Have you ever stopped to consider that Arsenal have an additional handicap in our attempts to achieve success in the Premier League?
“How so”, you may very well ask, “don’t all teams have the same even playing field?”
Well, I am not so sure. Whenever there is a managerial squabble reported in the media, Arsene is usually central to the story. The explanation for this is very simple and straightforward. Monsieur Wenger is known to be very open, affable and direct with his answers in response to both reporters and television commentators, when they put questions to him, however contentious.
So much so, that rather than engage in the usual gobbledygook and misdirection beloved of the majority of his contemporaries, Le Prof will answer almost any question thrown at him in an honest and comprehensive way that is often astonishingly candid.
Contrast this to Ferguson’s arrogant disdain for the Premier league’s rules requiring managers to make themselves available for interview. The journalists know this and, being greedy for column inches, often strive to light the blue touch-paper by contriving to feed Arsene a pointed or loaded question and wait, with bated breath, to hear the great man’s response.
Inevitably, these answers are reported in the press in a headline grabbing manner, emphasising the “negative” aspects of his response, and ignoring the positive, in a cynical attempt to cause the greatest controversy.
Two examples of this are;
Responding to a question asking for his opinion on Paul Scholes’ qualities, Arsene said that he thought Scholes was probably the best midfielder who had ever played in the Premier League. He also said he would have included such a great player in any of his teams and complimented him on his various footballing attributes. What was reported in the newspaper headlines, however, was that Scholes could not tackle and had a dark side where he deliberately set out to injure players, while hiding behind this reputation.
The result was a hysterical outcry from old Purple Nose and the Manure fans.
On another occasion, he was asked if he thought Stoke were too physical, and replied that every team had to play within the skills available to them, but that Stoke were, indeed, a very physical team who, against the Spuds, had resorted to a form of rugby, in the way they tried to bundle Gomes into goal, which did not accord with the rules of football, as he knew them.
The result was a raving, slavering and almost incoherent response from Pulis.
The fact that, to most neutrals, he was simply telling the truth in both these cases counted for nothing.
“But get to the point!” I can hear you say, “Why is this handicap?”
O.K., well, this type of reporting often paints Wenger as an unprovoked aggressor, while ignoring the fact he was simply answering, honestly, questions put to him by reporters and journalists, who knew he would be unfairly pilloried, as a result of their machinations.
Other managers, in similar circumstances, usually mouth some anodyne nonsense to hypocritically gloss over their true feelings, in order to avoid causing offence to their buddies. However, the same sensitivities are not displayed in their appalling rants against Wenger!
Now the real handicap, is not Arsene’s honesty, it is the Premier League’s “buddy” cabal.
“What or who forms this buddy cabal? Who are the members of this collective?” you ask.
The leader is undoubtedly the arch-fiend Fergie, together with the ex-Manure PL managers; Mark hard man Hughes, Stevie Wonder Bruce, and then a waxing and waning group of sycophants like Ranting Pulis, cement mixer mouth Fat Sam, Big Eck McLeish and Perma Tan Brown, who avidly suck up to the aforementioned purple Nose.
The members of the cabal publicly encourage and support each other in their mindless dislike even hatred of Wenger. This has permeated through to the players and supporters in an almost messianic way, with the players feeling free to castigate Arsene, with the leg breaker Shawcross the latest to do so, without any censorship from his manager or his Club.
Each game we play against these clubs has become almost viciously gladiatorial and over physical, with good wishes and bottles of fine wine flowing between the cabal members and their leader following any success over our club.
Is it possible that perhaps these teams do not try quite so hard when playing against the big cheese’s Club? Who knows?
But the of all this unpleasantness is that Arsene and therefore Arsenal face a tremendous additional unfair handicap!
Well, do you agree?
Written by Red Arse
Morning all
Great read RA and you are spot on, those scummy reporters feed him the dodgy questions and wenger so ofen falls right into the trap…
i do also believe though that wenger often uses this to his advantage, he is no fool, in his i/v pre Blackburn is one particular incident, making sure the ref was in the ‘media eye’ following his sub-standard performance the week before… It worked then, we won 🙂
The truth is always a bitter pill to swallow….
