Thank you Pat Rice (He retires when he wants)



The two pillars of strength behind Arsenal

Pat Rice (left) and Arsene Wenger, the dynamic duo
(todaysfootballnews.com)



As the popular saying goes, all good things come to an end, and so the career of Arsenal legend Pat Rice has finally come to an end. Rest assured though, after spending 42 years at the club Pat will always be a Gunner. He went from lifting the F.A Cup as the Captain of Arsenal to working at the club as one of the best assistant coaches in the modern game.

A true Arsenal man through and through

Pat Rice, from player and captain(left) to inspirational
assistant coach(right). Image:(7amkickoff.com)

So as with the departure of anyone in football the inevitable question is asked, who will be the replacement? It seems as though with the season drawing to a close things with Arsenal only get more and more interesting from a communication perspective. Let's look at all the messages communicated concerning the club at the moment. There is the issue of winning our last two games in order to finish third and the manager saying he is counting on our PFA Player of the year and Captain Robin Van Persie to drag us over the line.

  

 
                                              Drag us over the line Robin

Robin Van Persie celebrates after another goal for Arsenal
(oleole.com)

  New blood pumped into Arsenal

New signing Lukas Podolski greets
fans as the newest Arsenal player
(rstreem.com)

Then there is the signing of Lukas Podolski and how this will contribute to giving the Gunners more arsenal up front. There are also still many questions about who else we might be after in our quest to challenge for the league. Then of course there is the big issue of Robin's future, will he renew his contract or not? The manager has also said that although finishing third wont guarantee that Robin stays it will help because a player of his calibre at his age has to be playing at the top level (ArseBlog).





It is evident that there is a lot going on and if anything all these communication messages surrounding Arsenal at the moment indicate that this is a club on the brink of a new era. So much is changing, new assistant coach, new players yet so much is staying the same, the clubs determination to do well and do things "The Arsenal way". It will certainly be interesting to see the developments in the weeks to come, for one last time though thank you Pat Rice!

We are Arsenal

(pvblivs.deviantart.com)



Introducing the PFA player of the year!

Recognised as the best player by his fellow professionals

Robin Van Persie holding his award after he was named the PFA player of the year.
(Photo: PA)

The top individual honour in
the EPL (napit.co.uk)

Football from a communication angle is a very tricky thing, there are many different messages that tend to be thrown around. Messages from the owners of clubs, the managers of clubs, the media and even players themselves. Well thankfully this time the message is quite clear, Robyn Van Persie is the PFA player of the year! After scoring 27 goals this season (so far as with two games to go there could be more) the Arsenal skipper has helped Arsenal turn their season around after a disastrous start. If we take into account messages from the media for example that Arsenal was a "one Van" team and would crumble then what the club has achieved is commendable. The man to thank for that turn around is captain Vantastic himself, although the 28 year old was quick to add that he could not have done it without the help of his team mates.

"Without them I could not have achieved it," he said. "For example, Theo Walcott, he has given me more than 12 assists and I do really appreciate that." "TheGuardian"

From a communication perspective this award says that Arsenal do have a world class player who can score goals. On top of that the recent confirmation of the signing of Lucas Podolski can be seen as Arsenal sending out a message of intent. The clubs mananger and players are all insisting that Arsenal's teething problems are finaly at an end and that it is now time for The Gunners to return to their glory days.

For now though, well done Robin, you truly deserve this award and may the goals just keep on coming for you and Arsenal in the season to come.

and for those of you that missed it here is the moment

Robin was crowned PFA player of the year!