Arsenal’s youngsters are undergoing tutorials on how to handle themselves in the media as the club reacts to the prospect of a new generation of players progressing through the ranks under intense scrutiny from fans across the world.
Eager for the club’s Academy players to act responsibly on Facebook and Twitter, and for them to be comfortable on camera when faced with the prospect of a post-game interview, Arsenal’s communication director Mark Gonnella explained to Arsenal Player:
“From day one when they start wearing the Arsenal badge they become people that everybody is interested to hear from. Whether they’re playing for the first team or part of the Academy, suddenly their views are of interest. Thousands of people will follow them [on Twitter, not in person] and react to what they are saying, so they need to learn very early.
“If you say something on Twitter you’re not just talking to a small group of friends or people who are very close to you, you’re actually talking to thousands and probably millions of people.
“There can sometimes be problems, while sometimes there can be a great story and it’s all good. What we’re here to do is make sure they get it right more than they get it wrong.
Recognising that times have changed a great deal since he started his own playing career 25 years ago, youth team boss Steve Bould gave his opinion on the shifting media landscape.
“We were quite lucky, we never had any of this Twitter and Facebook and constant media pressure. It’s tough for them, they have to learn early that things they do and say in the public eye.
“They grow up. They’ve got old heads on young bodies and so far we’ve not had too much of a problem. Certainly when they get to the fringe of the first team that’s when it really matters because the whole world wants to know what they’re doing. Any little snippet that they find can be used, so they need to be careful.
Speaking about the training days to which his young protégés are being subjected, Bould made clear he support the efforts:
“I think it’s a fabulous opportunity, something as I’ve ever said, we never had to deal with. When I first faced a camera I didn’t have a clue what to do. These kids have got it all early, but everything is set-up for them to be professional on and off the pitch.”
It appears from the decision to tutor the players that the club have come down on the side of monitoring and mentoring the social media output of its stars rather than banning them outright. In May last year Arsene Wenger revealed that he had his concerns about the problems of his players being so exposed on the net, but accepted there were also benefits.
“It can be very positive because it can be a good communication for the players with the fans which doesn’t exist anymore,” stated the boss.
“It can as well have negative repercussions for the clubs if it is not well used so we are thinking about it. We will see what kind of direction we will go.”
Arseblog News certainly understands the quandary faced by the club. Having a 19-year-old midfielder embroiling himself in a post-game argument with one of the media’s biggest bullies, Piers Morgan, is not what you want – even though the chubby twat deserves a public pasting. At the same time, how can you deny fans access to the banalities of Craig Eastmond’s Nando’s visits, Andre Santos’ “nice win gays” spelling fails or Jack Wilshere’s pictures of cups of tea…
Perhaps it all just comes down to Rocky’s famous words: “Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent.”
All our youth players seem to do with their time is shop at Westfield and eat Nandos.
You’d think with all their disposable income they’d have better taste in restaurants.
Nando’s is a tasty fast food restaurant, so can’t fault them…
Nandos is where pikeys have their wedding dinners.
Nandos is wank. It’s just dry chicken and boring sides. It’s not the worst thing ever, but not worth the journey or the money. I don’t understand why all footballers go mad for it. Chicken is the basis of mediocre home cooking
I’m with TAMCK on this one (and also laughing hysterically at his–okay, yes, offensive and what not, yes, yes–wedding dinner comment). Nando’s is boring even by fast food standards. Make a roast chicken at home and throw some peri-peri sauce on it, and bingo, you’ve got Nando’s chicken. If I’ve got a hankering for fast-food it’s going to be something I can’t make at home, either because I don’t own a deep-fat fryer or don’t have access to the testicles, cartilage, and tendons of South American cattle.
You’d think people would know about footballers and Nando’s Black card.
Look it up, then it’ll make sense.
