Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger Resigns Himself To The Sun’s Biased Reporting
THE Sun sees Arsenal defeat Shrewsbury Town 3-1 in the League Cup and thunders:
Arsene Wenger fumes at Arsenal vote of confidence
The paper illustrates its story with a photo of a man sat amid a row of empy seats. In all, 46, 539 fans came to watch the mid-week match between the Gunners reserves and the League 2 team. That is the lowest ever crowd at the Emirates.
But to offer context, on the same night:
7,104 people went to see Blackburn Rovers play Leyton Orient
7,749 saw Wolves play Milwall
And 15,023 saw Stoke play Spurs.
Also know that the Carling Cup Semi-Final first-leg draw with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in January 2008 was watched by 53,136, then a record low for a first-team game at Emirates Stadium. Spurs may be expected to flog more seats to their fans than Shewsbury to theirs.
Also know that this season under 34,000 spectators turned up to see Chelsea play their Champions’ League Group E opener against Bayer Leverkusen – manager Andre Villas-Boas’ first European match in charge.
So much for disaster.
Still the Sun has agenda. We can tell you that the paper’s photo of that one die-hard Gooner surrounded by empty seats was taken before the match. When it came through to our inbox, it was captioned thus:
A fan waits for the start of the English League Cup soccer match between Arsenal and Shrewsbury Town at the Emirates stadium, London, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)
After the skewed image, we get this from Charlie Wyett:
ARSENE WENGER blew his top after the Arsenal board gave him the dreaded vote of confidence — and fans voted with their feet.
No, He did not.
The Gunners boss erupted when club chief executive Ivan Gazidis backed him by insisting: “There’s no issue about Arsene leaving, or the club pushing him out. Arsene is not broken.”
No. He did not.
That went down like a lead balloon with Wenger, who snapped: “I’m not bothered by this speculation. Whether I work here for the next 10 years or the next day I will let others assess the situation.”
No. Not true.
Wenger actuall said:
“I accept critics and I do not say it doesn’t matter that people criticise us. I prefer it when they say I am good. I have kept them in the Champions League for 14 years and I wish it lasts another 14 years.” When we do well we take all the plaudits, so we have to take all the blame when it doesn’t go as well – but we have, on both sides, to take some distance.”
Gazidis said:
He is not going to walk out,” Gazidis said. “There is absolutely no issue about Arsene leaving the club or the club pushing him out. He did not suddenly become a bad manager or somebody who became out of touch with the game. It is complete nonsense.”
Still, if the Sun can create a story of despair in the teeth of a rare Arsenal win, it will…
Posted: 21st, September 2011 | In: Key Posts, Sports Comments (9) | TrackBack | Permalink
