533 (not a new and innovative formation)

Morning all, a very quick blog for you today as I’m heading back to Dublin.

I don’t think anyone needs to hear any more about how we need this or that in the transfer market. It’s all covered in yesterday’s recap of the Villa game if you need your fix of that. If you’ve already read it, you know what it says, and if you read it again it will still be true. With another game on Wednesday, it might be something to revisit later in the week but for now there’s no need. And ideally, if we do need to touch on it, it will be after a resounding victory.

So, last night I was fortunate enough to attend a Football Writer’s Association event at the Landmark Hotel in London. It was to present a Tribute Award to a certain Dennis Bergkamp, a man who graced our shirt for so many years. He was obviously there, with his family, and so too many other Arsenal related people.

Ian Wright gave a speech. Arsene Wenger gave a speech. They showed a compilation of Bergkamp’s best moments, and he was then interviewed on stage. It was all very lovely. Then as I was making my way through the enormous ballroom to seek out some people to chat to, Ian Wright introduced me to Thierry Henry.

I had never met Thierry Henry in my life. I am 53 years of age. I said something like ‘Thanks for all the goals’, and I could feel myself blushing. What the hell?! We spoke for less than a minute, and by the time I’d stammered something more about him and Dennis bringing so much the club, I’m sure I was toffee apple red.

He sat back down again, I wandered off to regain my composure. This man has some presence let me tell you. No wonder Premier League defenders were in awe of him when he was playing. He’s been retired for 15 years now and he still has it. A little later I spoke to Dennis Bergkamp for a few minutes, just about the event and to say thanks for his contributions to Arsenal down the years.

Was I slightly disappointed they didn’t show that elbow on Steve Lomas in the compilation? Sure, but that’s my issue. He was, as you would expect, very gracious. And what a privilege it was to be in that room with good friends to share stories and reminisce, and to occasionally look up to see one of those incredible strikers and say, ‘Wouldn’t mind a bit of that in the team today, eh?’

‘Damn straight!’

‘Imagine’.

‘I am’.

And then the subject would change until we came back around to that again. Just to be clear: this isn’t me indirectly speaking about the thing I said I wasn’t going to speak about, but when you see these guys and it brings into sharp focus what they did in an Arsenal shirt, you can step back and objectively think about how lucky we were to see them do what they did.

Just the 533 goals between Henry, Wright, and Bergkamp. Decent company to be in – even briefly and indirectly. And thank to my table-mates, also tremendous company and thanks for being there. It made it all the more special.

Right, I’m gonna leave it there and pack my things before heading to the airport. The Arsecast Extra is out already if you haven’t had a chance to listen yet, it’s in all the usual places, or below if you’re feeling particularly lazy this morning.

Have a good one!