The whole Arsenal world is rushing to pay tribute to Mikel Arteta and who can blame them. I like to feel I have a special relationship with him as a blogger having made two big calls. Firstly I wrote a blog in August 2011 urging the club to sign him.
http://gunnersphere.com/2011/08/view-from-the-sphere/why-this-is-the-man-we-need-to-acquire
This of course was widely ridiculed because he was an injury prone has been and not fit for a Champions League team with trophy winning aspirations. Secondly in May 2012 I suggested Arteta should sit at the base of our midfield. I contended he should occupy the Makelele role, using his intelligence, anticipation and swift accurate distribution to break up opposition attacks and launch our own.
http://1nildown2oneup.net/mikel-arteta-to-be-arsenals-claude-makelele/
This was my view 3 months before Song’s departure and of course this blog was also greeted with, if not ridicule from all quarters, then certainly a healthy degree of skepticism.
There was an interim piece last season in which I also wrote glowingly of his progress at Arsenal blah blah blah
In short I feel I have earned the right to be effusive and sentimental about Mikel so here goes…
Oh and before you all take the Mick, rhyming couplets was good enough for Will Skakespeare…
The Gooner vice-captain and number 8
He’s not just good he’s flaming great
Not an international, like we care
Better than most and with shinier hair
No breakthrough for Mikel at the Camp Nou
So a move to Rangers in 2002
After two seasons and 3 trophies Mikel was away
Back to Spain where it was warmer to play
At Rangers with long hair with band!
Signed for Real, Sociedad not Madrid
Seemed a bargain at five million quid
To play with Alonso and wear the same jersey
It failed to work out and he followed Xabi to Mersey
First on loan and then it was a steal
Moyes not a fool with a £2 million deal
Signed to replace Gravesen at Goodison Park
Yes as a’ DM’ he was to make his mark
In 2006 and 07 Everton Player of the Year
Moved further up the pitch his vision was clear
50 Premier assists in 99 games secure
Only Nani and Cantona have done it in fewer
Everton’s star but who else realised how good he was?
Club form impeccable his country came calling
In the Spain squad but no debut, appalling
North West Footballer of the Year 2008
Liverpool Sports Echo Sports Personality doubly great
The most accurate right boot since Beckham I’m told
41 Everton assists from dead balls, I’m sold
Flying so high surely the top four must be calling?
But snapped knee ligaments 09 his career now stalling
11 months out but in Jan 2010 returning in style
2 goals and 5 assists in just 13 games made the Toffees smile
The blues had stuck by him when times had been dark
So he signed a new contract at Goodison Park
But one summer later, as in London one Spaniard departs
Arsene Wenger makes an offer to break Everton hearts
11.59pm a deadline day stunner
Mikel Arteta a ‘Panic buy Gunner’
Panic Buy my Arse!
Bought to replace Cesc but a mishap with Jack
Mikel will soon find himself a tad further back
In Na$ri’s shirt a new playmaker arrives
At home with our passing he rapidly thrives
A North London favourite in double quick time
His 25 yard screamer at Wigan sublime
His cross for Sagna the ‘Old Enemy’ defeated
The 35 yard dipper at Villa not likely repeated
The winner v Citeh celebrated
The winner against City our pride now restored
To third from 17th on his arrival, ample reward
Fifth best Player of the season, you Gooners are joking
First name on the team sheet for me, this Gun is smoking
A new season, no skipper, no Song, written off once more
New signings, new Vice Captain in front of back four
New hope, new goal scorers, so far we’ve competed
It’s down to his vision and most passes completed
Spanish maestros
With him as our General we might dare to dream
That the wait will be over in 2013
With Santi and Jack it can only get better
But the oil in the engine is Mikel Arteta
Well that was a tad different for me! Until next time thanks for reading.
Like what you read? Agree/disagree? Leave a comment below or follow me or comment on this blog on Twitter – http://twitter.com/goonerdave66
HAHAHA love it Dave just love it
nothin more needed,nothin more said,
with this lovely poem,arguement put to bed,
with Mikael Arteta,as you’ve all along said,
the premier lge title,is already put to bed…
i love it.oil in the engine.hoping to hear anothe Artetaaaaaaaaa.
Amazing post man … respect to u …
Arteta is the best arsenal player ..even last season without him we looked in bad shape !!! W3e all love him …
Keep up ur good work .
Cheers !!!
Never read this blog before but damn…i was missing a lot! Made me chuckle! Keep it up!
