“These players now, they look at social media.”
Say what you like about Mikel Arteta’s failed attempts to revive Arsenal, he has undeniably brought Arsenal Fan TV – or AFTV, as it’s known these days – firmly back into the spotlight in recent weeks.
AFTV, you see, isn’t really anything like as entertaining when the team are doing well, or even just ok. For AFTV to thrive, it needs chaos. Think of the toxic final months of the Arsene Wenger reign – those were halcyon days for AFTV, when viewing figures almost definitely spiked.
The same thing is happening again. A wretched run in the league, one which has sparked a semi-serious discussion about what happens if the club is actually relegated, has seen AFTV reaction videos shared high and wide across social media.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup game with Manchester City – which they lost, obviously – Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards suggested AFTV’s returning prominence on social media could now be affecting player confidence.
“I’m a massive fan of it,” Richards began. “I love it, but for the players, the amount of pressure… You could be scrolling through and the next minute your name pops up, you look at something and someone’s being horrible. It can affect your confidence.
“These players now, they look at social media.”
🗣 " @AFTVMedia , I'm a massive fan of it, I love it but for the players the amount of pressure" @MicahRichards & Jamie Redknapp speaking about the affects social media can have on the players confidence pic.twitter.com/z4a11l0bFB
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 22, 2020
Now out of the League Cup, Arteta will turn his attentions to saving the club’s season (and hopefully his job) over the Busy Festive Period™. Their next game sees them take on Chelsea in a London derby on Boxing Day. Should be a nice easy one then.
