ARSENALISM©

Quiet and unassuming Is it about Ashley Cole's success? I don't think it is. His list of honours since joining Chelsea is impressive to say the least. He has been consistent in his position and one of the great defenders in Premiership history. No matter how unpalatable that is, its true.  He still remains a villain to Arsenal supporters due to his leaving and the associated shenanigans connected with that departure. But this is not reason enough to explain the contempt in which he is held; after all maybe its just an Arsenal thing, an obsession and a hatred that perhaps should have run its course. No, the truth of it is much more about how hung up he appears to be about everyone else.  His petulance towards referees and his indignation that the press should expose his infidelities are, by and large, standard operating procedure for the modern millionaire footballer but rather than being admired for his considerable ability and success on the pitch he is a reviled fig...

Two managers: one castigated for not speaking to the press one lambasted for speaking his mind. Whether one believes that either stance/view is right or wrong, at the heart of things is poor/dodgy refereeing and corrupt organisation. EUFA and the FA are two of the most corrupt bodies in professional sport ; not forgetting FIFA, and their application of rules and inherent favouritism (and yes that favouritism has been for Arsenal & Man Utd on occasion) borders on the maniacal. In Football there are laws that Referees and their assistants are there to enforce. In the running of the beautiful game there are principals along with realities of commerce that need to be upheld; principally fairness and yes, sportsmanship. Corruption underlines everything about FIFA, EUFA and the FA and to respond or not respond is a ‘damned if you do damned if you don’t’ situation. Again I am not necessarily agreeing with everything connected to Wenger and Ferguson but the right to speak or not to should...