Comments on: Hounding the Arsenal: the one thing no journalist will ever admit

By: Ian Hindson

Ian Hindson — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:44:43 +0000

Tony, a brilliant article and agree with every point made.
Being an Arsenal fan for over 20 years i am used to the media beatings we receive on an almost daily basis, aswell as my dad who has supported the arsenal for 45 years knows only too well the hammerings we receive.

By: IKON225

IKON225 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:03:39 +0000

I went to the BBC 606 and wrote a quick article about hatred against Arsenal, Foreigners and how the likes of Rooney and Stevie G get away with murder, week in , week out! It took them less than 20min and they removed the article! Corruption in the media is real and articles are motivated, financed just to tarnish people’s reputation! See how Fox talk about Obama! Freedom of press is such a nonsense and I agree that we should pressure the club to make the media pay to watch games! We should only allow teams for the live screening because of the legal reasons, premier league contracts and so on! Everybody else should simply pay to watch! Wenger should also do like Ferguson and ban certain media from our conference room! It is not childlish, they need to realise that if they want to bring the club down, they will be remove! We are all entilted to our opinion but there are so much nonsense and lies ! They hate Arsenal ,but how many English players can you see in teams like Liverpool and so on! The media support over rated players like Rooney and Lampard or so on, but they have never ever won anything for the country and will probably never will!!! Come on Arsenal!!!
I also think we should have a proper Newspaper to support the club and fight the media approach by targetting our fans and sharing the good news with them! An Arsenal Newspaper out, twice a week and sold everywhere like any other newspapers! Also allow it to be sold online through a digital copy! We need more to fight back and not only blogs!!! We shall also tell true arsenal fans to stop buying those papers and encourage them to buy our own newspaper.

Thanks all for sharing!

Thanks for a great article!

By: diceman1984

diceman1984 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:25:53 +0000

We all know everyone wants us to fail.

No other teams has ever achieved things like we did.

But I love the fact that everyone is against us.

We’re the best club BECAUSE of those driven hatred against us.

It’s why we NEED to reunite and SUPPORT our team no matter what.

—I stop reading sports newspaper awhile back. And I watch Football shows on TV for entertainment. I come to Arsenal sites for real news and senses—

By: Brickfields Gunners

Brickfields Gunners — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:41:15 +0000

Being an Arsenal fan since 1971 , I ‘ve felt that there were many instances
where we unfairly singled out, while the likes of Man ure & Liverfool were accorded special treatment.This has never really bothered me as I have never lost my faith in this club eventhough I worship it from afar.All those “arse ” related jokes just bounced off.My advice to Arsenal fans is not to get hot under the collar ,ignore the fools and keep the faith- our time is coming again.This team will do us proud.

By: Ponyboy

Ponyboy — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:07:30 +0000

LRV – yes, it happens. They are known as “Trolls” and soon get found out…so childish.

By: pig

pig — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:03:56 +0000

alien, even though we are due apologies, we never get them.

By: Realistic Alien

Realistic Alien — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:26:34 +0000

Sorry to intrude, I stumbled upon your site when looking for something else. I compleltely endorse the author’s criticism of the media in general, but the irony for me is that Arsenal, in the main, actually get the best of it! I know you will have 300 examples of how you have been wronged, but try supporting Chelsea if you really want to get some media grief (OK, I know, you’ll all say, that’s what you deserve, etc… but I’m trying to be grown up about this. I have friends who support Arsenal and Spurs, though I can’t remember how that happened!). Just as a for instance – how many times have newspapers had to publish apologies about lies printed about Arsenal in the last 6 months?

Personally I’m really keen on getting diving out of the game – and yes that would include punishments for Drogba and Ashley Cole. Most footballers are like spoilt kids – if you don’t punish them they behave worse.

Anyway, enjoy the season (but not too much!)

By: Nhan Le

Nhan Le — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:04:41 +0000

David Pleat’s Chalkboard on the Guardian is supposed to be purely about tactic. In effect he sung a hymn of praise on Arsenal’s players and how well we played (this guy was an ex-Spur, wasn’t he?). There is no question we played one of our best games at Old Traford yesterday – better than the one we won 1-0 2 years ago.

All isn’t doom and gloom. When we get result against Citeh in a fortnight, because we won’t get unlucky again, the media will fall in love with Arsenal again. Their new nonsensical story: “Arsenal the Great Underdog defeat cash-rich Arabs! It’s not the money, stupid!” If you need reassurance, I don’t see anywhere further than the football we are playing.

By: Donnyfan1

Donnyfan1 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:26:17 +0000

TA.I support Donny-my home town team. But being related to an Arsenal hero has always given me a soft spot for the Arsenal. However- I am totally blown away by the wonderful AW, the ethos of your club, the way they try to play and the respect shown by most of the fans for the Arsenal Experience. Let me tell you- other fans, managers, Boards and players are jealous as green jelly of all you have. And when not watching their own club- they would prefer to watch the honest and unsynical Gunners to any other team, including Barca, because they are watching a family, a growing family at work and play. Keep together- you are the torch-bearers and the best.

By: LRV

LRV — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:40:07 +0000

To All Arsenal fans: I found out something interesting tonight purely by accident. A group of four (4) friends sat at a table next to mine. From their discussion, I gather that two of them are Chelsea fans, one Spud and one ManUre. Apparently, they, as well as some of their other friends, have been visiting many blogsites pretending to be Arsenal fans with very negative comments. They boast that they themselves are amazed at how many Arsenal fans follow their comments.

