Arsenal: 4 Gunners Perform Ballet in Uproarious New Citroen Commercial

While I can't be entirely sure, I'm fairly certain this wasn't what Arsene Wenger had in mind when he set out to create the most elegant and graceful footballing side in the world.

The French car manufacturer Citroen has released a new commercial sponsoring their new DS5 model. (They are one of Arsenal's main sponsors.)

To spice up the affair—not to mention dropping a few jaws along the way—they solicited the help of four Arsenal players to aid in the effort: Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Alex Song and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Here's where it got interesting.

Looking to enhance their "refined, redefined" message they're campaigning for the new car, Citroen created a commercial where, well, Arsenal players (tried) to perform some rudimentary (I assume, having never partaken in ballet exercises myself) dance routines, set to the tune of classical music.

Set in what looks like one of the rather duller rooms at Versailles, the four Gunners learn to dance from four members of the English National Ballet at Brocket Hall.

And before this gets all Black Swan on us, just wait until you see who the presiding instructor is.

While visibly reticent at the start, the four Gunners—led by an elegant Szczesny, who may just have found his post-career calling—slowly begin to turn the tide and transform their lead-footedness into passable footwork.

Martin Keown as the dance instructor and piano maestro is enough to set anybody laughing, but it is the performances of the four players that ultimately takes the prize.

There's Szczesny's earnestness, Oxlade-Chamberlain's look of "What endorsement deal got me into this room again?", Song's trips and traipses instead of pirouettes, Sagna's...well, actually Sagna was probably the best of the bunch after Szczesny.

The French defender took to the ballet scene like he does football: solidly, committing few to no mistakes.

Once the initial "What the..." factor is overcome, it's quite funny to see some Arsenal players display such genuine senses of humor. These guys are more than confident enough to take the stick they're likely to face.

It takes an awful lot of chutzpah, not to mention self-security and confidence, to pull off such an ad. But  more power to them, they did it. Quite well, to be honest.

And as Oxlade-Chamberlain discovered through hoisting one of the ballerinas aloft, it ain't that easy, this dancing gig.

With Keown presiding over the piano's final crescendo, there's little you can do but chuckle and applaud. (Keown's eagle eye for the details, which made him such a superb defender, is back on display here with his final, wary glance toward the performers.)

By the ending, the Gunners have overcome their initial reticence and become serviceable options in the studio. They had fun with it. Whether it was Oxlade-Chamberlain laughing good-naturedly, or Song and Sagna offering sheepish grins, it was all for a good time.

To his credit, Szczesny was all business.

Departing to a massive contemporary twist on the classical song used throughout, this effort by these Gunners won't soon be forgotten.

If you were looking for the next cultural phenomenon, you may just have stumbled upon it.