Morning all.
I think the media along with other anti Arsenal folk out there near to realise one thing. Premier League football isn’t as it was during the ten years of the Arsene Wenger era. Back then, it was usually two clubs challenging for the Premier League title, sometimes three. Going away to mid/lower league clubs wasn’t to be feared because honestly, for a long time, it felt like they were just making up the numbers.
The gulf between the best and the rest was big, too big really. But in recent years, that gap has closed dramatically and it’s good for the game in my opinion. Every game is competitive and no result is a forgone conclusion. Just look at that once labelled small club on the south coast called Bournemouth, they are proof of how much the Premier League has changed.
But to win a Premier League isn’t about turning up for one game, it’s about a ten month campaign and notching up more points than any other club. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. A sprint is easy and thankfully Bournemouth had one in them again last night.
Mikel Arteta, having seen his teams struggle to get over the line in their challenge for the Premier League title, decided to make us defensively strong but with it, we became a little less exciting in attack. I guess in his head he was thinking “I’m going to do whatever it takes” and it’s worked.
I read an article in The Athletic which suggests the club consulted with Howard Webb over set pieces because Arteta wanted to know what his players can get away with. If true, no wonder the whistle seldom blows when there’s grappling in the box. Back in those Wenger days, the way to beat Arsenal was by deploying rough tactics. Eduardo, Ramsey and Diaby can testify to that but of course, No one cared back then, Arsenal were simply too soft.
Well, Arsenal are no longer soft yet “they” still don’t like it. VARsenal we have been labelled this morning by a few idiots online which is hilarious. The voice of people who clearly haven’t watched the endless number of decisions which have gone against us. The challenge on Bukayo Saka in our last game is just one of many.
I’d be a total hypocrite if I said I’d enjoyed watching Arsenal’s performance every week because I haven’t but it doesn’t matter what I think because all the time, Arteta was clearly thinking on the end game and it’s because of that we Arsenal fans are as happy as we are this morning.
There is a lovely video on Arsenal.com which is worth watching in my opinion. Thank you Mikel, thank you Arsenal FC and all who have brought this club back to life.
Catch up in the comments.
Great video, Rico. What a family. What a way to celebrate 100 years in the top flight.
Lee sent it to me this morning Stuart. Nice from Arsene..
Lovely message from Granit too.
Anyone else walking round with a constant smile on their face? Mine is a bit mixed because of funeral yesterday, but we all deserve to enjoy this for as long as we can.
All those dark days, the Wenger In Out, the Emery time, the debates saying Arteta has been given too long. Arsenal have played it correctly and a superb long article in the Athletic details the lady 6 years and how the patience was worthwhile.
Two things struck me, one how Arteta made the visiting changing room less spacious and nice to be in!
The other is indeed good news:
The prize money accumulated in the Premier League and by reaching the Champions League final has eased concerns over regulatory compliance.
Morning Gooners, morning Rico, there’s some great videos of Jurrien, Ebs, Bakayo and Declan walking around the Emirates at 5am and celebrating with some fans who were still there, the common touch. We have such a great bunch of players.
I reckon we’ll put on a performance at Palace now the shackles are off…
Sorry to hear about your brother Andrew, yesterday must have been a very emotional day at a very sad time. 😢
Morning Kev, I watched no end of them, they are great.
I to think we’ll start playing with a bit more freedom. Sundays game should be great with both clubs having nothing to lose.
Then, it’s all eyes on Budapest..
Annoyingly, I have things to do in the garden so catch up later..
🏆
Now the next battle begins , we are now the target for next season, Strengthen where we can improve on players but keep the spirit in the group.
What a night. I couldn’t sleep until the early hours.
A couple of songs spring to mind, These are the days of our lives. : Queen/Freddie Mercury
Crazy Crazy Nights : Kiss
I love all the players in the first team group but inevitable 1 or 2 get moved on and 1 or 2 come in,it will be fascinating who.
I didn’t even see the Spurs score until this morning,I’m not even bothered about that lot,we have bigger things on the horizon.
COYG
Good morning 14 Champions
Smile. Hoy es el dia, en la pasion de trionfar.
A super great post Rico. I have been waiting a long time for this
I enjoyed reading it immensely.
I simply hope that for the last game Arteta takes into consideration the final. Salmon for Right back. rotation is key.
As the crusaders would say, “God wills it”
The title is a triumph for the togetherness and belief instilled in the squad by Arteta. Sadly some of that togetherness will inevitably loosen when the transfer window opens, some are sure to leave, there our bound to be some new arrivals too.
There is a solid base for Arteta to work with and room for some new blood.
Let’s hope that the newcomers can be seamlessly assimilated and new relationships created.
Yeah, Arteta has built not only a great group of players but a fully integrated group, no egos, no big time Charlies, Declan and Bakayo are two of the biggest players in the world and they’re totally grounded and humble, the club has to be very careful – and I’m sure they will be – when it comes to recruitment and sales.
