A lot has been said this summer, when you consider how little has happened. The transfer window is a time for liars and their prey to come to the fore. While it is largely irrelevant what is said by would-be “ITKs”, it does create anticipation among fans. Anticipating something which may not happen usually only brings disappointment. When we talk about football fans, we can safely assume that the disappointment will be promptly followed by anger and petulance. Some of these swill merchants have been kind enough to identify themselves with ridiculous handles like Agent1324 or JohnTheAgent, but there are others. Others who believe things they are told and pass it on as fact. The recipient, mindful of just how confidential this “information” is, instantly passes it on to his pal – In the strictest of confidence. Before you know it, everyone is certain that something is happening, except it’s probably not. Knowing just how fragile fans are, I feel a little more responsibility is needed.
I don’t really have much more to say on that issue, so here’s this…
A moral dilemma has befallen the club and it is causing a lot of debate among the Arsenal faithful. Three players who have been linked with the club have caused outrage among certain sections and it is hard to blame any of them. Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas are all top names in football and two of the three, I believe, play the game to the highest standard. But it is not their ability to play which has caused such a kerfuffle. Suarez’s various offences are well known, Cesc, allegedly, went on strike in his last season with Arsenal and almost certainly left the club under a cloud of acrimony, while Wayne Rooney is widely known as one of English football’s knobheads. So should a club of Arsenal’s standing be entertaining the idea of signing such divisive players?
I believe that most people who object to our former skipper rejoining could be appeased by a carefully put together statement from the player and manager. Fans pour their hearts into the club and expect the players to do the same. Fabregas could reiterate his never-ending love for the club and, I believe, most objectors would come around pretty quickly. Of course, some will feel that you should never go back and “once a cheater always a cheater” but they will be the minority who will only be swayed by a lengthy display of loyalty – A completely understandable position to take. There will also be some who seem to believe that any error of judgement should be punished and never forgiven. Theirs is the position I can relate to the least. These are people who have never made a mistake and, therefore, don’t know what it feels like to need forgiveness.
Rooney is a notorious cheat, ref-abuser and, most heinously of all, unbeaten-run-ender. To go along with all of this, Rooney presents another problem. No matter how good you believe him to be, one cannot deny the deterioration of his form. He hasn’t become the player that I personally expected to see by now – Instead he is a temperamental sort who, on his day, can cause serious problems for opponents, but is often found to be frustrated and angry during games. For these reasons, for me anyway, the Rooney dilemma isn’t one at all. I would rather we didn’t sign him.
The Suarez situation is far more complex than that of Rooney. His football is better and his offences are worse. Diving is unwelcome in the sport, let alone our club, but it is forgivable to most people, I suspect. A few of our players have done it and I haven’t seen calls for them to be sold. All a diver needs to do to be forgiven is stop diving. The biting incidents show an angry and dangerous side to the player but this is not something for which, I believe, a guy should be very heavily punished. Angry people need help, for their own sake’s as well as those around them.
Then there’s the big one. RACISM! Discrimination is, sadly, a daily occurrence for many people. In all its forms, discrimination is disgusting. Be it a casual comment or the systematic oppression of a group, discrimination is affecting the lives of billions. So how could anybody be OK with what Suarez has done? The truth is, very few people are OK with it. However, we must also recognise that people are products of their environment. I’m not going to suggest that what he said is a term of endearment in South America or any such rubbish, but it is clear that Luis Suarez has somehow come to the belief that he is entitled to speak to people like that. That makes him wrong, not evil. From a moralistic point of view, it’s his apparent lack of remorse which causes me the most concern. ‘Footballistically’, £40,000,000 is a lot of money for a guy who spends chunks of time suspended.
An enquiry concluded that Luis Suarez had used racist language to abuse Patrice Evra but that Suarez was not a racist. Anyone citing either of these findings to support their U-turn is, in my view, disingenuous. If you believe every ruling from the courts, you’re a fool. If you know that justice is handed out to those who can afford it, or fit the correct ethnic profile, and you still use the findings of the enquiry to support your flip-flop, you’re a joke. What won’t you say to better yourself?
