Reykjavík Grapevine - 24.05.2019, Blaðsíða 10

T EMPL A R A SUND 3 , 101 RE Y K JAV ÍK , T EL : 5711822, W W W.BERGSSON. IS
BREAKFAST FROM 7
LUNCH FROM 12
All of England breathed a sigh of relief
on May 12th as the all-conquering Norse
pillagers of Everton, Burnley and Cardiff
finally took their leave of the English
Premier League—some more perma-
nently than others. With the season over
and the smiting ceased, here are some
of this year’s bloodiest battles in which
our boys’ fire-
breathing antics
unleashed a new
reign of terror
upon the world’s
finest top divi-
sion.
The season
starts, and
the snow
leopards
purr
Burnley ’s sparkling
scythe Jóhann Berg
Guðmundsson and Ever-
ton’s steely-eyed sharp-
shooter Gylfi Sigurðsson both
contributed to their first goals
of the season, getting the post-
World Cup smite train back on track.
“The Berginator” created one for James
Tarkowski on Premier League matchday
two in an eventual 1-3 loss to Watford, and
the “Viking Virtuoso” poked home from
Sandro Ramírez’s cross-or-shot effort in
a 3-1 felling of Rotherham United. Aron
“The Annihilator” Gunnarsson is yet to
feature for Cardiff because of a World Cup
war wound to his mighty knee.
Aron inspires Cardiff
However, Iceland captain and Cardiff
City’s totemic midfield general and
longest-serving player would not be long
on the sidelines, returning to the battle-
field on matchday nine. His beard flow-
ing in the wild Welsh wind, and with a
knowing gleam in his eye, Aron’s presence
boosted the beleaguered Bluebirds, who
had only two points and no wins from
their first eight Premier League games.
They would enter a stable period of rejuve-
nation with Aron at the helm once more.

Gylfi smites Mourinho,
United follow suit
The Everton and Iceland talisman and
wing’d messenger of the gods spluttered
into flames late in the season, taking care
of business against José Mourinho’s stut-
tering Manchester United and arrowing
a penalty past David De Gea. A month
or so later, the Portuguese was removed
from his post and replaced by a baby-faced
Viking called Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Coin-
cidence?
“The Berginator” scythes
sorry Spurs under
Presidential orders
Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson heeded
warlord-in-chief and Ice Prez Guðni
Thorlacius Jóhannesson’s orders to tar
and feather his opponents in February.
“The Berginator” set up Ashley Barnes for
the winner against Tottenham, just three
minutes after entering the fray. After the
game, Jói posed proudly with the Presi-
dent after adding yet another scalp to his
collection.
Business as usual for Gylfi
and Jói; Aron departs
for Qatar
In the end, Gylfi inspired a strong eighth-
place finish for Everton, scoring 13 in total
and creating six. Jóhann Berg led Burnley
to Premier League safety. Aron boarded
the longboat to Qatar, leaving the club he
joined way back in 2011 a local legend and
a hero to the Cardiff massive. With battle
smote, sunnier climes calling, and plenty
of mead on standby, the weary warriors
now go into hibernation for the summer.
all in order to prepare themselves for a
new merciless onslaught in the 2019/20
season.
Follow our live-tweets on Euro quali-
fication matchdays on Twitter at @
rvkgrapevine. Iceland's indomitable
and unstoppable march to the Euro
2020 trophy will continue throughout
2019, as Aron, Gylfi, Jóhann Berg and
the boys smite their way through all the
continents of the world, laying waste to
any team foolish enough to step into
their terrible path to glory.
#IcelandSmites
“His beard
flowing in the
wild Welsh wind,
Aron’s reassuring
presence was
a boost to the
beleaguered
Bluebirds.”
FOOTBALL
10 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 08— 2019
T E M P L A R A S U N D 3 , 1 0 1 R E Y K J A V Í K T E L . 5 7 1 1 8 2 2 , W W W . B E R G S S O N . I S
Fire-Breathing
Smiters Scorch
New Earth
The 2018/19 Premier League reviewed...
from an Icelandic point of view
Words: Greig Robertsson Illustration: Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir