Tag Archives: Arsenal

Media Bias Against Arsenal

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Ed note: This piece first appeared on youaremyarsenal.com – it has been published with kind permission of the team at You Are My Arsenal and KeenosAFC.

What a difference 24 hours makes? On Wednesday, the English press’s response to Arsenal being knocked out of the Champions League, and Mesut Ozil going off at half time with a hamstring injury was a negative one…

“Same old story as Arsenal crash out of Champions League”

“Lost and lazy Ozil…he’s nicking a living”

A day later, Manchester City got knocked out of the Champions League, Sergio Aguero went off at half time with a hamstring injury, and the press completely turned their negative Arsenal stories into positive Manchester City ones…

“Brave City Bow Out”

“Hamstring Dramas for Aguero”

The differing response to both games is an interesting one.

Arsenal drew away from home to the current European Champion’s, who currently sit 20 points clear of the Bundesliga. Manchester City lost 2-1 away from home to a side who themselves lost 7-0 on aggregate to last years European Champions, who currently sit 3rd in their domestic league.

Both sides are out, both had their red card controversies, and both sides were comprehensively passed off the pitch. So why the differing opinions by the British press?

The Guardian opens with “The Champions League is a tough, unforgiving competition” to make it clear that Man City going out was not a disaster, but “a reminder about the brutalities of football at the highest level.” Twice knocked out of the group stages, this year Manchester City did not make it past the first knock out stage. Why did the press decide to describe them as brave, whilst saying Arsenal’s was ‘Same old story’?

The Aguero/Ozil situation also highlights a clear bias in the presses thinking. Both got injured very early on in the 1st half and were taking off after half time. Aguero has been commended for battling through the 1st half and trying to do his best for the time. Whilst Ozil has been described as not only lost and lazy, but much worse. Ex Arsenal player turned pundit, John Hartson, even went as far as questioning the injury by saying Ozil needs to “re-asses whether he actually wants to play for Arsenal.”

A lot was made of Mesut Ozil’s first half contribution in the press. “21 touches of the ball” was the sole statistic used to highlight how poor he was. Meanwhile, Brave, strong Sergio Aguero had 6 touches of the ball, none of which were in the opponents box, attempted 3 passes, completing just 1, and that was at kick off. If any player should have been described as ‘Lost and Lazy’ it was Sergio Aguero.

So why the differing view?

For a long time, the press have been anti-Arsenal. Yes, every club will claim the press, or certain journalists, are anti-their club. But in Arsenal’s case, they have a point. From TalkSport’s ‘Daily Arsenal’, to Match of the Day’s continually mocking of Arsene Wenger, the written press are probably the worst for being biased against Arsenal.

In the late 90′s/early 00′s, Arsenal had a poor disciplinary record. Recently, Arsenal got their 100th red card. A lot was made of it. But little was made of Arsenal continually topping the fair play league over the last 10 years.

After the poor discipline, the next stick the press used to bash Arsenal as that of being ‘softies’. This highlights the rank hypocrisy of the British press. One moment they are having a go at Arsenal for being too rough, the next they are moaning about being too soft.

The foreign agenda that the press had also got up my noise. Whilst Arsenal were going unbeaten, with a perfect disciplinary record, the press continually highlighted our lack of English players. The agenda peaked during our Champions League run of 2006 when Alan Pardew proclaimed in his newspaper column that Arsenal were not an English side. No mention was made of other top clubs (Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham) not producing an England regular since the 90s, nor is it ever mentioned that it was Liverpool who played once played an FA Cup Final without a single Englishman in the line up – 1985/86.

A final example is the Arsenal trophy drought. Is any other clubs ‘lack of trophies’ mentioned as much as Arsenal? I can be watching Blackpool v Blackburn, and they will mention it. In every written article about Arsenal, it is mentioned. Yet what of Everton’s trophy drought? What of Aston Villa’s? Why do they not talk about the last time Tottenham or Liverpool won the league? It is getting quiet clear that there is an anti-Arsenal agenda in the press. But Why?

The traditional English press was based in Fleet Street. Fans of West Ham and Tottenham made up their majority. The only thing they could agree on was bashing Arsenal. It is often why still, even now, West Ham and Spurs get an easy ride on the press. Moving on to the spoken press, there is a massive North-West bias. The majority of BBC, ITV, Sky and BT Sport pundits come have associations with either Manchester United or Liverpool. The 3rd most represented club is Tottenham. It creates a situation were negativity about other clubs is suppressed, whilst the likes of MOTD, with their ex-Liverpool and Tottenham line up bash Arsenal. Alan Hansen has never quite got over 1989. Why are there so many Scousers working as pundits these days?

