An edifice for THE EDIFICE

The beauty of sport is the oxy-moronic abundance of Black Swan events. Events of otherwise low probability which must be factored into human thinking later, like the invention of the wheel.

There is a first-time occurring almost year-in year-out. Take Sachin Tendulkar's 200 in a one-day international, or Lance Armstrong's recovery from cancer.

Black swan events can change a whole paradigm of thought and cause whole populations to shift, it can even drive a country to mass suicide as Hitler did to Germany. The World War, incidentally, also stopped Arsenal from stamping their authority on English football similar to the legendary Liverpool side. This brings me to the black swan I am going to write about, Arsenal vs. Barcelona 16th February 2011. A night that i will never forget, it kindled my fond hope that 5 years down the line, i will watch Jack Wilshere lead Arsenal to one more unforgettable season. Just as every season is unforgettable. For me even a thankless season like the 2009-10 one will be memorable because it signifies the emergence of Alexandre song as one of the premier holding midfield players in the English League. This season will remain in my mind, irrespective of the ending, as the rise of Jack Wilshere.

And what better night to remember this than a day on which he stood toe to toe against arguably the best central midfielder in the world, and more than held his own. It was like watching one of those 10 yr old chess players fight a memorable battle against a grandmaster. And boy was I thrilled, the 10 year old won more than his fair share of fifty-fifties, distributed the ball like a communist's farmland, hardly miss-passed, was bloody brilliant. I can only hope that he is also an on-field inspiration, for in him we could have our next great leader of men.

And Robin Van Persie, I can never forget the commentator saying that the arsenal tune this season is Rocking robin. A fully fit RVP season will definitely bring trophies. Even his half-fit season now seems to be looking bright.

I have nothing to add to the words of my much-more well-informed football fans other than one more primal shout of "Yessssss" at the site of an irrepressible Russian calmly stroking the ball into far corner.

Thank You,

Arsene Wenger, Manager, Arsenal F.C

Liam Brady, Director of Youth Development, Arsenal F.C

Jack Wilshere, the "cure" to my Atheism