{"id":12817,"date":"2026-02-12T01:51:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T01:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12817"},"modified":"2026-02-13T01:12:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T01:12:00","slug":"was-you-ever-bit-by-a-dead-bee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12817","title":{"rendered":"Was you ever bit by a dead bee?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
“They can sting you just as bad as when they’re alive…”<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In recent days and weeks, we have seen how media driven narratives can take hold in a title race. Arsenal have spent the majority of the season so far sat at the summit of the Premier League table. Since a 2-0 win over West Ham on 4th<\/sup> October, we have not yet been prised from our perch. This year we have been the team to chase as opposed to the chasers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such a position seems to invite itself into talk of a potential \u201cbottling\u201d from certain dim-witted individuals holding dangerous power in terms of fuelling whatever narrative has been decided for that week, usually every bit as obnoxious and poorly argued as the one which preceded it. We sit six points clear of Manchester City, a very healthy position to be in with 13 games to go. This time last week we were also six points clear. But despite that, this week\u2019s Sky Sports narrative \u201cargues\u201d that following Manchester City\u2019s win at Anfield, Arsenal will be looking over their shoulders. This is despite the previous week\u2019s narrative which \u201cargued\u201d the title was essentially wrapped up for Arsenal. So, a week later, we hold the same numerical advantage with one less game for both sides to play and yet if you were to listen to these narratives you would be led to believe that Arsenal are in a weaker and more precarious position to the one, they were in a week ago. So, there we have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For us rational folk (and we are in a dwindling minority these days it seems) we know better than to listen to such dross. And one would suspect that is the same of our players and manager. To Brentford we shall commence our latest battle on our quest for the title on Thursday night. They will provide a stern test; we can be sure of that. Probably sterner than that of Leeds and Sunderland. A tough place to go for Arsenal perhaps. That\u2019s what the TNT commentator on Spurs vs Newcastle last night said. Let\u2019s have a look, shall we? What\u2019s that? Arsenal winning on each of their last four visits to Brentford? But that doesn\u2019t tally with what the \u201cexpert\u201d commentator on TNT said! How can that be? It\u2019s almost like these people are told what to say regardless of the relationship between their pre-determined narrative and the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not saying Brentford are not a decent side. Far from it. I am merely demonstrating how football analysis is increasingly driven by whatever will get the most clicks. We are all bored of hearing pundits talk almost entirely in soundbites. It\u2019s almost like they are trying to get as many viral clips for social media as possible. Well, that\u2019s exactly what it sounds like. In the UK, if you subscribe to Sky and TNT, you are more than likely paying over \u00a3100 a month to listen to these absolute chancers. Is that value for money? Increasingly, these broadcasters and media outlets (mostly digital but now increasingly in print too) are seemingly catering to an audience that isn\u2019t interested in detailed analysis but more into much shorter sensationalist quotes and clips that can be shared and LOL\u2019d at 10,000 times a minute. Because an oddball with a mic\u2019 shouting expletives and poorly thought-out nonsense at a camera gets more revenue than a pundit sharing his or her rational analysis based on the facts and what they have seen and not what they\u2019d like to see. There is no place for rationality in football anymore. Not if you want to make loadsa\u2019 money anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I suppose we just have to block out the noise. That\u2019s one good thing. We can choose not to listen to these people. When you watch tomorrow\u2019s game on TV you can choose not to tune in for the baseless pre-match analysis, you may even choose to watch the game on mute which is a shame but sometimes it has to be done. When you are scrolling X (formerly known as Twatter) you can simply choose to scroll past the 38-year-old basement dweller screeching \u201cArteta owttt\u201d into his mic\u2019. And as for the players, they are professionals who are attuned to this sort of thing. Do your talking on the pitch and let the Mancunian has-beens and never-were\u2019s boil in their jealousy that they don\u2019t have an ounce of the talent Arteta has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s quite enough moaning from me. This will be a big test, but I think at this point we are all confident we can and will overcome it. Brentford are in serious contention for a European spot, currently sat 7th<\/sup> on 39 points, hilariously level with Liverpool. Following on from the departures of Bryan Mbuemo and Yoanne Wissa last summer many, including me, expected them to toil in the relegation battle especially as this was coupled with the departure of manager and lifelong Gooner Thomas Frank to Spurs. I wonder how he\u2019s getting on? Silver Member Frank was replaced with Brentford\u2019s set piece coach, Keith Andrews which raised many eyebrows indeed. But the Irishman has proved everybody wrong as Brentford look set for perhaps their first foray into the continental stage. Just as well Heathrow\u2019s only down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of team selection, we can expect a strong side given Sunday\u2019s FA Cup tie at home to Wigan will provide much opportunity for rotation. This would be my predicted lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel Hincapie
Zubimendi Rice Havertz
Madueke Gyokeres Martinelli<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trossard seemed to pick up a knock in the closing stages of the 3-0 win over Sunderland, but it looked relatively minor. Even so, I don\u2019t think he will be risked. Martinelli is a more than able backup. Arteta said today that both Saka and Odegaard will have late tests on their fitness so perhaps they will be on the bench. And I think Gyokeres will start given the excellent form he\u2019s been in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Prediction is a hard fought 2-0 win on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COYG!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In recent days and weeks, we have seen how media driven narratives can take hold in a title race. Arsenal have spent the majority of the season so far sat at the summit of the Premier League table. Since a 2-0 win over West Ham on 4th October, we have not yet been prised from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12817"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12817"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12817\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12819,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12817\/revisions\/12819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}