“Aaaatchoooo.!!!!!”
Morning, got the flu at the mo and I have to be at work so, not in a pleasant mood at the mo…
🙁
Well siad R.A by the way… all those managers mentioned all went to the same Bruiser College of Football and Sir Red/Purple Nose is their patron…
Morning T-buzz, man flu??? Should be gone in 24hrs if it is 😉
Who cares what those Arseholes think
Ooops… sorry T-buzz, i hope you feel better soon
I agree with alot of what you say but don’t think it’s necessarily a handicap. Wenger thrives from the comments made by the derogatory group of rednosed f@ckwits most of the time and as another person commented above, he uses the press to his advantage as well sometimes. The media have always twisted his words whenever possible but only the ignorant – Manure fans, chavs etc. actually take in the negativity alone and use it as ammunition, as ineffective as it nearly always is. It is purely a measure of his obviously higher intelligence that Wenger does not lower himself to their level and does not let the media cynics affect the way he communicates in any way. 13 years on and the Media still love him and respect him deep down and most intelligent football fans admire and respect him too. Let the mugs and morons and anyone else as thick as a Whale omelette continue to belittle themselves.
morning those just joined, sorry for the delay, first comments go into moderation, should go straight up now
Thanks…
Thing is,quite a number of people in the office are either sneezing, weezing or coughing.
We might as well get a music conductor and we’ll all be able to perform in an Orchestra!!
T-buzz, that’s the problem, one gets it then everyone gets it, if the first person stayed at home, all you others would be fit and healthy, some folk are just so selfish 😉
True, at least I wasnt the 1st to have it so I aint taking the blame! lol
I blame the bosses T-buzz, they should send you all home to rest and blog 😉
AW is not a person who seems to care much about what the “tabloids” report. Its really a waste of time even to consider such thing.
Morning All
Did some1(RA) said we will signed Jenson Button.
I must admit he has good moves we can play him on position 9.
About the so called disadvantage although it’s not in our favor because the FA always pick on us God forbid if an Arsenal player dives.
RA,
Maybe you are right, but I think the media will be milder with us in due time.
I am not sure if Wenger is to blame about the media situation.
Oh, & T get well soon…
If only rico, if only….lol
So, Theo may be out for 2-3 games I gather. Not as bad as I had feared, but still, he’s proven to be much more important in the squad so far. I hope we dont miss him (not meant in a bad way of course)and we keep scoring as many goals as possible just in caes this season goals all the way to the wire.
By the way, am being harsh if i suggest that we cut our losses with RVP? I have a feeling that he has more injuries coming this season especially when he plays another friendly with his Orange Comrades
Morning bruce and Stef
T-buzz, nothing yet on afc.com about theo, hope the paps have got his injury wrong, bloody annoys me, just as he hits form, the internationals get him again…
bruce, football blogs are just about that, discussing issues that we think are worth discussing, its a very valid point that been raised…
Morning all,
great read RA, as always. I think you’ve got it spot on. There is a definite conspiracy and Fergie’s at the centre of it.
I also think there’s a vested financial interest that provides the necessary media support to Manure.
Morning mike, spot on re the manure comment, sky sports in particular are so biased towards them and all a bit to familiar when doing their commentary..
even the rooney story didn’t get too much coverage, just imagine if that had been one of our players…
Rico, any info for the first team against Bolt_on?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/ggm-22-wright-breaks-bastin-s-goals-record
BTW Nice picture of Ian with The Romford Pele 🙂
not yet stef, should know more today after wenger press conference..
got to pop off for an hour, back later
Hi Rico,
I switched off the England match in the week. I couldn’t believe the commentary. Walcott is there, a certain goal, but he’s badly fouled at the vital moment,and carried off on a stretcher.
All the commentators can talk about is Rooney picking up the leavings, and ending his dry-spell. No mention of Theo being fouled and injured when the goal should have been his… I was furious.
