Why do other fans and the media dislike us? Here’s a thought…
Let me preface this by saying that I’m not English and I don’t live in England, so this is pure speculation. I’m going to make some general statements which certainly do not apply to all…
But here’s a thought - Football is England’s game. They invented it and are very proud of that. Then along comes some French guy, and he has immediate success. That probably bugged some people. How did he do it? With a number of foreign players. That might have bugged some people too. And then here’s the kicker, he did it with foreigners that nobody had really heard of! He got guys like Henry, Vieira and Ljungberg on the cheap. Oooh, that probably really got some folks angry.
Can you imagine if some Canadian guy came to the states, took over the New York Mets and then grabbed a guy from Japan, another guy from Venezuela, and another from Mexico and won the World Series? And he did it all with class and advanced training techniques that put all the current managers to shame.
I’m sure that some English Gooners will now jump on me for suggesting that xenophobia is at work here, but that’s just one possible explanation.
11 Responses to “Just A Thought”
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December 23rd, 2003 at 2:20 pm
Rick…
I could be wrong… but I really don’t even think we are the most hated team … Man Utd. might be the most loved and hated… if thats possible…
Millwall… their song is… no-one likes us… we don’t care… they are hated…
I think folks might be a bit jealous of the success we’ve had… and the fact that we do it with flair and style just adds to it… its no longer boring boring Arsenal… its scoring scoring Arsenal!
the core of our team is not English any longer…
but is Chelsea’s? Is United’s??
December 23rd, 2003 at 2:34 pm
Rich I will not jump on you but I dont think xenophobia is at work here..
The English media always dislike the big boys. ie they sell more stories about Arsenal and United and love to knock them down as well.
I know where you coming from but some guys dont like Arsenal period. Whether 11 english men or 2.
Do you remember the days of the great Ian Wright under George Graham. Arsenal was used to that kind of hate. The media just loved to kill off Ian Wright. There were more stories about Ian Wright fouls than any other player come match of the day or sunday morning papers.
And I will say even the sc@@ms of the Earth “Sp@@rs” think the media not like them at times..
There was the pros and cons debate about foreigners players even before Mr Wenger came to Arsenal. Some will say is not good for England football others think not.
December 23rd, 2003 at 3:03 pm
I think you wrong here..
Chelsea was the first team to have 11 non english players on the field.
The crazy Dons were the most hated team for a while then came millwall..
When it comes to Arsenal or United most people dont like us for winning things.. Just Jealous
England media have always being jealous about others foreigners players. Remember the good and bad press reports about Tony Yeboah, Catona etc had.
The problem today is media outlets like “soccernet” got no cure or idea about football full stop. The so-called insider. Always confuss me with their points and knowledge. They like foxnews. They scare people with their wing right reports.
I read the Sun, Mirror, mail, express etc each day and it does not matter what team is at faults they tell you the pros and cons.
December 23rd, 2003 at 3:18 pm
Ian Wright was a rude boy and some people could not stand him .. From the heart of England - london and not to forget south london..
You have lived in london and know how it works
What Shearer gets away with Ian wright dont.
December 24th, 2003 at 4:09 am
There are certain “sports” writers that do not like us notably Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail. His mother never told him “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”.
Sky Sports have mellowed slightly since they sold their shares in ManUre. However, if an Arsenal player had failed to attend a drug test I’m confident the comments would be far worse.
The media love ManUre and rarely criticise the club, players or fans.
I know for a fact that fans of other clubs do not hate Arsenal as much as you think. Yes, we get the piss taken out of us for having so many foreigners, but they would all admit liking anyone of them in their team.
As for your statement “along comes a French guy etc” well you’ll find that the majority of long term succesful managers in the English leagues have been Scots. Arsene’s influence goes further than Arsenal FC. His philosophy has been embraced by every other club in some form.
Finally, xenophobia - never. Jealously - definitely.
December 24th, 2003 at 9:55 am
I would also add that the dislike for Arsenal goes back to pre-Wenger days. After the first battle of Old Tratford under Graham, the media and FA came down harder on Arsenal (2 point deduction vs. 1 for Manure).
Face it, this team has never been relegated once in the first division (something even 4 time Euro champs ‘pool can’t claim) and really set the standard before the War under Chapman. While there have been lean years and the 70’s and 80’s were not much fun, since nicking the title in 1989 Arsenal has been the second best team in England. That breeds a lot of jealousy especially among perennial also rans such as Sp*rs, Spartak London, the red and blue sides of Liverpool, Newcastle, etc… Throw in a highly disciplined approach championed under Graham with the England back five - easy for people to take shots…
December 24th, 2003 at 12:20 pm
Hi Rick, sorry to disappoint you but Arsenal were the most hated team in England a long time before Arsene Wenger turned up.
It’s probably got to do with the fact that arsenal play in London (not a requisite for nationwide love) and have a long and very successful history!
Oh and arsenal have never been relegated from the top flight (they should have been about 80 years ago but managed to controversially avoid the drop).
merry xmas!
December 25th, 2003 at 3:52 pm
I think everybody has good points here. Obviously the media’s dislike of Arsenal FC predates Arsene Wenger or the players he has brought in by several years and decades even. But I do think Rick has a point here. There is a subtler xenophobia at then a decade or two ago but it is there. I think that attitude in the media and public led Arsenal to sign Richard Wright instead of Jerzy Dudek and Franny Jeffers ahead of a number of more talented and healthy but less English strikers. As we know neither workeed out and in fact Arsenal subsequently did sign a German keeper to wear the Number One, but I think the Board was trying to appease those who feared Arsenal were not “English” enough, even though we had more Native English(Not allowing for Irish, Scotch, or Welsh players)on the pitch against United the night We won the League in Manchester(I will slip that into ANY post I can), in the media, in the FA , and even in the North Bank. And while we LOVE our team to bits, did that matter? Well go to websites where there was an insistence that Wiltord, scorer of the Championship Winner when we Won the League in Manchester(See I did it again) a big goal in an FA Cup tie at Old Trafford which is where We Won the League In Manchester(Sorry, I never get tired of saying it) and has been our second leading scorer behind Thierry Henry ahead of Bergkamp, pire, and Ljungberg since arriving, had to go, but Jeffers who had had nearly as many operations as goals since coming to Highbury should be given a chance. That may be true, but the only logical reason you could want to get rid of an established goal scorer and team leader for a player destined to play one in four matches would have to be one is English and one is not. I mean Wiltord has done crap all year(and may finally have used up his welcome)has still scored more than Jeffers by a good margin(Really sad given Wiltord has four goals all year), so obviously Jeffers hasn’t come good back at Everton. I cannot honestly given he was clearly and chronically injured understand supporters wanting to hold onto him ahead of, when in form a proven goal scorer up front and wide on the right who actually contributed to our success. Put it this way, if there’s to players the supporters don’t like they’d rather keep the English lad and ditch the foreigner, no matter who has been better for the team. It is not like they are saying we hate foreigners sign English lads only-it’s more subtle than that. Like the belief that foreign players are all more mercernary or more lazy than the British lads. Even Thierry Henry faces the latter charge. But there is this sense the English players are more loyal to the clubs(ask a S***s supporter for their opinion on that and their ex-captain)but you read that on the message boards. All this exists even at Arsenal. The strange thing is the man most immune from all this is not Henry or Vieira or Freddie or Kolo(he suffers from the perception that African Footballers lack an understanding of football and simply play without thinking about it)…It is Arsene Wenger. The only complaints about him are a lack of tactical awareness and being to loyal to his veterans(once in awhile someone brings up he is biased in favor of his French players, but someone else says you’d sack Henry Vieira and Pires-and sometimes Wiltord- and they skulk off properly chastised), complaints ANY manager will face in England. Wenger is held at God-Like Status with Herbert Chapman and ahead even of George Graham. There is truly a belief that if the Board backs his vision, Wenger will be the architect of our greatest success yet. Count me among them.
But the xenophobia or “Little Englander” mentality does exist, but to be fair it is minimal now and more subtle and is hardly the main factor in the media lining up to bat at us like a hanging pinata. There’s so much more for them to already hate us for. And we don’t care….
December 26th, 2003 at 9:55 am
Can’t buy Rick’stheory. Arsenal have always been hated - long before the current edition. In the 30s and for several decades after they were referred to as “Lucky Arsenal”, then in the 70s and 80s they were “Boring Arsenal”. These were not epithets of endearment. I rather think the respondent who said that MU, and their Theatre of Wet Dreams, are more hated by fans (not the media) than us, had it right.
We may not be the most hated, but the media has always given Arsenal stick for being successful, going back over the decades.
December 27th, 2003 at 2:02 am
One thing I know for sure is that Soccernet always has that anti-Arsenal bent….
December 28th, 2003 at 1:59 pm
After 32 years living in London I can tell you this,
Spurs fan will ALWAYS have a vitriolic hatred towards Arsenal and visa-versa. Lets hope they go down this year!!!
West ham fans claim to be the most loyal (after all they were always on the brink of going down) and believe (albeit insane) that todays Arsenal fans are glory hunters and that our club is made of money; the former is obviously crazy rantings and the latter claim is no reflection on the excellent transfer market dealings of Arsene Wenger of course!
Chelsea fans hate us because they simply are a bunch of *******.
Apart from that not too many other teams have us on their most hated list! Its more about local rivalries in the main; Arsenal-Tottenham, Man Utd-man city, Liverpool-Everton etc.
Admittedly the press has always wanted to “have a go at Arsenal” but who cares. The Arsenal Spirit transcends through the generations at Arsenal and we look out for ourselves and stand up for eachother!!! You see it in the team every game!
By trhe way have a great new year brother gooners and lets hope we win it all!!!!