2010 to 2016 saw some of the most volatile infighting I have ever seen at Arsenal football club.
The period coincided with Arsenal going 8-years without a trophy, and the rise of the so-called “Wenger Out Brigade”, whose sole goal was to create a negative atmosphere around the club that would force the board to sack our greatest ever manager.
The period also saw the birth of Arsenal Fan TV, who platformed those with extreme negative views and produced rage bait for revenue every weekend. The result was arguing and fighting in the stands, around the ground and online. It was a horrible time for someone who just wanted to go to a game, have a beer and support their club.
One big criticism was around our transfer policy.
We were getting labelled as “cheap” having seen the Suarez £40m+£1 bid go public, which the media deliberately misrepresented to profit off the disharmony at Arsenal. During the same period, we also saw the club miss out on Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante, with the narrative written that we were unwilling to match what Chelsea were offering, despite both players preferring us.
These deals lead to heavy criticism from Arsenal and Arsene’s detractors. But now they have egg on their face.
It has been announced that Chelsea are facing 74 charges related to alleged breaches of agent regulations by the FA. Charges relate to the period between 2009 to 2022, when Roman Abramovich owned club, and mainly relate to events between the 2010/11 and 2015/16 seasons.
Sky Spors have reported that Sky Sports News understands that “transfers which raised potential concerns are believed to include deals for players such as Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o and Willian.”
I remember the disappointment around us not signing Hazard. It felt huge. But what is now clear is that we were not competing for his signature on a fair playing field. Chelsea, whose new owner self-reported the infringement, were making illegal payments to players agents and representatives to secure their signature.
The current owners of Chelsea have been very smart, going down the route of “blame our predecessor” in the hope to avoid heavy sanctions.
They have self-reported to the FA and already settled a case with HMRC on the matter. Reports indicate that they are proactively working with the FA on the case in the hope of reducing their punishment. And it is likely that will send up as a 7-figure fine.
But what does that really mean? The fine will be easily paid, BlueCo will sell more real-estate to finance any loss, and everyone will move on.
The real losers are the fans of opposing clubs who missed out on memories, on moments, whilst Chelsea built a Champions League winning team based off bungs.
Trophies won by Chelsea between 2009 and 2022 were won through cheating. There is no debate. Chelsea’s current owners, through self-reporting, have admitted they cheated.
That is 3 league titles, 2 Champions Leagues, 3 FA Cups, 1 League Cup and 1 Europa League.
74 charges is huge. The FA should go further than a fine and expunge those domestic victories from the record, and encourage UEFA to do likewise.
Financial doping is no different to pharmaceutical doping. The FA need to take the lead from the Tour de France and begin removing victories wojn through cheating from the official record.
Yes, you will never take away those special moments from their fans, nor give other fans special moments who may have won. But by removing from the record the victories it makes a statement.
What should not happen is those trophies be “redistributed” as you do not know who might have won them had Chelsea not cheated. The only fact you know is Chelsea would not have won them. So remove the victories from the record and put an * by each year. The same should also happen to Manchester City if they are found guilty of cheating.
They should also have to give back all prize money earned during that period, as it is prize money won through doping. We see this in athletics and other sports. Get caught cheating, you lose your medals and have to pay back your winnings. Even if it does bankrupt you.
Hopefully, now those loudest voices against Wenger and Arsenal during the 10s realise what we were up against – first with Manchester City and then with Chelsea. It is all good shouting your unhappiness from the stands and spreading negativity online, but now that you have the facts, you must admit you were wrong.
Arsenal did not struggle during that period due to inaction from the board or a manager losing his touch. We struggled because other teams were cheating. Where buying players through illegal means, or by using money they had not right to use.
Enjoy your friday.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 