And of course, the press also do not want to upset Liverpool or Manchester united, as both have previously restricted access or refused to buy publications of those who do.

Taking biased journalism aside, there is another reason so much is written about Arsenal.

Arsenal fans, over and above any other club, are media hungry. A phone-in about Arsenal on a radio station gets the most call ins. A back page about Arsenal gets the most readers. A headline on a website about Arsenal gets the most hits. we have more blogs then any other club. We have more podcasts then any other club. Chances are you were linked to this blog through a news aggregators – Arsenal has the most, or twitter – Arsenal have the most followers, or Facebook – Arsenal have the most likes. The fact is, you, we, are part of the problem. If we did not read, listen, watch as much, less would be written. Is it our higher level of education that causes this (Spurs fans can’t read so do not buy papers)? Or is it that due to the bashing, we fight back, through phone-ins, through blogs.

The media is biased against Arsenal. This bias reared its ugly head once more in the response to Arsenal and Manchester City going out of the Champions League. If you do not believe there is a bias, buy a paper, go online, read the articles, and judge for yourself.

Keenos

Is Nicklas Bendtner a mechaphile??

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So I was planning on doing something about the Tottenham game on Sunday this morning. But things change in football. Especially with Nicklas Bendtner still on the payroll. The Tottenham stuff can wait until tomorrow.

For those have not already read about it, Nicklas Bendtner was recently exposed as someone who likes to have sex with cars. A Mechaphile.

A mechaphile is a paraphilia involving a sexual attraction to machines such as bicycles, motor vehicles, helicopters and aeroplanes. In 2008, a British man admitted to of had sex with over 1,000 cars. What Bendtner’s figure currently stands at is a mystery.

Why someone would find a vehicle attractive is a mystery to me. Fair enough, I can picture someone using the exhaust pipe as a sort of flesh light, of a female using the gear stick as a dildo, but to be sexually attracted to a machine just makes you a wrong in. In some countries, you are put on the sex offenders list for enjoying liaisons with a car. It makes you weirder then a Welshman and his enjoyment of sheep.

But what should Arsenal do with Nicklas Bendtner? His list of shame is slowly starting to catch up Joey Barton.

May 2009 – Pictured falling out of a London nightclub with his trousers down his ankles
August 2009 – Changed his Arsenal shirt number to 52 to reflect is salary, £52,000
September 2009 – Write off his £160,000 Aston Martin in a high speed crash. Was found in his underwear
February 2011 – Dumped his current girlfriend, Baroness Caroline Iuel-Brockdorff, 7 months after she gave birth to his son
December 2011 – Arrested for causing £4,000 worth of damage to cars. Charges dropped
June 2012 – Fined €100,000 after showing his sponsered boxer shorts having scored a goal
March 2013 – Suspended by Denmark for 6 months after being arrested for drink driving
November 2013 – Cautioned for criminal damage within his own apartment block
March 2014 – Drunken rant at a taxi driver, which lead him to dropping his pants and rubbing himself on the taxi on a unathorised trip to Denmark

Nicklas Bendtner is clearly a wrong ‘un. It has been known for a few years, and Arsenal have attempted to ship him out a few times. Firstly to Sunderland after his loan deal, most recently to Crystal Palace on a free. Yet he remains with the club.

It seems that the only person who believes that Bendtner is a top player is Bendtner himself. He once said he could play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. He is more likely to play for HMS Pentoville. So what can Arsenal do with Niklas Bendtner?

There is a call on twitter for Arsenal to sack him. unfortunately it is not as easy as that. Whilst it is clear he has committed gross misconduct, and a court would likely hold up our decision to terminate his contract, the decision would lead to a drawn out process and a costly court case. With his contract expering in June, it would just not be worth our time.

The club should fine him the maximum possible for going abroad without the clubs consent. They should follow this up by telling him he is no longer required to report to training. Hang him out to dry. Keep paying him for the next 11 weeks (or however long his contract has left) and explain that his services are no longer required at the club.

