Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy & Victorious 2026 from Bergkampesque

TotalArsenal

Dear active contributors and background readers of Bergkampesque.com.

Wishing all who celebrate Christmas 🎄 a lovely time with family and close friends, and all of you a fabulous, healthy and victorious New Year.

TotalArsenal/ Frank

96 thoughts on “Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy & Victorious 2026 from Bergkampesque”

  • Debussy’s piece is a fine analogy of the fortunes of this blog over the years. Like the cathedral, I have total peace with it.

    Have a lovely festive period and 2026.

  • God bless you, Total. Thanks for serving us with the very enjoyable on line community that is Bergkampesque. As your musical choice suggests, all communities have their ups and downs, sporting ones being particularly susceptible to the vagaries of form and fate. Just like Debussy’s cathedral is engulfed, so we both consume and are consumed by our love for The Arsenal, a village ‘engloutie’ by waves (I think my understanding of the French term is correct, LG?). What a lovely word, almost onomatopoeic in its rendition.

    Your birthday has already dawned here in the Southern extremities, Duke. Allow me to be the first to wish you bon anniv, brother, and to thank you for your always thoughtful contributions to this blog.

    We have a houseful of Czechs for the festive season, hence we shall, as is their custom, celebrating Christmas eve with some freshly caught fish only after we have spotted the golden pig hopefully lurking somewhere in our vicinity.

    Two hours to kick off. What joy and expectation… 90 plus minutes with our beloved Arsenal. What might we expect? A Giroud like Scorpion kick, a Merson like hattrick, a Ozil like back heel…

  • A Merry Christmas & a Happy new year to you all and your families. Special wishes to you, Total, for an enjoyable time.

    I have my family over in Lagos, Nigeria, for the Christmas so it’s been a hectic past 9 days for me. As the real festivities start, it gets even more so. But, it’s all good.

  • Looking forward to a carefully rotated side tonight as we aim to get to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup. Make no mistake about it, Palace won’t make it easy and we just have to give everything to win it.

  • A very merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, F. and Stu – as well as to the last Bergkampesquicans left, of course (I’m thinking of you, Eris, Kev, and P.).
    What a cheerful vision you’ve “planted in my brain” on this special day, Stu, with these few words about an already-begun 24th december under the summer sun. That’s some wonderful birthday gift, thanks!
    You might just be right about the onomatopoeic root of “engloutie”, you know. “Glouglou“ is indeed the onomatopoeia which is used to describe the sound made by any liquid coming out of a bottle; it’s also what mothers used to say to kids in order for them to let a bad-tasting liquid run down their throat (bitter cough syrup, that sort of things).
    One acceptable translation of “engloutie“ would be “swallowed whole“ too; now “engloutie“ or not, not everyone can be said to have built a cathedral and that you have, F., a very special place for Arsenal lovers to gather up and share whatever emotions we’ve been made to feel, on a weekly basis – thanks for it. Debussy’s cathedral is supposed to be seen, time and again, and I wouldn’t be surprised if discussions should get more and more passionate as we move on into Spring – bringing new voices along …
    I like League Cup games, if only because the pressure is not as intense as on PL game days, and also because we get to watch some of the rarely-picked boys in action. As for tonight, the following pick would make me very confident and happy:
    Kepa
    Timber-Saliba-Hincapié
    Nørgaard-Merino
    Nwaneri-Eze-Madueke
    Jesus
    COYG

  • LINEUPS
    Arsenal: Kepa, Timber, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Merino, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Jesus.

    Subs: Raya, Salmon, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres.

    Crystal Palace: Benitez, Canvot, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma, Wharton, Nketiah, Mateta, Pino.

    Subs: Henderson, Uche, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Sosa, Rodney, Devenny, Drakes-Thomas.

  • You came very close with your predicted line-up, LeGall.
    Palace have come with their strongest side, including a certain Nketiah. Hopefully, our changed side will can manage them at home.

    COYG!!

  • “Glug glug” would be our equivalent, LG. Let’s hope we are emitting the sound after the match while quaffing some bubbly in celebration.

    Just the line up I hoped for, mouth watering. Eze, MLS and Madueke each with the opportunity to express their talent and impress Mikel and Tuchel.

  • Evening all. Thank you for the wishes and lovely comments.

