Premiership Evolution Since The 90s

 
In the mid 90s when I was just 10 Years old, I used to see several Strangers both young and older in the Neighbourhood of Bukoto (a KLA Suburb) smartly donning Jerseys sponsored by McEwans Lager. At that Time, Blackburn Rovers was the in-form Premiership Team. Back then, I did not know how they won it, nevertheless I guess having Allan Shearer (who moved on to shine at Newcastle United) and Chris Sutton on the same Team meant Glory. Jerseys sponsored by Sharp (Electronics) for Manchester United also stood out but I just had a Thing for Arsenal's JVC like I did for Candy-sponsored Liverpool Jerseys from the late 1980s. So when I got down to follow the English Premier League critically beginning with the 1999 Season (courtesy of MBI and TV Africa), I realised that it was mainly a two Horse Race between Man U and Arsenal. I adored Arsenal to the Bone Marrow though I did not wear my Heart on my Sleeve (meaning I did not wear any Jerseys) but I always wondered why Alex Ferguson (the Premiership's First Winner and Greatest Manager) and his Team sometimes got away with unfair Referee Decisions. Some Teams would outplay Man U but late Penalties, lucky Free-kicks which David Beckham executed well, unnecessary red Cards or disallowed Opponent Goals plus ignored Penalty Claims would grant the Red Devils valuable Points that would clinch the League Trophy in the long Run. Of course the Devils had some good Games and very good Seasons (like the Treble Year when the ever-smiling Tobagonian Dwight Yorke had Goal-scoring Fun alongside Englishman Andy Cole), but others weren't so convincing: sometimes they ground out Results with Favour from the Officials. Maybe I was jealous but you cannot change wrong Decisions imposed during a Premiership Match (unlike in NBA Basketball where there is a Video Replay Center for unclear Referee Calls that can be changed) so Game Officials are like the 12th Man for any would-be Champion. I figured that the only Way to defeat Fergie throughout the entire Season was to outsmart the Referees with your Shot-stopping, dribbling and finishing Skills; turn losses into draws and draws into wins. So when Sylvain Wiltord (against Man Utd at Old Trafford) won Arsene Wenger's second of three Premierships in 2002, it was a huge Triumph for the League's Direction. A Winning Mentality away from Home helped the Gunners. Even during the Invincible Season two years later, it came in handy as they extended their Record to 49 Unbeaten Games.


Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovic built a new Empire at Chelsea and literally used his Money to buy the League Title in 2005 (their Centenary) which was a Breath of fresh Air despite Criticism from Purists. Chelsea had last won the English League Title in 1955, their first and only. Abramovic's new Club Manager Jose Mourinho found a Way around the Referees with the Help of a very tight Defence  (The Bus) and potent Attack led by Chelsea Legend (Ivorian Striker) Didier Drogba. "The Special One" started his Chelsea fairytale with a 14th Minute Eidur Gudjohnsen Winner against Fergie's Manchester United and won three Premierships; the third one was during his Second Coming which was followed by his Second Sacking.

When Manchester City also used Arab Money to clinch the 2012 Premiership, it added Poznan-celebratory Flavour to the annual Competition. "The Noisy Neighbours" led by the controversial Mario Balotelli (Why Always Me?) and skilful Spaniard David Silva even beat their Bitterest Rivals 1-6 at Old Trafford in the third Month of the Season just to declare that EPL Power was shifting and ended Man Utd's unprecedented three Year Reign. Now there would be five different Clubs in the Premiership Winners Circle (two in Red, three in Blue). Apart from Sergio (Kun) Aguero's dramatic 94th Minute Winner against Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in a 3-2 Etihad Stadium Comeback Victory on the last Day to end a 44 Year Drought, another Favourite Moment of the Season was when Man City was eight Points behind their red Neighbours with eight Games to play having earlier led by eight Points too. During a Press Conference, City Manager Roberto Mancini said (probably sarcastically) that Manchester United were "Favourites to win the League" and I found it quite funny. Another Manager had audaciously decided to play Mind Games with the Master (Fergie) who retired a few Years later. Mancini shifted the Pressure to Fergie's Team. If you can bypass the Best, then you can be the Best! Both ended the Season on the same Number of Points but City had a much superior Goal Difference (plus Head-to-Head Record). On the last Sunday of the Season, I was in Naguru (KLA City suburb) painting a dark KADS Mural of 1800s Victorian London for Oliver! (Musical) and my Cousin's Son - a Man Utd Fan wanted me to go with him for Pork in Wandegeya during the Season's Finale Games. I stopped painting early before Kickoff but waited for him in vain and just walked straight back Home through Kamwokya having recovered from two broken toes I had suffered after a Farewell Football game in Mukono. As a Gooner, since my Team was already out of the Equation and only fighting for 4th Place, I smiled when I learnt while approaching Home that the Cityzens had scored. Throughout the Season, their Intent was visible in all Games most of which they won convincingly including the last one where they snatched the title from Man Utd who had just won their away Game 1-0 against Sunderland and were waiting for Full-time News from the Etihad. "I don't believe what am seeing!" There were two urgent Goals in two Minutes for City in a Nail-biting 5 Minute Additional Time Period: a cool headed Edin Dzeko Equaliser to make it 2-2 plus Aguero's 23rd Goal of the Season, the Most Dramatic End to a Premiership Season almost like Arsenal's Pre-Premiership 89th Minute 2-0 Triumph away to eventual Runners-up Liverpool in 1989. Arsenal had to win by two or more Goals to become Champions of England against a Team that could also be Champions even if they lost by only one Goal. Man City won the Title again in 2014 but less dramatically.


Leicester City's Manager Claudio Ranieri (The Godfather) meanwhile brought calm fearless Focus plus immovable Belief during the 2016 Campaign. Having had Premiership Experience in the early 2000s, his Return to England after being sacked in 2004 by the new Chelsea Buyer Abramovic was ruthlessly executed because he turned around a Club that had returned to the Premiership from Relegation a couple of Years behind to reign in the English Top Flight. Even before Ranieri was named Manager, Leicester beat Manchester United 5-3 at King Power Stadium in September 2014 giving the Impression that they are not Pushovers having come back from 3-1 down. Argentinian Leonardo Ulloa (amazingly pronounced Ujjoa) brought Power, Jamie Vardy broke the Goal Records with Algerian Riyad Mahrez netting his own Highs alongside him, Kasper Schmeichel was solid like his Father - the Man Utd Legend of the 90s, Shinji Okazaki added Asian Flavour and Danny Drinkwater is a likeable Character. I cannot quantify if the 2016 Championship was because of Money, but Ranieri's focussed Management plus Players performing with free Minds and Heart surely made the EPL a lot fresher; Captain Morgan's equalising Header won the Trophy at Old Trafford. The Foxes are Kings! "(Bell ringing): Dilly ding, dilly dong! Wake up everybody..."