Thanks mate. My blogs are usually a bit more serious but a piece of poetry fun for Friday
Is this the period of great blogs?? ¤thumbs up¤
i just love it.but what can u say about santi carzola.the way he distributes the ball?just beatifull.with this two,wishere,diaby oh mmmmmmm GOD,Chelsea u better watch out for the gunners.the gunners look like a moving train this season.
thanks goonerdave66
No doubt bro Mikel is our Engine room and we appreciate him for that.
Absolutely fantastic. Take a bow, Dave. Nothing more to add.
BEAUUUUUUUTIFULLLLLL
Lovely… I So Love the title “the oil in the engine” awesome write.
I doubt if I’ve ever read anything more brilliant. Well done.
Lovely comment and thanks for taking time my friend
Loved it man.
Respect to you !
Hats off to your efforts!
And your vision about the man!
brapppp brapp brapp. good wone
*one
Ah just made my day in not so sunny Cape Town.My first reaD, AND CERTAINTLY not the last
Damn what a lovely article and poem, Arteta is really the oil in the moving engine *smiles*
Thumbs up, Mikel’s injury at the tail end of the season meant we didn’t win a game in 3 before escaping WBA on the final day. Wonderful addittion to the fold, though he’s more of the midfield boss that kept the team ticking and Rosicky was the real oil in our midfield that made our attack flow
Nyz 1 bro! May God help us 2mao
Nice piece mate. Take a bow
I love it so much. Arteta is great.
You went over the fact that we barely won a match without him last season. Not that the quality of the poem is lowered. Excellently written, why don’t you try to make this reach the man himself? This would be a hell of a fan mail. Cheers! Keep up the good work!
Very true but could not find a rhyme for everything. Perhaps I can add to it as season goes on.
Mehn! Truth is this is my third (i think) comment on any blog for years. Call me oliver T but i mostly read and read. Hardly comments….. But boy! I’ll be wicked if i don’t commend your effort. I love poems but the effort and passion you’ve put on this one is unmistakably adorable….. Keep it up man…. I duff my hat!
Thanks so much.
Love this. Just love it. Everything i̶̲̥̅§ true. Love you as I love †ђξ blog article. Hopefully, we gonna see †ђξ end of †ђξ long trouphy drought.
What else can i say ? that have not been said….BRAVO!!!
Loved the post every bit.
Just wanna say this –
“WHAT A PLAYER!!!”
reading in d library nd was feeling dizzy,bt wen i read dis blog,man my eyes opened like mad.reslly great stuff.keep it up dave
Now,dahz a masterpiece…u are awesome with dis article.
Thats just to good.
George. I you are pleased I know I am doing well! Ha Ha
Excellent work! Very impressive.
you both r up!!
awesome….enjoyed reading it…good going…gooner dave…
Absolute masterpiece on the midfield maestro. Arteta is still underrated though as Gooners still couldnt realize how important he was last season. Arteta is class
enjoyed reading it…
You are a poet……and now we all know it…..arteta is such a joy…..our no1 brylcream boy….!great blog!!!!………….
Umm!!I really love it…keep it up Dave.Arteta the artist at work.
All has been said! Brilliantly written Dave. u jes made ma night. smiling dis very moment. ARTETA z worth EVERYTHING
I envy dis blog, u should write a book on dis dave 66, the oil in d engine” there is no better way any1 could av xpress dis. Everytin abt Arsenal is jst getting better dis season including u dave 66, ope 2 read more nxt week.
Absolutely Epic!
dats just too good to be a blog poem…get it published man ..ill get the book rights n a lil royalty…:p too fancy man*respect frm anoder poet on a sunny day* cheers!!COYG!
Damm good my dear friend!
Will shakespeare who
?
You are a great writer. I can see through.it been long I fell in love. Am in love with arteta.hope he will be free from injury.Oil in the Arsenal engine.
Gr8 piece, hardly get it wrong. When u wrote Arteta our new Makelele not many believed it, but now, its no argument. Arteta was doing his job unnoticed but not anymore. Thumb up for u Dave
Great one man, 4 my Arsenal mr. Tidy
Can I just say one massive thank you to everyone who took the time to comment. I tried something a little different from my normal comfort zone of research backed opinion, and the responses made it so worthwhile. The number of responses I feel as much a testament to the affection we all have for Arteta as it was for my attempt at poetry.
Thanks again
Dave
I couldn’t agree more..
Absolutely Magnificent piece..
Nobody deserves it more than “The oil in the arsenal engine”..
I admire the way you wrote it.. JUST EPIC!!
KEEP IT UP!!
a page of recognition man ah great poem hats-off keep-up the good work indeed he is ‘the oil in the arsenal engine’