    A strong defence, and a midfield and attack to look forward to. Expect some loose passes and lack of communication, but also plenty of hunger and thrust.

    CoyrrGs

  • Not too much “loose” about this so far, Total. Commanding to say the least. I like Norgaard’s performance, his reading of the game, interceptions, positional sense. We certainly have had the pick of London players over the past wee while: Rice from West Ham, Norgaard and Raya from Brentford, Noni and Kepa from Chelsea, Eze from Palace.

  • Half time and we should really be a few goals up, just on the dominance and goal attempts.
    I am not sure what more Arteta will need to do, other than encourage more of the same. Martinelli has given his counterpart a torrid night; he appears injured now and may not come out for the second half.

    We need to come out in the second half and be more composed and clinical. Ethan Trossard and Rice may be changes to consider at some stage.
    COYG!!! Let’s go and get it done.

  • It’s just that at the end of last season’s game in Eidhoven, Benitez thought to himself, “Never again”, obviously, Eris …

  • A new Palace side has come out for the second half. Proverbial game of two halves. The Red has been making some curiously strange decisions.

  • It would seem that way, LeGall.

    Saka, Odegaard coming on. Eze has played well but didn’t do enough in the opponent’s box.

  • We’ll have to create a song for oggies.
    No Gyo for penalties. Saka, MO8, Mikal, Jesus & Tross I reckon…

  • That was nervy. How much more can the old ticker take?
    But we deserved to go through. We made it harder than it should be. Great Pens by both sets of players, till Kepa intervened.

    Yeah, Nigeria won today; our first game in the group stages. A tougher opponent is in the horizon, in Tunisia. That’s the game I look forward to. After that, we’d have an idea what to expect for Nigeria at the AFcon.

  • Yes Stu, I would happily take Marc Guehi, he didn’t celebrate after he equalised did he and that did make me think ‘I wonder?’

    LG Happy Joyeux Anniversaire Birthday et Bon Noel.

    Merry Christmas to the rest of you, enjoy and embrace your families they really are the most important things in your life.

    As for Arsenal, we march on…

  • Thanks, Kev …
    Joyeux
    ABCDEFGHIJK
    MNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    again to you all
    Kitchen duty now; duck confit – lardonless tartiflette, washed down with a “Côte-de-Beaune” (Ladoix); shouldn’t be too difficult falling asleep after that …
    As always, at some point, the guests will be treated to the anthem my favourite december 24th child wrote for all of us :

    Have a great family time tonight, BKers, talk to you soon

  • Happy birthday, LG. May the Lord continue to enlarge your coast and be gracious to you. 🎁🎂

  • What time are you serving, LG?

    Remembering the great CR… and GN5 and all who have reached home

  • Hope you are all having a warm and delicious Christmas Day.

    I had my second cataract surgery yesterday and am recovering well. Christmas dinner will be served soon and I count myself a lucky man.

    I fully underwrite Kev’s love of family message if you are lucky enough to have a (good) family, of course.

    It’s also great to take a minute, as Stu did, to spare a tought of Cyril whose love for the Arsenal and beautiful calm is dearly missed.

    Duc, I hope the duck was a delight.

  • I had a great time today, I must say. I spend most of my Christmas season in Canada so this year’s, in Nigeria is truly one to cherish. It was a raucous setting at home today with visits by extended family members; cousins, nephews and nieces seeing my children after a while.

    Family is everything, for sure! Wish you all the very best.

  • Enjoyed that musical video, Stuart. Thanks for remembering Cyril, our GN5. May his great soul continue to rest in peace.

  • Merry Boxing Day one and all…

    Has a great Christmas Day with one son and partner yesterday who will also join me at my other son’s later today – yes Total I am blessed regarding family as it sounds is the case with Eris, Christmas in Nigeria must be some kind of an experience…

    Yes this time of the year is always a period to remember those who are no longer with us and I have many who I miss – and I think I can safely say that we all miss GN5 and his deep knowledge and memory of the club we all love.

    Chris Rea is a big miss also!