Rico, isn’t he(Shrek) just an amazing playa 😛
It makes u stop reading every time u read his name, now he scored and he is England Savior I can’t remember he ever had a hat trick for the three lions like Defoe or Walcott.
anyway I agree on the green & gold scarfed, re the media.
Spot on! This great article expalains it all!!
Morning all.RA has put it well.AW should do that more often so long as it yields us results.The infuriating thing is that Aw praised scholes as if he was messi but the press said “AW slams scholes”WTF!!Despite everyone knowing what he meant they started to attack Aw.The news that theo may be out for 6 weeks is very worrying,adding to that rvp and bendtner are out.we are an injury away from AA playing CF…Its so depressing!
Afternoon Guys,
Hope you are all keepimg well! 🙂
Just to clarify my post comment. I do not really think Arsene should change, not for one minute.
His honesty is refreshing and in contrast to the other mealy mouthed ratbags! 🙂
mike, spot on again, i didn’t watch it either, to be fair i wish capello didn’t pick theo, the team around him will shatter his confidence more than being left out will….
Hi RA, he is however only honest when it suits, how many times does he tell porkies when ‘he didn’t see’ 😉
What another slow old day and its still only Thursday 🙁
booo
Nice piece RA
Howdy Erick, hows you?
Aaaattchooooo!!! 🙁
Rainy afternoon in the city of London…
What time is zé Wenger press confrence, anyone knows?
normally around lunchtime i think t-buzz, so should be on the website soon, got a few black clouds in the south too now, guess its on its way here, deep joy, got some gardening to do in a bit….
defoe’s out for six weeks, so’s theo, strange that both players thought they would be back soon, or rather england said they would…
right then, best i get a wriggle on and go try and beat the rain, catch up a little later…
good post Red.
As per usual i fully agree with you, but the best thing is that i have never thought of them as a collective, spot on i hate them all.
tommystout,
“hate” is such an ugly word…….
Try “Loathe” or “Detest” or the expression, “…I vomit at the mere mention of their names!!” 😉
yep agreed, hate is an ugly word and well reserved for these ugly people! 😉
Thanks Guys,
Sorry I haven’t been around much lately, up to my eyes at the mo’. 🙁
I think you mat have given me your germans T-buzz, I have started to sneeze too, or it could just be in sympathy. 🙂
Bless U Red Arse 🙂
Boo, anyone around??
Hi Rico,
I have been hopping around various sites looking for someone to talk to. 🙂
Now you are here, I have to disappear for a while. Ghostly, everywhere.
By the by, isn’t Winkie Wenger’s pre-match interview tomorrow?
yup its tomorrow Red…
Hi RA and tommy,
don’t know why I thought sky said it was today, me and my marbles seem to be parting company these days 😉
Hi Tommy,
Watch out for T-Buzz, I think he has given me a cold. 🙂
Rico, your comment that Arsene tells porkies is a bit unfair. I have been to Highbury, years ago, and it is sometimes difficult to see across the pitch when there are bodies in between you and the “incident”. The Emirates pitch is on a “plateau” and must make it more difficult.
The media like to make the most out of nonsense with le Prof. Contrast that with purple Nose, who claims to see everything, (imposible) and his players have NEVER in his opinion been in the wrong. He is a lying b*st*rd, not Wenger.
Oops, now I’m late. See you soon! 🙂
RA, the one’s i’m referring to is after he’s see the replay 😉
afc.com
Theo out for 4-6 weeks!! 🙁
All is very quiet here so I am off for the day, catch up tomorrow I hope…
stay safe and nighty night…..
Sheet Theo out for month and half, most likely two.
He was in a such good form but hoping he will bulk up even more in the meantime.
Keep going to the gym ol` buddy, ol` friend.
And take more of what you took in the summer.
Wow this is the slowest day ever, happy holly-day to the fellow Muslim gunners fans and players. (maybe that’s the reason of the slowness)
Nite night bcarefull of bgss they bite back 😛
Morning,
New Post up