Good Morning Positivistas,
What a finale to the season ! Ninety minutes that will be firmly fixed in my memory as one of the best final days I have witnessed, even weighed against seasons in which trophies have been won and records set. And memorable for all the right reasons.
Of the game itself we dominated the opening phase and the way we tore into Villa a substantial score looked possible, 6-7-8 ? Having taken the inevitable lead however the second goal did not come !! While the visitors looked horribly inept there was a niggling fear that with no second goal we risked another ‘Crystal Palace’ style stumble, the anxiety heightened as word from St James’ Park swept across the ground. The Lilywhite collapse came as a surprise for me and most I think, but thereafter each new Tottingham calamity met with hilarity and a knowing shrug “it’s Spurs”. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. The scale of their breakdown was stunning and on this occasion there were no third party/lasagne themed excuses to hide behind.
It took us to the 78th minute for Olivier to hammer the 2nd goal on the back of Mesut’s 19th assist. That was a long time and evidence that despite the poverty of the opposition we found it difficult to quite get our game ‘right’. Santi was brilliant yesterday, and, though his work was much more in the background, so was Le Coq who worked hard all afternoon in the engine room. Though in possession of the ball 75% of the time and in control of the game just about 100% we did not really threaten in the Villa box. If I was looking for a reason it seemed to me that with Santi, Ozil, Jack, and Sanchez we had too many players of the same ball-playing at the feet style, all the same size, and trying to do the same job. When we brought on Elneny our shape changed and we became faster in moving the ball, and more direct.
Once the second came the third goal followed immediately for Olivier. Having sat uncomfortably through a few games when nothing has gone right for the Frenchman fortune shone her benevolent gaze on him yesterday, every damn thing went right. All good finishes as well.
Then came forth Mikel to loud applause. Even though our club captain was on the pitch for just five minutes he put his all into that cameo, and was duly rewarded with our final goal. ( Own goal my arse).
Mr Clattenburg duly brought out league season to a very satisfactory end, there followed very warm and sincere tributes to Mikel and Tomas. I do not know how much, if any was shown on the TV, but the Spaniard was really sobbing both on the pitch and later on with his wife and children in the tunnel. I suspect the tears were the realisation that part of his life, the life he has wanted and known from about the age of 8, to be a “footballer”, was over. Our friends at the Telegraph provide this morning’s final picture of the Mikel enjoying the final goal in an Arsenal shirt below.
Finally I am delighted to say that the ‘lap of appreciation’ was performed in front of an 80% full stadium with all of the players, coaches and manager, and their children, walking the perimeter with Gunnersaurus bringing up the rear. All had on Rosicky shirts, other than Theo (Sigh). The glow of good humour from crowd to team and manager you could feel. That is how a football ground ‘should’ be.
Is it only me but was the absence of any reference to/recognition of the Flamster in yesterday’s leaving ceremonies significant ? Might the Frenchman be in for one more campaign ? If not it was a bit of a shame he did not get a good cheer.
On the sunshine bus we all know that football retains the means to confound and delight us, to lift us to a joyous perch, and to drag us toward and then back from the brink of doom. Yesterday the season passed into history in a glow of enjoyment, of goals and of victory.
It is a pleasure and a privilege to write for so knowledgeable and enthusiastic an audience. Enjoy your week, enjoy the close season. We shall return.
Positively Arsenal 
LikeLike
by the way its being reported that those photos were taken by Granit Xhaka’s younger brother Taulant
LikeLike
Good stuff.
LikeLike
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/alexis-sanchez-is-happy-at-arsenal-despite-transfer-rumours-says-compatriot-ivan-zamorano-a3253746.html
LikeLike
is he the new club photographer cos am surprised though not by much that pix seem authentic enough and yet are not on the dot com?