It is nothing new in such debates to have extreme views on either side, with the majority lying somewhere in between. I believe that most Arsenal fans enjoy the fact that our players are not inclined to be in trouble with the authorities, and generally don’t bring the game into disrepute. I also believe that every Arsenal fan would like to see us compete for the two big trophies. So, is there a compromise to be made? Can we find it in our hearts to forgive? If one of these players arrives, will the fans support them and allow a fresh start? I do hope so.
Of course, we could always sign Higuain and please everyone.
Thanks for reading,
Up the Arsenal!
By @Bradyesque7
Positively Arsenal 
Brady is my Jiminy Cricket
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Very enjoyable piece, thanks…..
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Good article. I’m finding it hard to get past the racial abuse – seems a fairly reasonable bar to set for any new signing, doesn’t it? I’m all for forgiveness but look at the bloke’s words this very summer, often unwilling to take responsibility for the problems he’s had while here and of course there’s the fact he’s manipulating Liverpool, a club who perhaps unwisely expressed that tacky, trite indignation in support of the player putting themselves in line for fair criticism when Suarez hit his behavioural nadir (can you have multiple nadirs because I’m wondering what he’s going to do next…) – flip flopping between wanting to escape a press who have criticised him so often (for physical and racial abuse!) and the desire for Champions League football, unable to bear the suffering of playing in a team who can’t quite make it any longer.
You could ignore the racism completely and just be pragmatic – is this £40 million investment likely to cause us problems? If he turns himself around them I’ll be pleased for him but personally I think he’s too big a risk when you combine his volatility with his price tag.
Still, I don’t think you should ignore the racism or racial abuse if that’s more accurate. I don’t know if I’m being all high-horsey but it bothers me.
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I am struggling to make a moral judgement,having been about as immoral as is possible when I was younger.
That said,if I dont like a person ,I dont want them playing for Arsenal.I suppose its that simple.
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The only one I’m keen on is Higuain. I would have Cesc back in a heartbeat but we don’t need him, not that we need anyone. The other two, just don’t seem right for us.
Wenger will do his thing and we will all support his decisions and acquisitions.
Does Zelalem remind anyone of Paul Davis?
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Cesc is simply an insolent child who wanted to play under his boyhood hero. He probably knew that Pep wasn’t going to stay on for long and like a child that desires something, he threw his toys out, sat on the ground crying and at some point Wenger probably got fed up babysitting him. Another season of sub-par performances (by Cesc’s incredibily high standards but still sub-par. His stupid handball against Sp*rs and the Barca back heel to gift them their goal still haunt me), maybe even worse, or a good amount of cash in the back nad the opportunity to rebuil the team to make it less dependable on one single player? Not an easy choice to make, but entirely understandable.
So if we somehow got him back… well, I’ll be honest: I would be over the moon. He has made mistakes, but I think youths are allowed to make those (and don’t forget, he has what, 22-23, when he left us?). I still think that he belongs to us, and his head had been turned by the success his Barca mates were getting. But does he feel valued at Barca? Does he feel loved? He had to learn the hard way that as good as he was, he still wasn’t good enough for them, his tactical ability “not up to the standard” and so on. I think he knows what he had at Arsenal and I believe he must miss that sometimes. Knowing that his home ground is filled week-in, week-out with 60.000 fans that love him to bits. Probably the strongest Arsenal side since 2007/2008 would await him, an opportunity to be reunited wih Arsene, a chance to become a legend as opposed to a mercenary. Can he really say no to that?
On the other hand, if Cesc somehow opts to go to ManU, he’s dead to me. It would only show that he hasn’t learned his lessons, still a petulant little child.
On the topic of Suarez: I feel sympathy for him, primarily because of the way he has been treated. The racism thing is pretty big and cultural differences don’t excuse it, but compare coverage on Suarez to coverage on Terry. And Terry can’t claim cultural differences are the reason for his racist outburst. Suarez is a difficult and problematic player, but other players do worse/similiarly bad things and get treated much better (all those leg-breakers can queue in line).