Chelsea did it again in 2017 because of the Input from every Player including new Coach Antonio Conte [Antonio, Antonio] and a Slipup from Tottenham Hotspurs but the Biggest Talisman has to be Frenchman N'Golo Kante, he plays like two Midfielders in one. Put him in Everton, I bet they can also win the League! No wonder his Peers voted him as their PFA Player of the Year clinching his second Premiership in a row with two different Clubs, another Record...

Noone had Swagger like the Cityzens in 2018! Noone on the Corner had Swagger like KDB (Kevin DeBruyne), Sergio Aguero, Ederson and Manager Pep, the King of Tiki-Taka! In his first Premier League Season at Manchester City, Pep won nothing; it was a hard Knock basing on his History at the Nou Camp and Allianz Arena. However the following Season, Pep improved his Philosophy and won the Carabao Cup as well as lifted the Premiership setting a new Record of Consecutive Wins in the EPL (18) that was only one Win shy of equalling the Record he had just set at his previous Club Bayern. The Cityzens also became the first Team to register 100 points (out of a possible 114) after an injury time Winner by Gabriel Jesus at Southampton on the final Day of the Season...

The End of Man City’s 2012 Season was sweet but 2019 was maybe slightly sweeter though I do not hate Liverpool more than Manchester United; Leroy Sane made sure that the annual Invincibles Day celebrated by Gooners came to pass after the Middle of the Season, which was also Liverpool’s only League Loss. Klopp’s Men are the Greatest Runners-Up in Premiership History with 97 Points. The Stage was set for City’s Glory by the penultimate Game when Vincent Kompany lashed in an unprecedented Outside-the-Box 70th Minute Winner against Leicester. The Title Run-in was a Side-by-Side, Neck-to-Neck See-saw; The Kop played many Round Matches first and perched at the Top for some Hours before City could respond. After Liverpool painfully knocked out Messi from the Champions League, not even an Aubameyang Hattrick for Arsenal at Sevilla two Days later in the Europa League could heal me (Don’t break when you’re broken - Michael Jordan taught me that). If Liverpool had lost on Aggregate, then maybe I would have wished them Success instead of Pep. On the Final Day of the Season (12th May 2019), Liverpool scored first at Anfield and Brighton also took the Lead at Home before the Half-Hour Mark but Aguero equalised a couple of Minutes later to calm Nerves. Then, Laporte headed in a Title-winning Corner before Halftime meaning the Cityzens got back their 1 Point Advantage on the Table. In the 2nd Half, Mahrez used his Intelligence to dummy a Defender and blast in a Masterpiece with his weaker right Foot. Ilkay Gundogan put the Icing on the Cake with an unstoppable Freekick. Mane also scored his second for The Reds, but it was not enough. Seeing a former Barcelona Man - Pep and a former Gunner - Arteta happy was very refreshing; would have gone down very well with an unmissable Sheep-slaughtering Family Reunion in Aliba (Arua) plus Mangoes and Whiteant Harvesting in the Month of May, Psiphon that…

Twenty20 belonged to The Reds, Liverpool, Winners of the FIFA Club World Cup with a Victory over Brazil's Flamengo. Not even COVID-19 (Corona Virus) from Wuhan, China could stop Liverpool from clinching their 19th League Trophy, Curse broken after 30 Years! It delayed the Achievement by more than one Month because of postponed Games but not the Inevitability after finishing 2nd the previous Season with 97 Points, a Premiership High by a Runner-up, improved by two the next Season while defending Champions Man City degenerated 23 points behind them. Sadio Mane could smile again and Mohamed Salah became a Legend...

After the Covid-19 Lockdown Season ended, it seemed like anyone could win the new Premiership: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool all led at some Point and each seemed a favourite but Pep Guardiola's Man City possessed the Hardest Fighting Spirit. The Cityzens went on a 21-match winning Run till 7th March that saw them clinch the Title by 11th May 2021 after being knocked out of the FA Cup Semifinal and qualifying for Man City's first Champions League final; Guardiola called it the "hardest one"...

Twenty22 was another close horserace between the Cityzens and Klopp's Kop, but after being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League Semifinal (6-5 on aggregate) in dramatic fashion by 13-time record champs Real Madrid who eventually beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final, Pep's Manchester City switched into a different Prem-gear scoring five goals in each of the next two games (DeBruyne got four in one of them). In the last game of the season at the Etihad, Man City fell behind 0-2 to Aston Villa (second goal was scored by an ex-Kop Coutinho) while Liverpool led their opponents which meant the Merseysiders would be champions if nothing changed. Then Pep brought on Ilkay Gundogan close to the hour mark and the Turkish-German rewrote history; it was the Most Emotional Moment in his career...

Maybe the Twenty23 script was already written as Football's Greatest Season, but it was about winning All or Nothing. After three games in the preceding season, Arsenal sat at rock bottom with zero wins, zero draws, three losses and zero points plus a Goal Difference of Minus 9; everything was negative. In the Twenty23 season however, after three matches, the Gunners were at the top of the pile with nine points and kept their 100 percent record intact until matchday 6. Despite the loss, they continued answering all the other questions thrown at them. The World Cup Qatar 2022 break saw them lead the chasers with a five point gap and even though 2nd-placed Man City caught up and overtook by Goal Difference after the two title contenders met at Emirates Stadium in the new year, Arsenal regained top spot by winning 4-2 at Aston Villa (while City drew) plus its game in hand against Everton (the 2nd of 3 teams to beat them by then) like deja vu from 2002; I guess David Seaman knows that Guard of Honour-worthy feeling. It was the last time Arsenal won normal Premiership silverware; 2004 trophy was golden. How about that 97th minute Reiss Nelson winner versus Bournemouth, stuff of legend only? One Prophet once predicted that Arsenal would never win the Premier League again until Queen Elizabeth died. Well, she departed the Earth at 96 years of age in 2022 and the possibilities are now open. Unfortunately, in the first season during the reign of King Charles, French defender William Saliba's back injury during a Europa League game started Arsenal's collapse, watched by Kim Kardashian and her child North West: Send help! By the end of Arsenal's second last game at Bournemouth on Saturday 20th May 2023, Man City joined the exclusive class of 3-in-a-row Champions...

 

Arua Channel

Soccer has always felt supernatural to me like in Shaolin Soccer (2001 Hong Kong film). Even Evang Fumilayo Adebayo postulated that it is the Devil's Creation to take People to Hell by making them idolise Football and pray less, LORD have Mercy! Sometimes it doesn't matter how well you play. If invisible Forces guide your Shots and Headers (ask Real Madrid's Rodrygo), they go in. If they redirect your Shots, you could hit the Woodwork and get blamed, abused plus hated by Fans. That is why Players pray for Victory and Diehard Supporters do too. If you're looking for me, you can find me in the Highbury Memories (2021 Book). After watching Harry Potter 4 (The Goblet of Fire - 2005 film), I noticed that Soccer and Quidditch (A Game for Wizards) have Similarities but instead of flying in the Air on Broomsticks, Soccer is played on the Ground. Maybe that explains why it is so enchanting and unites all sorts of human Beings but it should never take YAHWEH's Place in our Hearts, LORD have Mercy! Nevertheless, Sarah Binayamo [Boyanga] who was taken several times to Heaven [plus Hell] by JESUS around August 2012 revealed that the LORD told her HE was preparing a Football Field in Heaven for all those who love Football like her Brothers. Personally, the first Dreamvision of Heaven I have ever had was an open Enclosure exactly like the Emirates Stadium where Saints worship GOD for two Hours; the Grass was so green, Seats were red and the Space near the Top was just as wavy as that at Ashburton Grove. Forgive us, LORD...