LikeLike
Whoops
LikeLike
so the photos not only reveal our new signing, but our new home kit, I bet the club are delighted
LikeLike
Robert Pires’s son Theo, who turns 9 in July has signed for the Arsenal Academy U10’s
LikeLiked by 4 people
AFCPressWatch™ @AFCPressWatch 2h2 hours ago
Congratulations: Arsenal’s Jon Toral has today married his long time girlfriend Andrea Ocegueda. #AFC
LikeLiked by 2 people
Shit
LikeLike
Oliver Kay @OliverKayTimes 5m5 minutes ago
Now @SamWallaceTel and @JWTelegraph reporting that Mourinho WILL be confirmed as new #MUFC manager in the coming week
LikeLike
Well I must admit to watching Crystal Palace vs United in the FA cup final and seeing the way he stitched up Palace in favor of United, woe betide anyone coming on this blog and declaring him the next Pierluigi Collina. He is another Howard Webb, a slick PGMOL con-man.
LikeLike
well then i see why man u had to come 5th… of PEP and Jose… I would rather Jose in the Europa League than Pep
LikeLike
I see Team Mourihno has announced his new appointment this evening.
Interesting, very, very interesting.
You might wonder who is running MUFC?
LikeLike
Bayern Munich have won the German Cup 4-3 on penalties after the game finished 0-0 AET
LikeLike
managing in the BPL next season (Everton have yet to name their new manager)
Wenger, Mourinho, Guardiola, Klopp, Conte, Pochettino, Ranieri, Mazzarri, Billic. koeman, Guidolin, Kranka. Carvalhal, Howe, Pardew, Allardyce, Dyche, Hughes, Pulis,
with Bruce or Carvalhal managing the teams in the promotion play off
LikeLike
from van Gaal to Mourhino looking for attractive footy? the irony is spectacular!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eddy
How the fuck do you get hold of this stuff? I’m trying to work out if they are photoshopped….
What a dull FA cup final.
LikeLike
Let van-gala a fellow (well respected) manager, enjoy his last day at his job celebration the fact he’s won them a trophy? Naaaaahhhhh I can get my fucking greasy mug in here.
LikeLike
had to laugh, a man utd mate of mine, just said that it was great that LVG was going and Jose was coming in, as it meant he could look forward to attacking football by utd again
LikeLike
It would seem at least…..very poor form of Utd leaking the Jose news as their current manager celebrates a trophy.
Looks like Utd are now ….or soon will be…a Mendes club
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I can just imagine the firming up in mind and spirit of all connected to MUFC as the club swiftly rids itself of all pretensions of class and ethical high standards as it allows Mourinho and the Mendes-mafia to piss all over and disrespect of the club’s hard fought FA cup triumph. Surely if Van Gaal, the manager, can be so publicly embarrassed and disrespected on the day he led the the club to its first title in 3 years then all employees of the club especially those on the footballing side must be motivated to dig in and fight against all odds in support of the new boss and the hierarchy of the club who treat their old manager with such contempt.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I had hoped we might have a Jose free season, but it is not to be and in my heart of hearts knew that would be the case. All I hope is that we have more of the deranged Jose of last season, that the Caneiro case continues to cause discomfort, that Mata lets the current players know what to expect and that the inevitable him or me clash between manager and Rooney unsettles the ship.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Anyone who hires the Medezian Specialist after they’d received the Falcao burn is either
A) having a larf
B) having tea and biscuits with Head Crow Riley.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Has the busted flush finally found a fixture at Old Toilet?
LikeLike
“sex masochism” or sexist mysogeny that ends up in the courts?
It’s a difficult choice I guess. Rather them then the Arsenal!
LikeLike
*ahem*
< misogyny
LikeLike
I wonder whether Jose announcing his own appointment via Mendes in the middle of Cup Final celebrations might not have caused the Mancs to revisit the appointment.
No the way to impress what are evidently cautious new employers.
I still have him Russian team boss in 2018 so it is all a bit of a mystery.
