Tartan View: Why are Arsenal hated?

'It’s fine that people hate us. It’s part of our history' 

George Graham 

When Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was cleared of his FA charge for comments about referees and VAR after the defeat to Newcastle, Gooner writer Tartan View had a wry smile.

Because despite the charges being dropped by The FA, George Graham’s famous quote is as relevant now as it has ever been.  

When Arsenal lost 1-0 at Newcastle last month after Anthony Gordon's controversial goal, Arteta hit out at the decision to allow the winner, calling it 'embarrassing'. 

That led to the Arsenal manager being charged with misconduct by FA – until the Independent Regulatory Commission found the charge not proven last week.  

Tartan View asks: Why are Arsenal hated? …….

After the Newcastle match our manager came out, fighting in defence of his players, but most of all his club - hitting out at the decisions made by the referee and VAR.

Arteta said it was a ‘disgrace, embarrassing and made him feel sick to the stomach.’

So what happens next? An absolute attack from pundits, absolutely condemning Mikel.

Why is there so much hate towards our beloved team? 

That lot down the road had two men sent off when they were pumped 4-1 and they are given praise. If that was us, you know that the team - but most of all Mikel - would be getting absolutely slaughtered.

The way I see it is that Mikel says it how it is. We know he can be ruthless, but he shows something that has been severely lacking over previous years - not the last couple of seasons I might add - and that thing is passion. 

His passion is seeing our great club challenging for everything.

He has set the bar so high for himself, his coaches but most of all for his players - and bad VAR decisions make the difference between winning or losing – the 1-1 vs Brentford at the Emirates last season for example.

I just don’t understand why the media establishment are so anti-Arsenal?

If Arsenal are on Sky the pundits tend to be ex-Spurs or Chelsea, such players such as Jamie Redknapp, Michael Dawson or Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink who never have a good thing to say about us and don’t give credit where it is due.

The exact same goes for the commentators (exception being Alan ‘Smudger’ Smith) who just wax lyrical about the opposition.

Every single stat they bring up is always a negative against us, so you wonder why we as supporters say that there is an agenda against us. 

You know the reason why? 

Because we scare them and the fact of the matter is they know that we - The Arsenal - are back.

So, continue with your wee agenda against us as pretty soon we are going to prove you all wrong.

Up the Arsenal!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all

Jason Cross, The Tartan View