"Mesutoezil" Is A Superlative

Auba celebrates his second Goal (Arsenal's third) with Captain Oezil (Number 10) who netted the first

#YaGunnersYa! You can tell me all the Crap in the World about someone, but I will look for their strong Points coz they exist; that is my Defence of Arsenal's Turkish-German World Cup Winner and Europe's Assist Master! Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola once said, "If you watch the Game, you won't see Oezil but if you watch Oezil, you see the whole Game!" What a Way to celebrate Arsene Wenger's 69th Birthday. Despite going behind to Leicester City in the 30th Minute via an unlucky Deflection off Rightback Hector Bellerin during the Monday Night Football Game at the Emirates on 22nd October 2018, the Gunners turned up the Style just before Halftime led by their Captain of the Day - Mesut Oezil! He did not win the Man of the Match Award (Alex Iwobi did for tireless Effort) but Oezil was the true Man of the Match for me because he equalised, pre-assisted to Bellerin for the second Goal and brilliantly set up the third, both scored by Substitute Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who became the Best Minutes per Goal Player in Premiership History (104.6 Minutes). With his one-Attempt Equaliser Goal which reminds me of Messi's three similar Shots on Goal (only one succeeded, the other two hit the Far Post) v Tottenham at Wembley in the 2019 Champions League Group Stage earlier in the same Month, Oezil overtook Tottenham's Jurgen Klinsmann (29 Goals) who shone in the 90s as the German with the Most Goals in the Premiership (Record now 30); he keeps breaking 1990s Premiership Records just like he did the previous Season for Manchester United Legend Eric Cantona's Fastest 50 Assists. Lukas Podolski who left in 2014 with 19 Goals is the 2nd Highest-scoring German Gunner in England though a few Places below in the Overall List. Furthermore, Oezil has created the Highest Number of Goalscoring Chances in all of Europe's Top 8 Leagues since 2006; I guess that's one of the Reasons he laughs at his Crap-spitting Critics whom he never listens to. Oezil knows when he is playing badly or producing a Masterclass. Rob Holding who had just been yellowcarded escaped a second Yellow almost immediately for Handball in the Penalty Box. It was not blatant though he had his Hand in the Air; an Opponent actually forced his Hand towards the Ball, so it could not be deliberate really! Leno made some good Saves and the rest also played their Roles. Lacazette was unlucky not to score. Nevertheless, the whole Game had Shirt Number 10 written allover it, this was Arsenal's 10th Win-in-a-Row, Oezil played in his Favoured Number 10 Position and did not even feature in the Last 10 Minutes; he had already done enough like 10 out of 10 Ratings. Commentators used to say that they ran out of Superlatives to describe Thierry Henry; well, Mesut Oezil himself is a Superlative. As one Word, his Name when latinised spells out a 10-Letter Adjective that probably means "scores and assists". In fact, according to Gooners, "oezil" is a Noun and Verb at the same Time; it means "assist". In this Special Game, the German who recently retired from International Football put up a perfect-10 Performance, a befitting Celebration for the Man who bought him to The Emirates with very lofty Expectations, protected and encouraged his Progress winning three FA Cups and three Community Shields in five Seasons with him. Safe to say, Arsene Wenger had a mesutoezil 1st Birthday in the Unai Emery Era...

Does Wenger Deserve Liberia's Highest Honour?

The Invincible One

Merci Arsene! Even though Football Fans at the Emirates wanted Wenger out, his Contribution to the Game is irreplaceable, probably irrepeatable and invincible. Opinions are not Facts; despite Questions from many Critics about what Arsene Wenger has done for Liberia or Africa, he still received Liberia's Order of Distinction and was knighted with the Highest Possible Honour in the West African Country by his former Player-turned-President George Weah on Friday 24th August 2018. The Knight Grand Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption deserves his Status (alongside Coach Claude Le Roy) not only for taking Weah to Europe but also allowing other Black Africans to become Stars.

Double Happy-iness

I'm not a Liberian, but as a Black African Gooner, I can understand what Wenger did against Racism by asserting that Blacks and Whites can live together. I saw that with Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira and it registered in my 14 year old Mind that Racial Harmony is possible after being brainstuffed with Stories of German Nazism, American Segregation and South African Apartheid. The 68 year old Frenchman shaped many African Gunners to excel throughout his 22 Years in London including another Liberian named Christopher Wreh, the Invincibles Nwankwo Kanu, Lauren Etame Meyer and Kolo Toure, plus French-born Guinean Kaba Diawara (talented dribbler), Alex Song, Emmanuel Eboue, Emmanuel Adebayor (should never be forgotten despite leaving behind a very negative Taste among Fans), Gervinho, Emmanuel Frimpong, Alex Iwobi, Mohamed Elneny and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. Some Ugandans actually became interested in Arsenal FC because it had Players from the Continent even though from outside their international Border. Nevertheless, I believe many Senegalese, Nigerians, Guineans, Cameroonians, Ivorians, Ghanaians, Togolese, Egyptians and Gabonians approve of Weah's Decision. On top of that, even President Paul Kagame, a Rwandese Gooner and his Government were inspired to sponsor Arsenal's Shirt Sleeve with the "Visit Rwanda" Marketing Label. Some of us did not even know Gervinho nor Iwobi but they brought their own unique Shine to the red hot Squad; it may not be the Most Lethal but it still applies. Besides Kanu, Wreh and Lauren, I strongly think another great African Addition Wenger made to Arsenal will be Auba. When the Gabonese Striker finally achieves his Star Potential, Arsenal Fans must remember and appreciate the Knight Grand Commander! George Weah is the only African to win FIFA's World Footballer of the Year Award; he's literally in the League with Argentine Lionel Messi (touted as the Greatest Of All Time), Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (The Goal Machine) and a very selected few in terms of brilliant individual Performance. If Weah could give his Ballon d'Or Winner's Medal to Wenger in 1995 because he deserved it more than him instead of bringing it to Liberia, then Wenger really did something great for him. Weah was and still is an image of a peaceful Liberia, emancipated Blacks and summit-topping African Continent, it's not Treason to thank those who made it all possible...

