There has been quite an extensive amount of debate recently concerning Arsenal not being adventurous enough in the attacking department, despite the fact that Arsenal pretty much camped Man City in their own half for almost the entire game last Sunday.
Calafiori, our left-back, spent the majority of his time in midfield. He and Timber spent almost as much time in the City half as the City full-backs. Saliba and Gabriel were mostly on the halfway line with Raya acting as sweeper, pretty defensive eh?
Man City were dominated like no other team has dominated City since Guardiola became manager, Pep actually admitted as much and that it was their ploy to play the mid-block as Arsenal were the better team. Guardiola admitting such tactics hardly got a mention in the media and certainly no criticism was directed his way, a stark comparison to the media’s view of Arsenal. Their focus was fully on Arsenal, no doubt it was always going to be.
The media’s narrative has become so transparent yet despite this, a sizeable proportion of the Arsenal fanbase still cannot see that they are being overly manipulated by the media, or ‘played’ in the common parlance.
Go on NewsNow, the sports news aggregator and you will see a succession of news stories, and I use that term news lightly, from outlets that will turn every element of anything Arsenal into a negative narrative. But it gets clicks, it earns them money and still Arsenal fans can’t see how they’re being used!
Take Football 365, produced by Bet 365 who are owned by the Coates family who in turn own our old friends Stoke City, does any Arsenal fan really think that they’re going to post anything positive about us, you must be joking? Four Four Two is another total ‘hit job’ outfit, constantly looking for the negatives in any Arsenal performance. There are many more but those two stand out so I avoid them like the plague.
There are others of course, on Sky Sports, the BBC and You Tube, they pop into my feed regularly but I never click on them. They despise Arsenal and take enormous pleasure in any Gunners slip. Richard Keys pipes up from time to time to take pot shots at Arteta, does any Arsenal fan really take that dinosaur seriously?
Finally there’s The Overlap, with Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane and Gary Neville and where else could you get such a trio of Arsenal disparagers in one place and why would any Arsenal fan want to watch them? It’s like self harm.
So never mind that cabal of totally failed coaches, take notice instead of a certain William Saliba because it’s the Arsenal players that’ll tell you all you really need to know if you only listen carefully. Saliba is on the point of signing a new 5 year contract, committing the best years of his football life to Arsenal and Arteta. So ask yourself why, because PSG and Real Madrid could match any financial package Arsenal put forward.
Hincapie came to Arsenal knowing he wouldn’t walk into the team but he wanted a piece of what we’ve got. Viktor Gyokeres wasn’t interested in Man United, Martin Zubimendi didn’t want anything to do with Merseyside, Noni Madueke couldn’t believe his luck when Arteta came calling, Ebs Eze rang up Arteta pleading for us to sign him and save him from Tottenham.
Ignore the noise and the haters, we’re doing ok.
By Kev
Great piece, Rico. It exactly summed up my thoughts too on the Arsenal naysayers. BTW Liverpool’s next few games include Palace (away), Chelsea (away) Brentford (away) and Man City (away). And Villa, Man U and Forest at Anfield. The home games might be easier, but that’s quite an away fixture list. Let’s see how much the title is a forgone conclusion after that little lot.
I love this piece! It’s so true.
It’s not a new phenomenon either. I stopped listening to Talksport many years ago because they were so anti Arsenal. Particularly Adrian Durham and “Hawkesbee & Jacobs”. I understand it’s no better now.
Arsenal fans have always been at the forefront of dedicated social media. Arseblog for instance have been around for 20yrs now. Even non Arsenal based social media channels seem to spend more time talking about Arsenal than their own clubs. Is it because they get more hits via Arsenal supporters than they do when covering their own team? Probably.
You’re right to call out the failed coaches. Those who can’t coach become pundits. Wayne Rooney appears to be the latest. The fact world class players want to come and stay at Arsenal speaks volumes. As fans, in our speed to consume anything Arsenal related, we become our own worse enemies.
We need to be more discerning in the content we consume as Arsenal fans. Until we can do that it’s going to stay pretty much the same.
Great article. Thanks.
Morning Kev, guys.
Well said Kev, I was thrilled to read about Saliba. He was the one I thought may be tempted away but it seems he’s staying. The rapport he has with Gabriel possibly played a part in his decision, as well as other things.
I can’t take any credit David, as Kev wrote this one..
Talking of Saliba, I admire this from Arteta.