But the sympathy I feel can’t help me overlook his personality and the racism thing. So I would much rather like us to not sign him, I feel it would tarnish the image of my beloved club and that’s something I’d rather not have happen. If he was to really become an Arsenal player, I just know I wouldn’t be able to support him fully like I’ve done for every other player.
And Rooney, well… no, thank you.
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Nice one. Thanks.
What you just said there George. That’s it in a nutshell really..
Seems I’m in the minority though (no change there..). Some would have had Genghis Khan in an Arsenal shirt, as long he was scoring the goals (misunderstood lad really now if he could just cut back on that raping and pillaging…)
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Nice one George, it’s very difficult to have an honest opinion on matters based on high percentage dishonesty,the laziness of journalism and the crap that gets printed or broadcast is fever pitch at this time of year. For the record,I’d rather we didn’t buy Rooney or Suarez and as long as he doesn’t join United,Cesc not coming back isn’t the end of the world.
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Great post, George. But I’m still a little confused as to where you stand on the “Suarez is a racist” issue? First you say he is “wrong, not evil”.
But then you write:
“An enquiry concluded that Luis Suarez had used racist language to abuse Patrice Evra but that Suarez was not a racist. Anyone citing either of these findings to support their U-turn is, in my view, disingenuous.”
What U-Turn are you referring to? People ‘changing their minds’ about Suarez since he’s been linked to us? What makes you think minds have changed? I for one didn’t pay much interest to the details at the time of the Evra incident. In fact I just presumed Suarez was guilty because I already held him in such low disregard.
It’s only when the “I don’t want Suarez because he’s a racist” comments came out that I felt the desire to look more closely at Suarez and the Evra incident in particular.
You then go on to say:
“…If you believe every ruling from the courts, you’re a fool…”
This is where I get a little confused… Is that previous statement critical of the FA tribunal (and therefore defending Suarez)? You go on to say that:
“If you know that justice is handed out to those who can afford it, or fit the correct ethnic profile, and you still use the findings of the enquiry to support your flip-flop, you’re a joke. What won’t you say to better yourself?”
Seems like a broad rush to judgment to me… I have investigated the Evra incident in detail – read the full report, taken into account all the arguments regarding semantics and culture; looked at the tribunal process itself; Evra’s history; elements of poor legal judgment on the part of the LFC lawyers; Evra’s provocation; and a number of other factors that influenced the decision at that time – something I didn’t do two years ago – and I have concluded that the situation was far more complicated than it was made out to be.
The tribunal, upon analysing the laws, and despite acknowledging that it was not necessarily a case of ‘racism’, per se – realized that they had to view the entire case through the racism ‘window’ in order for it to fall within their jurisdiction.
At the end of the day, the decision went Evra’s way because they found him ‘calm and pleasant, and his evidence ‘more reliable’. Ultimately – it was a ‘he said, she said’ situation, with a lot of extenuating circumstances. (The language issue(s), Suarez’s reputation, the heat of the match, etc.) Suarez has always held the view that he never did anything wrong – ie. never intended any of his comments to be racist. If you don’t think you did anything wrong – why would you be remorseful?
As you mentioned – Evra stated that “Suarez is not a racist.” So did the FA. And the head of ‘Kick It Out’. I’m also not sure what exactly one means by the term ‘racist’. I’ve always imagined it to be the label for the Hitlers, Klu Klux Klans and Verwoerds of this world…
I know it’s a sensitive issue.
But if you’re calling me a ‘flip-flopper’, ‘fool’ and ‘a joke’ because I don’t think that Suarez is a racist – I would beg to differ. The biting, the ‘gamesmanship’ (1 red card in 6 years, 2 yellows for simulation in two seasons…) – all those other things are not up for discussion. He’s guilty as charged.
But ‘racist’. I don’t think so.
Thanks again.
Peace!
