september 29th
09.55 – Say it ain’t so Dennis, say it ain’t so.
Overshadowing all other news today, is the big hint dropped by Dennis Bergkamp that this could be his last season at Arsenal. In fact, it’s likely to be his last season anywhere as he contemplates retiring from football altogether. Without doubt one of the most gifted players of any generation, it’s been a pleasure and a privilege to watch him strut his stuff for the Gunners. Still, there’s a long way to go between now and May, and when you look at the impact a 52 year old Gianfranco Zola has had at Chelsea this season, maybe there’s a chance he might stay for another campaign.
Thierry Henry says he’ll walk off the pitch if he’s subjected to racist abuse again. Obviously there’s no place for the sort of shit Thierry and Arsenal’s other black players were subjected to in Eindhoven the other night, but I’m not sure walking off the pitch is the answer. The best way to shut these idiots up is to do the stuff on the pitch and I’m sure Thierry’s 2 goals against PSV were the best answer to the mindless morons who don’t care about football and their team.
Yes, UEFA should do more than release bland, generic press releases. The clubs whose fans think it’s ok to racially abuse players should do more. Let UEFA make teams play games behind closed doors, depriving them of the vital income the Champions League brings. Let the clubs ban supporters who abuse players because of the colour of their skin.
But Thierry, and any other Arsenal players who might feel the same, should not let these twisted cuntgoblins force them from the pitch. Then they’ve won. That’s what they want. Stay on, score goals, make tackles, win games. Stick two fingers up at them with your performances and raise hell with the authorities afterwards. UEFA have let big clubs away with this sort of thing for years – Arsenal players have suffered this kind of thing in Italy and Spain over the past few seasons – it’s time they got serious now.
