Brass v Class

There has been considerable publicity recently for a plan for Arsenal fans to display fake bank notes bearing Ashley Cole’s face and the legend ‘Bank of Russia’ at the London derby at Stamford Bridge.

According to reports, the response of Chelsea Football Club was to declare imperiously that anyone found in possession of these notes would be refused admission.

Arsenal, on the other hand, reacted by urging their supporters to refrain from any such demonstration and emphasising that the club bears no ill will to a great player who served them well for several seasons.

It is an apt indication of the huge gulf in class between the two clubs, because if anyone is entitled to be aggrieved, it is Arsenal. Many people believe that Ashley Cole behaved appallingly by allowing himself to be approached by Chelsea while still contracted to the Gunners and subsequently rubbishing the club that nurtured his talent in a book whose quality is accurately reflected in its abysmal sales figures. By contrast, Arsene Wenger has been an absolute gentleman, assuring Ashley long before his transfer that he would be allowed to leave.

Martin Samuel, in a brief but entertaining piece in the News of the World, exposes Chelsea’s pomposity towards the proposed action of Arsenal fans by declaring: “What would be the offence? Conspiracy with intent to mock?” and adding: “This is a bit of fun, a harmless wind-up and quite a good one” because, as he points out, the only real danger is “the threat of physical assault” – which makes it utterly pointless for the police to “waste time on a paper chase”. And he’s right.