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Excellent from Zinc and Evil. I don’t think Suarez is as good as Higuain or right for our club. He is a risk at all levels, can’t keep his head and would never get penalties for us. I can’t imagine smooth corporate operator IG would risk the damage to “the brand” you know Liverpool’s kit sponsor wasn’t pleased with the Evra row and being associated with the taint of racial abuse–there were actual costs to Liverpool. What I can’t understand is if the bid is true, why would we pay more for Suarez rather than go for Higuain? Unless AW doesn’t rate him as highly, perhaps. I find the whole thing strange and a little disturbing. Like George said, I don’t like the guy and really just don’t want him at our club.
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And, for that kind of money, should you really have to worry so much about the player’s behaviour on the pitch?
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Invinci, I looked into it at the time and suggested it was more complicated than was being portrayed. That’s only one component of the story–Suarez’s reaction to the whole imbroglio has been pretty poor and similar to every other controversy: it’s not my fault, it’s someone else, the media, my conscience is clear and so on. I was firm in my view that I would never want him at Arsenal before he came to England after his antics at the WC up flagrant celebrations on the Gyan’s penalty miss and his biting of a player while with Ajax. He’s being incredibly disloyal to Liverpool after all their support if he is willing to go to a domestic rival. One can understand wanting to leave England now, but not to go to another English club.
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Invinci,
The U-turn I talk about is from people who vehemently criticised Suarez before he was linked with us and now are desperate for him to sign.
The idea of taking a ruling to suit ones own agenda is blatantly wrong, unless you take every ruling at face value, in which case, you’re a fool.
I never said that Suarez has never done anything wrong. I’m not sure where you could have gotten that impression.
This bit about calling you a flip flopper or fool for not thinking he’s a racist is ridiculous. The reasons I think people are those things are clearly stated in the blog.
There are contradictions in the post because it’s a complex issue. The point of the blog was to address both sides of the debate.
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I agree with Evil 100%.
NO Rooney.
NO Suarez.
If Higuain is more interested in the cheese than being a gunner, NO to him too!
There are a couple of potentially-great young players dying to be upgraded by AW…
(ssh, can’t mention names..I watched enough internationals this summer to believe this)
I’d be happy with Benteke, if Arsene plunks*…
Capoue or Kondogbia, (iAp)..
Al-Habsi, if Fabianski moves on (& iAp) ..
Gervinho staying…
Coquelin coming back, cause he’s allergic to german(y)…
Campbell finally playing in the PL…
Jack, Abou, Mozart, Frimp & Arteta being injury-free…
& our next young guns (Ignasi, Eisf, Nico, Gnabry, Akpom, Aneke, etc) stepping up their game whenever/wherever they get to play in 2013/14.
the sheer amount of crap online is mind boggling…like Santi to Athletico,
these AGENTS are out of control!!!
*iAp
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Aman, I don’t think Napoli can pay him more than us. It wouldn’t be for the money, it would be to get out of RM and Arsenal seem to have dropped him to chase Suarez. Perhaps this is his tit for our tat? Dancing about, a game of courtship.
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“There are contradictions in the post because it’s a complex issue. The point of the blog was to address both sides of the debate.” What?! Complex issue? Debate? Hell, this is the Internet; we can’t have that.
I have to be honest, though, B7, I was kind of hoping to get to the end and have you give me something that would make this one easier for me. I don’t know what to think, truly. Suarez still doesn’t seem like a player I would want at Arsenal. (Nor does Rooney for that matter). But Arsene know what he wants, I’m sure. If Suarez fits the bill, who the hell am I to question that? Anyway, Mel is right. It is hard to form an opinion when your being fed bullshit by lazy journalists day in and day out. It’s enough to make your head explode.
Enjoy the match, those of you who are able to watch. I’m jealous. I’ve got to drag my ass up and get ready for work. Rambo to score today, just because it would be my luck to miss it. I’ll catch the game tonight on Player.
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Btw George, Loomer showed up, you know, over there! Harry and I pointed him this way since you’d asked about him.
