This is not a blog about ticket price hikes and how they reflect the insensitivity of a profitable institution towards its loyal fanbase.

It’s not about how Arséne Wenger’s apparent tightfistedness and shortsightedness may lead to his undoing. I also don’t want to discuss the rumour that he has a contract ready-signed, and that the club is just waiting for an opportune moment to ram it down our throats – a Sagna/Rosicky contract renewal announcement, for instance.

I’m not interested in writing about how ironic it is that our star signing initiated the collapse of our Champions League campaign with his second consecutive (lackadaisical) CL PK miss.

And – while I’m not at it – I’m also not convinced that Arsenal can repeat last season’s performance in the upcoming return fixture at the Allianz Arena. As Heraclitus said, “A man cannot cross the same river twice.” Besides – as fantastic as last year’s heroic failure might have been, Bayern Munich did appear to be resting on their laurels somewhat. (At least until the second goal.) I doubt that they’ll make the same mistake twice.

So I’m certainly not wasting my time writing about that!

The latest rumours about Morata having already signed a … Read More »

Been a while since I paid graphic tribute to the Comeback King, Arséne Wenger – our much-maligned manager – who seems to be on the brink of a resurgence of sorts. I don’t want to jinx anything, but this may be the year that he can turn to us all, blow us a raspberry and say, “I told you so..!” My friend who seem to retain this believe has been searching for tickets available for all Arsenal games after deciding not to renew his season ticket. Thats after paying a premium to acquire tickets for the match against Chelsea for himself and his family.

Except, the thing is: he won’t. Because that’s not how he rolls. Even when he loses his cool, he’s cool.

Le Prof has a number of remarkable talents besides being a football genius… His turns of phrase, his poker face, his twinkle-eyed dodging of a barbed interrogation. His Wengerisms are a little bit amusing, as is the cartoonish war he wages with that puffy-coat zipper.

I love it when he stands on the sideline – arms spread wider than Corcovado’s Christ the Redeemer – brows furrowed, jaw agape, wings flapping spastically like an early Wright Brothers prototype.

But possibly my favourite image … Read More »

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Pilgrimage Diary (Part 1)

Hi. I’m Batmandela. I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in God. Or Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny. That’s not to say I don’t have my own personal pantheon of ‘deities’. I do.

Part 1 of my Pilgrimage Diary…

Hi. I’m Batmandela. I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in God. Or Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny. That’s not to say I don’t have my own personal pantheon of ‘deities’. I do.