The press wake up, but still can’t quite see the history

Posted on by Tony Attwood

By Tony Attwood

For a moment this past week I thought the Daily Telegraph had finally got it.  Paul Hayward who is described as their “Chief Sports Writer” said,

“Arsenal fans, though, will have to decide. If there are to be recriminations let them start in May, not now, when Giroud is lining up to shoot or Özil is on one of his dribbles. The fretting and fury is almost certainly not helping the players.

“You could even go so far as to argue that tension inside the ground gives the players something to blame, or hide behind.

“Subconsciously they can tell themselves the real battle is between the supporters and the board, or the supporters and Wenger, not Arsenal’s first XI and those of Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

“Am I really just saying: get behind the team? Well, yes, because logically the opposite is damaging, self-defeating.”

Of course all this misses the point that Arsenal support is, as it has been at least since the 1930s, split between those who believe in supporting the team and those who believe in barracking the team because even perfection is never good enough.

And we are not the only club to do this.  In fact we benefited from it in the past when Bergkamp came to play for us.  See, “How the abuse of the moron fans nearly destroyed the greatest player”

Some ex-players said in print that the barracking of the Arsenal team by Arsenal fans started after the defeat of Chapman’s Arsenal to Walsall, but in fact we’ve traced it back much further than that.  See, for example, How the Arsenal fans almost destroyed a wonderful player.

This negativity hasn’t always been there, but it goes back nearly 100 years.

Of course you can’t expect a “Chief Sports Writer” to know too much about sporting history – after all, the papers are themselves utterly focussed on the now, and historical perspective does not fit easily with their remit.

So we might excuse this Chief Sports Writer from know much about the Arsenal past.

But let’s be fair.  He does start off to make a decent point with…

“why protest so forcibly now, when the team are one point off the top of the Premier League with 12 games left, are at home in the FA Cup fifth-round and are still in the Champions League?”

Well, yes, up to a point, except he also says,

“The fans are ambivalent. But surely they need to help, not hinder, and defer the reckoning until May.”

Now as I understand it, ambivalent means that something or someone is uncertain.  Could be this, could be that.   But the fantasy gang at Arsenal are not uncertain – they think Wenger is awful and should go.  And when he finally does, and we get someone far worse then they will blame the board for not appointing themselves personally.  Or maybe for not bringing in the Qatar Investment Authority.

Arsenal used to have passionate partisan fans.  It may not be a matter of club pride but Arsenal were the first ever club to have their ground shut down because the crowd were so partisan.  We lost them sometime around 1910, when having appeared in two cup semi-finals the club fell into bankruptcy.  Henry Norris said, “if you want a team in Woolwich come and support”.  He promised to give them one year, actually gave them three, and then moved the club to Highbury where support poured in.

Now over 100 years on the main pic the press like to run is that of a few kiddies in the crowd putting up “spend some money” cards.

And maybe this brings us to Arsenal’s greatest mistakes.   At Highbury with its 38000 capacity the number of AAAs who could get into the crowd was quite small, so their presence was least felt.  Of course if we had stayed we would have had none of the money that allowed us to buy Ozil – but then I forgot, the AAA think Ozil was a waste of money, so that would not have mattered.

It would have made Arsenal a middle ranking team, rather than one that has been 1st and 2nd through much of the season, but at least it would have been more peaceful.

As it is, the AAA are getting their way. The word about the way some Arsenal fans treat their players has spread – Gervinho’s tale has not gone unnoticed – and it will be ever harder to bring players of quality in – as indeed the AAA have noticed.

Which I for one think is rather sad.

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98 Replies to “The press wake up, but still can’t quite see the history”

  1. Simple equation.

    if you are a supporter, you support the team, win, lose or draw and through thick and thin.

    If you are a fan/follower, you only want shiny tin pots and you really should go follow Oil Money FC.

  2. I think it’s more simple than that will. Supporters watch their team home away abroad wherever even if it’s only once a season. Fans buy shirts and go shopping on match days watching matches or highlights on TV.

