, Vieira was signed showing what AW thought was a decent midfielder after the years of Morrow, Selley, Jensen, etc etc. We started to play football!! The best back 5 in history learned to pass through the midfield instead of hoofing it up to Wrighty. Other stars were signed to suit the method of play that Wenger promoted. Skilful, pacy, technically adept and instinctive players. Can anyone imagine that Graham would have signed Bobby Pires? The football played by The Invincibles was better than anything seen in the past 50 years and we have been privileged to witness it.

Whatever the opinions of the British (Sky) pundits, Arsenal are considered the entertainers of the Premiership, our football is admired worldwide. From Africa to India to Australia, we are the team that people turn on their TV’s to watch. MU v AFC is the most watched PL game (and probably the second most anticipated game in World club football). Football fans love Wengerball – it is how fans imagine the game should be played. Sure, there are doubters, those who believe that power is more valid than skill, that good old-fashioned British cut and thrust is more successful, and that if AFC had enforcers we would be Champions, but that isn’t Arsene’s way. His way is the Beautiful Game and thank goodness for that. That said, I believe there is room for a more direct style occasionally, who can forget those sweeping movements starting from an opposition attack, two passes through midfield onto an onrushing scorer (think TH, Freddie, Bobby).

We are entertained, and if we aren’t it isn’t because of Wenger’s football ethos, it is because the players don’t hit the heights every week (or sometimes every month!).

I know that many fans would give up the entertainment for a piece of silverware, but this writer hopes for the same as Wenger –  to win with great football, to play with brio, to mesmerise the opposition.  It can be done, Wenger has proved it, and Guardiola has shown how to do it at Champions League level.

Arsenal-esque indeed.