Mmm, testicles, cartilage and tendons. Yummy!
mental chicken rant there @Stoph
Have got to say the Frimpong-Morgan shitfest was tumultuous at its very worst, and it’s really exposed to me why people thinks Piers Morgan is a cunt, and probably rightly so though I still don’t have much of an opinion since I never noticed anything he ever did.
But have got to say the guy is being a fucking twat recently, what with the “I just want this team to win trophies” crap, makes me think of blatant gloryhunting.
Jack Wilshere retweeted Piers Morgan last night during the Chelsea game. I was so fucking disappointed.
This should be the first rule of any ‘media training’ programmes : Piers Morgan is, always has been, and always will be a cunt. Any interaction with him is strictly forbidden (unless you’re calling him a stuck up, self righteous, useless, reactionary cunt).
Quite surprised to get a thumbs down on this! Piers, are you amongst us? (and if so, do fuck off)
Morgan is a mate of spud sralan sugar.
Say no more
I didn’t think it was possible for Piers Moron to show himself to be a bigger twat than he already is, but having just read that Twitter spat… he managed it and made it look easy.
Well, I admit that I engage in weekly warfare with Piers on Twitter over his inane commentary. He accused Frimpong of not being loyal because he was on loan to the Wolves (at the time). On a broadcast in the states, on Fox, he demanded that Wenger be fired. How do you go on national television and undermine your club like that? Now, he sings Wenger’s praises after every win, but with some vague caveat about summer signings… or a threat of him continously berating Wenger on Twitter. He really is the quintessential example of the kind of horrid Arsenal… Read more »
Piers Morgan fits the perfect profile of a Chelsea fan.
How do you support a football team for 42 years and not understand what it means when young players go out on loan?
Well said.
All that guff about wenger was disgraceful. In many works of life you could get fired or even sued for actively and publicly trying to jepadise another person’s employment.
I don’t know how he gets away with the bile that spouts from his mouth.
If you can ban a supporter for putting the image your club in disgrace then he surely qualifies.
Spot on – maybe Frimpong didn’t do it in the most educated or classy style but his heart’s in the right place! Anyone who has the sort of high profile that Piers Morgan has and uses it to publicly deride one of the most successful managers ever and then follow up by trying to bully a 19 year old kid who stuck up for their boss deserves everything that comes his way. Horrible fat smug self-satisfied twat.
The real one for me was Wojciech tweeting that Aaron Ramsey looked like a rapist with his new hair cut
that’s something that’s completely okay to say to someone in person , Obviously he doesn’t mean it . But it’s wrong to say in public
The thing is, that was 2 friends insulting each other. That happens in almost every collection of friends. The problem was, the general idiotic public decided that they wanted to cause a fuss. Imagine them not being footballers, standing in line at the local Sainsburys, Tescos, coffee shop and Wojciech saying that to Ramsey. People wouldn’t go up to them and start having a go, they wouldn’t bat an eyelid except to gossip about it to whoever they were with once out of ear shot. It’s the so called “keyboard warriors” that have nothing better to do than cower behind… Read more »
I still don’t understand why that was offensive,
Because children look up to footballers.
I tweet offensive shit everytime to my friends and no one in particular, but no one cares because I am no one.
“The thing is, that was 2 friends insulting each other. That happens in almost every collection of friends. The problem was, the general idiotic public decided that they wanted to cause a fuss.” That’s exactly the point. It’s two friends insulting each other, in poor taste (which is common the world over, and we all do it), in front of 500,000 total strangers, many of whom ARE idiots, some of whom are police officers, some of whom are people who will be offended by the suggestion that rape is in any way funny, and a few of whom are sneaky… Read more »
I thought it was pedophile?
He said: “I don’t wanna be rude mate but you look like a rapist on that picture! Lol” and then tweeted: “Looking like a rapist/pedofile isn’t a good thing either ;)”
Ramsey tweeted back: “Jealousy is not a good thing mate.”
Nice artucle gays
also frimmyfacts was borderline funny the first time… Frimpong needs to let that go.
