Repeat offender

A mention of the unstoppable Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail again, recently criticised for slack journalism in this blog. His vitriol against Arsenal today is without the necessary backing in reality.

Today, Samuel writes that 'Arsène Wenger's plan unravels', though which plan he's referring to is unclear. But he takes issue with Arsenal claiming to play the best football - even though that claim has come from more sources outside the club than inside - and now presumably wanting to be admired for a sustainable business model.

It is, of course, not a surprise for this commentator to be critical of Arsenal's business model. After all, the same article praises Manchester City's new naming rights sponsorship as 'a good deal' while UEFA are arrogant to wonder whether £400m is fair market value or an attempt to undermine the new Financial Fair Play rules.

The problem with Samuel is that he picks almost random strains of quotes here and there, treats them as fact, and then launches into tirades. Arsenal have to my knowledge never claimed to be 'better' than any other club, but has rightfully claimed that not spending more than you earn is the way to go also in the football business. The critics aren't few, but that makes the commitment even more laudable.

'Nobody ever hired an open-top bus to parade a positive bank statement around town,' Samuel writes. It's just like reading Ian Wright in the Sun recently: 'Real fans don't give a hoot about debts'.

But has history ever known debts that shouldn't be paid?