O Tottenham

'Tis also the season to mock thy neighbor. So I present [pun intended] this little offering to the tune of O Tannenbaum/O Christmas Tree:

O Tottenham O Tottenham

You’ll never be our equal

O Tottenham O Tottenham

You’ll never be our equal

Your wheels are always coming off

Say Mind the Gap, and Gooners scoff

O Tottenham O Tottenham

You’ll never be our equal

Follow @11cannons

What A Footballer

Many weren't overly familiar with the true quality of Arsenal's diminutive star signing in the 2012 summer transfer window. Cheekily, even the manager claimed he wasn't. But shortly after Santi Cazorla arrived in North London his class was immediately apparent. It took no time whatsoever for the little Spaniard to click with Arsene Wenger's footballing philosophy, while it took supporters quite a bit longer to figure out just which was his favored foot. 

Cazorla's capture represented a kind of return to the Arsenal manager's early transfer style, that of finding technically gifted players who, for one reason or another, were misfits at their clubs. In this case he swooped when Malaga were in desperate need of cash. The move was also consistent with the recent shift to bring in players entering their peaks, with the experience and maturity the side lacked for several years.

Like A Boss

"Yet Again Arsenal In A Matter Of Seconds Have Turned Defending Into Classic Counter Attack"

It is a well-worn tale that Arsene Wenger insisted upon the signing of Patrick Vieira from AC Milan before he would put pen to paper on his own contract to join the Arsenal. As much as Wenger was an unknown quantity, so too was Vieira. It wouldn’t take long for either to justify themselves in the Premier League. Vieira became the fulcrum around which Wenger weaved Arsenal’s intricate passing game, combining the graft and guile with which to strip opponents of the ball and immediately launch the Gunners into attack. 

Little Mozart

Rosicky sticks it to the Scum

Tomas Rosicky signed early in the summer of 2006, and took the number seven shirt previously worn by Robert Pires. Then he celebrated joining the Gunners with a 30 yard rocket  and a deft second against the United States in first round of the World Cup in Germany. After a subdued debut season he became an integral part of the best midfield quartet in the 2007-08 Premier League, alongside Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, and Alexander Hleb.  That season the Arsenal led the league until February with a game based on quick passing and swarming pressure in the middle third, and Rosicky was a key component until late January, when he suffered a hamstring injury that would keep him out of the Arsenal side for the better part of two years.

Four years later, only Rosicky remains from that midfield and it’s no surprise that his return to form has coincided with the longest winning streak Arsenal have enjoyed in the league since that season. Perhaps due to his injury absence, he doesn’t have the best numbers in terms of goals or assists. In fact he endured a seemingly endless drought in front of goal in the League for Arsenal. Endless that is, until Spurs arrived at the Grove heavily favored to pull of a league double against the Arsenal.  His inclusion in the first XI at that time was surely down to his return to fitness and form, aided in no small part by Aaron Ramsey’s reverse trajectory in both departments.