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Damn. Two typos. Stupid iPhone. Plus I’m still half asleep. I promise I know the difference between “your” and “you’re”.
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Yes Loomer called in here too LSG ,I hope we see a lot of him.He was one of my favourites.
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Sorry it is of course number 7’s write up .
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@Bradyesque7
Nowhere did you say that Suarez has done nothing wrong. And I didn’t claim that. You said Suarez was ‘wrong, not evil’ for thinking that he could use the language he is purported to.
I still am not clear on why you call people flip floppers or fools, tbh. Have re-read those paragraphs and am no clearer. Perhaps I’m dumb.
The paragraph: “If you know that justice… What won’t you say to better yourself” What does that mean? I’m honsetly not sure.
What are you if you accept the statements of Evra, FA and Kick It Out that LS isn’t a racist? What are they?
I understand that you have written a balanced view. But how do you feel on that issue. If you don’t have an opinion, obviously that’s also fair!
Thanks for the reply. I’m really not trying to be obtuse. Love your writing and am obviously a regular visitor to positivelyarsenal because of the quality and insight you guys present.
Cheers.
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I think it’s time for some of you lot to put your shoulder to the wheel & write something for PA, I mean, have you seen some of the old shit I write that George is kind enough to put on here?
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Frank could sort all this out in no time.
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Sorry,it was of course number 7’s write up-while we’re at it I think it would be lovely to see some of the rest of you put your shoulder to the wheel and write something for PA,I mean,have you seen the load of old bollocks I write sometimes that George is kind enough to put up?!- if your worried about dodgy grammar,don’t be-Stew or Andrew will edit out the nonsense!
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@LSG
I still hope that this whole Suarez thing is just us playing poker. Real want Suarez, we want Higuain. We are probably trying to push the price down for Higuain by going after Suarez — consider how public this whole thing has been. I can’t remember a transfer of ours ever being so publicly discussed like he whole Suarez thing. Madrid obviously responded (apparently they bid some cash + Higuain for Suarez but Liverpool rejected) and it will be interesting to see who blinks first. I think we want Higuain, Madrid want Suarez (and Higuain wants definitely out) and Liverpool want loads of cash.
At least, this is the straw I am clutching onto to somehow rationalise that Suarez bid..
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Now I’m repeating myself-taps own wrist.
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Good article Bradyesque, completely agree with you on Fabregas & Rooney; however I’m with Invinciblog on Suarez. My husband (who is mixed race) doesn’t believe Suarez is racist, just arrogant. But what a player… Our biggest problem with him is his hotheadedness & possibly attitude. This isn’t how I feel based on our bid for him, but how I’ve always felt. Wouldn’t be happy compromising the ethos if our club to win trophies, honest (you may want to ask me that again when we are bought for 1.5 billion by that oil syndicate)! Again, good piece thank you Brady.
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Onto more present matters: I am really glad to see Rosicky assisting like crazy on the tour so far. 2 on the weekend, one already today. I really hope this is the season where he will manage to stay healthy all the way and finally show that he is truly world class and one of the best attacking midfielders currently playing in he Prem.
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Nice piece Brady!
Personally, I’ll say Rooney: no, Suarez: no, Cesc: maybe (if Barca will sell for less than £25m and Arsene’s interested, Higuain: same as Cesc above.
We have Giroud and he’s already scored twice in Vietnam. Watch this dude this season!
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Well make that three……..and counting!
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Enjoyed this post – whoever wrote it… 😉
I’m feeling a bit moralistically inadequate about this Suarez transfer. I’m just excited by the idea of him in our attack. I fear this makes me a bad person – but I’d be pretending if I said I was outraged at the thought of him…
Anyone else in this morally uncomfortable boat?
Just me??
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Enjoyed this post – whoever wrote it… 😉
I’m feeling a bit moralistically inadequate about this Suarez transfer. I’m just excited by the idea of him in our attack. I fear this makes me a bad person – but I’d be pretending if I said I was outraged at the thought of him…
Anyone else in this morally uncomfortable boat?
Just me??