Well, if this can happen, Isn’t it time for true fans to stay true and consistently write comments that will encourage our boys as well as ourselves? I just thought that I will let you all know. So what are YOU going to do as a fan?

By: Docgooner

Docgooner — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:02:20 +0000

Great article again, Tony. This is the place to be for all the TRUE Arsenal fans. Something tells me, ManU arent gonna be that lucky whn the visit us at the Emirates.

By: kesoknolen

kesoknolen — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:46:40 +0000

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mdndc/606_29_08_2009/

Have a look at this, 23 minutes in. The host just dismisses the caller, and being downright rude, who tries to make a point that Rooney dived.

The manner in which he does it just sickens me..

By: Fem Dee

Fem Dee — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:45:09 +0000

Tony thanks for providing the perspective and balance that is ever lacking in the British Press’ views on Arsenal. However, Walter, thanks for your contribution. Our concentration should continue to be more on our football on the pitch.

Arsenal lost; a lot of talking points on Rooney’s penalty, Eduardo’s reception, Wenger’s send off and Diaby’s illuck but, Arsenal’s disallowed goal but, at the end of the day, Arsenal lost. Period.

We can take solace in the fact that we lost without Nasri, Walcott, Rosiky or Fabregas on the field. We can also take solace in the fact that Arsenal fought back to the very last minute instead of hanging their head like bullied puppies.

We can take solace in a maturing and stronger team that is emerging and forget about the British press that none of us in Arsenal or in Arsenal’s fan club can change any time soon. There will be other next times and at those next times, we can aim to get the British press to respect our football and our winning attitude and, grudgingly, our boys.

Fem Dee

By: bobby pliers

bobby pliers — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:35:21 +0000

Talksport on Friday night took the piss big time following Arsene’s comments regarding the charging of Eduardo. Collymore reckoned that an eight game ban was more appropriate for the fact that Eduardo “cheated Celtic, the fans, the game etc etc”, of course Collymore was a model footballer wasn’t he? MOTD last night glossed over the Arshavin penalty claim, backed the referee with regards to the “stonewall Man U penalty” and failed to mention any Rooney dive prior to Almunia’s rash dash to get to the ball. Eboue’s dive was more newsworthy and Eboue is an easy target. The only TV / Radio media source I could turn to is Arsenal TV and especially the fans forum with Tom Watt but since Setantas demise this seems to have gone too. In this media age it is tough when all is against you. It makes you feel paranoid but thats part of the plan.

By: leany

leany — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:50:58 +0000

thank you so so much for this. i feel happy now because i know we love ARSENAL and we are proud very much of OUR ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: don't believe the hype

don't believe the hype — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:33:29 +0000

Aaditya we are a game behind most of the PL.

Brilliant article as usual Tony – I gave up papers years ago, but not even in relation to Arsenal as I came to the conclusion that there is no such thing as objective reporting of the ‘news’. What you get if you are lucky is a fact distorted via the prism of one man’s opinion. The reporting on Arsenal represents this reality x 100 reinforced by hatred and jealousy and no fear of making it up as they go along. What saddens me the most is when I hear supposed Arsenal supporters parroting the rubbish spouted by the media. If the events of this week do not remove the blinkers from their eyes nothing will, but those of us who are not too blind to see need to stick together and back our players and manager to the fullest. It is them against us and we will prevail – Victoria Concordia Crescit!

By: Gooner in Kansas

Gooner in Kansas — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:21:20 +0000

Good post. The utter cowardice and cynicism displayed by Mike Dean and Alex Ferguson yesterday has me questioning why I support a club that plays in England. I love Arsenal and find Arsene Wenger to be one of the most admirable sportsmen I’ve ever encountered. But the institutionalized corruption of the Premiership makes me wonder if supporting this team is nothing more than an exercise in masochism. I might as well follow Serie A, where at least there is no pretense of fairness.
I know that no one wants to read the prattlings of an American about how a performance like Dean’s would result in at minimum a review and more likely a suspension from officiating any professional or even collegiate level sport in this country. But it’s true. As much as I dislike the NFL and it’s constant delays for replay of close officiating calls, the underlying principal is that the game will be called fairly and not decided by a mistake by an official. Outright bias of the type displayed by Dean yesterday would be virtually impossible.
Sorry for the rant, but yesterday’s match has left me with a sour taste that may linger for a while.

By: meditation

meditation — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:18:27 +0000

I have read a lot comments on many blogs and i am amazed that nobody has mentioned the valencia elbow on vermaelen. No card just an obvious attempt by the ref to pretend he was dealing with it by talking to valencia. My initial thought on the situation was that alex fergi had sent valencia out there to do that.To rattle his game. He is being recognised as a key for arsenal. Thats a dirty tactic in football thats known.forget the negativity this is battle of morality

By: Aaditya

Aaditya — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:56:21 +0000

Stoke City are ahead of us at the moment. Somewhere, the Gods of football (not the one on Earth) must be killing themselves.

By: Aaditya

Aaditya — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:53:09 +0000

I’m proud that we don’t do thing the English way.
We do not:

1. Kick lumps out of opposing team players
2.Spend recklessly
3. Surround the ref every time a decision does not go our way
4. Hoof the ball upfield in hope that some striker will fight past the defenders and get to it
5. Dive (this is relative, but only thanks to Eboue)
6. Deliberately kick the ball away from us if we are going to be tackled inside the box to “win” a penalty

We do what predominantly English teams cannot by:

1. Playing creatively, with good technique
2. Buy sensibly
3. Getting on with the game
4. Appointing a God as our manager (although there is only one God on Earth right now, so that one would be pretty hard)

I’m proud of us!