  4. Mr.Attwood you have some wise words there, but unfortunately they fall on deaf ears. Some, a minority, a noisy one, are determined to disrupts Arsenal’s excellent because in their minds Arsene Wenger is holding the club and its boards hostage.

    They believe, I will never know how they come to that conclusion, that Arsenal is a very reach clubs and should be buying all they players fans want. They believe money shouldn’t be an issue. However, the more sensible fans see the financial situation of our clubs and the fact that we’re competing with 3 more resourceful clubs that could outspend us, and outbid us if they wanted anytime.

    It’s really a delusion to think that this club will be flying without mr.wenger when we all know that the foundation we’re building on, training grounds, Emirates, money and wengerball, was aided by the selfless Arsene.

    Had we had Mourinho we wouldn’t have money left to build a training ground let alone an stadium. We wouldn’t have played this beautiful football that all football lovers and purists praise around the world.

    Would Mourinho win trophies with arsenal without spending hard earned money ? the answer is no. We all know how in 2008 when he failed to win the league and come second just few points clear of Arsenal kids led by the Fabulous one he complained about the lack of spending and inability to buy all the players he wanted. The following season he started badly and lost a lot of points and sacked consequently. If failed 2 years at Real, the biggest spenders in the world football.

    there’s a great need for some perspective there; we have a great manager and we’re starting to see the beginning of a great team that in few seasons will definitely win trophies. A team that’s already competing with 2 giants of football; ‘two big horses’.

    There’s big chances that this team might win something this year. But, that would be boosted by our support. It’s not the right time to moan; it’s the right time to get behind the time.

    It’s not the right time to bracket the efforts of our team and our manager; it’s time to recognise their performances so far this season and credit their undeniable loyalty for Arsenal Football Club.

  5. And then there are others, some of whom have attended and supported the team for longer than the writers of this blog ,that are of the opinion that despite appreciating the good work that has gone into moving stadium the man at the helm is not tactically diverse enough to see the team take that final step back into winning ways.Whilst you occupy yourselves in the blame game looking to see shadows around every corner you should stop looking over your shoulders and stare at the pitch and wonder how a team with the talent that they have can capitulate and get caught by opponents of a similar standard , how a team that’s getting a complete stuffing has no way of shoring things up and has apparently no tactical leader to change things.
    I agree it’s easy to highlight the spend money faction but the real question lies on the pitch because surprisingly that’s where the game is played.

  6. Its wonderful to get grown up comment in such a well written piece thanks.
    As a supporter through thick and thin, whether we win anything or not, Arsenal are my team and have been for longer than I care to remember
    P.S, I first remember the 1950 cup final, 2 nil against L`pool

  7. Interesting article but can you please clarify as I have not seen it has gervinho actually said that arsenal fans were responsible for him leaving arsenal ?

  8. @ terry white.
    Both goals scored by Reg Lewis from crosses by ex Spud) “Freddie” Cox (if I remember correctly)

  9. Think it’s spreading quite a few clubs getting their own AAA, the modern phenomena….must have and now…..served the world economy well didn’t it!

  10. at least for a start, the press are changing their tune. I think that should be a thing to celebrate:-)

  14. ON LINE –

    Now I’ll tell you a real story that happened in a Sunday school. The Kindergarten class was discussing “prayer”, and the children seemed aware that the way you end a prayer was with “amen.” Does anyone know what “amen” means, the teacher asked.
    There was a long silence. Then one little boy piped up, with appropriate, computer-age gestures, and said, “Well, I think it means, like, “send”

  15. An AAAA died, and to his surprise discovered that there was indeed an afterlife.
    The angel in charge of these things told him, “Because you were an unbeliever and a doubter and a skeptic, you will be sent to Hell for all eternity — which, in your case, consists of a place where no one will disagree with you ever again!

    Altogether now AKBs – SEND !

  17. Off topic but a bit of old but gold…

    A Liverpool girl enters an adult shop and asks for a vibrator.
    The man says: “Choose one from our range on the wall.” She says “I’ll take that red one.”
    The man replies: “That’s a fire extinguisher.”