On how much Saliba has exceeded his expectations:
“Probably all of them, I would say, especially the way we started our relationship. Probably we had different expectations or ideas of how to create the best pathway for him to fulfil his potential. But I think at some point we got to the same conclusion, to the same line, and we started to work together. From there, with the help of all the coaches and players, everything started to flourish because it was clear that the potential was there. It was about timing and especially, in my opinion, creating the right environment and players for him to deliver what he could do.”
Great piece Rico.And a few other websites I’m sure you Coukdnt mention.Where are they all based? Salford.Manures backyard .Every opportunity they get to have a dig.Dont even get me started with The mail,express & talkshite.
Glad someone has called these sites out for what they are.Arsenal haters.
Great piece Rico.And a few other websites I’m sure you Coukdnt mention.Where are they all based? Salford.Manures backyard .Every opportunity they get to have a dig.Dont even get me started with The mail,express & talkshite.
Glad someone has called these sites out for what they are.Arsenal haters.
Yes Rico, Arteta and his coaches have created an environment at Arsenal that many other players would love to experience whilst the players we have are loath to depart, look at Martinelli he loves it at Arsenal and never misses an opportunity to say so, I’m so pleased that he’s had a few great moments in recent games and reminded a lot of Arsenal fans how valuable he is to the squad.
Glad you enjoyed it David and Hath, thanks for your equally fine comments.
Pete, I have pretty much given up on NewsNow it’s so depressing reading the headlines and that’s without clicking on the posts themselves.
But it’s spilling over onto YouTube, there’s a whole raft of nobodies on there nicking an income talking absolute garbage.
Welcome back Rico!
A good piece Kev. I wonder what we have to do to change the mindset of the muppets you mention.
Almost time to take my seat for today’s WSL match at home to Villa. After that I’m looking forward to the Womens Rugby World Cup game, live on BBC 1 @ 4pm. England vs Canada.
Cicero, I’m convinced that it’s the producers and editors of these outlets that drive the narrative and they do it for clicks, we just have to be more aware of what their intentions are and to not interact with those bad actors.
Pete, I think it’s amusing in someways because their continual moaning about Arsenal shows that the club is in their heads, clearing affecting their life.
Agree Kev, re both.
Thanks Cicero.
I don’t think the media’s opinion of Arsenal will ever change. It’s gone on for far too long.
Afternoon Rico and all,
Kev you filled in for well for Rico.
Man u captain missed a penalty, Brentford 3 Man u 1 full time, I wonder if the media will get stuck into United, I’m guess not
Well that was a wasted hour and a half. Very poor by Arsenal, pass pass pass, lose the ball. regain the ball, pass pass pass lose the ball. Rinse and repeat!
Too many passes going astray. Too many passes altogether.
One goal for Arsenal courtesy of a Villa defender’s horrendous error. One goal for Villa in and added time scramble.
I hope tomorrow’s game against Newcastle is bit more entertaining.
Brentford 3-1 United, I’m not happy because I want Amorim to stay. 😉
Potter sacked today, Nuno next?
Potter sacked, Hammers appoint Nuno.
Thanks Geoff and Rico deserves to put her feet up anyway.
Cicero I’d take a boring 1-0 win for the Gunners at St James’
The result yes Kev, but I don’t think I would want to watch it.
Good afternoon/evening everyone
Rico…I hope you are feeling better
Brentford sell Bryan Mbeumo to Man Utd and the guy who replaces him scores 2 goals to win against Man Utd. What a great story😂😂😂 Sesko off the mark.
Dippers just got a draw after trailing behind. fingers crossed they stay that way
Off to read the post.
Fine post Kev. You wrote, in a nutshell, what the Arsenal supporters who use common sense, feel all the time.
100th minute….PAlace 2 Dippers 1
Ballistic
And WHO got the winner…NKETTIIAAAAHHHHHHHHH
Cheers Dev
Eddie Eddie Eddie
Xhaka doing a good job for Sunderland.
Zinchenko is ok for Forest but I wonder if he might go abroad next summer?
The Red Roses did it. They are the Women’s World Cup winners. 🔔🔔🔔🔔
It’s like an Arsenal Old Boys reunion at Forest, subs Dan Ballard for Forest and Omari Hutchinson for Sunderland.
Er, Hutchinson for Forest and Ballard for Sunderland. 🙄
Spuds drop two points at home to Wolves. 94 th minute equaliser got them the draw.
Just got home , and a good run of results today . We really need to capitalise tomorrow.
As for the Arsenal haters , they have always been there from when I was a kid. My Dad told me after Spurs did the 1961 double that they were always the Fleet street darlings and that it wouldn’t last for them .In 1971 the tables turned and we haven’t really looked back and thats more than anything that keeps the hatred going.
Long may it remain to be so .