One of the best things about football is how differently the same game can be viewed depending on where you are in the world.
A thoughtful comment from JustArsenal reader Anibao, currently watching Arsenal matches from Brazil, highlights just how wide that gap can be when it comes to analysing the Gunners.
A completely different narrative abroad
According to Anibao, the reaction to Arsenal’s performance against Manchester City, when the Cityzens edged Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad, was completely different on Brazilian television compared to what many of us heard from UK pundits.
While English media outlets were quick to criticise and focus on shortcomings, Brazilian analysts reportedly saw a strong Arsenal display, suggesting that the Gunners could easily have won the match if not for fine margins.
It is an interesting contrast.
Where UK coverage can sometimes feel overly critical or shaped by expectation, the South American perspective appeared more balanced, focusing on the overall performance rather than just the result.
Anibao also pointed out that a refereeing expert on Brazilian television believed there was a clear foul and red card offence for denying a goal scoring opportunity, something that was either downplayed or not highlighted as strongly in the UK.
Is bias shaping the narrative?
This raises a bigger question about how Arsenal are perceived.
Are the Gunners being judged more harshly in England due to past failures or the pressure of expectation? Or are international analysts simply offering a more neutral, less emotionally driven view?
There is no doubt that narratives can influence how performances are received. A team expected to win will often be criticised more heavily when they do not, while the same display might be praised if viewed without that context.
For Arsenal fans, it can sometimes feel like the team has to be perfect to earn praise domestically, while abroad there is a greater appreciation of the progress being made under Mikel Arteta.
Of course, neither perspective is necessarily right or wrong, but it does show how different the conversation around Arsenal can be depending on who is watching.
So what do you think Gooners, are UK pundits too harsh on Arsenal compared to the global view?
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I don’t know
I can name allot of positive things that have been said
even today I have read Arteta is on Peps level and this is our best squad in 60 years
I would say it’s the strongest squad I’ve ever known us to have.
😂
Gabriels could have been a red card, he got away with it. It was decided by a panel afterwards that he got away with a yellow when it should have been red. The other yellow (not red) was issued correctly. Where is the bias.
and not a single red card or pen in the Prem shown to a Gunner this season
so if there is an agenda against us ….they are doing a rubbish job lol.
Agree
Wow seen the team. Same as Saturday.
Does it mean skelly starts? Reggie
This started since Wenger’s era. The refs, media and pundits are in it together.
They have been against for as long as I can remember and that goes back to the late 60’s.
I do feel most uk pundits don’t give a balanced opinion on games. It’s like they never played the game or give opinion to ganner comments! .
In my personal and honest opinion, i do believe that we are scrutinised far more than other teams.
For years, we were told we were too soft and had no cojones etc. Now we are strong and physical etc – we’re bullies.
When we score from set pieces – we’re a one dimensional team. When others do it (liverpool namely – they’re masters).
We lose a game and we’re told we’re bottling it or choking. When City lose, its a blip
The list goes on…..
What do fellow Gooners think?
You speak my mind.
This is exactly what Anibao points out and not just about the City game.
The fact that over the last few year City have won things, How can they be called bottlers? We have not and until we lose thst tag, it will be there. When we lose it, we are then, not bottlers. City have won trophies and leagues, one or two bad results can not make them bottlers. You have to look at it in context.
Yet Reggie, if The Arsenal had 130 charges against their name, do you think a suggestion that asterisks would be put against each trophy they won or even that it would take years to bring the charges to a decision.
Your a older fan and this kind of bias has been going on for years, surely you have to acknowledge this?
If you are competing at the business end of major competitions you shouldn’t be labelled “bottlers”.
Unfortunately, far too many so-called fans have accepted such labels because of their antipathy against the manager and/or certain players.
This has allowed others to continue this rather ridiculous narrative.
But David, thats not the question that has been asked in the article and we are all answering. What a sad person.
For David
As Reggie said, this is not the question.
But taking your own point, I think the ‘bottlers’ tag is valid until we halt it by not buckling under pressure. An example is loosing out on the top 4 to Tottenham a few years ago when it was very much in our hands until we threw it away. This is nothing to do with your beloved Arteta either. I would say we bottled Top 4 under UE where we only needed a handful of points to get Top 4. Same goes for Spurs when they bottled it against us for Top 4 in the famous dodgy lassagne-gate season. History books don’t lie. Both us and Spurs are labelled this for a reason.
