Tag Archives: Premier League

Are attitudes changing towards foreigners in the English Game?

4 Replies

Over the year’s, Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have been criticised for a whole range of reason’s. Whether it was the disciplinary record of his early time in charge, the lack of trophies in his later time, or the foreign legion he bought in during his mid-time in charge. He has been derided throughout his time in English football. At times, I have felt it was borderline xenophobia, as he got criticised whilst other managers did not.

One of the most frustrating criticism’s was the lack of Englishmen in the squad.

On February 14th 2005, Arsenal became the 1st team to field a 16-man squad (as it was back then) of foreign players. Wenger was criticised by all and sundry for not carrying for the English game, being a disgrace, and showing a lack of respect for the country which employed him. Arsene Wenger’s response was simple:

“I don’t look at the passport of people, I look at their quality and their attitude.”

At the time, I vehemently defending the manager, as any fan of the club should do when taking unfair criticism from the likes of TalkSport, The Sun & Spurs fans. My point at the time was the reasoning behind the criticism. That Arsene Wenger was not helping the English game. At the time I looked around other teams throughout the Premier League and who they had developed for the England National Team.

My research highlighted that, in 2005, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea & Spurs had all failed to develop an England REGULAR in the new millennium. Yet it was only Arsenal (and occasionally Chelsea) who were getting the criticism. At this point, out of England’s regular starting XI, the man from these 5 clubs who had made his club debut most recent was Ashley Cole. So much for England’s failure being Arsenal’s fault!

This criticism of Arsenal came to a head a year later when Arsenal knocked out Real Madrid of the Champions League, and Alan Pardew commented:

“I saw a headline saying Arsenal are flying the flag for Britain. I kind of wondered where that British involvement actually was when I looked at their team. It’s important that top clubs don’t lose sight of the fact that it’s the English Premier League and English players should be involved.”

Last night, Newcastle lost 3-1 to Everton, Newcastle – Managed by Alan Pardew – lined up as follows:

Krul
Debuchy Coloccini Yanga-M’Biwa Santon
Sissoko Tiote Anita
Ben Arfa Remy Gouffran

Not a single Englishman amongst them. And also, not a single criticism of this ‘foreign legion’ by the English press. Meanwhile, in Arsenal’s strongest 11, we have 3 Englishmen and a Welshman. Where is the praise? Why is the press not going OTT about us being the saviour of the English Football Team?

My only thought is that attitudes to foreigners in our game have changed. Why else would Pardew change his philosophy so quickly? And it is not just Newcastle. Let’s look at Stoke City.

When they played Arsenal last weekend, they had 1 Englishman on the field. And I would happily question if Ryan Shawcross was born in England, or found in a sewer in some god forsaken corner of the earth. Infact, they had 10 different nationalities on the pitch. It would be 11 if Marc Wilson did not decide to turn his back on Northern Ireland and play for Republic of Ireland.

But where once again, where was the criticism? The column inches? The hours of radio coverage? Have attitudes really changed, or does the media just not care when it does not involve Arsenal?

Another example of this is choice of managers. The top sides (Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool & Chelsea) were often heavily criticised for not giving a British manager a chance, with Ferguson (up to a couple of years ago) being the only British manager managing one of England’s top 6 sides. The criticism was heavy. But again, have opinions changed?

The 3 favourites for the Sunderland are currently Gianfranco Zola, Robert Di Matteo & Gustavo Poyet, with Rene Meulensteen also in the frame. Now I might be being thick (and some would so yes due to the state of my spelling and grammar), none of these are English (or British). Where is the criticism of Sunderland? And Everton replaced David Moyes with a Spaniard in Roberto Martinez. Where is their criticism.

I can only come up with 2 possible outcomes:

1) The attitudes of foreigners in the English game has changed or;
2) The press only care about the amount of foreigners in the English game when it sells papers

All I know is I agree with what Arsene Wenger said at the beginning. The passport does not matter. I care about Arsenal, and want the best to play for Arsenal. If that best are not born in The Wittingham Hospital, then so be it. But let’s have some fair criticism shared around yeh?

Keenos

The Arsenal and Me – Nordi’s Story

2 Replies

“It’s life, and every emotion you go through, I have gone through with The Arsenal”

First love

Lived on the Avenell Road it was the first real thing I saw as a kid people horses stadium songs lights, the colours the noise so it was that and my metal tonka truck.

Trouble

I first fell in trouble loving my club aged 9 and my brother aged 6 in a shared garden on Riversdale road off the Blackstock Road , the neighbours knocked on my mums door and told her to go and listen to your kids and she did, both of us copying the north bank “YOUR GONNA GET YOUR FUCKING HEAD KICKED IN” and “Your’e going home in funny ambulance” and the classic “The manky Tottenham Hotspur went home to the dope and this is FUCK OFF” – we didn’t get the right words till a few year later when Mum had enough and let me make the short journey on my own.

Happy

My two kids birth come first, well not quite true. First was the 1987 season and at the shit hole after years of following arsenal was pure ecstasy and 89 was LSD, ecstasy, hash, blow job’s and Samantha Fox’s tits on my face all at the same time. I could not make Anfield, one of the few games I missed in the 80s, but when that goal went in I ran around the pool table in the pub like a headless chicken onto Essex Road and dropped to my knees stopping the traffic.

