The recent comments by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola regarding the FA Cup ball have sparked a debate about the treatment of managers in the media and among fans. This situation has highlighted a stark contrast in how similar statements are received when made by different managers, particularly when comparing the reactions to Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Guardiola.
Earlier in the season, Arteta faced criticism and mockery after commenting on the difference in ball quality during Arsenal’s EFL Cup defeat. His remarks were taken out of context and blown out of proportion, leading to a media frenzy and widespread derision from fans and pundits alike. The EFL even felt compelled to release a statement addressing Arteta’s comments.
Fast forward to March 2025, and Guardiola has made strikingly similar observations about the FA Cup ball following Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle. Guardiola stated that the ball was “difficult to control” and “not proper,” echoing Arteta’s earlier sentiments. However, the reaction to Guardiola’s comments has been noticeably different, with many taking his words seriously and even agreeing with his assessment.
This disparity in treatment raises questions about the respect afforded to different managers in the football world. Arteta, despite his success in transforming Arsenal and leading them to a second-place finish in the Premier League, often faces harsher criticism and ridicule for his statements and actions. In contrast, Guardiola, with his illustrious managerial record, seems to receive more benefit of the doubt and respect when making similar remarks.
The incident highlights a broader issue of bias in football media and fan culture. It appears that certain managers, particularly those with less established reputations or managing clubs with passionate fanbases, are more likely to face intense scrutiny and mockery for their comments. This uneven treatment can lead to unfair perceptions and added pressure on managers like Arteta.
As the football community reflects on this situation, it’s important to consider the need for more balanced and fair treatment of managers across the board. Whether it’s Arteta, Guardiola, or any other manager, their comments should be evaluated on merit rather than preconceived notions or biases. Only then can we foster a more respectful and constructive dialogue in the world of football.
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
That’s why you should make these kinds of comments also when you win and not moan when you lose. There’s the difference. Klopp moaned about everything as well when they lost, and got stick for it in the media.
@DaJuhi.
We all know who it was, and they will continue regardless😉
I love how you wrecked the premise of the article in the first comment, but people apparently scrolled past you and went along with it. Confirmation bias is quite a force.
Welcome to the world of The Arsenal!!
We, as a club, have ALWAYS been judged, talked about and compared differently to every other club in the English top flight.
Here’s a simple example – think about the stick our club has had for not winning the PL in years, while manure, spuds and pool were not given that same scrutiny.
Why, even that thicko from Talks***e had a daily rant about our club!!
That’s why we have thick skins when we support The Arsenal – we are simply a club out on it’s own!!
I take it that Adrian Durham with his daily Arsenal isn’t on your Christmas list (hasn’t been on that slot for years though). The station, for the most part – there are a small group of gormless former players who invade the airwaves – but White and Jordan with interesting pundits such as Keown, Danny Murphy and Troy Deeny who has surprised me are not bad at all
SueP,
I can’t make my mind up on Adrian Durham to be fare. A lot of the times I’ve listened to him on talk-sport, he always seems to put the boot in on Arsenal.
He seems to have this massive chip on his shoulder where Arsenal are concerned. But where the confusion comes in, is I believe that his wife is an Arsenal fan. And it makes me wonder if he just does it a lot of the time to wind her up. 😉👍
He’s the one SueP – I might have a listen in now then!!
10 am till 1pm Monday to Thursday
Anything Arsenal is always bound to be ridiculed and scoffed at by a vast part of the media, punditry and fan base of rival teams, with banter aimed at the club and manager in good or bad performance.
Here’s the thing though. Much of the derision and ridicule has been parroted by so-called Arsenal fans. When your own fans are on line undermining your manager on an almost daily basis what do expect from rival fans, pundits, or tabloids who are seeking a headline.
I agree with you David – but those Arsenal fans who see nothing wrong with anything our manager does on a daily basis, are also setting up the club for ridicule by rival fans and the media – wouldn’t you agree?
This is typical bothsidesism. Much of the discourse is about how Arteta is getting so much wrong by various fans, pundits and media. How often have people indicated that Arteta has got nothing wrong?
Instead certain so-called fans have created strawmen in order to attack anyone who does not see eye to eye with them in their negativity about the manager.
Well you have David – that’s a starter for 10 and there are others like Vamos, loose Cannon and Liam – so let’s not run away with the idea it’s all one sided!!
There are strawmen on both sides and I called them the “D” brigade for identification purposes (apart from those I listed above.
Here you are lying. I have never indicated or suggested that Arteta has got nothing wrong since he has been at Arsenal.
Name one thing you said Arteta did nothing wrong. You even came out defending our FA Cup embarrassing exit this season.