I just think the stars are aligning this season and we will hopefully win the PL this year leading all of us to celebrate and then stick 2 fingers to those giving us the ‘bottlers’ tag for a little while.
I responded to a comment made by another contributor to the site. You and your Reggie have no business telling anyone what should be the question. You have no credibility except amongst a fringe group of so-called fans who just dislike the manager.
A lot of normal people strive to make themselves the best they can be and often don’t achieve their goals until they’ve tried a number of times. That doesn’t make them “bottlers”. The same goes for football teams. Arsenal have continued to strive, learn and improve. The team have put themselves in positions where they have chances of winning, even if they fall short.
It is small minded and cowardly to call them “bottlers”. It’s equally poor to accept such labels.
For David
You are entitled to your view whether I agree with it or not. I am in disagreement with you.
I want MA to win the PL and have said so many times. I am definitely critical of his tactics and his methods. Finally, he has matured into using the full squad and not his favourites and others have also noticed this and commented on this. When you take off your Arteta tinted glasses, and not try to put others down who are not in agreement, you will find an enhanced approach. Until then I feel pity for you.
If you take off your dark glasses and leave your echo chamber of negativity you might start to understand that labelling a team bottlers when they have been challenging for major titles against teams that are amongst the best in the world does not make sense. This is even more relevant considering that Arsenal have not been favourites in any of these title challenges.
You need a period of self-reflection to gain some perspective. Stop accepting ridiculous narratives as “valid”.
actually it does I’m afraid
because if like you said you are always at the business end and able to compete for most of the competition that means the quality is there
so there must be another reason you keep failing and that would be mentality.
Your right in that not everyone who fails at something has bottled it , they simply might not be good enough.
But if you fail to meet your potential when pressure is on that’s is unfortunately bottling it
Look at a tennis player
I can name you players who could beat a Nedal and Federer on the tour but not at a Grandslam
I can name you sprinters who can run their fastest time at a small event but not at the Olympics
that’s why it’s there for Arsenal to prove now they can get over the line
Dan, interesting sparring with you and David.
With regard to your post above at 9.13 aren’t you contradicting yourself?
You say that some players might not be good enough – then you say that the quality must be there, because one is always competing at the business end.
You say that, taking the above into account, the only reason one keeps on failing is mentality stopping said from reaching their potential.
So we have not good enough, then good enough because they were competing at the business end and it boils down to mentality.
I’m confused (easy to do I know!!) how you think mentality would make a player who’s not good enough good enough?!
As for “bottling it” could that be explained better, if one took into account injuries, on field decisions and who one plays at the business end of the competition?
sorry if I wrote it wrong
I’m saying the quality is there .
If the last few seasons August – March your competing then it’s not ability that is in question so it must be mentality.
So unfortunately the accusations that we bottle it ( I would word it kinder ) is true .
Let’s hope we change it this month though mate
Much of your narrative isn’t true though is it? This is the 4th season Arsenal have been able to challenge for the title against teams that are amongst the best in the world. And this was coming from a period when Arsenal were barely challenging to make the top four and had to completely overhaul the squad and team ethos.
That’s 3 seasons in each of which Arsenal weren’t favourites, had significant squad weaknesses and major injuries.
Your tennis analogy is like suggesting that a lower ranked player, struggling with injuries, is a bottler because they didn’t beat Federer or Nadal in their prime.
Arsenal have never had a squad comparable to MCs until this season. Even in this season, there have been major injuries that have caused disruption. One would expect Arsenal fans to be honest and acknowledge the contexts of the seasons rather than lean into narratives that demean the efforts of the team.
disagree
think this team has had allot of praise including from me
Some are simply saying that they have to now prove they can get over the line .
If they win their next 3 games they haven’t bottled it have they but you have to accept if from this position we lost the title and the CL final that theory would still exist
Thanks for the reply Dan my mistake.
If we lose to PSG in the final of a game that Shaw both clubs give their all…. while, meanwhile, losing to WHU who are battling relegation, proving to be the difference between us winning the PL…. would / could one say that we “bottled” it, or should / could we just say we were beaten both times by better opposition, Dan and David?
while I wouldn’t use the word bottle myself yes mate if we don’t win anything I would understand the perception that Arsenal go missing when the pressure is really on
because at that point I wouldn’t just be the West Ham game that cost us .
