Et Tu RvP

I'm emotionally in a fragile state right now. After knowing that the captain that steered the Arsenal ship from the brink of relegation to Champions League football last season, has joined the most bitter of all rivals, Manchester United.

After loosing key players in each and every summer, I was hoping Arsenal's summer would be somehow be peaceful and stable. After all, snagging both Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud of less than half a price of a Fernando Torres is actually good business. Unfortunately, we were dead wrong. A week after the purchase of Giroud, Robin van Persie dropped the bomb, he is not going to sign a contract extension.

Sighting that the club did not match his ambition was beyond belief! Arsenal made a gamble on signing this trouble maker from Feyenoord for a meager £2.7 million. He was accused of rape and was imprisoned for 6 weeks. He had a string of bad injuries that plagued his Arsenal career. Through it all Arsenal was there. I began to question his ambition? Trophies? Now with Podolski and Giroud on board, plus 1 or 2 more signings, Arsenal can win trophies! Money? The club can only offer a maximum of £130,00/week.

 The BBC reported that RvP wanted to stay. But Arsene Wenger had a plan B, and he was not part of it. The club had no choice but to sell him while he was still under contract with Arsenal. And there were three suitors for RvP's services: Juventus, Manchester City, and Manchester United.

I first thought Manchester United would be a farfetch destination for him, but I was wrong. If Graham Hunter is to believe, RvP was already in talks with Manchester United 7 months ago! He told Cesc Fabregas that he'll be staying for another year, and see if he can win trophies with the club. Unfortunately, Arsenal only managed to cling on third place in the league, and bowed out (but with a fight) on cup games.

It was a perfect betrayal to Gooners, similar to the unsuspecting Julius Caesar at the Ides of March. When the captaincy was entrusted by Wenger, he acted as if he was indeed the captain of Arsenal. He led the team by scoring the goals, gave pre-game pep talk, he organized parties off the pitch. But he was and is a linchpin. Just like the wankers who left for money before him like Ashley Cole, Emanuel Adebayor, and Samir Nasri. "Et tu, Brutus!" was the last word Caesar said to Marcus Junius Brutus. Like Caesar, we Gooners were appalled by such treachery, "Et tu, RvP!", we exclaimed.

For £24 million, he has sold his soul to the Devil, and forever tarnished his Arsenal legacy not just as the club's 8th all-time leading goal scorer, but also as the leader of the club with most come-from-behind wins in a season. Gone were my memories of your early Arsenal career, Robin! That equalizer vs. Southhampton. That Volley at the Valley vs Charlton. Your brace vs. Blackburn in the semis of the FA Cup. For volunteering to take Edu's penalty in the final vs. your new team!

Like a jilted lover, I wish you nothing but misery in your new team! Arsenal will be a better team without you! Victoria Concordia Crescit. Victory through harmony on to the new club football season.

We're by Far the Handsomest Team the World Has Ever Seen

 Three of the most of most prolific strikers in the world are now playing for Arsenal.

The whole of Goonerdom were celebrating the arrival of their latest addition to our beloved Arsenal, Olivier Giroud. The announcement was made official at around 5 o'clock in the afternoon in my time zone, and Beliebers might have the shock of their lives upon seeing the name "Olivier Giroud" topping the trending topics worldwide.

Just like Lukas Podolski's signing, the Giroud signing was a mere speculation for months. But it happened to be Arsene Wenger's worst kept secrets. As of this writing, Arsene Wenger has 3 of most prolific  strikers in world at his disposable and all three happened to be left footers. The lack of quality back up striker really hurt Arsenal's chances of attaining at least a trophy in what was a tumultuous season under Wenger. And doing business this early, made me think that Le Professeur's did learn something from last summer's transfer shenanigans.

Speculations that either Giroud or Podolski could be club captain Robin van Persie's replacement in case the latter's contract negotiations breaks down are just mere speculations. Robin is on a holiday somewhere, and he'll be reporting to the club by July 3 for the preseason training. By then we will know what will be his plans.

I wonder what would be Arsenal's next move? Adding some steel in the midfield by acquiring either Lucas Biglia or Yann M'Vila? Will they purchase a decent goalkeeper to back-up or even challenge Wojciech Szczesny? Which young Guns will be featured in the first team in cup matches? Which young Guns will go on loan? Do we have buyers or willing loaners to some fringe players? Will Joel Campbell finally have his working permit? So many questions by most Gooners that need to be answered. Roll on, July!

PS1: The acquisition of Olivier Giroud officially made Arsenal as the most handsome club in the world. Thus, I took a pun on a favorite Gooner song, "And it's Arsenal".

PS2: All three forwards photographed above have "bromances" with 3 club centerbacks: Lukas Podolski & Per Mertesacker, Robin van Persie & Thomas Vermaelen, Olivier Giroud & Laurent Koscielny.

Arsenal Twitter Takeover: When Somebody Answered My Question

For already three occasions, Arsenal FC had a Twitter Takeover (TT) wherein fans all over the world ask some random questions to some selected first team players from the Arsenal. I missed the first two TTs because I was not informed (first TT) and I was busy with work (second TT). I was so disappointed because I missed the opportunity to ask questions to my current Arsenal crushes who were featured in first two editions.

But when they announced that there'll be another TT coming, I said to myself, I must participate on this one! I have to thank the universe for cooperating with me last April 26. The boss was not around, no clients bugging me at the 11th hour and we were done with the patients. So I went to the office laptop and shoot some questions:

First up was, Kieran Gibbs, a left-back.