The Scorpion King of the Air

Superhero

I deleted WhatsApp from my phone because of numerous reasons but the hugest ones were my disagreement with the vulgarity of some users plus the criticism or insults hurled at Arsenal players by people (including group admins) who claim to be fans yet sound like haters (from India to Europe to Nigeria and across Africa) though many others were kind in their analysis. I quit six Arsenal Fan Groups without apology before they infected me with their nasty negativity. The Biggest Target of vile opinions was Olivier Giroud even though he netted at least 15 times in his first five seasons at Arsenal, 2016 being his individual best with 24 goals plus a 2nd place finish behind Premiership Kings Leicester City FC. I'm a Diehard Gooner from head to toe and have been a Giroud believer from Day One because I knew what he had done at Montpellier in 2012, something like the Leicester of France or maybe Leicester is the Montpellier of England. It took Giroud some games to score his first Arsenal goal but still reached the Centurion milestone faster than Robin van Persie who is the 13th Fastest basing on games played and only 56 games longer than Thierry Henry in 11th though the minutes played might be closer. He is the 5th Gunner under Arsene Wenger to notch 100 Goals after Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Van Persie and Theo Walcott. "GIROUD IS A GOOD MAN!" He may not be fast at dribbling like Lionel Messi nor flashy and lively like Henry but he adds something different to the beautiful game. Critics blame him for wasting many of Ozil's created chances but he still netted some. Others say he is very slow yet his majestic hold-up play allows other teammates to run into goal-scoring positions, Aaron Ramsey (a living Arsenal legend) can agree with that. Oli has never disappointed me: he broke the Premiership Record for the Most Headed Goals. In my mother tongue (Lugbara language) spoken in East and Central Africa, "oli" means air or wind; Giroud is definitely the King of the Air. His height favours him greatly and sometimes he backtracks to defend opponent corners plus setpieces. Oli looks menacing in size plus strength and there are no opponent players that made me feel intimidated because I knew the Frenchman could match them anyway. In 2014, he set up Rambo with a neat backheel for the third goal that clinched Arsenal's first trophy in nine years. Then he unleashed a cracker against Man City in the consequent Community Shield, moreover as a substitute; Arsenal won 3-0. In the 2015 FA Cup Final, Oli scored the fourth Arsenal goal just as I had wished, again as a substitute (Be very careful what you wish for, you might receive it). Two years later, he assisted Rambo again for the 2-1 FA Cup Final-winning goal against Chelsea; it was Oli's first touch as a substitute. In the Community Shield rematch against Premiership Champions Chelsea a few months later, he netted the winning ABBA penalty after a 1-1 comeback draw earned by a Kolasinac equaliser; Arsenal won 4-1. That was the last team trophy Oli won at Arsenal fulfilling a dream I had seen a few years behind where he scored a penalty and Arsenal won a trophy. Another dream was Man City handing Arsenal a trophy but that probably happened in the 2014 Community Shield. After Christmas in 2016, one of my much older cousins who is a staunch Manchester United fan (his friends used to call him Coach Ferguson, then Moyes, then Mourinho) told me that Henrikh Mkhitaryan had just scored the Greatest Goal of All-Time. When I viewed it in the Match Highlights he was watching, I was amazed but also noticed that Mkhi was offside. I swallowed the possible fact a bit but a few days later, New Year's Day to be exact, the BBC World Service top-of-the-hour Sportsworld intro started with a clip of how Giroud had just scored a wondergoal better than Mkhitaryan (glad he moved to Arsenal exactly 12 months later). Interested, I waited patiently for the highlight on the Supersport Blitz Channel and was totally blown away. Without any further hesitation, I downloaded the frightening goal and repeatedly watched it eight times but could not prevent myself from smiling through all those eight times - I just had to force myself to stop somewhere. The FIFA Puskas Award which Giroud won later in the year proved that this was truly the Best Goal in 2017. By the end of the same year (10th December), Oli equalled Man Utd's Ole Gunnar Solksjaer (17 goals) as the Most Lethal Substitute in Premiership History. Oli was not assured of starting games at Arsenal but took it in his stride and became a reliable supersub in the final 15 minutes. Three years earlier, the 1-1 home draw against Everton in the 2014 Premiership proved to me how golden his late game-reading skills are; he frantically hit the woodwork just before the final whistle in attempting what would have been a classic winner (Luis Suarez was unbelievably on fire for Liverpool around that time). Nevertheless Oli got a chance to redeem himself against Everton in the FA Cup a few months later; the Gunners won 4-1 after the score was a 1-1 deja vu at some point, Oli netted twice for good measure and the rest is history. He transferred to Chelsea for the end of the 2018 season where he won the FA Cup again (one more than Thierry Henry) and then the World Cup in Russia with Les Bleus of France (equal with Thierry Henry); Oli made about three assists in seven matches. I guess Giroud fans wished he would score (even just one) against Croatia during the Holy Grail of Football before being substituted but am still thankful that Didier Deschamps always gave him playtime. Football is not all about scoring too many goals; Belgium, Harry Kane and Cristiano could have won the World Cup in 2018 then, but it's about scoring "just one more" than your opponent for the day. The winning goal can come from anyone including the goalkeeper, roger that Jose Luis Chilavert (Paraguay) and Abubakr (Ivory Coast). I appreciate the many goals Thierry scored for Arsenal but I still like Robert Pires and Olivier Giroud more than him, the heart wants what it wants. I became a Gooner because of the 1998 FA Cup Final, so enjoying three extra FA Cups with Giroud is still a great memory even though he never won the Premiership, League Cup nor UEFA Champions League at Arsenal. A trophy is just an empty cup, enjoy the assists, goals, celebrations and records...

Boom Xhaka-LACA!

The Champ is here...

I have this optimistic Feeling that Alexandre LACAZETTE might turn out to be one of Arsene Wenger's Greatest Signings in the 21st Century. The French Striker is very progressive plus confident and can ignite another French Revolution; Good Luck is set for the Gunners. I do not believe the Number 9 Shirt at Arsenal is cursed, that's a false Jinx! What kind of Jinx allows you to score your first Goal 94 Seconds into your Premiership Debut? Francis Jeffers had many great Games where he scored helpful Goals as a Super Reserve and even won The Double; Jose Antonio Reyes was invincible in his first Season and won the FA Cup at the End of the following Season which he started on Fire scoring in the first five Consecutive Games; Julio Baptista brought Strength and Mass to the Frontline (read: was a Wrestler) including netting four Goals like Arshavin past Liverpool in one Match (First Number 9 at the Emirates Stadium); Eduardo da Silva broke his Leg but returned to show how good he truly was and why he was missed - a real Fox in the Box; Lukas Podolski had the Most Powerful Left Foot in World Football (Factual Record) and scored some terrific Goals plus won an FA Cup after Arsenal's nine Years of a Trophy Drought, yeah nine (9) Years like the Number on his back, neun, am not joking; Lucas Perez also played his Part scoring the Fastest Champions League Hattrick by a Gunner plus some other amazing Leftfooters in the 2017 FA Cup-winning Season before his Number was relocated to Laca...