Thanks Devil.
I think Arteta made it clear what he thought of big ego players when he booted out Auba, Ozil, Guendouzi etc.
From the internet……
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira when asked if any of the current Arsenal players would get in to the invincible winning team of 2003/24: “I think David Raya in goal for Jens Lehmann. Timber at right-back, I quite like him, he can get in the team as well. Toure and Campbell, I will change one of the two, I will keep Campbell and change Toure for Gabriel.
“Of course Ashley Cole, we’re not touching Ashley. Saka can get in the team on the right hand side over Freddie Ljungberg. Up front we’re not touching Thierry and Dennis Bergkamp. Declan Rice for Gilberto and keep Robert Pires on the left.”
While I never like to do comparisons, simply because comparisons are odious, there are some things which I really agree with. Especially Bobby Pires on the left. I still say subbing him and not FL08 in the final of the 2006 CL was a big mistake.
It is what it is now. We lost it in PAris. let’s hope Paris is avenged.
Kev, I hope that Arteta keeps thinking along these lines as well. The moment we sign a superstar I will be dreading. We need a players who can prove themselves over and over again.
As you said, we dont need big name Charlies. Although if it meant we signed Charlie George in his prime, you wouldnt disagree with that I am sure. Pa would approve wholeheartedly
When Mikel Arteta stepped into his first press conference as Arsenal manager, he was asked what Arsenal meant to him. His response was as follows – “When I was playing in England I started to realise what Arsenal meant. Obviously, I was born in Barcelona and the club that had the most similar style, values and vision was Arsenal.
I had a dream and it was to play for this football club. There was one man, his name is Arsène Wenger, that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play for this club. After that, he made me captain of this football club and I wouldn’t be sitting here if he didn’t have the vision to give me the opportunity to enjoy this incredible club.”
Today, that same love and belief has led him to the greatest achievement. Mikel Arteta has brought the Premier League title back to North London for the first time in 22 years.
Trusted by Arsène Wenger as a player and captain, Arteta has now honoured that faith in the greatest way possible, writing his own chapter in Arsenal history.
How about Charlie Nicholas? DG.
Ahhh yes Cicero. Charlie Nicholas. I am a bit mixed with regards CN10. I would have liked to see him with this team yes. But with the coaches he had he was like a yoyo. He wasnt consistent imo, a bit like Ozil with regards his role in the team during match days. Mayb if he had Arteta as his coach he would have buckled down and worked hard for the team because he wasnt a big headed person and I quite liked him back then, and even more now whenever he is invited to comment on Arsenal. He was not a big time Charlie. He was at the right place but at the wrong time.
GG’s arrival signalled his departure because he was not compatible with GG’s style.
Arsenal haven’t signed any big egos under Arteta, I doubt he’ll change now..
I used to really like Charlie Nicholas when he was a pundit on Sky.
Some of his goals weren’t too bad either.
Weird Sky kept Merse but ditched Charlie. I like Ally McCoist these days, not on Sky though obviously 😜
Tierney had won the SPL title and been called for WC26.
So happy for him
Me too, and Kiwior..
Charlie Nicholas became a massive Arsenal fan after moving from Celtic, he was a bit up and down form wise but he loved playing against Tottenham, as a pundit he always fought our corner.
Considering that he played for Tottenham, Darren Bent is a great pro-Arsenal pundit and fan, another one who fights our corner…
Wayne Rooney too, he’s had his money on us for a while.
What I can’t understand is Alan Smith, never sounds like he’s rooting for us. Boring as well!
Charlie Nicholas, along with George Armstrong, Peter Marinello, and Charlie George, my early heroes!
Yeh, and Michael Owen has given us some kudos of late, too.
Peter Marinello, now there’s a fleeting star. He came to us as the Scottish George Best, but like Charlie Nicholas later on, never really bedded into the way Arsenal played back then. Tho’ Charlies brace v Liverpool in ’87 is a beautiful memory.
My hero in the ’70’s was Ballie, a real superstar signing for, an at the time British transfer record of 220,000 quid. Red hair, white boots, squeaky voice, but what a player.
If you’ve got a spare half hour and want to be moved, have a good laugh and fall more in love with football, this is the best after dinner speech I have listened to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-3nGYY9gro
Super goal by Villa.
Three fine goals. Unai waving his wand again. Good for him and those Villa boys, many of whom have never won a trophy in their careers to date.
Ero Rico! It’s my hope this finds you & yours and all Gunners worldwide, well and enjoying the moment.
What a time to be alive for all Arsenal fans. Nothing makes a pastoralist Gunner happy than rains in the savanna and it’s gifted us a trophy.
P.S
Feel free to send jerseys down to the savanna whenever you feel like you could make a Pastoralist Gunner happy.
CHAMPIONS 🏆