It was essentially half an hour of one fan being told what is wrong with Arsenalwith Jamie Carragher appearing spiteful, while Shay Given made his debut on the channel and seemed eager to impress those he perceived as influential.
A content creator’s role is to generate as many views as possible. Yet it raises the question of whether Gary Neville will address the fact that the debate lacked moderation and appeared to be driven by bias.
It makes little sense for Arsenal to be mocked more than the other 19 clubs combined on the podcast.
Bias and Narrative
Not even Tottenham Hotspur were criticised as heavily, despite being involved in a relegation battle. Meanwhile, there appeared to be more sympathy for Liverpool despite Arsenal holding a 21-point lead over them.
An Arsenal supporter was being laughed at by fans of clubs who would all readily swap positions with them. Yet, to a neutral with no prior knowledge, it would have seemed as though Arsenal were bottom of the table.
Shay Given insisted that the Bournemouth match did not matter, even when it was correctly argued that the next round of Premier League fixtures could influence the significance of a trip to the Etihad.
Carragher dismissed the suggestion that the majority of Arsenal’s squad who withdrew from international duty are already assured of their places at the World Cup.
Reaction and Perspective
He also criticised those who place Thierry Henry on the left side of attack in an all-time Premier League eleven, arguing that it was not his preferred position, yet included Cristiano Ronaldo on the left.
He then asked for a show of hands from the audience, questioning who did not want Arsenal to be champions.
Some argue that Arsenal supporters would be difficult to tolerate if the club wins the title. However, given the level of mockery they receive when results go against them, it is understandable if they choose to celebrate extensively should they end a 22-year title drought.
If this is the nature of the coverage while leading the Premier League, it raises questions about how the narrative would shift if they were to falter.
One way or another, it is set to be a long summer.