Some who say we should make him rot in the reserves are out of touch. The reserves are now basically our youth team. Sending a disruptive influence like Bendtner to train with the reserves would not be a good move, as there will be a chance that he will pass on his bad attitude to said players. Do we also want him encouraging our youngsters to have sex with cars?

Come the summer, Bendtner will no longer be Arsenal’s problem. Until then, we just keep away from the training ground, especially the car park.

Keenos

Tottenham v Arsenal – A player by player review

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August 2013 seems so long ago. That is when I wrote a comprehensive player by player review before the Arsenal v Tottenham match at the Emirates Stadium. It caused some controversy, and attracted plenty of debate from both sides. Since then, Arsenal have signed Mesut Ozil, he has been labelled the first step into the future for Arsenal, and then been written off as a flop. Spurs have changed as well. They saw their spending reach £100m, on many players who do not play, and have sacked their manager, recruited a PE teacher, and scoured the globe for a replacement for him this summer. Back in 2013, the final score was Arsenal 87 Tottenham 77. How have things changed?

(Line ups based on who has played most games per position/likely line ups)

Szczesny v Lloris

At the start of the season, Wojciech Szczesny had a few question mark’s over him. Many called for a more experienced goal keeper to be signed. He had a mistake in him, and often that mistake led to a goal. Since then, he has grown into arguably the best goal keeper in the Premier League. Whilst De Gea, Cech and Hart have all made many mistakes, Szczesny has put in world class performances on a weekly basis.

The only other goal keeper to be as solid as Szczesny this season has been Hugo Lloris. Bar a shaky performance against Chelsea last weekend, where he was also badly let down by his defence, Lloris has been a consistent performer. Yes, he still has a habit of being a bit Hollywood but he, alongside Szczesny, is one of the best keepers in the Premier League.

Szczesny 8 Lloris 8

Sagna v Walker

Bacary Sagna has been superb this season. After a couple of poor years, mainly due to injury, he has returned to the consistent full back that saw him twice named in the PFA Team of the Year. He puts in solid 7 out of 10 performances every game.

Walker has gone backwards this season. In what was supposed to be his breakthrough year, leading to being England’s 1st choice right back in Brazil, he has been exposed in 2013/14. Whilst his pace and power is not in question, nor is his ability going forward, he is consistently out of position. Kyle Walker is starting to remind me of Emmanuel Eboue. Brilliant going forward, but a liability in defence. His seat on the plane is now under threat, with Smalling & Jones seemingly preferred at right back ahead of him.

Sagna 7 Walker 6

Metersacker v Dawson

When I wrote this summary in August, this was the most controversial. Spurs fans came out in mass saying I was clueless for rating Germany’s 1st choice centre back higher than England’s 9th choice. Since then, a lot has changed.

Per Mertesacker has become even better. So much so, he is equally the best centre back in the league alongside Vincent Kompany (both offer something different too eachother and would compliment each other well).

Michael Dawson, whilst an admirable defender who plays with his heart on his sleeve, is just not in the same class. The clear difference between the players is that whilst Mertesacker is a starter for Germany, ahead of a lot of talented defenders, Dawson is not even in the thinking of England selectors. Dawson is like a poor mans John Terry. Mertesacker is a stroller and plays the game at ease.

Mertesacker 9 Dawson 6

Koscielny v Vertonghan

Koscielny has been consistent this season. Consistently doing a good job man marking, consistently making up ground and out running opponents, and consistently giving away penalties. He still has a rash challenge in him, and has cost us this season with a few last ditch attempts for the ball. However he has become a solid performer alongside Mertesacker.

Veronghan has had an odd season, starting at centre back, then being moved to left back due to injuries. It is hard to judge his performances this season due to being moved about so much, however his class still remains. An athlete in a similar way to Koscielny, although he is a little less rash, It is likely he will leave Spurs in the summer as he seeks playing centre back and playing week in week out. Would I have him at Arsenal? No. But he would get into most other Premier League sides.

Koscielny 8 Vertonghan 9

Gibbs v Naughton

The first change on the list. Due to injury, and lack of other options, Kyle Naughton has often been played left back, rotating with Vertonghan. The weaker of the two full backs bought from Sheffield United (alongside Walker) in 2009, he is a right back playing left back. The fact he is at left back having played just 14 games this season shows Spurs’ problem in the position. He is Tottenham’s weak link.

