Arsenal football club experienced a dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton during Sunday’s Premier League encounter. The Gunners, managed by Mikel Arteta, found it hard to keep up with the Seagulls who dominated the game from start to finish. Arteta’s side is now four points behind Manchester City, who have played a game more, and their hopes of winning the Premier League title this season seem to have dwindled to nothing.
However, Martin Keown’s rant is not about Arsenal’s performance but rather the commentary delivered during the match by Sky Sports commentators Martin Tyler and Gary Neville. Keown, a former defender who played for Arsenal, is unhappy with the biased commentary, which he believes does a disservice to the club and its fans.
Keown was particularly vocal about Martin Tyler’s anti-Arsenal commentary. He acknowledged Tyler as a great professional but suggested that Tyler could not hide his displeasure when Arsenal was doing well, which undermined his credibility as a commentator. Keown called on Sky Sports to stop assigning Tyler to Arsenal matches, as it was difficult to listen to his bias during commentary.
Presenter Jim White asked Keown to confirm whether Tyler was anti-Arsenal, to which Keown replied, “Yes, I do. Let’s get it out there.” Keown also pointed out Gary Neville’s apparent anti-Arsenal agenda, which he believes was evident in his comments regarding Gabriel Martinelli’s challenge on Kaoru Mitoma.
Martinelli’s challenge on Mitoma was an aerial duel where Mitoma was always favourite to win since he was closer to the ball. Martinelli collided with Mitoma, who was left in a heap, prompting Brighton’s players to urge the referee to take action. Neville expressed his dissatisfaction with the referee’s decision not to book Martinelli, as he believed it was a reckless challenge that deserved to be booked or sent off.
Keown, like many Arsenal fans, believes that Neville’s reaction was harsh and unnecessary. He accused Neville of having a problem with Arsenal and being biased against the team. Keown reiterated that commentators should remain unbiased and professional during their commentary, irrespective of which team they support or think is the better side.
While it is still uncertain whether Tyler and Neville’s commentary was indeed biased, Keown’s comments highlight the importance of impartial commentary during football matches. Commentators need to remain professional at all times and offer unbiased insights into the game, irrespective of personal opinions or team affinities.
Besides, the commentary delivered during matches can significantly impact the audience’s perception of the game and influence their opinion of individual players or teams. Commentators must, therefore, exercise caution and conduct themselves professionally to prevent any assertion of bias or prejudice.
In conclusion, commentators should resist the temptation to exhibit bias or favouritism during football matches. They need to remain impartial, professional and offer insightful and objective commentary on the game. This way, they can serve their audience and contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of the game.