1. Do you read comic books?
2. Who's your usual roommate?
3. Do you have a pregame ritual?

~Arsenal.com initially favorited my question that is in bold face, then retweeted it!
~Arsenal then tweeted, Kieran says: "I do the same thing every game, I have done it for years. It's the order that I do things."

Photo evidence

First player on the hot seat answered my question! A really proud moment as a Gooner!

Next up was goalie, Wojciech Szczesny! Yup, that's his name! If his name is a word, you'll win the scrabble game.

1. Who is the club bully?
2. Favorite fragrance.
3. Are you religious? Who is your favorite saint?

Third in line was club captain, Robin van Persie, who is really sitting on a hot seat over contract negotiations with the club.

1. Why did you refuse Ruud Gullit's offer to stay at Feyenoord?
2. Do you speak or understand another language other than Dutch and English?
3. What is your favorite Chef Rob dish?*

*This question was asked to all players of Arsenal. Chef Rob Fagg is the Arsenal FC chef who goes with them wherever they go. He is known to serve healthy dishes such as steamed broccoli and such.
~Arsenal favorited the "Chef Rob dish". I was anticipating for a retweet because I am sure Robin will answer it. But my luck ran out. Sigh.

RvP was followed by the ever crocked, Abou Diaby, a midfielder. I never thought I will be shooting so many questions at him. He only plays (brilliantly most of the time) for 30 odd minutes, and goes out of the game injured. He is such an enigma!

1. Who do you think among the lads can have a career as a singer?
2. What were you thinking or doing while you had your long lay-off due to injury?
3. Coissant or baguette?
4. Why aren't you updating your Twitter?
5. Aside from English or French, what other languages do you speak or understand?
6. Favorite non-French teammate at Arsenal.
7. You look like Samuel L. Jackson. Would you consider him to portray you if you'll have a biopic?
8. What do you mix with your tea: milk, lemon or honey?

The TT started with a left back and it ended with a right back, Bacary Sagna.


1. You've got a pretty wife. What did you do to have her?*
*A very TMZ-esque question, right?
2. Do you speak or understand Spanish and Portuguese? You seemed to get along with Mikel Arteta and Andre Santos.


I can't wait for the next TT. I had a guess that RvP and Wojciech were going to be featured in the third edition. Hopefully in the next TT, Per Mertesacker will be included. I already have a question just for him! He he he!

The Return of the King

Tolkien's "The Return of the King" was the climax of his literary masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings" (LOTR) trilogy, wherein the reign of Sauron was finally put to an end, and the return of the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor.

I am not blogging about LOTR. I am blogging about the Thierry Henry's return to the club that made him a global football superstar, Arsenal. My love affair with Arsenal began with Thierry Henry (But I have no intention to end it with Thierry's impending departure at the end of this week.). He may have left the club for Champions League glory, but he is a Gooner through and through.

His brief second spell as a Gunner are stuff that fairy tales and/or Hollywood sports movies are made. Unlike the LOTR's, Theirry's return is not the climax of Arsenal's 2011-2012 season. I must say his return served as a band aid to the club's beleaguered line-up due to injuries, out-of-form players, and players on-duty for their respective countries.

Thierry's first game was versus Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup. He started from the bench. Arsenal fought a gritty Leeds United team who were playing for a draw at the Ashburton Grove in order to attain a replay at Elland Road. Just as we thought that this game was going to end in a goalless draw, Thierry Henry scored a goal that was reminiscent to his Arsenal heydays.

That goal brought tears in my eyes. I could not describe the feeling, as if that moment was already written in the stars. I had high hopes with Arsenal's next fixtures in the Premier League now that the legendary player who was cast in bronze last December, came to life with the same clinical precision with his feet.

Unfortunately, Arsenal failed to win their fixtures vs. Swansea City, Manchester United and Bolton. One time they were sitting on seventh place, the lowest rank that they have ever  been since Arsene Wenger took over the reigns of the club (at this time of the year).

But on the first fixture for the month of February, Arsenal thrashed Blackburn Rovers 7-1 at the Grove. The club's present captain, Robin van Persie, scored a hattrick. Thierry came on as a substitute. In the 90th minute he exchanged passes with van Persie, and scored the 7th goal for the Gunners. That goal seemed to remind me of his partnership with Dennis Bergkamp, van Persie's now retired compatriot.

Just this weekend against Sunderland with scores tied up at 1-1, Andrey Arshavin delivered a lovely cross to Thierry Henry's foot, and snatch a hard fought victory almost at the death (and not to mention a very patchy pitch).

Goal # 229. That could be Thierry's last goal for Arsenal in the Premiership. He he will have to return to his present club, the New York Red Bulls, for the coming Major League Soccer season. But before he goes back, he'll have to face AC Milan at the San Siro in the knockout stage of UEFA Champions League. Thierry competitive as he is, will always stand up in any huge occassion. I remember how his teammates then thrashed AC Milan's bitter rivals, Inter Milan, at the same stadium, when qualification for the CL knockout stage was on the line. I still remember that scoreline, 1-5.

They say I am too old for fairy tales, but because of Thierry, I still believe in them.


Au revoir and merci beaucoup, Titi! Bonne chance!

PS: I am quite disappointed that he will not play vs. Tottenham on the 26th. He is fond of scoring goals against them.