By Tony Attwood
“Arsenal banish poisonous issue as Man Utd win underlines Mikel Arteta’s biggest achievement”
That is a headline in the Mirror today. And one might well ask “What poisonous issue?” Is that the poisonous issue created by the Mirror who have been sowing seeds of poison all over Arsenal for years? Or something from Arsenal’s past that we haven’t heard about? Or …
Actually there isn’t a poisonous issue – or at least not one other than the poison spread by the media concerning Arsenal and their players. Time and again we see negative headlines about Arsenal, but without any substance in the article. In fact the article and the headline seem to have no connection – as is the case here.
In fact there is no negativity to report, so the publication just leads with the negative headline but then there is no mention of it in the story.
But what we are left is is a constant, ceaseless, on-going campaign by the Mirror and which is shared by other media, to undermine Eddie and Arsenal. Just consider these headlines. One tale is that Eddie isn’t good enough. Another is that he is quite good but Arsenal took their time to offer him a contract. Another is that Eddie doesn’t know what he wants to do and keeps changing his mind.
Another is that Eddie’s current form has come about by chance. Another is… well, it just goes on and on. You can make up your own stories and they will be just as valid as those in the media.
Just look at some of these headlines from the past month…
- Arsenal chief Edu must not let Eddie Nketiah impact sway ruthless transfer stance
- Eddie Nketiah makes Arsenal U-turn
- “I find it extraordinary that a 22-year-old English forward, who finds himself at a club like Arsenal and playing the football of his life, hasn’t had his future nailed down by the club” (Garth Crooks)
- Mikel Arteta must solve Eddie Nketiah conundrum
- Eddie Nketiah explains impossible position Arsenal put him in …
- Arsenal set for Eddie Nketiah windfall despite Mikel Arteta rejecting transfer bids
Until finally, when it cannot be sustained as a story any more, we have “Eddie Nketiah’s unexpected hero status is fuelling Arsenal’s title belief”. Unexpected it seems, only to the media.
It is part of what we might call a “Celebration of ignorance” or perhaps “ignorance as bravado” as when in the Guardian we find, in their minute-by-minute on-line reporting, this extraordinary amount of gibberish…
I was asking myself how Arsenal will line-up once Jesus is back….
What do you think ? Will we see Nketiah, Jesus, Martinelli, Saka and Odegaard together ?
Would this not seem mouthwatering ?
It’s not like Eddie could then just be put back on the bench, nor like Jesus can be ignored.
Just wondering….
My Dad and my uncles always referred to the club as The Arsenal and I remember in the 60’s the crowd used it in a chant .
along with the Eton boating song obviously amended , I miss the old songs but not necessarily the ribald ones although some were quite funny like wings of a sparrow or the pride of North London .
“The Arsenal” sounds much more right and proper than “Arsenal”. I bet the media hate it.
Guys,
I find it very interesting that all the deadwood press has found to put down Arsenal is talking about ‘The’ or how Mr Arteta does his fitness training on the sideline…. I mean, come-on…. wasn’t there a time where each player was being put down ?
Tony
“But what we are left is is a constant, ceaseless, on-going campaign by the Mirror and which is shared by other media, to undermine Eddie and Arsenal”.
“Until finally, when it cannot be sustained as a story any more, we have “Eddie Nketiah’s unexpected hero status is fuelling Arsenal’s title belief”.
“Unexpected it seems, only to the media”
Alas, not only by the media but by a few Arsenal fans who came her spouting the same nonsense, and I can tell you they really don’t like it when you point out just how wrong they are. Especially when you use stats. That really does seem to upset them for some reason.
Still, that’s what happens when you put misguided opinions ahead of the facts.