I’ve been going over the Arse for about 36 years now. I have established great friendships because of Arsenal, which lasts till this day. The diversity of these friendships range from mates who only want to drink real ale (frown at lager) and sit in an old man’s pub without music, to lads who like a lager or two, a good old jukebox and a bit of a knees up. The main thing all of these have in common is the ability to talk about Arsenal with sense and reason and who have an understanding of football.

This being the case, I can only assume that the “doughnuts” who were chanting “Olé, Olé” at the second leg of the Carling cup semi-final against Wigan, have not got an understanding of football. I don’t know how these “doughnuts” saw this game but I saw it like this… it was a tight cup tie, both teams had virtually equal attempts on goal, they could have had three penalties, you could have driven the QE2 through the centre of our defence and we only went ahead in the tie with eight minutes remaining!

Now if any of the “doughnuts” could tell me how that scenario warrants a chant of “Olé, Olé” I will be only too happy to listen. I might be a bit old fashioned but a chant of “Olé, Olé” should be reserved for games when you are taking the p*ss and the victory is not in doubt, basically you are four or five up with five minutes to go and you’re playing keep ball for fun. Even then you run the risk of upsetting some nutter in the opposition side who will get totally wound up and end up injuring one of our players.

I’ve played a lot of football in my life and take it from me if your team is getting a hammering and you’re getting stick about it from just the bloke and his dog on the sideline, you get the raging hump. This is followed by frustration, followed by wanting to thump/kick the next opposition player who comes within a yard of you. Professional players are no different, it is all relative to whatever standard of football you are playing, emotions are the same.

I am not saying that Wigan would not have scored anyway, but I bet it raised an extra yard out of one or two of their players at the very least. Besides we have been guilty of this on several other occasions recently at Highbury when a game is far from over.

So please try to remember “Olé, Olé” is an appropriate chant, when: 1. The boys are cruising, playing great football and are 4 or 5 up with a few minutes to go; 2. The opposition have thrown in the towel and cannot be even bothered to kick anyone; 3. The opposition are such a decent side that our victory warrants the chant; 4. It’s a nice sunny day (always makes it more satisfying)

So as soon as you hear the murmuring of an “Olé, Olé”, weigh up the game you are watching and ask if it is justified before you join in, you never know you may just raise your credibility above that of a “doughnut”.