Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Arsenal, Newcastle United, Fan Reactions, Premier League, Football, Sky Sports
Dominic Booth
Topics: Arsenal, Newcastle United, Fan Reactions, Premier League, Football, Sky Sports
Arsenal fans were less than impressed with Sky Sports' choice of pundits for their side's clash with Newcastle.
As Mikel Arteta's side travelled to St James' Park for a vital game, both in the title race and battle for the top four, a punditry panel of Magpies' legend Shay Given and William Gallas lined up alongside Sky presenter Dave Jones and commentator Gary Neville.
Gallas isn't too fondly remembered at the Emirates Stadium, after an inconsistent four-year spell between 2006 and 2010 – including an ill-fated period as captain.
The final humiliation for Arsenal fans was the sight of Gallas – already a former Chelsea player – signing for their fierce North London rivals Tottenham in 2010.
Many Arsenal supporters still view the Frenchman along the same lines as Emmanuel Adebayor, who also signed for Spurs after playing for the Gunners.
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So they were seething as seeing Gallas as the Arsenal representative on Sky's broadcast.
One said: "Sky get a genuine Newcastle legend on, and then there’s William Gallas. Or as sky call him, Willy."Who is genuinely one of our worst ever signings. Nice to know you’re completely impartial sky."
Another, a journalist who covers Arsenal, added: "Sky with Gallas as the Arsenal pundit. May as well get Adebayor next time."
Another Arsenal fan simply asked: "Why is William Gallas speaking about my club?"
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And a fourth added: "Sky Sports having Gallas on today as the Arsenal pundit really? A player stripped of the Arsenal captaincy… a player who joined Tottenham."
Martin Odegaard put Arsenal 1-0 up at Newcastle after the home side saw an early penalty decision for handball overturned by referee Chris Kavanagh, after consulting VAR.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli both went close to doubling the Gunners' lead, with both Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale regularly called into action in both goals.