I’ve got to say Frimpong is easily the biggest culprit of an Arsenal player probably misusing Twitter. His constant retweet of #frimmyfacts (essentially just shit rehashed Chuck Norris jokes) is vacuous and unfunny.
The “DEEEENCH” novelty has well and truly worn off as well. IMO he just comes across as a complete idiot now.
That’s part of his charm for me.
I don’t go on Twitter a whole lot, but when I do, a lot of time is to see if Frimpong has posted something retarded.
#leaveitYEAH
#DEEENCH
JET was probably the worst Twitter offender. That’s when you could understand what he was actually typing.
Jack Wilshere’s “Bit Krul mate” response to a NUFC fan telling him his Mrs cheated on him meaning that his son isn’t actually his, was the best use of Twitter I’ve seen in a while.
When he posted that he actually retweeted what the NUFC fan wrote, which was totally crazy. Jack and Rio Ferdinand are probably the two players that understand twitter best and understand how twitter can really complete their image. Jack does post pictures of cups of tea and pictures of he and Theo hanging out together like BFFs. It makes me think Jack is the nicest young man in England. Frimpong, on the other hand, tweets with his ego. But, not all of the time. To me he behaves the way a lot of teenagers do. So, while it can be… Read more »
To add to the Dench things… is he just praising Dame Judi Dench? The original Dench…
Ripping fans off with his t-shirts too.
Jack’s pro-Chelsea tweet a disgrace.
Disgrace? That’s a bit over-the-top, don’t you think? It’s disappointing, yes, and the “Come on you Blues” was completely unnecessary but we all know where his loyalty lays. He just wants an English side to represent the country. The lad is young and naive, give him a break. Also, were fans City fans calling Micah Richards a disgrace when he was showing his support for Arsenal on Twitter? You do realize that some players from other clubs were supporting us when we were up against Milan, right? Is that disgraceful? It does my head in when people make a big… Read more »
If we finish 4th and Chelsea take our CL place by winning the CL I don’t think Jack will be so supportive of them. Equally I don’t want to hear Jack offering Nasri good wishes or telling wrighty winning things with England are more important than winning things at club level. Perhaps all english fans can chip in for his wages and I’ll keep my £50 ticket money.
I can just imagine Jack, sitting alone with his head down, Charlie Brown song playing in the background, completely disgraced.
“I’ve acted dishonorably,” he’ll sigh. “I’m a disgrace,” he’ll mutter in his best Andy Gray voice.
The point is, the poor showing of English teams in Europe this year could easily lead to UEFA taking one of our CL slots away, and that is bad in the long term for English football, and Arsenal. We keep hearing that 4th is vital this season as it is a CL spot (even though it is a knockout round and you still have a lot of work to do to ensure you make the CL proper), but next year you might have to come 3rd just to get that ‘chance’ of CL football. How difficult is it to make… Read more »
Rule 1: No videos of you singing R&B tunes in your car.
I thought the first rule was you don’t talk about fight club
No I loved when Ox did that!
What a waste of time and why is all the profanity eliminated, it is such weak language how can anyone waste their time with it.
You can’t make a strong point without profanity?
The only real fault I’ve seen from some of the younger players is their negative use of the word “gay” or any passing comments related to homosexuality. I’m sure Arsenal monitor that and are quick to correct them. It’s a learning process for these kids. Tactful communication and all.
Nice name. #FIFA
Stong?
Yes, “stong.” Martin Tyler had a cold.
I think finding out Henri Lansbury just had sex while swallowing the last bite of my sandwich was a low point for me. Even if he is on loan.
Was he having sex with a sandwich?
I’ve had delicious sandwiches like that.
He must have been in a hell of a rush.
Did it go like this – “Sex or sandwich…. ARGH I can’t decide!!. Fuck it, it’ll have to be both. Quickly now, i haven’t got time… Now, i must tweet this”
Lansbury in general needs to sort himself you. He once addressed a black guy (a stranger) as ‘n*gga’. He meant it in a ‘my n*gga’ kind of way, but when you’re a white guy, that’s really not cool!
