Morning.
I don’t know how long Man United fans have been singing that song about Arsene Wenger, years and years. I know I’ve mentioned many times on this blog. It’s always audible when the games are on TV it’s been a huge credit to the manager that he’s never reacted to them. And how difficult must that be when you consider what they’re singing.
Last Saturday referee, and I use that term loosely, Mike Dean sent off Arsene Wenger and made him stand in front of fans, some of whom I have no doubt were singing that song. An awful decision from an awful referee. Arsene had been subjected to that song a number of times during the United game. Afterwards, who in mainstream media said a word about it? Nobody, that’s who.
On Saturday evening I was asked to go on BBC 5Live to talk about the sending off and the game. When asked if I thought it was a bad decision I said I thought it was, especially as United fans had been singing songs about him being a paedophile throughout the game.
On Sunday morning I mentioned the chant in my blog, as did Goodplaya in his, Gunnerblog in his in the afternoon, and over the course of the next day lots of other blogs, to their absolute credit, also referenced it. Then it emerged that both Amazon and Play.com were selling a CD of Man United chants which included that particular song. Via Twitter the story spread, Amazon were contacted, Play.com took it down apparently, although there’s some suggestion they just changed the name, and the story grew and grew via blogs, websites, mailing lists, forums and message boards.
And this morning we have two articles in the mainstream press about it. John Cross in the Mirror and Marina Hyde in the Guardian (although this may only be in the online edition). It’s about time. The only previous references in the press were one vague mention in an article from a couple of years ago about chanting and one comment from the United manager who had, apparently, used to his programme notes to ask fans to stop singing that song. And fair play to him for doing so. In all those years nobody else saw fit to mention the vile slur directed at our manager.
Now, football fans are a funny bunch. There seems to be a number who think that the way to deal with United fans singing that song about Arsene Wenger is to sing songs about the Munich disaster, which is so cretinous and moronic it’s beyond words. And while singing a song about someone having a mobile phone up their arse may not be clever, it doesn’t come close to the song United fans have sung.
If Arsenal fans don’t want to use Amazon or Play that’s entirely up to them. I’m not going to tell people where they can and can’t shop. That it’s been highlighted they’re selling it is good but there’s some merit to Amazon’s response that it’s not their job to censor what people can and cannot buy. I think the chant is disgusting and utterly without any kind of merit but surely the only way it should be removed is if it is illegal.
If we start going at retailers with burning torches every time we objected to something on a moral basis then we’re treading on dangerous ground. I think when the song is sung at Old Trafford it’s slanderous in the extreme. When it’s on a CD which doesn’t mention Arsene by name it’s a bit more difficult to prove that, even though we all know at whom it is directed. Some law talking guys or gals might throw their tuppence worth on the legalities of the situation in the arses today, but if it’s not illegal then they’re under no obligation to remove it.
How that sits with you and whether or not you use these particular retailers in the future is entirely up to you. For me the CDs and what have you are a side issue. The main issue is ensuring that Arsene is not subjected to that song at Old Trafford, at our stadium or any other stadium. No man deserves that accusation to be hurled at him and passing it off as just ‘banter’ misses the point entirely – but then if you’re the kind of person who’ll sing a song about someone being a paedophile, or even attempt to justify it, then I’d imagine a lot of stuff goes over your head.
I’m glad to see the media take this up once and for all. What a shame it’s taken them so many years to do so and users of blogs and, forgive me for using such a wanky phrase, ‘new media’, can be pleased that they’ve contributed to making the press take notice at long last. Without the kind of online pressure from bloggers, commentators, Twitterers etc of the last few days you can be quite sure nothing would have been said.
Moving on and there was good news as both Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner both signed new long-term deals with the club yesterday. I know there are many who remain unconvinced by both but let’s face it, most players aren’t world beaters at 21, and they’ve both got plenty of years ahead of them to mature and improve. Let’s hope the stability of a new contract and all that extra money helps make that happen.
According to The Sun Philippe Senderos is ‘furious’ that he didn’t secure a move away during the transfer window. As I mentioned there was an awful lot to the Everton thing. That it didn’t happen was a big surprise to me. Whether it was down to Everton not completing the deal or Arsenal looking for more of a fee than Everton were willing to pay remains to be seen. If he’s upset it’s because he knows his chances of first team football were better elsewhere than at Arsenal, and every player wants to play, not sit on the bench.
All I’ll say is that he’s a better player than most give him credit for, he’s had his scary moments, as have most young centre-halves and I’m happy for him to stay this season.
Fran Merida talks about taking the step up to the first team.
Patrick Barclay makes a lot of sense about the Eduardo punishment and UEFA’s handling of it. He says:
It is the worst piece of judicial bungling I have ever come across in all my years of covering football. I have never known such a mess.
I think Arsenal’s appeal has to be in today so no doubt we’ll get more on that when UEFA deem it timely to reject it.
And that’s about that. More, and probably an Arsecast, tomorrow.
