Dad's a Chelsea Legend, But I'm Arsenal Through and Through Now

By Lewis Barnett 12 July, 2025 6 mins read 96 Views

This is wild.

So Arsenal just went and did it again – snatched another kid right from under Chelsea's nose. But this time? It's personal. We're talking about Marcell Washington, the 17-year-old son of Ryan Bertrand, who literally kissed the Champions League trophy at Stamford Bridge back in 2012. And now his boy is wearing red and white.

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When Your Dad's a Blues Hero But You Choose the Enemy

I can't even imagine the dinner table conversations in the Bertrand household right now. Ryan's probably sitting there thinking about that magical night in Munich when he started the Champions League final on his European debut – absolute fairy tale stuff – and his son just signed professional terms with their biggest London rivals.

Marcell spent last season as a trialist at Arsenal after leaving Chelsea's academy. Smart move, honestly. The kid clearly saw something at the Emirates that wasn't happening at Cobham. "I think it's been such an honour to have him take me through clips and walk me through games that I've played," Washington said about his dad's coaching. "He's really passionate about making me a better player and probably a better version of him. We might have a bit of an argument about it but you get it out of him."

Might have a bit of an argument? Understatement of the century.

Arsenal's Chelsea Shopping Spree Continues

Here's the thing that's driving me absolutely mental – Arsenal have turned Chelsea into their personal Tesco. Since Arteta took over, they've signed five first-team players from the Blues: Jorginho, Kai Havertz, and now Kepa's joined the party this summer. It's like they've got a direct hotline to Stamford Bridge.

And it doesn't stop there. News broke yesterday that Arsenal have agreed a deal for Noni Madueke – £50m+ for a winger who's already agreed a five-year contract and is flying back from the Club World Cup in the USA to seal the deal.

The fans are losing their minds over this one though.

Why Arsenal Supporters Are Actually Furious

Listen, I get it. When you keep buying from the same shop and half the stuff doesn't work, you start questioning the shopping strategy. Remember Willian in 2020? That was a disaster. Raheem Sterling's loan move last season? Hardly set the world on fire.

Arsenal fans are so wound up about the Madueke deal that there's an online petition asking the club NOT to sign him. Nearly 5,000 signatures in just a few days. Someone even defaced murals of Arteta and Josh Kroenke outside the Emirates with "Arteta Out" graffiti.

That's... intense.

The Kid's Got Ambition Though

Back to young Washington – he's been handed the number 55 shirt and he's not lacking confidence. "I think it's a really big club, obviously. The club are always striving to win trophies. I'm just looking to be an addition to that and see what I can offer the club."

He'll be competing with Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly for a spot in the future. Not exactly easy competition, but the kid seems up for it. "They're all great players that play in and around my position, which I think is a really good thing and training with them and getting the opportunities is really good as well."

Smart attitude. You want to learn from the best, even if it means fighting for your place.

What This Really Means

Arsenal's strategy is pretty clear at this point – if you can't beat Chelsea at developing talent, just buy their talent instead. It's working on some level (Havertz had his moments last season), but the hit rate isn't exactly inspiring confidence.

For Washington though, this feels different. He's 17, hungry, and probably tired of living in his dad's shadow at Chelsea. Arsenal gives him a fresh start, a chance to write his own story.

Plus, imagine if he actually makes it to the first team and scores against Chelsea one day. Ryan Bertrand might need therapy after that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you explain the concept of the 'Big Six' in the Premier League?

The Big Six refers specifically to a group of Premier League clubs who have had the most success and influence in recent years. The list typically includes Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur. These teams are known as having a strong fan base with a lot of money, for their high-level performances, and for qualifying frequently for European tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Cup.

How has Premier League evolved from its creation?

Since its inception in 1992, the Premier League has undergone significant evolution. It started with a breakaway of the Football League for a lucrative TV rights deal. Since then, this league has grown to be a global sports phenomenon. It attracted top talent around the world. In addition, the league has seen advances in sports science, stadium technology, and training facilities.

What is the impact of the Premier League on the English national football team?

The Premier League plays an important role in the development English football talent. Many Premier League players are selected to the English national football team. They contribute their skills and experiences in international competitions. It is believed that the competitive nature of the league and the high quality of its players benefit the national squad. There have been discussions about the league's large number of non-English players, and their impact on English players who want to play first-team regular football.

How is the Premier League determined?

The Premier League winner is the team with the most points during the 38-game regular season. Three points are awarded for each win, while one point is given for a tie and none for a defeat. In the event of teams finishing the season with the same number of points, the champion is determined by goal difference, and if necessary, the number of goals scored. If teams are still equal, a play-off at a neutral site may be used to determine the title. However, this scenario has not occurred in Premier League's history.

What is the Premier League?

The Premier League is the top-tier football league in England and one of the most popular and competitive domestic football leagues in the world. It is contested by 20 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football League (EFL). Each team plays 38 home and away matches per season. The season usually runs from August to may. The Premier League has a global following and is known for high-quality football.

Statistics

In the 1995–96 season, Manchester United achieved the largest title-winning margin, finishing 18 points clear of the second-placed team.
Arsenal boasts an unbeaten streak of 49 Premier League matches from May 2003 to October 2004, the longest in the history of the league.
Durability is exemplified by Gareth Barry who made an impressive 653 Premier League appearances, the highest number to date.
Petr Čech set a remarkable defensive record during the 2004-2005 season with 24 clean sheets, the most by a goalkeeper in a single Premier League season.
Manchester United holds the record for the most Premier League titles, having been crowned champions 20 times.

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Securing tickets for a Premier League match involves a few simple steps. To begin, go to the official website of your desired club. You may need to create an account before you can purchase tickets. Check the on-sale dates, which are usually announced in advance, and be prepared to buy as soon as tickets are released as they can sell out quickly. Some clubs offer memberships which allow access to tickets earlier. Purchase tickets only from official sources in order to avoid fraud.