His heart’s in the right place, but someone really needs to have a word!
You shouldn’t have let him have the last bite of your sandwich.
Don’t ever give away the last bite of your sandwich, especially when the person wanting a bite is having sex, right next to you.
Best eats shoots and leaves sentence ever.
LikeANewSigningbury is a Koala? Eats roots, shoots and leaves?
Dear Jack.
Much as watermelons are not the only fruit so sp*rs are not the only enemy.
Everyone outside Arsenal is a cunt. Knowledge that will become ever more apparant with the passing of time.
Thanks, big love.
Groverider.
I hate Piers Morgan and Piers Morgan Clones , since when is saying shit about your club a good thing
Why does that Bertie Mee quote (“remember who you are….”) always get attributed to Rocky?
Soon all tweets will be
“Good/Bad result.Now to focus on next game” x1000
Or, for Diaby
“Good/bad injury. Now to focus on the next game in 4 weeks/next season”
More like
“Injured again. Now to focus on my 30-minute cameo for the 2012/2013 season! Not fragile.”
I like Frimps, but he has issues. He speaks, acts, writes like a fucking spastic.
#DENCH
I read every fucking comment on here, and I must say these are funniest comments i have ever read!…the sense humor here is warming!…I love piers Morgan rants!…it’s always nice to see that fellow gooners think piers morgan is a cunt
Don’t particularly hate Piers Morgan, just think he’s a massive cunt.
He said something like we should put down our qualms and start supporting the team for now so that we can continue making strides, then being trophyless for 7 years for a manager of Arsenal is unacceptable and says he just wants Arsenal to win trophies.
I suppose he’d be happier if he was a Liverpool supporter, what with the holy grail of trophies: the CARLING CUP.
It is the nature of the press to laud somebody one day and slam them the next. They speak everything as if it were the Voice of Wisdom from On High, and as we have seen on Twatter, they will use gutter language and childish insults against anybody that dares to point out that what they spout as truth today is the complete opposite to what they will present as the truth tomorrow. Read newspapers of any kind at your own peril. They will turn you into mister potatohead. The rules are simple: 1) Don’t believe any “news” unless you… Read more »
I read every fucking comment on here, and I must say these are funniest comments i have ever read!…the sense of humor here is warming!…I love piers the Morgan rants!…it’s always nice to see that fellow gooners think piers morgan is a cunt
[…] put myself in the place of the players with regards to social networking, which neatly precipitated this snippet of news. I have to say if I were a player, there’s no way in a million years I would have a Twitter […]
I’m not sure ‘cunt’ is the right word for Piers Morgan. I mean cunts, in the main, are useful for something pleasurable and that doesn’t really describe what happens when I read, hear or see Piers waffling on about nothing remotely interesting. Seems to be harsh on actual cunts….
I do enjoy Jack Wilshere’s tweets, they are interesting and varied. Also Afobe, who comes across quite articulate. Another favourite is the first lady herself, Bouchra van Persie…you do really get an idea of what good friends some of these guys…it humanises them. I actually don’t think Frimpong is big-headed…the ‘hard man’ image came about from the days he had the Mr T haircut, and he’s also dressed up as Mr T in one of his previous pictures. The followers encourage it and he plays on it. Don’t forget these guys are very young. He’s just being himself. He’s obviously… Read more »
have to agree 100% about Frimpong
Worth noting that Denilson got into a big row with Sao Paulo fans last year due to Twitter comments.
Do tell.
How has no one mentioned Frimpong’s “I’m the reason Liverpool fans never walk alone” tweet?
Brilliant! 😀
[…] about how the youngsters at the club are given training regarding Twitter, Facebook and so on. He says: From day one when they start wearing the Arsenal badge they become people that everybody is […]