Goodbye Hleb, and Bert?
Jul 16th, 2008 by 'holic
A curt announcement on the official Arsenal site confirms the departure of Alex Hleb to Barcelona. I cannot recall such a transparent parting shot to a departing player as that attributed to Arsene Wenger.
“We are comfortable with our decision to let him go and we are all looking forward to continuing our preparations for the new season ahead.â€
Where did it all go wrong? Just rewind to 2005-2006, and the farewell season at Highbury. I took my father up for one last visit to the old home when we beat Charlton. He was mesmerised by the way we played, and in particular the triangles created by the fledgling Fabregas, the new full-back Eboue, and the skinny little Belorussian midfielder with the magnetic feet.
Somewhere along the line Hleb mirrored what was going on in society. He became the epitome of the much-maligned sound-bite, ‘style over substance”. Like Eboue he came to polarise opinions in the plush padded seats of the Grove, and from what I have seen around the sites today few will mourn his departure. That’s sad.
Thanks for what you did while you were here Alex. I hope we will show you the error of your ways later this season. We are surely due a date with whatever constitutes the new and hastily assembled Barcelona side in the Champions League soon. How funny would it be if we put one over the club that has pumped well over fifty million pounds into our coffers in the last decade. Perhaps they will look to reunite Hleb and Eboue? We can dream can’t we?
In the meantime lots of people are telling me that Gilberto is signing for Panathinaikos in Greece. How different will the plaudits be for the Brazilian when the ink dries on his new contract? An invincible in 2004, and twice an FA Cup winner with Arsenal, he will leave with gratitude ringing in his ears. Just you wait to see the Wenger comments released by the club when this deal is ratified.
I’ll kick it off, in my own irreverent way. Bert, you were the most un-Brazilian Brazilian I have ever seen. You are the most un-Wenger like signing I have ever seen. I am however really sorry to see you go, and I hope the future brings you everything you seek. You made us solid as we waited for the transition from the Vieira years to the Fabregas years. You were the crucial link in that process, and we will never forget you.
Thanks fella.
15 Responses to “Goodbye Hleb, and Bert?”
nice article
Paul or Jackster?
As much as I’m sad to see the Invisible Wall go, I’m really looking forward to the start of a new season and Arsene’s solution of a now fully occuring defensive-midfield problem.
I’ll have a pint of Abbot’s Ale please barman.
+brilliant post, ‘holic.
Hleb went because he could not hack life in London. So he swaps that for the second largest city in Spain????? Thanks but no thanks Alex. You only had to witness him on that final lap at the last home game of the season to realise he did not give a damn about the club.
Gilberto? Completely different. People never realised how good he was until he was not playing. Was very much a reserve last season. Did he moan???? Not a bit of it. True pro and a true Arsenal man. Good luck Gilberto and thanks for your contribution. I am sure that most Gooners will think the same.
Now to get rid of that greedy twat Adebayor and let the re-building continue.
gilberto = ARSENAL LEGEND
If it indeed does happen, I’ll be really sad to see Gilberto go. You need professionals like him on your team because they are role models for other players. It’s a pity he wasn’t made captain last season because who knows how things might have turned out with Bert at the helm. He will be sorely missed and I wish only great things for him.
Hleb, thanks, and I hope we got good money for you.
We’ll miss Hleb over at http://www.wickeddeflection.com. I really liked him as a player – great skill on the ball, and created space to make things happen. He was in that midfield 5 that went the champions league final, no? And I thought he was one of the better players last season. He contributed more that the often-injured Rosicky and RVP and the underperforming Eboue.
More goals would have been nice though.
‘Holic – we’ve got the site now so it lets us know when you update your blog – it’s exclusive company you’re in; just for top blogs, that. (We reserve the right to all fodder of all sorts at a later date).
Excellent post ‘holic.
Great post ‘holic – you echo my sentiments exactly. Hleb was a good player, but a bit of a luxury we couldn’t afford because of his unwillingness to take shots at goal. Arsenal need more penetration to go with the triangles, which is why I’m praying for a rejuvenated Rosicky and RVP for next season.
Regarding Gilberto, he has been a model professional and loyal Arsenal player. I’m glad that the club has shown him the respect to let him go to the team of his choice rather than hold out for more money from one of the other options. He will be remembered fondly for that first season at Emirates in particular. I really hope he does well in his remaining years in the game.
I hope Gilberto will rock the GPL
Hleb leaves a pariah in the manner of Anelka and Cuntley Cunt and Gilberto goes out with his head held high and the respect of the club and fanbase alike, an Invincible legend. To paraphrase Keown, Hleb is “fucking off without winning anything”. (I think I said it nicer than he would). Good luck to Gilberto, and I guess Hleb figured he didn’t get enough dirty looks from Thierry the first time round.
PS and to be fair I think Gilberto scored as many in 2006-7 as Hleb did at his whole time at Arsenal
*sips glass of wine, sedately*
I was going to post but I changed my mind. Good luck ‘holic :}