It would be another opportunity missed to wrap up the title
so I would look at the Cherries game at home, the Liverpool game home/away , Forest away, Wolves away , etc
but win the Prem mate and no one can say anything
If Arsenal don’t win either of these titles the results would have to be accepted.
Dropping points or losing games against tough opponents shouldn’t however mean pejorative labelling.
but they wouldn’t be getting those labels for loseing a one off game , they be getting it for failing to get over the line
the other day you said Arteta is on Peps level
So you can’t have it both ways .
You can’t on one hand say our manager is on the same level as Pep but then not expect anyone to judge if he fails to get over the line
Please quote me correctly when you do. What I said is that over the last few seasons they have been close based on the tactics they have deployed with their teams. However, Pep clearly is more experienced and has a much greater body of work historically. Pep has also had a better squad.
This is the first season that Arsenal have a squad that is at a similar level to MC’s. This is reflected in the tightness of the title race.
Calling Arsenal “bottlers” for losing out in a tight title race would be disingenuous.
One of the issues in some of these discussions is that some of you dismiss any factors that provide balance in favour of a narrative that serves a subversive purpose.
disagree dude
I think you have what I call toxic positivity
you want to on one hand say they are close but if Arsenal don’t win anything please can no one be constructive in their criticism
I have always said we have a good young manager with a young squad who will get there one day
the last thing they need to prove is can they handle the pressure
if we win Prem / CL or both I will have zero issue saying they proved me wrong
but equally you can’t if we fail say …..don’t question them ?
your on a constant loop
Well, I disagree.
You have no business calling me toxic when I have laid out basic facts and a coherent position.
I would say that you support unnecessary negativity and unhealthy narratives. You are keen to dismiss facts in support of these narratives. You also have a habit of distorting comments that others have made if they do not agree with your point of view.
I have never said they should not be questioned. There is a difference between doing a proper analysis of what could be improved and calling the team “bottlers”.
You have consistently avoided discussing squad depth, injuries and other factors. Your one and only focus is what you call “mentality”. This shows a lack of candour in your discourse. Mentality alone does not win football matches.
not really because I can point to articles where I praise and critique
what you do is when things are going well praise and make comments like Pep and Arteta are close then after a league cup final and Bouremouth game say you don’t understand why fans are being so negative
now things are going well again your praising but then if we don’t win title or CL your say ….why are people being harsh lol
When things are going well, I praise no more than any another.
I made my comment about the tactics given what I have seen and on one occasion. I have then seen attempts to mock the comment because it doesn’t align with the negativity shared by a certain section of the fanbase.
There are any number fans who come on to rubbish the team quite regularly. From what I have seen you rarely devote this much to disputing and distorting their comments. Instead they have free rein to say how rubbish this and that player is and how poor the manager is. Some of the comments border on xenophobic by suggesting the manager is selecting players just because they are Spanish.
My view about calling the team “bottlers” will not change no matter how you try to twist my comments or provide support for inappropriate narratives.
I kind of separate pundits from journalists in this type of assessment. Pundits tend to be biased and their bias is with their former club(s) or against those clubs they didn’t like. Some are much better than others but I take them with a grain of salt so I can see the Brazilian’s point!
The people I have an issue with by times are the journalists covering Arsenal. I am in Canada so coverage is a bit different but I find some, especially the Atletic’s staff, to be overly positive about Arsenal as a rule.
In North American sports the press conferences can be pretty hostile, especially when teams aren’t performing. I don’t know if it the same in England but I sort of get the sense that it is a bit more polite.
Our season has been weird: a bit of a slow start, then gang-busters and then a long round of mediocre play (not awful, except in comparison to the fall performance), Europe excepted. I thought the journalists were being far too nice to us as we weren’t very good.
Anyway, it is an interesting perspective and I do like the variety here. Everyone is a supporter (I think), with some really positive and others (myself somewhat included here) really negative.
And to end my rant, I do think that the media and pundits have been far too kind to the people making transfer decisions, we have had some really weird ones (and to be fair to the “positives”, some really good ones).
Regardless, we get a chance to take on PSG in a one-legger where anything can happen and have our own destiny in our hands for EPL (my negative side comes back to belief that this should have been sorted some time ago).
I do appreciate the glass-half-full folks.
COYG!!!
Stewart, fancy going through life with a glass half empty though?!?!