How can a normal fan come out defending every single defeat we suffer Mr Perspective? And you wonder why some of us are calling you a bot?
HH, please refrain from the constant digs at fellow Gooners labelling them apologists or bots or questioning whether they are real fans etc. I am sure you have the means to respond without resorting to these digs.
They haven’t been nice to me over the years and have called me and some others critical of Arteta not nice things also.
I wonder Martin why only we who are also wrongly labelled anti Arteta have to be the ones refraining all the time?
David there always call people liars but haven’t seen you saying anything to him.
You don’t remember when the whole group used to gang up on me when all I did was posting an opinion without referring to any single fan?
When one was threatening to get me banned?
I expect fairness from you Martin so what about we all stop labelling each other. Why do pro Arteta always get a free pass?
No one is getting a free pass and I have only been on comment moderation for the last few weeks, I was not on comments prior to that so I cannot speak about what has happened before, only what is happening now. I also closed the comments on a post last week because of the attacks on each other and asked everyone to start honouring the rules that Pat set up. Since I have been on comment moderation I have only really noticed one or two individuals getting personal and one of them is you and I have politely asked that you refrain from digging others out, that is all. If I see others doing it or I am informed of specific comments then I will act. Finally, whataboutery is not a defence.
Noted. And I politely ask any poster to let me criticize Arteta in peace and to my heart’s content. Arteta is not their father or their employer for them to have issues everytime he is criticized.
Absolutely feel free to criticise whoever you want at the club, all opinions are valid and welcome and it is not just you but everyone that must abide by Pat’s rules about conduct. Thank you for your understanding.
And SueP. The biggest apologist posing as neutral and open minded same like David. At least the rest of them do not pose like neutrals or open minded. If names are to be mentioned from both sides none should be excluded.
So cringe
David,
When I heard of the comments that Guardiola made about the balls, I just knew you would be on here trying to put another spin on it to defend Arteta’s original comments regarding ball-gate.
At the time you appeared on here more than once trying to put a different spin on what Arteta actually said about the ball. The fact is David, there was no defending Arteta on those comments, it is utterly stupid to come out and blame the ball like he did. It was the same ball that was played with in the previous three rounds, a ball that we scored 12 goals with, where was the blaming the ball then.
And no doubt after reading this piece you’ll be back on trying to put yet another spin on it.
Problem that’s occurred Derek it’s turned into Arteta football club rather than Arsenal football club ,it’s all about him and his massive ego his love for the club and all that bullcrap ,he’s a massive fraud ,got lucky because our club thought he was a Pep clone ,unfortunately for us he was minus the glory .
You’re right. It’s just that Arsenal fans don’t hesitate to spew vitriol at the club too. Justified or not, some of our own are fond of honking the same tune as these harsh critics.
When you lose a match everything you say tends to be highlighted, people are looking for answers.
After we lost the match Arteta mentioned the ball; whether it was an excuse or not, it comes across as one, as a reason for not performing or winning.
Why even mention the ball? Did they not practice with the ball before the match?
Best to only focus on the things you can control; players, setup, performance. Leave the refs, VAR, balls, and everything else alone.
Spot on Durand!!
Arteta doesn’t help himself ,the biggest excuse maker and talker in world football ,some of the stuff he goes on about is utter garbage,I see his usual minions have come out straight away to defend him ,take their musings with a pinch of salt .
Dan kit
Also what doesn’t help is when a manager walks and talks with a chip on his shoulder and has very little to show for his arrogance.
Arteta has improved the team, only a hater would argue the facts in front of them. He built a squad that got back into CL, and also made a run at the PL title.
However, Artetaball has taken us as far as it can, and we simply can’t ignore or overlook having a top clinical goal scoring striker in the side.
The best soldiers in the world can’t win with a bad battle plan, and I am questioning whether our tactics and Artetaball are winning tactics.
Slow buildup has made pace up front irrelevant,
and the static positioning and endless sideways and back passes have all but killed the creativity; look at many of our player performances this year.
Durand,
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Dan Kit,
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I think the difference in the reaction of fans and media to the ‘ball’ comments by both managers is that one of them criticised it after he’d lost and the other after he’d won. The losing manager was whinging, whilst the winning manager was merely commenting.
These things happen every now and then like red cards to LKelky, Rice, Trossard, Saliba… Injuries etc. We see different sticks when it come to Arsenal. Who is to change the narrative? Arsenal. When Arsenal put up a team that is fully disciplined to win premiership and champion’s league, the respect will come. Let Arsenal stop shooting themselves in the legs, things will change.
Admin Martin – Your efforts in moderation and otherwise are appreciated.
The difference is dont cry only after losing a game coz remember the opponent played on the same pitch so Gaudiola won and complained but After a lost and complain