By Nitram
We have recently been asking “Where has all this abuse of Arsenal come from? I think it is time to Arsenal that question because I think I know. It comes from fear.
Following on from the recent article, “Arsenal behind Chelsea and Tottenham” How a once decent publication slipped into the gutter and thinking of the Athletic’s nonsensical statement that, “Arsenal are one of seven top-flight London clubs in 2024-25, and have often finished behind Chelsea and Tottenham in recent seasons,” I got to wondering where all this recent media abuse and double talk has come from?
You know the sort of things I’m talking about – articles in the main stream media, especially SKY sports, endlessly criticising everything, (and I mean everything) Arsenal does.
Then we have Pep, a supposed ‘friend’ of Arteta throwing his toys out of the pram over one comment while demanding (not requesting; demanding answers. (Someone at City demanding answers. Oh, the irony.)
ManC players, almost to a man accusing Arsenal of Dark Arts, simply because they are finding it tough to beat Arsenal.
Ex-professionals calling Arsenal cheats (Souness). Or that old favourite, “Embarrassing” (Keane – although it is never quite clear who is embarrassed when this term is used). Or lucky (Owen. Really Michael. Are you serious? Do you remember the days when one of our favourite chants was “Oh lucky, lucky; Lucky lucky lucky lucky Arsenal? Maybe we need to start that up again).
I agree with Tony that a lot of it is about deflection. For example, I think the notion that Arsenal are ‘Cheats’ is a deliberate and calculated attempt to deflect attention from Manchester City’s current trial, which is effectively about Manchester City doing exactly that: cheating.
But as my heading suggests, I think it is also about something else. Something much more visceral. Fear.
The more I read, the more I see, the more I believe they are all running scared.
They can see what is being built at Arsenal. By the Club. By Edu. And of course by Arteta. Since their arrival Edu and Arteta have been imperious in the transfer market, and with Trossard and Odegaard the club have acquired two of the best value buys EVER in Premier League history. Saliba and Gabriel are not far behind.
They have seen we are capable of bringing top quality youth through the ranks. Okay, not all are quite good enough to demand first team football at Arsenal, so they move on. Nevertheless many are still plying their trade at good, very good teams in the premiership. Our youth system is producing the players.
Meanwhile, in Arteta we have a tactical genius. He is not flamboyant à la Wenger, but we certainly can, and do, play with flair when needed. I don’t think he sees football as an art, more a game of chess.
He has all the pieces and he will deploy them in whatever manner he wants, depending on the challenge put in front of him. Whereas Wenger used to say, ‘we are going to go out there and play OUR game. It is up to you to stop us’. For many years they couldn’t.
Arteta is a pragmatist, not an artist. He will do whatever he thinks he needs to do to maximise our chances of a result. All out assault or 11 behind the ball. He can use both in one game. It all depends on the opposition or the state of the game. He is a master of adaptation.
He got so much unfair criticism for his 2nd half approach against Man City, but he must of known that the last five teams to play City at the Etihad with 10 men all got stuffed, and they included Liverpool, Tottenham H and Chelsea, I believe. It’s all very well being brave, but coming away with nothing wasn’t an option.
These people see this in Arteta. Ruthless. Clever. Afraid of nobody or anything.
No, I’m not saying we are the best team around. Not necessarily even in the PL. We cannot claim that until we win the PL. But these people can see where this is going, and it has brought that underlying hatred of Arsenal surging back to the surface.
It has even got under peps skin, that’s how obvious it is. Fear can do funny things to people.
The thing is, all this stuff rankles with me, with us I believe. It really pisses us off for want of a better word. But luckily it doesn’t seem to affect Arteta or the players, at all.
It’s like, yeah right, think what you like. Say what you like. We’ll just keep doing our thing and see where it takes us. Bring it on.
As for everyone else: be afraid, be very afraid
Please ignore as I’ve somehow sent an earlier version of my article that went up this morning. Content is almost identical. Sorry.