While I Was Away

The 60 days of January looks like decades ago as the month of February matches on. I have been away for a couple of days but Football never goes away – neither would Arsenal.

While I was away, Arsenal lost 3-1 to Swansea, extended Mesut Ozil’s contract, brought in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borrusia Dortmund and hammered Everton 5-1 at the Emirates.

The 3-1 loss to Swansea was an anticlimax to the 2-1 win over Chelsea that propelled Arsenal to the Carabao Cup final.

While i was mourning the loss, Arsenal announced the signing of Aubameyang from Dortmund and Ozil extended his contract. Those announcement were like fresh air after the intoxicating one with the sale of Sanchez. Henrikh Mkhitaryan didn’t waste time to renew his partnership with the Gabon forward as he provided the assist for Aubameyang’s first goal for Arsenal.

The 5-1 win over Big Sam’s Everton also presented Aaron Ramsey with his first hat-trick for Arsenal. He becomes the 20th Gunner to score a Premier League hat-trick. I didn’t waste any time adding him back to my FPL team. Mkhitaryan also had a hat-trick of assist while Koscienly grabbed a goal too.

Cech’s quest for a 200th clean sheet suffered another blow when Arsenal were 4-0 up. Calvert-Lewin scored in the 65th minute before Cech made way for Ospina. If only he did that earlier.

The excitement of having Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and Ozil on the pitch is priceless. Wenger didn’t need Lacazette in the victory. Has he taken over from his compatriot Olivier Giroud who joined Chelsea for an 18 months deal? I wish Giroud the best in Chelsea. He has to be in Russia.

Oh, the North London Derby is next. Will it be a diving audition? Cech is out, Ospina will fill the spot. Arsenal need a new goalie in the Summer. I miss Sczseny (I have forgotten how to spell his name). How did we sell him?

Finally, while I was away, Nigeria got to the CHAN 2018 final but lost 4-0 to host Morocco, the NPFL continued and the World Cup Jerseys have been unveiled. I like it. Some don’t.

Irrespective of our likes, Football lives on and Yes, African Club football is back.