    Q. What do you call a 27 year old Liverpool girl?
    A. Granny.

    Q. What do you call a Liverpool girl in a white tracksuit?
    A. The bride.

    Q. What does a Liverpool girl use as protection during sex?
    A. A bus shelter.

    Q. There are two Liverpool girls in a car without any music – who is
    driving?
    A. The policewoman

    Q. What’s the most confusing day in Liverpool ?
    A. Father’s day

    A Scouser walked into the local job centre, marched straight up to the
    Counter and said ‘Hi, I’m looking for a job’.
    The man behind the counter replied ‘Your timing is amazing’.
    We’ve just got one in from a very wealthy man who wants a
    chauffeur/bodyguard for his nymphomaniac twin daughters.
    You’ll have to drive around in a big black Mercedes and wear the uniform provided.
    The hours are a bit long but the meals are provided. You also have to escort the young ladies on their overseas holidays.
    The Salary package is £200,000 a year’.
    The Scouser said ‘You’re bullshitting me!’
    The man behind the counter said ‘Well you started it!’

    Police cordoned off Liverpool City Centre this morning when a suspicious object was discovered in a car.
    It later turned out to be a tax disc.

    Police in Liverpool last night announced the discovery of an arms cache of 200 semi-automatic rifles with 25,000 rounds of ammunition, 20 tons of heroin, £5 million in forged UK banknotes and 25 trafficked Ukrainian prostitutes, all in a semi-detached house behind the Public Library in Toxteth.
    Local residents were stunned, and a community spokesman said:”We’re all really shocked; we never knew we had a library.”

  19. Karl the definition I work to is

    having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

    What I am trying to say is that I don’t think the AAA are ambivalent – they have very clear views which are not mixed at all.

  21. bc,

    I’d rather go with Will’s definition. It’s not about how much money or time you spend following the team as you have tried to make it. It’s about your passion and support at all times, good and bad but especially during the bad spells of results.

    The Running Man, the Vietnamese fan that the club flew over to London during the Emirates cup, would not qualify as a supporter by your definition as all he could do to follow Arsenal was buy shirts and watch on TV but Arsenal FC think otherwise.

    I know Arsenal fans in Nigeria who may never see the club play in person but who are far superior supporters to the whiny bunch who only are fortunate to have the money and time required to get into the Emirates.

  22. Talking about the real story, I find strange that the real story behind the ostracism if Ravel Morrison at West Ham has not been brought up by more journalist. It has been hinted by the mirror who refused to print name. The Guardian had also a small reference but not a front page.
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/group-leading-agents-call-action-2989374#.UtlaO7BFDIU

    In short Fat Sam asked Ravel Morrison to switch agent. Morrison refused. Fat Sam then used Kevin Nolan to talk to Morrison about agent on a daily basis. Fed up with that kind of psychological war of attrition, Morrison and his agent protested to the WestHam hierarchy about it. Fat Sam, Kevin Nolan and the agent all denied anything untoward. Other agents who had lost players to the same friend of Sam agent in exactly the same circumstances then made an official complaint with written testimonies. Still WestHam do nothing and now Ravel Morrison has been hounded out of WestHam.

    If Ravel Morrison had been the only one to make that kind of complain about Fat Sam, you could dismiss that as false. However he has previous. It is far from an isolated incident. Fat Sam had been accused by the BBC of the same behaviour at Bolton. They alledged that he pressured players to switch agent and that he received a kickback via a commission paid to his son. His son and an two agents were filmed, gloating about that scam. Of course Fat Sam said that it was a complete lie and he was going to sue the BBC, he never did.
    Remember Jason Puncheon’s tweets against Neil Warnock, in which he accused him of the same behaviour? Why do journalists not work on exposing the dirty behaviour of managers?
    In the meantime, Ravel Morrison career is going to the toilet.

  24. @Valentin yeah read an article by Daniel Taylor on that this morning. Such a sad state of affairs really.