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie
When I first saw Eddie during the 2017 Pre-season Tour of the Orient, I wrote Nketiah off and thought Reiss Nelson was much much better because of the latter's First Team Experience plus explosive Dribbling. Even Willock seemed good and Eddie just ordinary! In fact, Eddie was involved in the Build-up to Lacazette's very first Goal donning an Arsenal Jersey in Australia but I did not want him to sulk nor demonstrate that Iwobi cut back the Assist Pass to the Frenchman instead of him. Then when Eddie (Shirt Number 62) came on and equalised with his very first Touch at the Emirates in just over a dozen Seconds on the Pitch with four Minutes left to Defeat plus headed in the Winner against Norwich in the Carabao Cup Extratime a few Months later, I had to seriously reevaluate my biased View of the Lad: Never judge a Book by its Cover, nor a Person by their Skin Colour and Size! Immediately, I checked out his Academy Goals and was blown away. His Goals per Game Profile seems so amazing that I hope he is not sold off nor sent on Loan until he becomes an inevitable Legend; Arsenal needs his goal-poaching Gunner Instincts. Edward Nketiah is the first Gunner born after Arsene Wenger became Arsenal Manager (1996) to score for Arsenal. So many Youngsters never came through all the Way to a regular First Team Place like Larsson, Toral, Merida, Kane (11 years old), etc yet they had a lot of Potential. It should not happen again...

Victory Through Harmony

My Top 10 Hattricks Under Wenger
Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 and since then over 20 players have scored hattricks in the first 20 years of his reign; Danny Welbeck was the 20th in 2014 but other players have also scored hattricks after him including Lucas Perez who netted Arsenal's Fastest UCL Hattrick away to help the Gunners qualify to the 2017 Champions League 2nd Round top of their group on Super Tuesday 6th December 2016. We have witnessed four goals in a game for instance Henry against Leeds United, Arshavin and Baptista against Liverpool but will not include them because nothing beats a good old neat hattrick as an achievement in a game; no wonder the scorer gets to keep the ball! So here are my Top 10 picks in order of priority; they do not necessarily show the selection of other Gooners but still my ultimate opinion. I wish I could fit in Sylvain Wiltord's Carling Cup hattrick against Manchester United or Carlos Vela's funday, but maybe in the Top 20.

10. Theo WALCOTT: I had just returned from my paternal ancestral village in Tara, less than one hour by car from Arua Town (Uganda) and before reaching home, I stopped by Adraiga's Video Hall in Ociba Coast [Kost] at dusk to watch the Arsenal Match of the Day. Already fatigued by the journey, I was further unsettled by Newcastle United's resilience. Everytime we scored, the visitors equalised until 3-3. I wondered if it was going to be a bad day though rarely did we lose nor draw everytime I visited my ancestral home. Supersub Olivier Giroud came on to bang in a brace late, guess one was for his wife because he put the ball under his shirt like a pregnant woman. He literally brought back my belief that we would win but the icing on the cake that night was Walcott's hattrick. His third goal was a mazy run that included a fall after being tripped in the box but was not given as a penalty. That moment of uncertainty froze the opponents as they waited for the referee's decision but Theo got up immediately and blasted into the top left corner at 90 minutes: Arsenal 7, Newcastle 3.

9. Dennis BERGKAMP: I never watched this game (which took place a year before I became a Gooner) but it is the one that apparently got Dennis his statue outside the Emirates. I have nevertheless marvelled at highlights of his third goal: fantastic technique controlling the ball in mid air, then rounding a Leicester City defender before slotting home for the First Hattrick by a Gunner under Wenger. The Foxes later equalised for 3-3 but it doesn't matter, it was a good third goal. That skilful strike was like a precursor to the 1998 World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina, voted Best Goal by pundits. The Menace just seemed to have a knack for classic goals. In Uganda, people called him "muzeyi wa kazi" which is Swahili for old workman because of his longevity under Wenger till the curtains closed on Highbury in 2006.

8. Alexis SANCHEZ: His first Arsenal hattrick came earlier but on 3rd December 2016 in his third season at the club, three days after Southampton knocked the Wenger Boys out of the EFL (English Football League) Cup, he scored another against the same tormentors. Guess he was done accumulating many braces and wanted to stay graduated in the elite class of hattrick legends. London Stadium must have felt proud witnessing greatness. I love Arsenal for late goals [roger that Cesc Fabregas in 2007 every last ten minutes] but I guess West Ham was not ready for this hammering from Alexis in the last 19 minutes. The Chilean's third was just funny, even had the luxury to dummy the keeper with a right foot dance over the ball before chipping him: 5-1 to the Gunners

7. Ray PARLOUR: European nights do not get better than this, how about a hattrick in a cold venue away from home during March 2000?! The left Werder Bremen goal post came in handy twice but a goal is a goal and Parlour was happy to help his side progress to the next stage of the UEFA Cup. They eventually lost to Galatasary from Turkey on penalties after a goalless draw in the 2000 Final but it was an unforgettable way to start a great decade under Wenger.

6. Mesut ÖZIL: Ludogorets defended and played what they could at the Emirates but six pack Arsenal was just too good for them. German Gunner Mesut Özil in particular seemed to switch on a new gear as the game neared its end; it was his first hattrick and an undeniable statement that his season is going to sizzle. Özil has already scored so many goals this 2017 season that you forget how he used to be Europe's Assist Master. Now everyone else is assisting him, guess karma comes back around!

5. Olivier GIROUD: After a 2-3 home loss where goals flowed like a broken drainage line, Arsenal had to win the return leg in Olympiacos by three goals without reply in order to qualify in second place from Group F to the next round of the 2016 Champions League. It was a big mountain to climb but out of the blue, Oli scored a hattrick, his first competitive hattrick for Arsenal. The Frenchman's actual first Arsenal hattrick came during a pre-season tour but it is not counted and neither was it his last because he bagged another in the Premiership at the end of the season. Sometimes I wonder why fans complain about him, you just have to understand this guy. He knows the game and he plays it to his strengths; am glad one of his goals was a power header. Who else does it better than Giroud? Not even Messi nor Cristiano can head like him. Giroud is a good man, comeback Gunner, supersub!

4. Robert PIRES: The epic Invincible 49 Saga started with the last two Games of the 2003 Season. In the third last Game of the Season, the Gunners lost their Premiership Title to Manchester United when Leeds United's Mark Viduka scored a 2-3 late Winner that broke Arsenal Hearts at Highbury, Deja vu from the 1999 Premiership when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored for Leeds to sink Arsenal's Title Hopes in a 1-0 Loss. I saw the painful Viduka Goal through a Gap in the Wall outside a Video House in Ociba Coast [Arua] not knowing that the Technique used by the Australian to ruin the Arsenal Dream of three consecutive Premierships would be the reverse Technique Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes would use ecstatically 42 Games later to maintain Arsenal's Unbeaten Run that equaled Nottingham Forest's English Football League Achievement. Anyway in the Game against Southampton, Jermaine Pennant in the first Half [on his Premiership Debut] and Robert Pires were like Twins because they both scored Hattricks in a 6-1 win, a sombre Way to heal the Gooner Family; I guess Pires was reborn that Day. The Performance reminds me of Ted Drake, a prolific Goal-getter who scored seven [a double Hattrick at the end of an hour] past Aston Villa at Villa Park on 14th December 1935, that is 68 Years behind. It is still the All-time Record for the First Division. Robert's third was my Goal of the Match, the Icing on the Consolation Cake because he curled it exquisitely from Distance over the Keeper and shook his Head up and down in Celebration, just perfect! It happened on my Big Brother's 29th Birthday, a Man U Fan 10 Years older than me but I was alright; they had the Title whereas Arsenal was kickstarting the Invincible Run. Then 10 Days later in the FA Cup Final against Southampton again, the French Musketeer scored the only Goal to retain the Trophy for Wenger, his third FA Cup Victory.