  • Worried about Jürrien …
    but love the line up
    Raya
    Calafiori-Saliba-Hincapié
    Saka-Zubimendi-Ødegaard-Rice-Trossard
    Merino-Gyökeres
    ??? 5hope so anyway)
    COYG

  • Cala out now.
    4-2-3-1 it is, with Myles in and Declan RWB; as Arsenal fans, we should never rejoice about anything lineup-related, or so it seems …

  • Well … we’re industrial, aren’t we? Our game is nowhere as free-flowing as it should be against such a team, that’s for sure … it starts getting worrying, or so I think anyway.
    Truth is we’re 10v11. Gyö is just not at the required level for an Arsenal CF. I get it must be confidence-related, that he might come good at some point and that his commitment is faultless, but … I find it shocking (understatement) that he should be on the pitch while Eberechi is warming the bench.
    We were immensely better witht the Eze-Merino pair upfront. Right now, we have Bukayo to bail us out, fortunately, but I expect a much, much better 2nd half … if only because we won’t get away with such a poor level of performance against Villa.
    COYG

  • Thanks for the comments, Duc.

    I am just listening to Arsenal.com and they were more positive than you. Hopefully, the second half will be better.

  • David our hero – again -, which says a lot.
    Neither of Eberechi-Noni-Ethan got any minute, in such a game. All the energy, speed, strength, power, accuracy, sheer talent … you name it, that we lack/need is right there … sitting on our bench. I wish I could understand but honestly, I just can’t.
    The Villa game will be a moment of truth.
    COYG

  • A ray of light. What a save! And another own goal, four in three games. As I said, Oggie needs a song.
    Ollie doing the business at the Bridge, did we miss the bus on him?

  • MO8 was back to top form, so tough for Eze or Ethan to get a look in, but I agree with LG that dropping Gyo and pushing Merino forward is a better option. Only way to squeeze Eze in is playing two eights, he behind the striker and Martin playing deeper.
    Can’t do that v Villa. We’ll need the rice/Zubi pairing to counter Rogers form. Good news that Villa picked up two suspensions, and we have the King of Brazil back.

  • Hadn’t read your post about your op, F. Great news it is, I hope you’re recovering well and these troubles are behind you now, once and for good.
    What a showdown Tuesday’s game promises to be; can’t wait.
    Nigeria doing great so far against Tunisia, Eris … Looks like this AFCON’s gonna be one of the best ever.

  • Thanks, Le Duc. It’s amazing to see birds fly with a renewed incredible clarity and also the tiniest branch in a tree. Best Christmas present ever.

  • Nervy but successful day for Eris. Tunisia is the only African country i have been to until now. Great memories even though it’s 45+ years ago.

  • Saw the highlights and we looked good but just didn’t finish enough of the good opportunities, but I will watch the full game soon to get a completer picture. And what a safe by the flying cat.

  • Composure, it’s such a valuable commodity and if Martinelli had it we would have been cruising yesterday. Harsh perhaps but Gabby has to take those chances, he was free, he didn’t have Lewis Dunk for example leaning all over him and grabbing his shirt he had space and enough of the goal to aim for, but he didn’t do it and that’s why Trossard is in the team.

    I’m not sure why Gyokeres didn’t put his foot through that chance he had in the opening minute, he kinda side-footed it. He’d done the hard part spinning the defender who was lolling all over him, but his technique let him down.

    Even Saka lately has lost his finishing mojo, it’s endemic atm but this team will take someone apart, eventually we’ll get the referee decisions we deserve and the technique will be spot on and the opposition goalkeeper will have a nightmare, won’t he Emi…

  • Hi guys … Look, I don’t want to make too much of it, and I certainly don’t want to go on a crusade about it but …
    We’ve had 3 outstanding home games so far this season, when we scored 11 and produced jaw-dropping moments of beauty: Atletico, You-Know-Who, and Bayern. In all 3 of them, Eberechi was a starter. Now Martin’s back. He’s Mick’s man, his skipper, became a mature player in San Sebastian. I can get why all of this piles up to turn him into something like Mick’s ideal player, not to mention the ideal “conduit“ between him and the squad: all managers have one or two such players in their squads, have always had, and always will have, I have no problem with that …
    But in such a period, when we produce good moments, create chances, but can’t put them away, I just don’t see what Eberechi may have done so wrong that it condemns him to exile on the bench. The boy’s a gem, a genius, he sees things none but him can see, creates/invents situations in crowded danger zones; right in the middle of the portions of space where other players can’t think clearly, overwhelmed with emotions as they are, Eberechi looks like he sees everything in slow motion, analyses, takes the perfect touch, makes the right decision, … scores. As Kev rightly points out, that’s when composure is needed, and our new lad is the very embodiment of composure under such circumstances imo.
    That’s why I just can’t get why he’s not given at least the last 20/30 minutes of such games … surely he’s not been bought to beat Port Vale, Kairat, Portsmouth … has he? As for Gyö I don’t know … I think it’s in the boy’s mind; he doesn’t even do what any young CF is brainwashed with on his very first day in an academy: “rush to the near post“ (“first at the near post, first served“ – “premier poteau, premier servi“ as the great late Bernard Lacombe used to say; there was a poster with these words on it on my youth teams’ dressing-room walls, back in the 1970s!!) …
    Anyway, I’m really looking forward to Tuesday’s game – payback time it will be.
    How Eberechi sees – and changes – things in the opponents’ last 30 yards:

