I bumped into a friend outside the stadium before the cup match v Newcastle at the weekend. He’d been to the semi-final second leg at Tottenham and told me that, aside from the predictable use of the ‘y’ word to refer to the home fans, there were a significant number of individuals in the visitors’ section who were singing chants that referred to the holocaust. I won’t dignify them with any further detail of the content, but for those who lack the basic education to know what I am talking about read this

Racism is an ugly form of prejudice and leads to ethnic genocide in extreme circumstances. Let me put it in terms that might mean something to Arsenal ‘fans’ that have some prejudice against the Jewish race:

In celebrating an episode of ethnic genocide during World War Two you are:

1. P*ssing on the memory of the British soldiers who went to battle to prevent Europe being taken over by a man with such a philosophy, with the probable reality that German would be your main language now to boot.

2. Wishing for a world in which Arsene Wenger was never at Arsenal (his presence at the club is down to the Jewish David Dein)

3. Wishing Arsenal did not have a brand new stadium allowing an extra 20 odd thousand supporters to be able to watch the team, and the club to compete with the big clubs in Europe for the long term (a feat largely down to the Jewish Danny Fiszman).

Perhaps the above may persuade some ignorant people to think again about the history of Europe and the football club you have a very disturbed way of supporting.

Presumably you don’t like the sick chants sung about Arsene Wenger by Tottenham fans. But why descend to their level? Let them wallow in the quagmire of stupidity, but why jump in with them?

Those that claim to follow Arsenal should be above such chants. My friend had taken his young son to the match at Spurs. I’m not sure of his exact age, maybe seven. Two men in their early 20s directly in front of him were singing this stuff. Although my friend is not Jewish himself, his wife is, which makes his son half Jewish. ‘How do I explain this to him?’ he asked. Men who ‘support’ the same Arsenal side his son does who would wish his mother dead.

Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident, as similar chants were heard from a small number in the Arsenal section at the pre-season friendly at Barnet. My fear is that if enough decent fans don’t object to such chanting, it may creep back. I don’t doubt the majority of Gooners feel as strongly as I do in this day and age, so it’s about speaking up when you hear such blatant racist cr*p.

There’s no joy here in publicising this phenomenon. I hate to write stuff that stains Arsenal by association, but that’s exactly what those singing chants that reference the holocaust are doing. If it means we can get rid of this kind of rubbish, then it’s worth highlighting it. Surely better than to pretend it’s not happening and do nothing. The silent majority need to assert their power and speak up. My friend gave me an example of a time in the Clock End when one individual sang such a chant and those around him told him to shut up. That particular idiot ended up so ashamed by the peer pressure he left the game early.

I’m all for those that follow the Gunners to back the boys with songs and chants of the right sort, but those who harbour racist feelings should either keep them festering inside their sick minds or f**k off and support somebody else. We don’t want your sort at Arsenal.