3. Robin VAN PERSIE: Who said Wenger cannot beat Chelsea? When nemesis Mourinho was first fired from Arsenal's blue London neighbours, time was ripe to finally steal a win away. It's like that day in the 2012 season, Stamford Bridge hattrick hero Robin - the non flying Dutchman (he hated planes) put on his Batman shoes for the 33rd hattrick under Wenger though only the 17th Gunner. Everything just clicked for him; meanwhile Petr Cech couldn't stop his future club from a 3-5 away win. What made this game a novelty for me was the fact that Arsenal came from behind twice and went on weeks later to set the record as the first Premiership team to win four consecutive matches after conceding first. Van Persie's roof-aimed swerving goal was truly ferocious! That season, he became the Player with the record of scoring in the Most Consecutive Away Games (9).

2. Thierry HENRY: In the Unbeaten Season, the game that really defined the history making campaign for me was hosting Liverpool at Highbury. After being knocked out by Manchester United away in the FA Cup during the weekend then Chelsea at home in the Champions League during midweek, it was not rocket science nor nanobiology to see that the Kop had the pedigree to inflict Arsenal's first Premiership loss at the end of a very dark week. It was late in the season but the signs still seemed ominous, invincibility was the only thing left to lose. Good Friday could have easily turned into Black Friday: Liverpool scored first early on but Henry equalised. Then before halftime, Michael Owen netted for 1-2 bringing back memories of the FA Cup demons from three years behind. According to Robert Pires in his book "Le Proffeseur", Arsene Wenger spoke nothing in the dressing room at halftime. Instead, Captain Patrick Vieira rallied his teammates not to choke after coming all that way, "Lads, it's time to snap out of it..." Whatever happened next is fitting for a movie script! See you at the cinemas one day! Thierry Henry is the Gunner with the Most Hattricks under Wenger (8) though Ian Wright who retired in 1998 had 11 in total since 1991. There are only three other Gunners better than them: Jack Lambert and Jimmy Brain with 12 plus Ted Drake with 11. Thierry Henry, the Invincible King of Highbury was the Last Gunner to score a hattrick at the grounds that closed in 2006. The first Highbury hattrick was scored by Henry (Harry) King in 1914; it's almost like destiny called the names.

1. Nwankwo KANU: Stamford Bridge hattricks seem to be my favourite. Anyway, I watched this 23rd October 1999 game courtesy of MBI (a Nigerian TV) till halftime because power went off in our Kampala suburb. Honestly, the hosts outplayed us and went two goals ahead. Chelsea's Andre Flo was my Man of the Half before the blackout - loadshedding. I did not search to find out the final score until the following night while watching Sports News. My mother was crotcheting in the opposite sofa and I screamed with hands raised up after seeing 2-3 as the final score from the previous night; she must have wondered what was wrong with her 15 year old son. It was the beanpole Nigerian who had turned the game on its head as a substitute in the last 15 minutes. I had only been a Gooner since Saturday 16th May 1998 after returning from Boarding School a day before the 100th FA Cup Final so my passion for Arsenal was still young and fresh in the last year before the new millenium. Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams!

The 2017 Goal Of The Season: GIROUD v Crystal Palace [2-0 Premiership Home Win, Sunday 1st January 2017]
"Arsenal got five breaking here. Sanchez, behind Giroud, oh! [Oh!] He's come up with it! What a Chance early on, what about this?! [You've just taken my Commentary from the other Month, you'd never thought you'd see something like this again. It actually looked, it's higher, it's more difficult probably than Mkhitaryan's; Mkhitaryan's was incredible, this is frightening! Oh my gosh, what is that? Instinctive, you'd have to say it's brilliant; Giroud is fantastic again across the near Post! He doesn't normally finish them like that but that's absolutely incredible. What a Goal!] Palace stung by the Scorpion, applied by Olivier Giroud. [Let's have another Look! Wow!] You'll never get tired of seeing it whatever the Angle, he won't; it's on his personal DVD for the Rest of his Life..."

What Do Gooners Want?
I guess all Gooners [including me] want Trophies, but I feel for Arsenal Followers who rant Negatives on Social Media everytime the Gunners lose a Game. Within the 40 Years before Arsene Wenger, Arsenal FC had won 3 English League Titles and 3 FA Cups. However, 20 Years into the Frenchman's Management of the Club, Arsenal won 3 Premierships [including the golden 2004 Invincible Trophy] plus 6 FA Cups making him the Most Successful FA Cup Manager in Football History's Oldest Knockout Tournament. I've been a Gooner since the 1998 FA Cup Final and know how it feels when Arsenal loses because it has happened so many unwanted Times but am very glad I grew out of Frustration Mode in 2002 after swearing with a Bible in my Hand never to support Arsenal again when they drew 3-3 at Home on a Premiership Saturday. Endless Love is irresistable; by the following Midweek, I was celebrating a 3-1 Champions League Win. Eventually, I accepted that losing was Part of the Game: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, othertimes you draw; but you can enjoy the Goals like a Diehard! A Trophy is just an empty Cup. There is a very very very thin Line between being a Fan and a Critic; you have to live through the Pain, it will always come whether you want it or not. What matters is how you respond to Losses; complaining all the Time is a wack Mentality! I don't really care about Premiership Losses anymore even if they used to hurt because I learnt that within Days, there is always Vindication; the Cycle is so monotonously predictable that you wish all the other Gooners who cannot shut up could see that. In fact, two Hours after a Loss, am usually back to normal unlike in the Past when I would think for one week about how Arsenal could have avoided Defeat. Be good to yourself and just move on; wait for the Next Match, there will be Double Happiness! I love Arsenal with all my Heart and it's only Losses in Cup Finals that matter to me because it takes more than two Months to try again and these include: 2000 UEFA Cup Final, 2001 FA Cup Final [I actually looked up to the Sky while returning Home from a Friend's Place in Bukoto and cussed GOD out but apologised immediately when I looked back down at the Community Wellspring on my left and realised that HE had the Power to kill me in it and let Worms consume me like Ananias and Sapphirah], 2006 UEFA Champions League, 2007 League Cup Final, 2010 League Cup Final, etc...

