If the Arsenal players walk off the pitch when one of them gets racially abused, I for one will support that action 100% and I am certain that I am in the majority supporting that.
I do not need to get on a soapbox and preach about racism, we all know it is repugnant and must be eradicated but the idea of players walking off the pitch can be controversial.
However, I think that us Arsenal fans are fairly united when it comes to this sort of crap. We back up our players, that is the Arsenal way. To me, there is no debate.
Just a few months back we had to endure the disgusting spectacle of a Spurs fan throwing a banana skin at the feet of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang which resulted in a four-year football ban from the courts and a measly £500 fine but as Aubameyang said: “Four years and we start again.”
No wonder Aubameyang was dismayed and he is absolutely right, four years and we start again and if this carries on then the players will have no choice but to take matters into their own hands.
If the football authorities and the courts continue to hand down minor punishments then who can blame the players for feeling alone and unprotected. We take our kids to games, millions watch on TV, and for racism to be witnessed with no effective sanctions sends out the wrong message, only a zero tolerance policy will suffice.
Our players must know that we will support them no matter the consequences. When they put on that Arsenal shirt they must know it is a shield and that we have their backs.
I do not want to see football games disrupted but I would rather that then having to watch or listen to our players being assaulted, because that is what racism is, it is an assault. The message from me and JustArsenal is clear and unambiguous, if any of our players walk off we support them, no ifs, no buts.
Agreed?