News From The Glass Houses

You don’t have to look very far these days to spot Arsene Wenger’s detractors. The tabloids, the televisions and the radio channels are teeming with them as they jostle to air their righteous indignation. Seemingly oblivious to the underyling hypocrisy, journalists who in the past have not hesitated to castigate match officials and the F.A. for incompetence, now queue for the opportunity to put the boot in on an intelligent and honourable Frenchman who arguably has done more to bring beauty and entertainment to Premiership football than anyone.

At their worst they are represented by men like Talk Sport’s Adrian Durham, an arrogant, intellectually challenged Peterborough United supporter who believes that briefly mumbling something about Arsenal’s attractive football confers upon him the right to denigrate their manager for under-achievement. Presumably he considers that the Gunners’ prospects would be enhanced by the sight of Barry Fry at the helm. And at the opposite extreme, disappointingly, there is Martin Samuel, a bright, witty, intelligent and articulate journalist who on this occasion really should know better.

If there is a common thread that runs through all the condemnation, it is the rather hollow sounding sense of outrage that Arsene Wenger used the word ‘lied’ in referring to a linesman and the insistence that, as Martin Samuel put it, “You’ve got to take the word of an official on trust.” – even if he is incompetent or just having a ‘Graham Poll day’.

The inference is absolutely clear and unequivocal. Taking the word of an official, any official, on trust is, apparently, mandatory. Like Mourinho does. Like Sir Alex does. Like Mark Hughes does. Like Neil Warnock does. Like Sam Allardyce does. Like Paul Jewell does. Like Chris Coleman does. Like the media always does.

So take note Arsene Wenger. When it comes to showing officials the proper respect, these are your role models.