1997 NBA Finals Game 1: Utah Jazz at CHICAGO BULLS:
"It's gonna be whoever has the Ball last. Chicago's gotta be concerned, Folks! Stockton, off the Dribble; Stockton, top of the key; Stockton, chucks one and missed it, one Rebound Malone. Malone's gat it, 9 Seconds. There's a loose-Ball Foul, it's on Rodman. That puts Karl Malone on the Line with the Game tied at 82. Malone, now with the first Freethrow, takes his Time, the Crowd fretting behind the Glass. No, he missed it; it rimmed out. Now the Bulls have an Opportunity! One more for Karl Malone, 9 Seconds left in this Game. Just make sure you follow through and don't short-arm it. He misses, you gat to get this Rebound, Malone! Oh, he missed the Board, rebounded by Jordan and the Bulls have the Time Out. Bulls get a last Chance, 7 and 5 tenths left! What do you think Phil Jackson is thinking about, will it automatically be Michael Jordan? I think it will go to Michael Jordan and then let him create. Bulls Basketball with a Chance to win it right here! Kukoc has got the Ball, in-bounce from Pippen and here is Michael. 4 on the Shot Clock now, keeps it on the Dribble, Russell's there. MJ, top of the Circle against Russell, Michael hangs, fires, scores! Yeah! He knocked it in, the Bulls win, he knocked it in at the Buzzer, Bulls win. How many Times has he done that? It is all over, the Chicago Bulls have won at the Buzzer! 84:82..."

My 2014 Poem: HOWEDES One Win The World Cup in Brazil?
If you pass the Ball LOEW, then you SCHUERRLE find MUELLER and when he connects with OEZIL, you get KLOSE to the Goal which you GOETZE to score and win the World Cup. A-LAHM Bells MUSTAFI be ringing back Home in Germany as PER now: Deutschland are the brand NEUER Champions! Maybe they will celebrate with a BOATENG Cruise on the Atlantic Ocean or PODOLSKI-ing when they GOMEZ back to Europe. Some die Mannschaft Fans all over the World will eat Pork like a SCHWEINSTEIGER...

The Ultimate Soccer Matchup of All-Time

Satan 1, JESUS 2
Satan opened the scoring three Minutes after Kickoff with the Fall of Man (Genesis 3), but JESUS equalised in the 33rd Minute through The Crucifixion. We are now in Stoppage Time after 90 Minutes; noone knows when the Final Whistle (Trumpet) will blow, but then suddenly, JESUS nets the prophesied Winner (dubbed "Armageddon") and Evil loses. JESUSisLord...

Memoirs of a Gunner

KIM KALLSTROM
"I got a Call from my Agent, Roger Ljung (World Cup Bronze Medalist in '94): (Do you want to be loaned out to a Club in the Premier League?) No! (Do you want to be loaned out to Arsenal?) YES!

"I look like a Boy as I walk across the Grass, with the Ball under my Arm. Well-groomed side Parting, a clean red Shirt, white Sleeves and a golden Cannon on my Breast. I'm a Man past 30 Years of Age, in a Boy's Dream. It's the Semifinal of the English FA Cup, against Wigan, with 82,000 People on the Stands of Wembley Stadium, among which 50,000 root for us. They are loud and starving Fans that hunger for a Title. They haven't won anything for nine Years, which is an Eternity for a Club that is considered one of the Greatest in the World. They have the Most Loyal Fans: Gooners. By strange and unexpected Detours, I've ended up at the top Club, Arsenal in North London.

"With straight Legs, I bend down and put the Ball on the Spot, I throw a quick Glance at the Keeper. I've already decided where to place it. I try not to smile. The Moment is here. I'm here - in the middle of the Latin Motto of the Club: Victoria Concordia Crescit, Victory grows through Harmony. I can't help myself but smile slightly. I haven't even played half an Hour for Arsenal. I debuted against Swansea, for 11 Minutes, and now I was substituted on in Extra Time when it was to be decided. 15 Minutes of a Footballer's Life, which changed my Story."

The Arsenal Wish (2017)

The 2017 Season promises to be a great Time for Gooners. Ambidextrous Playmaker Santi Cazorla is back to shine freely at full Strength like he did on 11th December 2012 against League Two outfit Bradford City in the Capital One Cup though Arsenal was knocked out 2-3 on Penalties after a 1-1 Draw. Giroud is hungry for his first Premiership, forget whatever has been said about him! Oli, the Headmaster knows what he is doing. It's a new Season, new Oezil Assists (The Steve Nash of Football), new Campbell Tricks, new Ox Runs, new everyone. We just hope Wilshere, Walcott and Welbeck (The three Ws) are fit to play for a long time. Xhaka will be king, Takuma Asano will keep Asian Flavour in Arsenal when he joins his new Teammates after the Rio Olympics, Coquelin and Elneny have their Ammunition ready - Guns blazing, Iwobi is a rising Star and all the other oldtimers like Ramsey and Chambers are tuned for Battle like a Harp: Victory through Harmony. See Wenger smiling and rubbing his Hands on the touchline, that's a lot of Experience being sparked. Why do you want him out? Just stomach the Lows and enjoy the Highs coz they will definitely come. Win or lose, Arsene Wenger I will choose; he's the Invisible One, a Specialist in Victory! Like Cech said, Arsenal does not have to buy new Players just for the sake of buying but someone who can improve the team. I have never watched Rob Holding play and when he moved to the Emirates, I was like: Since he was bought from League One's Bolton Wanderers as their Best Player, I can give him the benefit of the doubt that he is good enough basing on the way Bolton used to torment Arsenal during Thierry Henry's Days. Even the great Gunner found hard times against their Defence. And when I saw how tall Rob was in a photo, I instinctively knew he was an Upgrade for Captain BFG (Mertesacker), less experienced but definitely sleeker and faster. Kos, Gabriel, Bellerin, Gibbs, Monreal, Ospina and the entire Backline should continue with the great Work from last Season and maybe this time, Arsenal will score many GOALS and concede less; just one Goal more than each Opponent might be enough but anything bigger than that is welcome. Every Season brings its own fresh Goodies. I'm glad the Goal-poaching and intelligently solid German Defender Mustafi was bought before August ended. Also, basing on forward forages, his fellow new Gunner from Spain Lucas Perez is like Lionel Messi in an Arsenal Jersey. So, enjoy the Season though it started with a Home Defeat against Liverpool! [Matchday Dreamvision showed a Geometry Lesson: the Teacher (probably Liverpool) drew four big Shapes on the Blackboard (Square, Triangle, Circle and Rectangle) but the Student (Arsenal) could only replicate three small ones in his Classwork Book.] No Black November nor Dark February should come their way!

ARSENAL IS BIGGER THAN JUST INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS
Arsenal is an Institution; it is bigger than any one Individual. That is why I support whoever has his Name on a red and white Jersey, no matter his Skill Set or what other Fans yap against him! But when a Gunner threatens to leave just because of a Draw, Loss, Wenger's Transfer Inactivity or Arsenal's Failure to win a Trophy, it always sounds like a Chance to get a better Player than them. As much as every Gunner is valuable, no Player should suggest that they are irreplaceable with Threats to depart just because of a few Setbacks! Thierry Henry never threatened to quit Highbury for a richer Club whenever Arsenal lost. While going back Home after a Defeat, he thought of Ways he can avoid Failure in the next Game; that's why his Passion at Arsenal was fiery and he was helped by Pires, Wiltord and Bergkamp plus all the other Lads to break and set new Premiership Records [including 14 Consecutive Wins] plus become invincible...