  25. Yes, noted that report Valentin. Big Sam is part of that old school dodgy ness, along with fergie, arry, clough and the only one ever punished, our own mr graham. If true , raises two issues, firstly, don’t think such things are legal in the laws of the game, hope west hams owners act….unless they are in on it. Secondly, why didn’t we go for ravel, he looks brilliant, he had his past but I hear he has turned his life around.
    Football is fixed…..and people on this site have been warning about the influence of agents for a long time, if they are trying to decide who plays, this is corruption by any definition. If true, big Sam and Nolan should be escourted off the premesis along with the agent followed by an FA EPL investigation. Not holding my breath, they would rather take on non league players when dealing with corruption.

  26. And while they are at it, they can look at Jose’s relationship with one agent in particular….seems to like signing players who share this agent, so do Real Madrid.

  27. Good (time of day) all. Quarter past 7am here, no coffee, still got cobwebs. Very little of substance looking at Google news 15 minutes ago. It was nice to see Bob Wilson calling out that dumbhead from Chelsea. I thought the FA should have charged him really. It was uncalled for. ManU must have money to burn, announced Rooney for 300k pounds per week.

    I hope the team had a good sleep, and are going to give us a good game.

    COYG!

  28. @ Gf60 – Great selection ! Am putting this here as there is mention of ‘brick’ and ‘medics” !

    I saw a Scouser the other day drink a bottle of beer and then smash it on the floor. He looked at me laughing and said, “Wht the fuk yo lukin at mte? Keeps the fuckin street cleaners in a job dunnit?”

    So I picked up a brick and smashed it into his face…

    Keeps the paramedics in a job… ‘dunnit’?

    Read more: http://www.sickipedia.org/racism/scousers/i-saw-a-scouser-the-other-day-drink-a-bottle-176827#ixzz2tUmaI3yk

  29. More of the same from..
    http://www.paulkavanagh.com/en/Liverpool-Jokes-Scouse-Joke.html

    Three football fans were driving along when they spied a body in the undergrowth. Stopping their car, the three guys ran over to see what they could do. Unfortunately, they found the nude body of a deceased young woman.
    Being gentlemen, the first guy dropped his Spurs hat over one breast. The second guy, a Liverpool fan, placed his hat over the other breast. The Manchester United fan then placed his hat over the woman’s private parts.
    Soon the police arrived. The coroner started checking over the body. He picked up the Spurs hat and quickly placed it back. He then picked up the Liverpool hat and returned it. Then he picked up the Man United Fan hat, put it down, then picked it up again inspecting the hat more closely, and then put it down. Then he picked it up a third time.
    By this time, the Man United fan was a bit irritated and he asked, “Why do you keep picking up that hat? Are you some kind of pervert or something?” The coroner responded with a wry smile, “Son, I can’t figure this one out. Usually when I come across one of these Man United hats, there’s an arsehole under it.”

  30. A woman goes to the doctors and says “Every time I open my legs I hear the song You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
    The Doctor says “Don’t worry, you hear a lot of ***** singing that”.

  31. Really my last one !

    Saint Peter was manning the Pearly Gates when forty scousers showed up. Never having seen anyone from Liverpool at heaven’s door, Saint Peter said
    he would have to check with God.
    After hearing the news, God instructed him to admit the ten most virtuous from the group. A few minutes later, Saint Peter returned to God breathless and said,
    “They’re gone.”
    “What? All of the Scousers are gone?” asked God.
    “No” replied Saint Peter “The Pearly Gates!”

  32. It’s not press history, but a bit of history I like to see, is when someone writes into Making the Arsenal to mention that one of their relatives played for Arsenal. And Tony seems to acknowledge almost all of them on Making the Arsenal, (I suspect he contacts all privately).

    ————–

    The BBC announced the starting lineup:
    > Fabianski, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Flamini, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Podolski, Sanogo

    COYG!

  34. The game hasn’t started yet on BT but I am already sick of hearing every emotive derogatory adjective imaginable used to describe Arsenal. I so hope we win so they can all stick their adjectives up their asses.

