To all our friends at Arsenal for their wonderful victory against Hull on Saturday. Well done to club, players, fans and everyone concerned with that team over the years.

That was the most sincere and difficult sentence I’ve written since: “I will never ogle, leer at or objectify women again, unless I really have to or am driven by forces beyond my control or that of my genetalia”.

So the Goons finally won something. Finally. Phah. There’s already jokes going round about “27 hours since Arsenal won a trophy; sack Wenger”. And a stunning come-from-behind victory which speaks volumes of the man that Wenger is and always has been. Because he has but one gift. And that is to give his players belief. That they can do it. Whatever ‘it’ may be in order.

I think it safe to say that if Spurs, or most other teams, had gone 2-0 down in a cup final, or virtually any match, they’d lose 4-1. But Arsenal, as the song goes, don’t stop believin’. They are the Premiership’s Streetlight People. (?????)

So whilst there is always much to offer in criticism about Arsene, he is unarguably a supreme motivator. The most important feature of any club manager. Skills and game plans can be taught by others, coaches do lots of the hard work, but getting your players into the right head space; that’s magical. Particuarly as the heads of most players is exactly that: empty space.

And massive congratulations to Athletico Madrid for winning La Ligua by ‘simply’ not losing at Barcelona at the same time the cup final was being played. Amazing that a relatively poor team with few ‘superstars’ that weren’t developed in house, could win in a league dominated so completely for so long by the mighty, massive, obscenely wealthy powers of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their victory should give hope to all. It won’t, but it should. And the Barca fans (bless ’em) cheered and applauded Athletico after the match.

Me mate Dave, in one of our many poolside discussions of such important matters over the last few days, asked a great question. Who were Real fans rooting for in the Barca/Athletico match. Ooooooohhhhh, that’s a tough one. As Real hate them both. In fact as Real hate everyone who isn’t Real Madrid.

And yet, and yet, and yet… I kind’a want Real Madrid to win the Champions League final next weekend. For one reason only. Gareth Bale. I loved that boy like a son. Who then fucked off and abandoned those who loved him ‘just’ for money, success, trophies, glory, women, lamborginis and career and life fulfilment. Fickle bastard. Superficial sod. But because I still watch him play and because he is still the most exiting player in the world to watch (not ‘the best’ but on the ball, no-one since Zidane creates that frisson, that hackle-rising magic like Gareth at full tilt).

I read yesterday that to be a ‘true Real legend’ you just have to score in a champions league final. Several relative unknowns are ‘up there’ with the greats for doing just that and nothing much more, whereas superstar Ronaldo (fat Ronaldo, the proper, original, Brazilian one, not the Portuguese hair-gel advert) never reached that place in their hearts because he didn’t win ‘that final’.

Ok, last chance for sun and sand before we fly back this afternoon. Boo-hooo.

Happy (half of) Monday

A xxxx