Arsenal defeat sparks ‘ridiculous’ reaction as Mikel Arteta faces challenge to arrest latest dip

Tom Canton and John Cross discuss the biggest Arsenal stories of the week on Seeing Red including the reaction to the Gunners defeat to Manchester United

The boos rang out around the Emirates Stadium, while during the game, groans and moans circulated at every opportunity. Arsenal played poorly and were rightly criticised, but in the context of whether the environment is the best it can be for a side chasing a title, questions have arisen.

In our latest episode of Seeing Red, Arsenal reporter Tom Canton and The Mirror’s chief football writer John Cross discussed the reaction to Manchester United’s win over Arsenal, with the headline act being the reaction and nerves inside the Emirates Stadium.

While not initially noticed by Cross until he was later made aware, Canton certainly made it clear his thoughts on the matter. A matter which extended beyond just the booing, but the in-game reaction to mistakes, misplaced passes and performance.

“In my opinion, if your team is four points clear at the top of the table, that’s the first time you’ve seen your team lose at home all season in any game at home at the Emirates,” Canton said.

“And when they lose for the first time, they get booed, I have to question what the mindset is there?

“I know that we’ve been somewhat leading up to this point and I know that there have been some games where we’ve been unhappy with the performances against Liverpool and at Forest, but I struggle with that.

“I struggle with that mindset, or just kind of putting myself in that person’s shoes to think, yeah, I think what I’m going to do at the end of this game is, is boo. Do you know what I mean?”

Now aware of what happened, Cross was in agreement on the matter. Highlighting as well the record Arsenal have had, his own experiences with booing himself in the past and what it was that set him straight on the matter.

“Yeah, I do know. Totally. I don’t like it,” Cross said.

“I never quite understand it. I do subscribe to the overall view that you pay your money. It’s your choice. Of course, fans do it. It’s just not something that I personally subscribe to.

“I just couldn’t imagine myself kind of as a fan. And I was a fan one day, of football, before I started writing. And now I don’t claim to be a fan.

“But I do feel strongly. I can remember getting frustrated with one player in the past, and I always remember someone in the crowd saying, ‘Well, what good is that going to do?’ And then I would never, they’re right. And then I never booed.

“But I’ve never, ever at the end of a game thought I’m going to [boo] I think there’s been issues. I think down the years when you have to boo, voice your frustration with, I don’t know the hierarchy or, you know, the manager and that, but to boo the performance and the team, it’s just not in my mindset.

“And I also think that, and I can’t believe, you’re absolutely right, that the issue now is you’re four points clear, and yes, it is a blow, and yes, they were miles off their best miles off it, but then, you know, come on, it’s been a decent season.

“The other crazy stat, which you referred to and alluded to earlier, it’s the first time they’ve conceded three since Luton in December 2023. Ridiculous.”