The frustration stems from a series of recent articles and comments, most notably following Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City and subsequent discussions about Arsenal’s performances.
Controversial report on Rodri’s injury
The tipping point for many Arsenal supporters came after journalist Steve Madeley wrote an article for The Athletic suggesting that Thomas Partey was responsible for inflicting an injury on City’s Rodri during the match after he kneed him, something that just didn’t happen.
In the piece, Madeley wrote, “Just when a game of football was threatening to break out, the games of shoving returned in the 16th minute when ‘take one’ of a Manchester City corner was aborted after Thomas Partey followed Havertz’s lead by clattering Rodri off the ball, this time with a knee to the upper part of the Spaniard’s leg.
“It all happened while City’s Manuel Akanji and Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber engaged in a spot of Greco-Roman wrestling a few yards away. A rare moment of double-dark-arts — and one with serious consequences, as Rodri was forced off with an injury.”
Look at the way @SteveMadeley78 has described Rodri’s injury and tried to blame Partey
Absolutely obscene misrepresentation of the incident, designed solely to carve a narrative that doesn’t exist
Thought @TheAthleticFC was supposed to be better than this pic.twitter.com/xnBtswUcPW
— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) September 24, 2024
Arsenal fans were quick to point out that this version of events was completely inaccurate, as Partey had no involvement in Rodri’s injury.
After numerous complaints from readers, The Athletic quietly edited the article, but the damage was done.
They have now edited the article to rephrase the description, however now the “double-dark-arts” comment makes no sense as they’ve acknowledged the first part was accidental. pic.twitter.com/ZmnV4RvzjX
— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) September 24, 2024
Rather than address the concerns, Madeley reportedly blocked Arsenal fans who questioned him on social media, further fuelling anger among the club’s supporters.
The controversy didn’t end there.
This week, Tim Spiers, during The Athletic’s Totally Football Show podcast, expressed frustration over Leandro Trossard being able to serve his one-game suspension for his two-yellow red card in the Carabao Cup against Bolton, allowing him to play – and score – in Arsenal’s Premier League win against Leicester City.
While Spiers admitted his annoyance generally with the rule, he also seemed to have a particular problem with Arsenal.
Spiers later turned his frustrations into a written piece for The Athletic, which led to an influx of Arsenal fans voicing their intent to cancel their subscriptions, asking why this article was not produced when the same happened to other teams previously.
Many took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction, with one fan saying, “Cancelled my subscription. I’ve had enough,” while another added, “The only reason I paid for a subscription was for David Ornstein but not anymore.”
This sentiment was echoed by many others, with comments such as, “The Athletic turning into The Sun. Subscription cancelled” and simply “Subscription cancelled” becoming increasingly frequent.
Leandro Trossard should not have been able to help Arsenal beat Leicester last weekend.
The Belgian was only allowed to play due to ludicrous rules about when suspensions are served.
Surely it’s time to close it?
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) October 1, 2024
Arsenal fans criticise The Athletic’s decline
Arsenal supporters didn’t just focus on the recent articles but also highlighted what they perceive as a broader decline in the quality of The Athletic’s journalism.
One fan pointed out, “You guys have a problem only when it’s Arsenal and want to change the age-old rules. Where was this same article when Rodri missed the Carabao Cup clash with Newcastle United after getting a red card against Nottingham Forest last season? This is pathetic journalism.”
Another fan highlighted the recent controversies, saying, “Steve Madeley last week, now this rubbish. You guys are treading a thin line to becoming gutter press.”
A third fan lamented, “The Athletic used to be something, the decline is so pathetic. You have turned into Daily Mail, using rage bait tactics to attract engagement from Arsenal fans is something I expected from a tabloid media outlet.”
The fallout and what it means for The Athletic
The backlash from Arsenal fans over The Athletic’s recent coverage serves as a stark reminder of how influential and passionate football supporters can be, especially when they feel their team is being unfairly targeted or misrepresented.
Arsenal’s impressive start to the season, which has seen them emerge as favourites for the Premier League title, is something fans want to celebrate. However, the perceived bias and inaccurate reporting from The Athletic have left many feeling that the publication is failing to provide balanced, fair coverage.
As Arsenal continue their campaign, fans will be closely watching how the media reports on their performances.
For The Athletic, it serves as a critical moment to reflect on its approach to coverage, especially if it wants to retain its reputation as a credible, high-quality sports journalism platform in the eyes of Arsenal supporters and the broader footballing community.
Both Madeley and Spiers appear to be Wolves supporters.
