The Tale of Two Arsenal ‘Legends’ (Mr Loyal and Mr Bitter?)

The Tale of Two Arsenal “Legends” by Hackinubee

The season started with a loss at home to last season champions, Man City followed by another London derby defeat at Chelsea even though we came from two goals down only to concede in the last minutes. After that match, some pundits, fans and club legends ruled Arsenal out of even making the top 6 but we followed the defeat up with 9 consecutive wins which should have at least made the critics go away.

But they persist and this time it comes in the form of our very own Legend, Paul Merson who not only thinks Emery hasn’t done anything but also expect an Arsenal thrashing, he said: “Sooner or later they will be on the end of a big score – defensively they are all over the place. The one thing that gets them out of trouble is that they’re always going to score goals. But defensively, they are just not good enough.”

What I don’t get is why our Legend will want his team thrashed, telling it not only to himself but the general public. He could have said the defence is a work in progress (as we all know) but predicting that your team will be thrashed?. Had it come from a Neville or Ferdinand, then it could have been understandable, but from Merson?

The other Legend is our record goal scorer before Henry arrived, Ian Wright, who decided to see the positive side of things going on at the Emirates regarding Ramsey’s contract: “What I do like about him and what I will always give him credit for, is that he never hides, never ever hides. No matter what stick he gets, he never hides.

“I have to stick with Arsenal, they have to make this kind of stance, the amount of players we’ve lost in this fashion. I believe that Arsenal want him to stay, but they have to make this stance. I think Arsenal have to do this, they have to make everybody else in the squad know how it’s going to be, from this day onwards, and that’s why the withdrawal of the contract is a big statement from them. And it’s a massive one as we’re on the verge of losing another player that’s a good player for Arsenal.” He also went further saying Iwobi’s emergence might have influenced the club’s stance.

So,there you have it, the tale of two Arsenal Legends with one focusing on the negative side and predicting a thrashing (even though he wasn’t asked) and the other seeing the positive side of the ongoing saga. In my opinion only one of the two is fit to be called a Legend but I think I’ll keep my opinion to myself…

Hackinubee

40 Comments

  1. Unfortunately Paul Merson was a great player for the Arsenal, but continues to demonstrate that “he is not the sharpest tool in the shed”.

  2. I love Wright’s passion for the club… the way he talks you’d think he was still part of the team!
    He’ll always be a legend in my eyes ?

    1. Sue-Wrighty was a player who seemed to feel he was privileged to play for The Arsenal.There were others in and around the team at that time who felt the same.George Graham seemed to insist they recognise how fortunate they were to play for that shirt.Unfortunately Merson is one who seems to forget all the Club did for him.
      I don’t insist pundits paper over the cracks and most have been right in what they have said especially over the last few seasons.But as always there is a respectful way of putting things and Merson seems not to have the intelligence to do this.We have all heard ex players like Martin Keown criticise the Club players manager but he says it in a constructive manner and does not trash the Club at every opportunity.Still I suppose Merson has to pay the bookies somehow so needs the soundbites to earn his money.

          1. Yes all good thanks Phil. Tickets come out tomorrow for the Wolves game…. so hopefully I’ll get some for that. Gutted I can’t make the spuds game, as my youngest daughter wants to go & see Lea Michele from Glee (Yes we’re Gleeks ?) at Hammersmith Apollo… had to be the same day didn’t it?!! Oh well there’s always next season ?

            1. Merson was never an Arsenal legend, he was just lucky to be in a team of REAL legends. He doesn’t know much about football punditry either!!

      1. It literally took be years of watching and listening to Merson in disbelief at some of the treacherous things that he said about Arsenal before I decided that I had no time for his unconstructive opinion. It all makes sense now that I read in the comments that he really is a Chelsea fan.

  3. Paul Merson also said in that interview, that he was a Chelsea fan! Just because you play for a team, doesn’t mean you’re a supporter of that team.

  4. Ian Wright is right about Ramsey never hides, just like Chamberlain that was not afraid to dribble past his markers

    Arsenal need more fighters like Wright, Ramsey, Torreira, Guendouzi, Monreal, etc

    Lacazette, Welbeck, Iwobi and Mkhitaryan have shown their fighting spirit at Fulham. I wish to see that line-up again in the next EPL match

    1. This is a lot and kettle issue.Look how many here have called players “useless” and “deadwood”.Yet it is wrong for Merson to shed his view because some say he’s a legend.He’s human and we should rather prove him wrong by shutting down teams.Our win against Fulham was good but the susceptibility of this team to be dominated and outscored is clear for everyone to see.

      1. this teams failings have been seen in its inability (at times) to command the midfield and inability to organize a robust defense – i’m encouraged that given time emery will help rectify the issue by insisting the back-line take pride and find more consistency as a unit this season. I’m happy with the progress being made by leno the #1 goalkeeper (arsenal elect).

  5. Merson may have been an arsenal player but he damn sure isn’t an arsenal fan. i think he is a spurs or chelsea fan. Henry and wright also slant our team when they are bad like every pundits would but merson comes across as hateful and unprofessional.

    1. You can clearly see how gutted Wright is when we lose… not only is he a legend, he’s a fan… and a top bloke! He’s the reason I’m an Arsenal fan… I have nothing but admiration & love for the guy!