  38. From the BBC:
    > 16:49:

    > Raheem Sterling is raging at Howard Webb and then steps over the line, putting his palm on referee Howard Webb’s chest. He is lucky to escape with a strict telling-off.

    And if an Arsenal player were to do that?

    COYG!

  39. Sanogo looks promising, he’s had a good first half, he doesn’t let himself get bullied and gives as good as he gets.

  40. Rubbish.. If anything Howard Webb is favouring us. Podolski…at least a booking not given.. Sanogo elbow in Aggers face!!!.

  41. @Gord
    Sanogo played a big part in the goal, cross came into the box, Sanogo took it on his chest, swiveled and got a cracking volley off on target, it was blocked and the loose ball fell to the unmarked Ox who blasted it in from the edge of the area.

  42. @andy bishop
    Rubbish. If anything Webb is favouring Liverpool. Sterling angrily lays hand on Webb…. no booking!

  43. I’ve no idea if things are rubbish or not. The combined BBC commentary mentioned it, the Arsenal/Liverpool commentary didn’t mention a thing, nor did Sports Mole’s commentary.

    COYG!

  46. Agger skirtel deserve an elbow or two…..Poldi had Hus knee kicked by Gerrard, but Gerrard didn’t get yellow for that…

  47. Agree about Sanogo, Mick. He’s looking real solid, and looks like he’s got an eye for goal too. His volley that was blocked by Gerard leading to Alex’s opener had goal written all over it.

  50. Yes …..superb run to the line and a cut back to poldi…. Pre assist by Ozil. Well weighted pass…

  52. The side of fairness and an arsenal fan since 1958. The referees are against us, the media are against us, the AAA are against us. All excuses for failure. Ozil is fuckin class Giroud is shite COYG

  56. I think the BBC heard you, and answered.
    > 17:35: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

    > Steven Gerrard, spooked by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pace, slides in and fails to get a touch on the ball down by the Liverpool corner flag. He is already on a booking. If he hadn’t been, he would have seen yellow. As it is, Howard Webb takes mercy.

    COYG!

  58. From a comment, it sounds like Fabianski has been watching reruns of another German goaltender (not Lehmann), Schumacher.

    Good win boys! Everpool at home next.

    COYG!

  60. Great win, puts a bad result firmly behind us. Fabi, great performance, hope you go onto great things when you leave us to get regular games. Nice solid game from Yaya, ox was fantastic, and ozil looked happy!
    If we could win this, it would certainly be the hard way, playing most of the top six or so on the way, but at home so no complaints, despite a year of the very toughest draws.
    As for the ref, thought he had a disaster, the media and critics will focus on the ox on Suarez, but the first pen was soft, and sterling, Gerard and skirtel could have all seen red for various offences. Some strange advantage calls working against us as well. If this guy is our best ref…..well..untold have been saying it all really. Still , years of sucking up to fergie seem to have worked for mr Webb
    Well done boys!

  63. @andy bishop
    You must be really pissed off with that result. Go and troll somewhere else and let us proper supporters enjoy the win.

  64. andy bishop,

    You lose the argument the moment you started quoting how long you’ve been supporting Arsenal. First, how do we know you are not lying? And secondly, no one gives a shit how long you’ve been following Arsenal or whether you are a season ticket holder. I think Howard Webb wasn’t bad. I think he was fair to both sides but you claim that he was biased in favour of Arsenal is ludicrous. Your supporting Arsenal since 1886 does not make your opinion more valid than those of other fans on a game that we have all just seen.

  65. Good win & great performance from the team. Only a true AAA or hypocrite could complain about that effort.

    I don’t normally single out anyone who has played particularly well or badly, but the Ox had a great all round game, Fab was …well…fab & Sanogo looked as if he will develop into a great player.

    But, in fairness, the whole team was great – and what a goal from Podolski!

  66. Fabianski was immense today. My Man of the Match by a mile.

    All the players were great. Flamini was his usual bulldog; damn I love that guy.