Kieran Gibbs has improved dramatically this season, although his injury record is still worrying. 34 games played in all competitions, there was talk of him going to Brazil ahead of both Ashley Cole and Luke Shaw. Personally, I would still take him alongside Shaw and Baines as all 3 could also be the sides left winger. Gibbs is class. He just needs to stay fit.

Gibbs 8 Naughton 4

Flamini v Sandro

Both headless rabbits. Both more likely to be booked than create a goal. Both more likely to be sent off than score one. Whilst both give both sides a nasty edge, both are also likely to leave their side down to 10 men. They are the sides ‘liability’ as well as the rock which allows others to play. Neither is world class, both can be improved in. In fact, this is the most fair match up in this very one sided report.

Flamini 6 Sandro 6

Ramsey v Dembele

When I wrote before the tie at the Emirates, Aaron Ramsey was the ‘man of the moment.’ Meanwhile I was comparing Mousa Dembele with Jack Wilshere. Transfer’s have since taken place meaning that Dembele now plays deeper and Wilshere is not a starter in Arsenal’s strongest 11.

After the last game, Aaron Ramsey went from strength to strength before succumbing to injury on Boxing Day. Despite this, Aaron Ramsey had already scored 13 goals in 27 games. Dembele has 2 from the same amount of games. Ramsey also leads assists, 7 to 1. If this was a boxing match, Ramsey would have one by 1st round knock out.

Ramsey 9 Dembele 6

Ozil v Eriksen

OK, it is likely that Mesut Ozil is out for a month, but as Spurs have a Christian Eriksen song dedicated to Ozil, and Arsenal have an Ozil song dedicated to Spurs, I thought it would still be fair to compare them.

Eriksen, sen, sen; He’s our number 23.
Eriksen, sen, sen; Came to play for AVB.
To the left to the right; He’s our midfield Dynamite.
When he plays for the Lilywhites; He makes Özil look sh*te.

How does it feel to be Tottenham?
How does it feel to be small?
You sold Bale, we signed Mesut Oziiiiiil, Mesut Oziiiiil.

Not only does Ozil have the better song, he is also the finished article. A truly world class player. Meanwhile, people are still talking about Christian Eriksen’s potential. In the league this season, Ozil – the flop – has 4 goals and 8 assists, whilst Eriksen – a revelation – has 3 goals and 3 assists. Eriksen’s talent is not in doubt, he is a brilliant player and will surely use Spurs as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Ozil 10 Eriksen 8

Oxlade-Chamberlain v Lennon

In august, it was Walcott v Lennon. It was a white wash.Walcott 9 Lennon 6. With Theo being out, will be up to Oxlade-Chamberlain to step up. The fact that Oxlade Chamberlain was selected for England v Denmark and is a certainty to go to Brazil, whilst Aaron Lennon was probably in Face’s Nightclub in Gants Hill throwing some shapes.

Whilst Oxlade-Chamberlain is no Theo Walcott, his performance against Bayern Munich shows he is on the brink of becoming one of Europe’s top players. Versatile, two footed, pace, balance, strength and passing, he is perhaps Arsenal’s most complete player. Aaron Lennon, meanwhile, is just a quick runner.

Oxlade-Chamberlain 8 Lennon 6

Cazorla v Townsend

One is a 2 European Championship medals and is capped 61 times for World Champions Spain. The other is the future of English football who, at 22, has played just 37 games for Spurs. Townsend has played for 10 clubs in his short career. It is likely that his career peaked with that goal against Montenegro. Cazorla might have had a poor season this year, but his 4 league goals is still more than Andros Townsend has scored in his entire Premier League career. One is a top international, the future is well, certainly not the future of English football

Cazorla 8 Townsend 6

Giroud v Soldado

In August, I rated Soldado higher than Giroud, based on the Spaniards performances in Spain. 7 months on, Soldado has scored just 2 league goals from open play and looks out of depth in the Premier League. He has been so poor that it there is a good chance that Emmanuel Adebayor might start ahead of him.

Olivier Giroud is certainly not an Arsenal first choice striker. He showed against Everton that he can make an impact against tired centre backs when he comes off the bench. Starting, he tends to struggle against top sides.  Both still rely heavily on others to make their chances. Giroud’s 18 goals to Soldado’s 11 swaps the 6-7 score from August into the Frenchman’s favour

Giroud 7 Soldado 6

Arsenal 88 Tottenham 71

Keenos