Rene Descartes was a 17th century French philosopher, best known for the philosophical statement “Cogito ergo sum” – “I think therefore I am”. This considers that, because of optical illusions, we cannot absolutely trust what we see, and as a consequence, the only truly reliable proof of our existence is that we can think, that we have consciousness.
Coincidently, another Frenchmen considered intelligent (well, he wears glasses and looks a bit bookish) is also famed for admitting to the fallibility of human sight.
Arsene Wenger on Sunday, however, would have had no problems admitting what he saw on a football pitch. After the 3-2 reversal at the Britannia on December 6, after which he was jeered by a small section of Gooners, the 3-0 stroll against the Potters would have been a sight for his sore peepers.
According to a near contemporary biographer, Descartes, on the night of November 10, 1619, shut himself in a room with an “oven to escape the cold. While within, he had three visions and believed that a divine spirit revealed to him a new philosophy”.
On January 11, 2015, Wenger finally witnessed, for the first time, his vision of having Alexis Sanchez, Mezut Ozil and Theo Walcott on the same football pitch and would have believed his philosophy vindicated.
Former Barcelona man Sanchez is looking a bargain (another of Wenger’s philosophies) at a reported £35 million, scoring twice and setting one up against Stoke in a man of the match performance. The 26-year-old Chilean more impressively scored 19 Fantasy Football points to be this week’s Star Man.
Showing the wisdom of Solomon, Daniel Heath, manager of Blackburn Superstars, picked Sanchez as his captain for 38 points. Heath’s impressive cognitive processes made him this week’s doctor of philosophy with 96 points, and who, with a $20 Cellcard voucher, joins the pantheon of great thinkers, such as Plato, Aristotle and – dare we say it? – Abbas Saad.
Other notable Dream Teamers were Leicester defender Paul Konchesky (selected by only 0.5 per cent of managers at a trifling £4.5 million) with 15 points for a goal and a clean sheet, with a three-point bonus; Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny with 14 points for scoring and keeping a clean sheet; and Chelsea’s attacking midfielder Oscar with 13 points for scoring and coming up with an assist.
The coming Gameweek 22 throws up the standout tie of Manchester City versus Arsenal as the late kick-off on Sunday. Who when the dust settles will merit inclusion in the Encyclopaedia Britannica and who will be standing in the corner in a pointy hat? Only the Gameweek has the answers to that.
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