  68. Everyone looked so happy!!! All smiling and cheering.
    Well done Bian, very well done.
    Well done THE ARSENAL.

  69. Ok andy lets get started:
    1- penalty for suarez, soft and usually not given unless its against Arsenal, Poldi touched him on his left foot, and he dived as if he was hit on the right.
    2- Ox on Suarez, definite penalty. Still Webb didnt give it cause of the first one which he saw on the screens ans knew it was not.
    3- Ozil sanogo one two, Ozil on the ground, no replay and nothing given, from my first view, it should be one.
    4- Girrard fouls:
    *On Podli, no yellow, moment later Poldi made the foul, should have been a yellow but Liverpool played the bal fast, and Howard didnt return for it.
    *On chamberlain, counter, yellow given ( should be a second now).
    *again on Ox and should be his 3rd yellow.

    Am not saying Howard was biased against us, he had good 1st half and bad 2nd thats it.

  71. Great win. Bring on another tough opponent in Everton! Only 3 Epl teams left in FA cup, so we have a decent chance in it.

  72. Great game.

    Liverpool should’ve had another penalty, no doubt, but I thought Arsenal really dug in and battled hard for the victory.

    Some promising performances. Sanogo looks an able deputy for Giroud and Fabianski played his best game for Arsenal today.

  74. Andy and before i forget, the foul by skrtl or agger on cazorla, high foot could have broke his leg.

  76. Liverpool could only have had one pen imo, probably the second one. Not the first, no way. Even the commentators said they thought webb was going to show suarez a yellow for diving for the first one. Ozil should’ve had one too in the second half, but like Yassin said, not even deemed worthy of a replay. And anyway, Gerrad should have walked for his tackle on the ox in the second half.

  77. @Bootoome,

    Agree, Fabianski my MOTM too, brilliant, we are back.

    @Al,
    Agree too, he started missing up after the penalty.

    @Emirates fans,
    Yes you were the 12th man, see how the team respond to such support. COYG

  80. Excellent game, we were able to withstand pressure from Pool in the second half. Almost looked like we let them do their thing and be content to block them at the critical moment. As usual a lot of kicking was let go by the ref – I’ll always remember De Jong’s karate in the WC final. FFS, this is the only place in the world where you can legally assault somebody and walk away. I like Sanogo, he’s a handful for any defense. And he’s what, 19? Great work guys, on to the next match!

  81. andy bishop

    Lets see you acknowledge the not given foul in the box by Skirtel & the not given second yellow on Gerrard – before you come out with any more anti Arsenal rubbish.

  82. Mandy Dodd,

    I agree with your assessment of Webb. I don’t think he was great but I am satisfied with his performance because he was fair to both sides; in other word, he wasn’t biased against either of the 2 teams. The first penalty was soft but there was indeed contact. The second decision was close and Dean would have awarded it, so let’s be grateful for little mercies like that. Our attacking players need to be more careful when defending inside our box.

    It’s great to put the monkey of avenging that loss behind us. I’m very happy that we had the opportunity to beat Liverpool this soon. Hopefully, this will stop the press’ fixation on our loss from last week.

  83. Yes, that foul on Santi was a very high boot with studs showing too. Like the one de Jong dished out to alonso at the world cup when….webb, again, was the ref.

    I think Webb is a decent ref, but it looks like his decisions in a game are based on evening things out. Like if he’s awarded a dodgy penalty he then usually denies a genuine one, or if he’s shown a player a yellow for a soft foul he will then let the player get away with a worse foul, and so on. Eventually, that will make him a shite ref.

