Arsenal have now been linked with everyone from YaYa Sanongo (yeah, we got him on a free) to Lionel Messi, and now the funniest one yet; Luis Suarez . Does anyone who comprehends football really think that Liverpool would let Suarez leave Liverpool for Arsenal? And why would Suarez want to come to the Emirates? He openly hates the British media (okay, fair point) – it is my own humble opinion that Luis Suarez has been hounded out of English football by the FA the media, but mostly by Sky Sports News who have it in for him.

Sky Sports News has become a sort of pornographic mosaic of news, views, presented by semi-topless models whose teeth and boobs have definitely helped to enhance Sky’s 3D package. Oh, not that I’m complaining mind you, but is that what a 24hr sports news channel is really all about? And then when there is real controversy Bryan Swanson and Geoff Shreeves swing into action like Bodie and Doyle, prying probing and persecuting.

I believe Tevez, Suarez, and Terry have been real victims of the Sky Sports News war machine – even referee Mike Clattenburg fell under the Sky microscope after the battle of Stamford Bridge. But Suarez in particular has had Swanson and Shreeves banging out the overtime figures as each incident becomes more bizarre, bordering on comical.

Don’t get me wrong, Suarez has been the architect of his own downfall, but Sky never fail to stick the knife in again, again and again , four times an hour , not with standing future references whenever the opportunity arises .

Sky’s coverage of the “Evra incident” was mind-blowing, as was their coverage over the non-hand shake with Evra. It was pathetically shown again and again in slow motion just in case we missed it the other 99 times that day.

The compilations of the Suarez dives and non-dives including the Moyes dive, and his dive to the car, filled hours of Sky coverage. Then the golden goose , frustrated at being out battled by the infinitely bigger and stronger Ivanovic, Suarez bit the player on the arm. You gotta laugh, but the FA, the Media and Sky in particular, did not. Not even the plethora of Dracula films have shown a bite caught by so many camera angles! It appears that extra satellites were commandeered in from other news channels just to help clarify the impact of the bite for the world, and of course the FA, because that was really such an important issue.

Please do not think I condone Suarez’s behaviour – it’s really juvenille and stupid. But a 10-match ban, when career threatening challenges have gone both punished and unpunished by the FA , for a soppy bite on the arm? Please . Yes, its unsavoury (well, maybe savoury for Suarez, who knows), and yes it should be punished, but should a news channel and the media be perpetuating the media frenzy which resulted in the clueless persecution of a world class talent, who but for the relentless attentions of the English Media would probably been happy to stay at Liverpool? For me it was a witch hunt.

Now, back to Suarez and the rumour of his arrival at the Emirates…

Now any mug backing Suarez to come to Arsenal needs sectioning, apart from a few rounds of Champions League football and a Premiership run in that could lead to 4TH place again, what have Arsenal got to offer Suarez? Wenger couldn’t handle Arshavin’s sulks, so what would he make of being chewed on by the South American?

Tevez has gone, Balliotelli, another Sky news stalwart, has also gone, both having suffered the relentless attentions of Sky. I think Suarez will follow should he attract the right bid from abroad .

Sky’s money and coverage of sport has revolutionised football, boxing, tennis, golf and even darts. It is truly fantastic for most purposes! My beef is with its sensationalist hunt for controversy, which sickens me and cheapens the game of football ! It will drive big names from our shores and stop them from coming.

Where is the need to constantly question managers about their future, especially after they have just lost a big game !

That is not reporting news, its speculation, and half the time the speculation begins with Sky. There is a seemingly never-ending linking of players to clubs when their is no foundation based on bookmakers’ reports, their own bookmakers, Skybet. I imagine that must make a fortune by creating speculation than taking bets on it.

I used to enjoy having a 24hour sports channel, but if I wanted 24hr baseless speculation and controversy regurgitated every 15 minutes I would watch FOX NEWS instead – “Over to you Skip. Thanks, Shep “.

When you buy a newspaper or watch News at TEN , You hope it’s going to be reasonably objective, but mostly you want the truth backed up by the real facts. Sky Sports News seems to have lost the true concept of honest news reporting, filling in the gaps that suit their own sense of sensationalism .

I personally believe that it helped lose Dalgliesh his job – their post-match interviews with Brian McDermott made me angry, their treatment of Mancini made me cringe, and the infernal linking of Redknapp to the England job now seems baseless. Isn’t news supposed to be what’s happened, not what might happen?

I believe Sky’s dissection of incidents influences the FA in their own decisions, who at times seem worried about how decisions are second-guessed and dissected by what is supposed to be a news channel and not part judge and jury. I personally believe that pressure led to Suarez’s exorbitant punishment, which has encouraged him to want to leave England .

Everything I have said is based strictly on my own opinions and observations, but the next time you’re engrossed in a soap of who’s going where, who bit, struck or slept with whom, which manager has been sacked or caught in bed with what agent, and did they shake hands first, question where the story originated. Or if SkyBet’s speculation has persuaded you to back Wenger to sign a talented French embryo at 2/1, or Messi to join Neil Warnock back at QPR at EVEN MONEY , remember you’re watching a sports news channel not Emmerdale, and that I did warn you. Also remember that Suarez ain’t coming to Arsenal

Say good night, Skip…

Richie Rich

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