LikeLike
If Gazprom go near the specialist again I would be surprised. But then again there was the Capello Index. It’s possible.
–
Given all the noise from the funny papers fair to say that the parasite has his gaze fixed upon a new host.
LikeLike
the manc clubs are in contest over who can be ruder to their employees…
Not even sure who wins it…. to borrow a phrase from one of our radio commentators of old…
it is a 1 – 1 goalless draw! LOL
LikeLiked by 3 people
the Arsenal home kit for 2016/17 will be officially revealed tomorrow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLike
lots of reports in France that Arsenal are in for Bayern Munich CB, Mehdi Benatia
LikeLiked by 1 person
http://highbury-house.com/2016/05/22/an-important-heads-up-regarding-the-new-david-rocastle-book-please-please-read-and-pass-tit-on/
LikeLike
I would hope so Anicholl5, his antics would suggests Jose believes himself bigger than that club.
If that gets to nobody else, surely Fergie should be put out….and act accordingly.
The sort of lack of class one would associate with Jose’s former club.
LikeLike
rumors that Pellergrini is in talks to become next Everton manager
LikeLike
if its true the Giggs would rather leave man U than work with Jose… then am impressed!
LikeLike
Growing up I despised Man Utd. however there was a begrudging respect in the way that they seemed to operate. That mask has slowly melted and dripped off revealing the shit beneath. Jose and Mendes (the red devils) will quickly ruin all of the ethics and impressive elements that have delivered success for decades. A get rich quick scheme of the highest order. They’ll be left a mess and he’ll be out the door in two years.
LikeLike
Arsenal have launched the new home kit, and revealed that Alexis will wear the No.7 next season
LikeLike
Arsenal.com goal of the season
1. Elneny v Barcelona
2. Ramsey v Spurs
3. Alexis v Man Utd
Elneny’s goal got 34% of the votes
LikeLike
the new kit launch should quell any doubts about the Xhaka photos being legit, as the kits matches right down to the red socks with white tops and the stadium jacket is spot on too.
By the way, the goalkeepers kit for next season is black.
LikeLike
LikeLike
Matthew Syed lacerates Jose, and its out from behind the Times paywall;
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/matthew-syed-shameless-mourinho-and-his-clique-not-fit-to-inherit-the-club-that-busby-built-jzvlvnls0?shareToken=10b41827948256f6b4e801544a3d19bf
LikeLiked by 2 people
So – ManU emerges from the frying-pan.
Surprising how difficult it is to replace an outstandingly successful long-term manager.
LikeLike
PUBLISHED
12:00 4th May 2016
by Dave Toyn
Stevenage FC have agreed a fee with Arsenal for the transfer of Under-11 goalkeeper Jamie Telfer, with considerable further payments if the youngster plays for the first team.
The young shot-stopper has been with the Stevenage Academy for the past 18 months and has shown great potential, attracting the attention of a number of clubs.
Read more at http://www.stevenagefc.com/news/article/arsenal-fc-to-sign-stevenage-fc-academy-goalkeeper-jamie-telfer-3095264.aspx#7kcWQ2iXZC3JVmMq.99
LikeLike
so is it true that Giggs has walked out on utd over the appointment of Jose
LikeLike
Louis Van Gaal sacked by Manchester United.
Never saw that coming, myself.#
how on Earth is Woodward surviving this?
LikeLike
Flamini is still listed as an option for players name on the new home shirt, on Arsenal shopping on-line. Arteta and Rosikcy are not listed, and Alexis is no.7.
LikeLike
What does everyone think of the comments about Szcz on the goal keeping coachng quality? He says he’s learned more in 6 months than in 10 years at Arsenal. Was there not talk of us potentially signing Cech’s long term coach. Didn’t Szcz and Gerry Payton have a falling out. Could this just be a touch of sour grapes or is there merit to what he’s saying?
LikeLike
Is that Gilberto’s little lad we’ve signed in goal?
LikeLike