  84. Loved Wenger’s response to moureen’s dig, “I’ll not comment on a silly, disrespectful remark, all I can say is it looks bad on Chelsea than on me…’ or something like that. Classy 🙂

  85. If Webb had given all the cards he should have given, we would have had 4 or 5 yellows for Arsenal and 8 or 9 yellows for Liverpool, to include several second yellows.
    As to the “penalty” that was not called, the first penalty was extra soft, so what gives?
    Shocked by the referee; in his desire to keep the game under control, his calls ended up lacking judiciousness.
    I watched the game on one of the Fox channels; Warren Barton kept going on and on about the “penalty” and how it was scandalous not to give it; Eric Wynalda was less adamant, as he usually favors Chelsea while Barton is a Fergie and also somehow a Mugsmashers apologist.
    Wenger all class during his interview. COYG.

  86. Had Walcott been on the pitch, with all of our counterattacks, we could have scored at least a couple more. Nothing against the team on the field, just missing Theo’s devastating pace.

  87. @AL

    Is this what you were referring to?

    > 18:34: Manager reaction- Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

    > Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Chelsea rival Jose Mourinho calling him a “specialist in failure”: “I do not want to go into that – those were silly, disrespectful remarks. I never spoke about him in my press conference. I know one thing, it is more embarrassing for Chelsea than it is for me.”

  89. Agreed Bootoomee, did not see any real bias from Webb, just a number of wrong decisions.
    Liverpool have very pacy, accomplished forwards, and it is clearly in their game plan to play for penalties. And without the stats to hand, they seem to get rather a lot of them, certainly more than we get. I am not stupid enough to say our players have never done the same, they clearly have, but we are in general more inclined to stay on our feet than this Liverpool. The second probably was a pen if I am honest, but the way Suarez reacted and with his rep, made things hard for the ref in fairness to him.
    Guess mr Webb has managed to upset a few on both sides!

  91. Seems some of our so-called ‘fans’ are mighty upset at Webb failing to award pool two penalties. How does that work???

  92. Seems some of our so-called ‘fans’ are mighty upset at Webb failing to award pool two penalties. How does that work???

  93. Got this of the BBC’s live game page:

    “18:13
    Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
    Failing to hold onto a two-goal lead may have been a body blow for Arsenal after losing at Anfield and drawing against Manchester United in midweek, but the real make-or-break period of their season is still to come.

    Going away to Bayern Munich, Tottenham and Chelsea before playing Manchester City in successive games from 11 March will be when we find out what they are really made of.”

    It seems even if Arsenal did a terble this season, they’d have to repeat the same feat next season for us to know “what they are really made of.”

    So, I’ve gotta ask Tony, Walter and anyone with historical knowledge about Arsenal I haven’t got, did the club comit some genocidal crime, swee it under the carpet to warrant such cynicism and contempt from the Press?! Frankly, I’m at odds here

  94. Don’t know Al, probably the same fans revelling in Jose’s highly personal attack on Wenger

  95. @Bugzie

    I think it is several genocidal crimes: one is behaving in a fiscally responsible manner, and not just spend, spend, spend. Another is hiring a French manager, who is well educated and speaks many languages.

  96. Probably Mandy. And they’re upset that the jester and his pony – sorry, ass – are now out of the running for treble. While we still are 🙂

  97. Thanks Gord. I guessed as much, but wanted to give them the benefit of a doubt. Alas irrational people run the media

  98. Very interesting about Jack Lambert and how Arsenal fans booing him nearly destroyed his career. Only there’s actually no proof of that at all as you yourself say. Of course you claim that Herbert Chapman wanted these boo boys ejected and being as I regard Mr. Chapman as our greatest manager, possibly the greatest manager of all time, and that claim is true then I would be rather disappointed as it’s anyone’s right to boo whoever they want.

    It would be sad to think Gervinho left due to fan pressure but then that just could be excuse from a player who couldn’t cut it in the EPL. As for other players being put off coming to Arsenal because of a few fans who may or may not boo them I find that somewhat ridiculous. Any proof of this? Because with the exception of this site the world has never heard of the AAA. I’ve supported Arsenal for over forty years and that acronym has never been heard of until it was created by UA.

    As for the media hatred it’s obviously true because of the numerous people on here making links to anti-Arsenal rhetoric in the media and the more they keep this up the sooner it may cease.

    Anyway I’m hoping for a win tonight.

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