I was completely disgusted to read of the national flag ban in the matchday programme prior to the Portsmouth game. I am from Northern Ireland and take the Ulster flag with me on my travels. Though I have not yet taken it to Ashburton Grove, I do often attend matches wearing my Northern Ireland team overcoat, incidentally, as the Arsenal merchandise is, this year as usual, appalling when it comes to coats. So, will I now be banned from entering the stadium wearing it?

Also, I have not been offended by the multitude of Republic of Ireland tricolours have seen around the ground to date.

I would hope there is something that could be done to reverse this decision, which is surely out of all proportion to the rumoured reasons for the ban. I actually thought that wearing my Northern Ireland colours added to the atmosphere at The Emirates, in showing that Arsenal are supported by a truly multinational fanbase.

Does this ban mean Arsenal will remove from their shop shelves the ridiculous range of scarves they introduced this year with Arsenal colours on one side and the flag of St. George on the other, which I actually did find exclusive? Does it mean they will never again host an international match as per Brazil v. Argentina? Plus how on earth will they explain this ban to visiting teams prior to Champions League matches?

It strikes me that this ban cannot have been thought out at any length and surely the term 'inclusive' was simply thrown over a rash decision as itself a flag of convenience.