Sadness

The passing of Rocky upset me big time. It was like losing a few school pals that passed away. Also losing Denton was extremely upsetting. MR Arsenal. If it was not for him and many others who ran with him, my dad would never have gone into the ground as football back then had many racists and I was the good looking son of a foreigner.

Learning

How to conduct yourself? I honestly can say hand on heart I learned more from the North Bank than I did at school or mucking about on the streets. You see the local schools and streets had the same Herbert’s where as the North Bank would have lads from Enfield, Essex, Burnt Oak, Surrey even fucking loyals from Telford. The music, the clothes, the jokes clubs, the girls and even a bit of politics, not much mind. Also travelling the country seeing at first hand the destruction of Liverpool in the early 80s and then the destruction of mining communities, no internet or mobile phones back then so all the learning was done through the eyes and actual experience so thank you Arsenal.

Religion/Cult

It was Arsenal and it was my job to recruit/encourage as many Gooners to come in to the holy ground from Highbury Grove School. Another memory that I will take to the grave is when we took 50 odd to Brighton and nearly 80 of us met for a home game against West Ham and similar numbers for Liverpool, marching off from Highbury Corner. The jokes the laughs.

Addiction

Aged 12 or 13 I made enough money to buy a ticket for West Brom away. Train, fare, can of coke and a packet of biscuits. Off I went without telling my parents, came back at 9 at night to massive slap from the old man and banned from going. Yeah right! I did not miss a home game for years after. Like many of us, I was such a sweet boy until arsenal came along.

I could go on and on but it’s everything and still is, my love has let me down big time, changing the badge, fucking about with the kits, pricing out fans and then driving out passionate fans through their Gestapo stewarding. The horrible grassing service,the sit down brigade, and then the killer – moving to the concrete bowl hurt more than I can describe. I joined the BSM in 2009 and through this passionate group, I felt like we have a voice again. I don’t want to hurt the club, but I feel like kicking them in the bollox every now and then “say wake up”. Don’t turn into a day tripper tourist venue or you will break many hearts and in the long term you will regret it.

Like the late 70s and early 80s I’m dreaming and looking forward to Dortmund where an old School turn out will be drinking and singing in praise of the Arsenal. You are my arsenal

Nordi

If you would like to tell your Arsenal story, click here

The League Cup – A Review of the Youngsters

14 Replies

As always, the League Cup has allowed Arsenal fan’s and Arsene Wenger to see how the next crop of players do against a Premier League side.

Carl Jenkinson

Despite his experience, he is still just 21. A solid performance by him showing once more he is more than ready to play in the Premier League. Then again, we knew that already. Futures Bright

Isaac Hayden

He looked like an 18 year old centre back playing in central midfield. Which is exactly what he was. Despite him starting his youth career in the middle of the park, he has more recently been playing in the heart of the defence. He looked off the pace and was lucky to not be sent off after numerous yellow card worthy challenges in the 1st half. Expect him to be in the side in next years 3rd round, but playing at centre back. Jury Out

Thomas Eisfield

A make or break year for the German. Has looked good in the youth team and reserves, but he turns 21 in January so is very much a ‘senior’ youth player. Despite his goal, he was very quiet and failed this test. Would not be surprised if this is his last year at the club. Futures Elsewhere

Ryo Miyaichi

Ran down a lot of blind alley’s. Crossing was poor. He certainly did not light the game up. An injury last year hampered his progress, but he does not look Arsenal class. Bit like Eisfield, this was his big chance. He did not take it. Futures Elsewhere

Serge Gnarby

Similar display to Ryo Miyaichi, but a bit more impressive. Looked to take his man on at every time, but as with the 1st half against Stoke, always seems to look inside. Played in well by Jenksinon in the 1st half. He is someone to be excited about, having just turned 18. Good performance and will surely build on it as he plays more. Could do with a loan out to a Premier League side to get regular play. Futures Bright

Chuba Akpom

Stuck out on the right. Would of preferred to see him of come on for Bendtner in the middle. He would have scored that chance when clean through in the 1st half of Extra Time. Failed to do much on the right wing. Was not a good performance, but he can not be blamed for that. Would of liked to of seen him down the middle. Jury Out

Kristoffer Olsson

Replaced Hayden, but was equally as quiet as Eisfield. This was perhaps a year too early for the young Swede who has just turned 18. Expect him to be in the 1st XI in this competition next year, where we will really see if he is good enough to step up. Jury Out

Hector Bellerin

Showed his versatility by coming on for Arteta in the middle of the park. Whilst his future lies on the right, he showed the technique and ability on the ball that all graduates of Barcelona’s La Masia have. A few wild shots towards the end showed confidence, if not brain. I look forward to watching his development. Futures Bright

The next generation of Arsenal stars do not look good enough (excluding Gedion Zelalem). The 20 year old’s (Eisfield, Miyachi) did not look good enough. This game has come a year too early for those who are 2 years younger (Olsson, Bellerin, Gnarby), but even still, there are now 18. What is for sure is there is not a Cesc, Wilshere or Oxlade-Chamberlain amongst them. I wonder if there is even a Denilson, Aliadiere, Bendtner or Vela, or even a Quincy Owusu-Abeyie or Lupoli.

Ps: Hats off to the 3 18 year old’s Gnabry, Olsson & Akpom for stepping up and taking penalties under the pressure.

Keenos