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Alright, let’s talk football. Back last summer when a lot of people were screaming for Arsenal to buy some defenders I said, “Our defense will be fine, what we need are more attacking options.” Or something to that effect. My feeling was that Cygan would improve, and when he did play this year, he played pretty well, and that an overall change of team philosophy would make the difference. I didn’t figure Kolo Toure to be such a monster.

My concern was that outside of Henry, we didn’t have another solid goalscorer. I didn’t figure on Henry being an intergalactic freak. And while Robert Pires has bagged something like 19 goals in all competitions, we still looked like a one-man band at times up front.

By the first of the year, it seemed clear that Kanu and Wiltord would be gone and that Freddie might not be able to produce the magic on a regular basis. Add to that Aliadiere’s inability to stay healthy and the sunset of DB10’s career and our need for a partner for Henry was really becoming clear to me.

So, what has been done about this? Arsenal have boldly pounced on two young, talented attacking players in the Wenger-mode. Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie can both fill that winger cum striker role that Wiltord did the last couple of years so well. Young, quick and talented, these two should be ready to fire Arsenal to new heights in the years to come.

On the other end of the spectrum is Dennis Bergkamp. What can you say about this guy? Is it overstating it to say we may not see a player of his unique talent in an Arsenal jersey again? There will be better scorers or faster runners but will there be a player with greater vision? He reminds me a bit of Magic Johnson. He passes to where players will be, even if at the time of the pass they don’t even know they will be there. How many guys can slide a pass 30 yards, past three defenders and have it hit a teammate at full sprint, in a position where they can shoot right on goal?

A lot of people have said they want DB10 to stay around another year so that he can teach the youngsters like Bentley and Cesc. Ha! That would be like walking up to Beethoven and saying, “Teach me to play like you.” Or saying to Michaelangelo, “Hey, can you show me how you did that whole Statue of David thing?” The most you can hope for is that Bergkamp will inspire others to try and be the best they can. You can’t try to be another DB10.