‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Arsene Wenger soon buy some new players;
The Gooners were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of David Villa danced in their heads;
Mrs. Kickoff in her night gown, and I in my tattoos,
Had just settled down for a pre-Christmas snooze,
When out on the Internet there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the laptop I flew like a flash,
Tore open the lid and logged on slapdash.
Then by the light of Google’s pale glow,
I read the newspapers I love and know,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a news story so preposterous it brought out a tear.
About a pack of great players, so lively and quick,
Each one 6 foot 4 and 5 feet thick.
With the touch of the Angels and headers of fame,
And the Journo he bellowed, and called them by name;
“Now, Dzeko! now, Gignac! now, Chamakh and Green!
On, Saha! on, Cole and thousands of players before unseen!
He’ll fill up the stadium to the top of the wall!
Arsene Wenger, Arsene Wenger will surely buy them all!”
I put down the laptop, to rest my weary eyes,
For it was just another reporter writing crap I despise.
When then, in a clatter, which sounded like Beirut,
Was the sound of 11 footballers and their 8-spiked boots.
As I closed the laptop lid, and was turning around,
Down the chimney came Wenger with a leap and a bound.
He was dressed in a hoody, track suit and trainers,
An outfit that would have had Phil Brown in retainers;
A bundle of young players he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
Yet words flowed from his lips like a fine bordeaux;
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
Arsenal’s very own, 6 foot tall, Alsatian elf!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon let me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Searching Europe for players; disregarding the jerks,
Laying his finger on the side of his nose,
He gave me a nod, that said “Arsene Knows.”
Then sprang to his feet, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
He hadn’t filled my stocking nor left anything under the tree,
As quickly as he’d arrived it seems he was forced to flee.
Perhaps he spotted the player, perhaps he’s still looking,
Irregardless of either, I know he’s got something cooking.
Because I heard him exclaim, as he plunged into the night,
“Stop worrying you Goonahs, there are trophies in sight!”
(First published December 24th, 2009)
Brilliant Stuff !…Keep up the good work !
Fantastic! Hoping Arsene got some strikers under his tree!
Topped off a perfect Christmas day, thanks Tim. Merry Christmas everyone!
@ Tim..Question: Of the players you mentioned – including the one we eventually got – which one would you still want Le Boss to buy?
@GoonerTerry, None, maybe Dzeko.
Effing brilliant . I enjoy reading the site. To all a good night
It could be an interesting January for us. What will happen to Arshavin? Will he really go back to Zenit? Will Henry sign a loan deal? Another striker?
Finally, is Wayne Bridge really THAT bad?
@Bunburyist, I think the reality is yes, no, yes. The money Zenit will offer for a clearly out of sorts player is too good to refuse. I personally think to go back to Henry now would be a mistake, the striker situation is dire and Wenger needs to look to the future now or RVP may start getting itchy feet, if he hasn’t already. As for Bridge, I don’t think he was a bad player but he hasn’t played for too long and would be a mistake in my opinion. I guess we’ll find out soon enough!
@Bunburyist,
With CL and FA cup in the fray..I think we need Arshavin.
I don’t think Wenger too will be eager to let go of the Russian..Not even for a good offer. Unless we sign someone..which is unlikely with Ryo, Gerviho all vying for the spot. Its true the Russian is down the pecking order..but I think there is a fighter still left in him who will wait end of the season to make that judgement. Arshavin is still good in the final third, but lacks a bit of confidence which will come only when he gets to play…My spider sense tells me that he/Park will start ahead of Theo against Wolves.
Also Zenit’s season will not start until March..(right?). Arshavin is cup-tied for CL. (right?) ..so not until summer
Henry may come in and stay on bench.. There is no way he would be played unless RVP and also Park gets injured..Else like said, Theo could get his central striker experiment underway…
The more I think of it..the more I see that Henry is not coming in. And about the off pitch stuff he would bring in..its more likely that he brings it while in training with the first team, than being in the first team.
Wayne bridge cannot even dislocate Gael clichy from that spot, who we were not considering good to play back up to Gibbs..and who we think we got an upgrade in Santos. So yes he is THAT bad…if not worse..
Dowd Strikes Again!
Just when Wigan were getting more and more into the game , he gives Sammon Red card for something which was atmost a yellow..
ugh
*and berba scores straight after
Cesc:
“If I have to leave Barcelona, I will go back to Arsenal – I would like to,” Fabregas told Sky Sports News. “I am not embarrassed to say that the day I left I could only say ‘Thank you very much’, I couldn’t say more.
“I’m not embarrassed to say that I nearly cried. Arsene Wenger, I have never met someone that loyal. He is one of the best, I really believe that.”
What do Gooners think about this?
Do the Arsenal want him back?
@DF, So over Fabregas.
@DF,
We want him…for free..We wont pay a penny for him..nor will we write off the amounts due for his transfers..
And he should tap up Messi for us…
For the first time this season, we may be able to get over Chelsea to climb into 4th and stay there, if we can beat Wolves and QPR; Chelsea has another difficult game against Aston Villa before 2012. They have become another Liverpool, difficult to beat weaker teams.
If we rest RvP tomorrow, it will only be Arshavin + Theo + Gervinho…will it work? I don’t know. I am not as confident as some of you about Arshavin having another good run. He has had one good game in the Carling Cup and then goes back to his shell.
Looking at Dempsey and Donovan, I think the US has good players who are cheap and useful, waiting to be bought or loaned; however, it is not Wenger’s style to recruit from the US….
Watching Man City-WBA and Joseph Mulumbu has been the stand out player for WBA.
WBA have done enough to deserve a point today.
How dull and uninteresting a player Nasri has become with the weight of 90k/wk in his pockets.
1 Bn$ 0 – 0 WBA !!!