    COYG

  • Total, yeh, mate, those set pieces of Bukuyu and Declan are a defenders nightmare. That consistent quality of delivery along with the mayhem created by our players movement produces pressure, tension, fear, uncertainty…

    Sadly all those factors were lacking when our Lee did this:

    I remember it so well because it happened on my wedding day.

  • Eze could have starred in The Matrix, LG. His vision is preternatural and those three games you noted saw him in full Keanu Reeves mode, though imo he has had less impact in some other matches which he has started in. He’s more a 10 whereas Martin is more an 8. Can they function together? I think Mikel wants his 10/8 to lead the press, something Martin does superbly as well as dropping deep to receive the ball from his defenders. He is a control/possession player whereas Eze is more the maverick floater who will go for the 20/80 option more often leading to either moments of breath taking brilliance or lost possession.
    I think and hope we’ll see them playing together against the ‘lesser’ teams where losing possession is not so acutely costly. Super glad we have them both, and with young Ethan in the mix we are spoiled for choice. If you were picking the team to start the champions League final tomorrow who would you start? And, in which formation?

  • I definitely think they can be paired, Stu, starting Tuesday:
    Raya
    Rice-Saliba-Gabriel-Hincapié
    (Ødegaard)-Zubimendi
    Saka-(Ødegaard)-Eze-Madueke
    Merino
    (I’d rather neither Jürrien nor Cala were risked – there’s still a (very) long way to go; the last thing we need is another couple of long-term injuries)

  • I’m not sure, with our defence fully stretched LG that Arteta is going to experiment vs Aston Villa on Tuesday? In fact I’d be very surprised if we saw a team that was too dissimilar from the one we saw vs Brighton with the notable exception of Big Gabby.

    Of course I can understand your very French wish to see our Arsenal play with a certain elan but I’m afraid at this time of year it has to be more a case of Asturias pragmatism.

    The ends justify the means or should I say Les fins justifient les moyens.
    C’est la vie, ami.

  • Stu, what a moment to have associated with your big day. What was Lee thinking? How did the game end?

    The corners have that pinball game effect now: before you know it is in the bonus-hole. It’s organised chaos and it’s a great antidote to the more and more totally structured team tactics and lower blocks.

  • Half of my team attended our wedding, LG. The Hertfordshire League kindly gave us permission to postpone our match set down for that Saturday. A few of our lads are Gooners (including one who played for Arsenal at youth level), so during the reception we had a radio under one of the tables so we could surreptitiously follow the scores. Dicko’s oggie was in the first minute of the match and Coventry went on to beat us 2-1. We went on to surrender our crown finishing fourth that season. Though it wasn’t the greatest start to married life, Sarah and I had a great honeymoon and are rolling into our 35th year.
    What was Lee thinking? In those days a keeper could catch a back pass and he just overhit it, same as Nayim and Ronaldinho did…

  • Congrats on the marriage duration, Stu. I love the radio listening during the reception.

    Looks like Coventry are finally able to return to the PL again. Fat Fwank doing a good job.

  • I am hoping for Timber and maybe Calafiori returning to the team.

    I reckon Arteta is giving players mini-breaks around this time, but tonight he will play his strongest possible team.

    Raya
    Timber, Sal, Gab, Hin
    Zub-Mart-Rice
    Saka-Gyö-Leo/Eze

  • The Zubi-Merino double pivot is a great alternative to ZubiRice. We will miss Declan’s many qualities, no doubt, but i am also excited about watching the Spanish maestros at work. They have chemistry.

  • Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres

    Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Eze, Martinelli, Jesus, White

  • Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne, Bogarde, Onana, Tielemans, Rogers, Sancho, Buendia, Watkins

    Subs: Bizot, Wright, McGinn, Garcia, Malen, Jimoh-Aloba, Maatsen, Hemmings, Routh

  • Great news, a back four of Timber Saliba, the King of Brazil, Hincapie, what’s not to like about that, name me a better defence in England?

    Great news, Havertz and White on the bench. Jesus, Martinelli, Madueke, Havertz, Eze, that’s some serious firepower waiting to come on, name me a better substitutes bench in England?

    Merino, Odegaard, Zubimendi, a midfield we could only dream of a few years ago, name me a Villa midfielder you’d rather see in our XI..?

  • Glad to see Timber back fit and White on the subs bench. Shame about Rice. He was going to be crucial for us in this (any) fixture.

  • Kev, I may take Tielemans for Merino, though. Rogers is another with required guile.

    But, that’s all conjecture. I am happy with our fit midfield trio.

  • Really Eris, you’d take Tielemans in front of Merino? Ok mate.

    Rodgers is a winger Eris, you know like Saka.

  • Nervy start and we got away with a few possession give-aways. But better now, and i reckon the one most criticised will score today. Come on Gyö!

  • Good battle and plenty of work to do for Arteta during the break. Villa have studied us well and are playing training ground exercises. It’s like a chess game. Our normally strong right side is not working as yet, with Bukayo isolated. Gyö is having a good/better game and I am confident he will score one or two in second half.

  • Gyo didn’t score but he will soon; I am convinced of it.

    Great second half with fab leadership from the likes of Zubi, Merino, Ode, Leo and of course Big G.

    Great win. BOURNEMOUTH next. OGAAT!

  • Just catching my breath now. Fantastic win for us and indeed, it was revenge, whichever way you look at it.

    Gabriel was immense and didn’t give Ollie Watkins a sniff; neither did Saliba. We have missed the big man even for his threat from set pieces. I thought Trossard too had an excellent game tonight and deserved his goal. I held my breath when his goal had to go for that long VAR check. Good goal.

    Emery came to contain us and hope for a breakaway goal. We ensured they had no shot on target until that late, late goal. I am chuffed.

  • Oo to, oo to be…
    Brilliant second half. Shame about the clean sheet which Raya deserved after another excellent display. Loved the “David Raya is better than you” chant aimed Emiwards.
    Come on you Black Cats…

  • Well, Kev; just answered your question, not that I have anything against Merino as a squad player.

    Tielemans is has better spatial awareness, is stronger in possession and seldom misplaced passes. But it’s all speculative and personal choice.

  • Talk about a game of two halves … I’ll have just a lil’ cake on my Cherries now, thank you very much.
    But we’ll have a cup of kindness before that, won’t we, mates: a great New Year’s Eve to y’all BKers!!

  • Nah, it’s gotta be Merino, Eris. But, hear, hear, LG.
    I’m of to a NYE party at a Liverpool supporting mates place. I’ll do my best to be in “cup of kindness” humble mode, but that other cup of whoop whoop may overflow just a little…
    See ya’all in ’26 boys.

  • I thought that Merino had far more effect on the game than Tielemans but hey, we won so who cares Eris.

    I’m worried about the fan base and their collective patience with Gyokeres, he should have probably got those two headers on target at least and that’s what many will remember, personally I thought he did a lot of good work creating space for others but that’s not sexy enough for those in the media looking for an angle. We needed a conclusive victory for the teams confidence, I think we’ll soar from here.

    Gyokeres needs a two or three goal performance to silence the sniping.

    Maybe at Dean Court, or whatever they call it now Total?

    Happy New Year one and all…

    Stu, have you got a ‘I belong to Jesus’ t-shirt?

  • Yeh mate. I traded shirts with Kaka back when Kerikeri beat Milan in the Intercontinental In My Dreams Cup… 😇🙏🧔🏽‍♀️

  • Of course, Kev. We won and that’s all that matters. I have never been a fan of the “combined Arsenal and whatever opponent” quizzes that are the staple of most blogs and podcasts, these days, so I am not good at calling it.

    Wishing everyone here a happy New year 2026, starting with a great result for Sunderland as Man City come calling on New year’s day.

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