  6. He didn’t say he wants us to be thrashed, he said he thinks we will be and that our defence is all over the place. Like it or not he’s right. Are you all saying you don’t feel uncomfortable when you see our fullbacks out of position and the opposition baring down on us? We have had the most shots against us and have been lucky to have two keepers making fantastic saves. When we play Liverpool you’ll all be hiding behind the sofa like me! Some of you need to get over yourselves, so it’s ok for supporters on here to say Mustafi is crap, Bellerin can’t defend and Xhaka can’t do anything but not ok for an ex player to give his opinion as well. The phrase Pot and Kettle comes to mind!

    1. Please be merson lapdog or are you ignorant to the shit merson has said about arsenal. Henry, Wright, Gary neville carragher all critise arsenal when we play bad and its ok because they said it well but merson comes across as hafeful about arsenal

      Henry is one of our harshest critic yet I have nothing against him whereas merson is just like Owen, shearer who just dont like us and always are negative about us.

      1. Don’t you dare call me ignorant or a lapdog! Try reading my comment properly and if you don’t understand the context then it is you who is truly ignorant. Otherwise STFU…..

        1. And just so we are straight on this, I don’t like Merson. It is the hypocrisy of some posters on here being the point!

  7. I don’t care whether merson is or isn’t a fan. However despite 9wins on the bounce, I still feel our defense has a lot of fixing needed. Like merson, I feel if Emery doesn’t fix that defense before we meet a team with a proper attack, we’ll be found out

  8. We met City and Chelsea who do have a good attack and we lost but we weren’t thrashed. Our defence continues to make me nervous but it’s getting better…merson is always saying things he hopes will keep him employed. That’s why he said it….it was not a balanced view point.

    1. True, that we didn’t concede more against those teams IMO had more to do with our goalkeeper and their poor finishing. Against Everton and cardiff I felt we could have conceded 5 had they had better luck and better finishing. This is not about me bashing the team, but I feel our defending still needs a lot of fixing.

      1. That’s what goal keepers are paid to do! How many points has De Gea won for Manchester United during his career at that club?
        Unai Emery and his assistants are obviously working on coaching and improving the defense. How did Mustafi, Kolasinac, Socrates and Lichtsteiner play for their respective national teams if they are “mugs”?

  9. Can lifelong Chelsea fans who have had a triple addiction and shamed our club be honestly regarded as legends? I say NOT! Just because Merse played for us and was a decent player, does not make him a legend. If HE is a legend, then Alan Smith who played with him upfront must be a double legend. I dislike this sloppy and lazy use of “legend” for merely decent players. Bergkamp, Adams, Viera, Henry are TRUE LEGENDS. But Merson is just an amiable joker who did not take his career seriously enough and ruined the good, not great, talent he had by an amateur lifestyle, No legend is he, not in my book. Legends, in my book, have more talent and a truly professional attitude. Merson? LETS CALL HIM A JOKER!!

    1. …as fair and as true an account as we’ll find anywhere – i find myself in total agreement here @JF.

      merson is fortunate enough to be able to say he wore the shirt, however, his arsenal involvement and contribution could hardly warrant the superlatives ‘great’ or ‘legend’ after other players came in and committed his contribution deep into the archives. I’d place Davis, Rocastle, Freddie even Platt ahead of Merson in so far as i recall our proud history and earlier productive years. But to put things into some sort of perspective i don’t hate on him, rather a case seeing his career in terms of a “careless neglect of duty”.

      1. Fully agree with you Jon on your list of TRUE legends and I would add Sol Campbell because even now it brings a smile to my face the way we nicked him from the Spuds. We could definitely do with him today!

        1. Oh yes indeed Andrew and many more players besides. I just feel legends MUST always be true servants of the club , not their own indulgences. I included Adams though, despite his drink problem and short stay inside for drink driving, BECAUSE he overcame those problems in spectacular style and brought fame, honour and glory to our club. He is possibly the one Arsenal name in history I most personally admire as a human being. WHAT WOULD WE FANS GIVE FOR ANOTHER TONY ADAMS TODAY! Absolutely priceless!!!

      1. As a huge dog lover who spends my time with and around dogs, I could not agree MORE. Would that we had Jack Russells in every position. Small, wiry but fierce and loyal and NO ONE would ever say we are bullied with Jack Russells throughout the team. It is not the size that is vital but the size of the heart inside. Football history is littered with examples of small players who were tough as teak. Torreira is a great example indeed! I love players with “over my dead body” attitudes. That is WHY I so loathed that timid mouse, Walcott.

  10. Merson would of been nothing if it was another club in his football days , in my view he was a legend for being a remembererd for the wrong things he done off the pitch .. he was stupid then and more so now … about the defence it’s only been 2 defeats and 9 straight wins give the coach and the team a chance to put things right and its only been one transfer window .. Also Chelsea were lucky they didn’t concede 5 . This time next year judge ….. not now .. ps we only spent 70 million ; legend my AR…

  11. Arsenal without Lucas Torreira this season:

    Minutes: 442
    Goals scored: 9
    Goals conceded: 10

    Arsenal with Lucas Torreira this season:

    Minutes: 548
    Goals scored: 20
    Goals conceded: 3

  12. Some of you are right, why should we be aloud to be overly critical, but a former player who’s paid for his punditry is not. I get that. The thing is though Merson never seems to think before speaking and it comes off badly. Emery is barely in the job five minutes, got off to a bad but expected start somewhat, but has turned it around for now so he deserves the breathing space. Of all people to not give him that space it would have to be one of our own. Nobody expected Emery to sort all that mess out in less than ten league games, and how much money was he afforded in the one window, this is why people are on Merson’s case.

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