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Arsenal fans mock Everton and Liverpool with ‘distasteful’ chants

Arsenal fans mock Everton and Liverpool with ‘distasteful’ chants during Monday night’s Premier League match at Goodison Park.

‘Feed the Scousers’ were the words sung by those in the away end and it’s reportedly becoming increasingly uncomfortable while many claim it to be just banter.

This is a chant that has been going on for years just like many others that nowadays seem to be not sitting right with those hearing it whether sung at them or not.

Doesn’t make it right, however long it’s been heard in various stadiums in England, and while it’s funny to some, the true reality is alarming, and this chant brings up the fact that 280,000 people are homeless in the country, which means that one in every 200 people find themselves without a home according to Shelter who are doing a #NoHomeKit campaign this Boxing Day to help those struggling and on the streets.

Alan Smith, chief football writer for football.london wrote a piece claiming that ‘Arsenal fans must look closer to home’ when aiming the chants at the Merseyside outfits’ supporters.

He said in a heartfelt article: “It takes about five minutes at a gentle walking pace to get from the Emirates Stadium to the Islington foodbank that provided essential goods to 2,710 people between August 2020 and March 2021.

“More than 800 were children.

“And listening to a not insignificant number of Arsenal fans thoughtlessly singing “Feed the scousers” during last night’s tepid defeat away to Everton, it was hard not to wonder how many are totally oblivious to the hardship and poverty that is right under their noses.

“Their club and many of their fellow fans have contributed to supplying the foodbank, which is run by The Trussell Trust, and demand looks certain to increase as the pandemic wears on and hardship spreads.

“A section of almost every fanbase around the country is doing similar, depressingly necessary, work.

“Across the road from Fulham Broadway station before Chelsea games you will find a stall run by the supporters’ trust, at West Ham you will often find a group accepting donations on the bridge near the Aquatics Centre and Tottenham fans contribute to two different banks in their area.

“The targeting of Merseyside is decades old and, historians argue, wrapped in anti-Irish sentiment. That the original Band Aid song was released in 1984 when Liverpool were the country’s best team was a factor born from envy but to keep it going in 2021 is distasteful, disrespectful and, well, just a bit stupid.

“More than 2.5 million required assistance from a foodbank in The Trussell Trust’s past financial year and they estimate that a fifth of the population lives below the poverty line.

“This is an epidemic that affects every corner of this island and for all the tired impressions of Islington being the centre of a so-called metropolitan elite, the stadium is surrounded by people without sufficient resources to put food on the table.

“So when those who will inevitably argue that singing about people in Liverpool going hungry – or indeed their supposed desire to “sign on” – is merely banter it may be an opportune moment to consider their own privilege, their own communities and next time they hear it being sung remind those around them of the reality.

“Perhaps those guilty of singing it last night could even make that short walk before the next Saturday home game and offer a donation of their own.”

Everton came from behind to stun Arsenal at Goodison Park; Martin Odegaard gave Gunners the lead; Richarlison was twice denied by VAR before grabbing the equaliser; Demarai Gray produced a late stunner to secure a much needed victory, ending Everton’s winless run at eight games.

Player ratings

Everton: Pickford (6), Coleman (8), Keane (7), Mina (6), Godfrey (6), Doucoure (7), Allan (7), Gray (8), Townsend (7), Gordon (7), Richarlison (8).

Subs: Holgate (6), Gomes (7), Iwobi (n/a).

Arsenal: Ramsdale (6), Tomiyasu (7), White (6), Gabriel (7), Tierney (7), Partey (5), Xhaka (6), Saka (6), Odegaard (7), Martinelli (6), Lacazette (5).

Subs: Tavares (5), Nketiah (5), Aubameyang (n/a)

Man of the match: Demarai Gray.

Everton boss Rafael Benitez: “It is clear, when the fans, the players, everybody sticks together we are stronger. The reaction of the team to the goals that were disallowed and conceding a goal at the end of the first half, we still scored goals and reacted. Every player and fan is expecting that. Everybody is really pleased and hopefully it is the right step forward.

“The VAR… I don’t know if the lines can be thicker or not? It was against us. I said a lot of times that we were close to winning a lot of times. Today was another example. Everything is against you but the character they showed today, with the fans behind, they can enjoy that. The fans were pleased because the players gave everything.

“The fans are expecting commitment. You can talk about mistakes and we conceded because we made mistakes against a good team. In terms of commitment the players are there, and the fans appreciate that. They want to see a team that has spent a lot of money getting better and better. We will do it. It will take time, but we will do it. Everybody now has the hope.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: “In the first half we were very inconsistent with the ball. I didn’t like it. No penetration. One of the few times we did it we scored. Second half we tried to do more of those things, created four big chances but conceded a very sloppy goal when you need to manage the game.

“We couldn’t take the ball into the final third. They’re not going to give you time, at Goodison you know what to expect. I think the team tried to go, we kept pressing high. We lost a few important duels that put us under some pressure.

“What I want is more from my team. Today you have the game under control even though you’re not playing your best and you have to find a way to win it. The way we conceded the goal and losing this match is not something good.

“It could have been very different but we haven’t managed to do it. When the opponent is there for the taking you have to do it and we haven’t. It wasn’t good enough.”

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