This was personal - An Arsenal fan on Andre Villas-Boas' sacking

“If it’s good for business, it has to be done”

Those familiar with The Godfather may identify with this sentiment.

I read with delight this morning that Andres Villas-Boas had been sacked by Spurs. For Daniel Levy, at least reading from his expression in the stands, this was business. For me, this was personal.

As a life-long Gunners fan, it is natural to enjoy a bit of schadenfreude at any misfortune that befalls Tottenham, as I am sure their fans enjoyed our drubbing by Man City – that is business.

To “hate” Spurs fans – that is business.

Watching them flounder after spending 100 million plus pounds brought a satisfying smile – still business.

Spurs sacking their manager is not necessarily beneficial to the Gunners, since the replacement may actually get them playing better. Indeed, in terms of the contest at the top of the table, a Spurs victory would have been better for Arsenal’s business.

No, ladies and gentlemen, I was rooting for Liverpool and enjoyed every minute of the humiliation they wrought on Sunday.

Watching Villas-Boas squirm as the goals poured in – this was personal.

Andres Villas-Boas, to me, was a guy who had got to the top without paying his dues. I did enjoy him almost completely destroying Chelsea, our other London rivals, although it irked me that the veterans who had brought success to Chelsea suffered under him.

Alas, Abramovitch stepped in and saved the day. On to step two, where poor Harry Redknapp was unceremoniously sacked after getting Spurs to the Champions League – all for Andres Villas-Boas. This is where it got personal.

Villas-Boas brought in Hugo Lloris and unseated Brad Friedel, who was still serving Spurs faithfully and well. (Mind you, I like Lloris and, at one time, hoped he would sign with the Gunners).

Friedel holds a special place for having taken us to our best place in the World Cup – the quarter finals. If he were in decline, I would have understood, but there was no sign of that.

Friedel’s record of unbroken Premier League games was broken at Villas-Boas’ whim. His next crime was to effectively end Dempsey’s successful EPL career. This guy seemed to have it in for Americans and “them’s fightin’ words” (sic).

I have waited patiently, watching Gareth Bale bail out Villas-Boas through all of last season – pun intended. Next, I had to sit through the transfer window that drove every Gunner fan to the depths of despair, while Villas-Boas flashed the cash to acquire every name in sight – particularly Paulinho, who could have been the next Viera.

I hurled every manner of abuse at the refs who bailed out Spurs twice with very dubious penalty calls – against Moxie and El Mohamady. The Man City 6-0 drubbing was a delight, but I had to suffer through two miraculous Spurs comeback wins that seemed to bring them back.

FINALLY – Thank you, Liverpool.

Revenge is a dish that tastes best when cold!