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@Invinciblog
The paragraph that begins ‘An enquiry concluded…’ is admittedly a bit of a non-sequitur. I was addressing the argument that, because the enquiry ruled a certain way, then it must be a fact. We have seen countless examples of injustice through the years and I believe that if you’re prepared to accept rulings at face value, you’re either being disingenuous or stupid.
Disingenuous if you know that court finding are often questionable, stupid if you actually believe that justice is always done.
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Rooney and Suarez do nothing for me and I suspect they will upset the team balance. Cesc in a United shirt is pretty unwelcome though
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@CalamityJane
I’m not saying he’s a racist. I’m saying that I don’t just accept the findings of an enquiry. I try to make up my own mind and, as we have more hearsay than facts, I will just have to remain in the dark. I cannot form an opinion on whether he is a racist, anymore than I can with anyone I don’t know.
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Thanks Limpar.
I am an oarsman on the great ship morally uncomfortable.
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I would bet my life that many of the people saying they don’t want Saurez,are racists themselves.There is a lot of them you know?
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Refreshing piece B7 among the tumbleweed of the transfer window. I have done the ions and outs of Suarez to death elsewhere. I do not want LS at Arsenal.
As for Rooney I am undecided. As a personality he is an apparently greedy, ignorant, self indulgent, badly behaved pig. Still he is not asking for my daughter’s hand in marriage. I would only have to tolerate him once or twice a week. While he is not the performer he was 2-3 seasons ago I am conscious he personally tore us a new one at Trafford Park last October. I am 60/40 ( if the deal could be done).
As for Cesc I would be content to see him return, a dynamic and highly talented player. Just say nothing though – no statements, no badge kissing, silence.
Another 7 goal battering of the opposition today – I know, I know, there are no easy games
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Giroud’s on fire. Who said that would happen? oh yeah we all did. Collective pat on the back for us all then.
I don’t think you are alone LA. I think most of us know Suarez is a great player, and to have him scaring the shit out of defences next season would be a mouth-watering prospect. Whereas the thought of Wazza squeezed into an Arsenal journey just makes me slightly queasy.
I’m not “outraged” at the thought of him arriving, just more concerned about the baggage he carries with him, and the effects if he couldn’t behave himself. This is Arsenal, the scrutiny of his every move would be ten times worse, and ditto the fall-out if he did something stupid. The bastards would love it. If, and it’s a big if, Arsene thought he was worth the gamble, then bring it on. Who I am to argue.
I’d take Cesc back in a heartbeat though.
#ducks#
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Very true B7 – court findings or, in this case, tribunal findings can be questionable and are often questioned. That is why the tribunal spent 85 pages explaining why it had arrived at the conclusion it had, and why it had been persuaded toward that view rather than another. Its still available online if required.
And if you don’t agree with a judgement from a court or tribunal then appeal against it – it happens all the time – have it overturned. That also happens all the time.
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shhhh im at work…hate it….the sacrifices I make for arsenal ..tube with 30 degrees…dear god..suarez baby yeah..do it
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suarez now! fuck evra and the stupid English media tagging foreigners all the time. as for moyes and cesc and rvp ..LOL…
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Thanks A5.
I did read the report at the time and remember being unsatisfied. I would have to read it again to go into specifics.
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anything but that B7 – that torture should not inflicted it on anyone !!
Two games in Japan next – another positive run out against better opposition today – not bad at all
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for those who missed it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6HvFz56VW8
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Lukaku?? Oh yes please
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George, where did that rumour drop in from? He’s certainly a force of nature. Powerful.
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LG,
I concur. I think we are banking on Perez’s ego to plonk hard for Suarez.
PG, Lukaku’s good but man, I prefer Benteke..all day.
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Will moe sell a player to us?
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Sheesh..just read somewhere that TV’s out for 3 months!
Baptism of fire for young Ignasi, methinks
I hope he gets the run-out.
Might also force AW to plonk for a DM/CB…
either Capoue or Kondogbia would do (nicely).
..no more pre-season injuries, pleeaasse
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