2017 FA Cup Final
From the Days of Flo, Gudjohnsen and Crespo, I could tell how dangerous Chelsea might be straight from Kickoff. So I watched the first few Seconds of the Game and feeling comfortable despite Pedro's Runs, went to grind Groundnuts and Simsim plus ease myself for a few Minutes. When I returned with Water in a metallic Tumbler, I found that Arsenal was one Goal ahead from the 3rd Minute after a controversial Decision that involved a possible Handball by the scorer Alexis and Offside by Ramsey who moved but did not touch the Ball. So I sat down without Pressure. Chelsea's Body Language showed that they were probably playing to lose. However Arsenal were not going to lower their winning Chances despite missing so many Opportunities to kill off the Game early. Every Gunner played their Part: Per was sharp despite not playing the entire Season replacing three regular Defenders - the concussed Mustafi, suspended Koscielny and injured Gabriel; Holding was calm and put up a Fight; the Reserve Goalkeeper Ospina made valuable Saves; Welbeck drew a yellow Card against Moses before Ox tricked the Nigerian into simulating a Dive in the Penalty Box. It was 11 Men against 10 in the final Quarter of the Game. When Costa equalised in the 76th Minute, I could feel some Fever in me as though I was sick but Rambo cured it two Minutes later with a Classic Header after a first Touch Assist from Welbeck's Substitute Olivier Giroud. I clapped, raised both Hands in the Air, yelled "Yes", stood up and walked away about seven Metres before returning immediately to my Seat. Game over! Ramsey seems to have a Knack for replicating great Arsenal FA Cup Classic Moments like the 1971 Charlie George Celebration in 2014 (same Minute on the Clock) and the 1979 quick Response to an Equaliser repeated in 2017 when the Ball flew from the same Direction. If he had celebrated like Sunderland after scoring, you would get my Drift! History repeats itself and by beating Chelsea, Wenger equaled the Number of FA Cup Trophies his Opponents have ever won in their History (though Arsenal's Lucky 13th), also becoming the Most Successful Manager in the FA Challenge Cup...

Giroud is a Good Man

Arsenal Critics (Jeer Leaders or Football Einsteins) who endlessly despise certain Players would rather form their own Club and buy the perfect Stars they prefer. Many Complainers do not even own Club Shares, so why not allow the signed-up Gunners display their Prowess till Contract expires? Every Gunner has his own Strengths! Winning, drawing and losing are a natural, unavoidable, invincible Cycle every Fan must accept. You grow out of the Blame Mindset and just stomach the Lows while you also enjoy the Highs. Be good to yourself and tame your Anger or frustrated Reactions! Even EPL Champions Leicester lost twice to Arsenal (only Team to beat them Home and Away; Leicester's third Loss was away at Liverpool on Boxing Day). So, what is wrong with Arsenal celebrating 2nd or 3rd Place for the rest your Life? They still get automatic Qualification to the UEFA Champions League like the Champs. There is no Football Team that wins a Trophy every Season, it doesn't exist! I wonder why "plastic Fans" cuss like if they were given a Jersey and included in the Lineup, Arsenal would win every Match! Top 4 aint too bad!

Oli takes the Brunt of the Abuse for Arsenal Failures. But to be realistic, Criticism can become unnecessarily toxic even for hardworking Professionals. A few bad Games ruin a Player's Confidence when the People supposed to support him instead chastise him. I cannot blame Mesut Oezil for his Dips in Form, it's temporary while his Class is permanent; I would rather discourage impatient Rants from Fans who are too hard to please making the German appear like he doesn't put in Effort and is always very lazy. Some of these Players give their all but it doesn't add up because of Fate or Fatigue. When Millionaire Businessman Mathieu Flamini scores a wonderful Brace to dump eternal Rivals Tottenham out of a Cup Competition, do you still talk ish about him? Are you a fair weather Gooner? Although not too flamboyant, Flamini brought needed Steel to the Midfield when he made his Second Coming to Arsenal before Francis Coquelin returned from a Loan Spell to take Defensive Midfield to the Next Level. If only Gooners show the same kind of Solidarity they showed against Manchester United in the 2016 Premiership at the Emirates (3-0 in the first 20 Minutes), there will be no Problems! Every Gunner got fairly good Reviews from Fans on Social Media that Day. Since Giroud joined Arsenal four Years ago, the North Londoners have won two FA Cups plus two Community Shields and never missed a Champions League Season (Record since 1998), but for some, it still isn't good enough. Arsenal even finished 2nd in the Premiership for the first Time since moving to the Emirates in 2006. The last Time they finished 2nd was at Highbury in the 2004-2005 Season. The Trends are looking good: in 2014, they were 4th, 2015: 3rd, 2016: 2nd. The Next Best Thing is 1st.

The Away Game against Manchester City on Sunday 8th May 2016 proved that Giroud is a good Man and Critics ought to cut him some Slack! He hadn't scored for 16 Premiership Matches (since the wonderful Brace at Anfield in January 2016) before the quick-Response Equaliser from Elneny's Corner (two Minutes after Aguero's Opener) but it highlighted his Bouncebackability and aerial Sharpness. Oli is not as fast and sleek as Messi nor fiery like Henry but heads better than both. Arsene Wenger considers him the "Best Header" he has ever had, much stronger than Moroccan Marouane Chamakh who was unbelievably lethal with his Head in his first six Arsenal Games.


In the final EPL Game on Sunday 15th May 2016 against relegated Aston Villa (Arsenal's 2015 FA Cup Final Opponents whom they had beaten 4-0 and Oli got the fourth), Giroud scored a Hattrick as if to silence his Critics. Interim Captain Mikel Arteta, back from Injury, got the fourth: his last Arsenal Goal before leaving the Squad.

Oli's Hold-up Play is also commendable: he sets up several Goals for Teammates, Things Critics overlook. It wasn't Europe's Assist Master (Oezil) who set up the winning Goal in the 2014 FA Cup Final, it was Giroud! Also in the 2-2 Draw at the Etihad that ensured that Arsenal qualifies for the Champions League, Giroud deftly assisted for Alexis Sanchez's Equaliser, World Cup Things.

He deserves Credit where it is due because he is the Best Airborne Targetman in the Premiership since 2012 (19 headed Goals). I hope one Day, Arsenal will win the Premiership with Giroud. Of course some will appreciate him like Die-hards while others will hate, hate, hate, hate, hate him but they can never ruin him: Giroud is a good Man!

Premiership Journey

Arsenal Crest before 2003 Season

With Arsene Wenger at the Helm, Arsenal clinched three Premierships including two in two Season Doubles (1998 and 2002) plus a Golden Trophy for going an entire Season unbeaten in 2004...

DEUS Per Omnia = GOD Pervades All Things [In GOD We Trust ]...
Victoria Concordia Crescit = Victory Through Harmony...