Arsene Wenger was today named manager of the month by Premier League sponsors Barclays, fuelling amusing speculation he holds an account with the bank.
His reward ranks with Bobby Robson's January 2003 win when Newcastle United had been eliminated at the 3rd round stage of the FA Cup to Division One Wolves. Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United had won every game and progressed to the League Cup final.
And there was Alan Curbishley's accolade a month later for winning a mammoth three games out of three. The upside of not being a fixture in Europe.
In February, Arsenal were slaughtered 4-0 in Milan and limped out of the cup at Sunderland. This came after a goalless draw away to Bolton Wanderers kicked off the month.
Arsene in action:
The Gunners did mete out their own punishment as they executed, with extreme prejudice, seven goals against Blackburn Rovers before last Sunday's rally from 2-0 behind to defeat Tottenham 5-2 in the north London derby.
Yet their win ratio for the year's second month ranks as three-from-four.
Technically, they were unbeaten in the league, which is what Barclays will judge the performance on. Damningly, they extended their search for silverware to seven years in a spell that confirmed the summer sale of their best player.
On that note, Arsenal face Manchester City in a Beijing July friendly, which will see Robin van Persie face his former club*.
*Not guaranteed. But probable.