BRENT A GOB: This week, our raving rant machine, Harry Brent, is blasting the Arsenal fans who abused Noni Madueke, and Real Madrid for wanting their opening La Liga match postponed
08:43, 17 Jul 2025Updated 08:48, 17 Jul 2025
Harry Brent
Harry Brent is a journalist, broadcaster and columnist who joined Reach PLC in 2021. He specialises in football and opinion writing and is the voice of the Daily Star's unmissable weekly 'Brent A Gob' column. Previously, Harry worked for GiveMeSport and The Irish Post.
Harry Brent AI
Our man Harry Brent is not happy in his latest column
Some Arsenal fans are a piece of work aren't they?
I get it – signing Noni Madueke is about as thrilling as Graham Potter giving a lecture on 19th-century Swedish literature. But the way they've reacted is pathetic – Arsenal-in-a-title-race levels of pathetic. Not only have they defaced some murals outside the Emirates like a bunch of phoney-radical Just Stop Oil cosplayers, they actually created a petition (a petition!) to block the £52million deal altogether.
I know we're dealing with people who think going unbeaten for a season in the Premier League is a bigger achievement than winning the Treble. Like Lee Dixon doing punditry, they're not the sharpest. But this is a new frontier of petty, weapons-grade dingbattedness. Sure, buying Chelsea rejects is Arsenal's toxic little kink, but where was the outrage when they signed a geriatric David Luiz? Or when they bought Kai "definitely not a centre-mid" Havertz to play in [*checks notes*]… centre-mid? Or when they signed Kepa Arrizabalaughingstock five minutes ago?
Madueke might not be Lamine Yamal - or throw controversial birthday parties like him either - but he's a player with actual potential and use to the squad (who, by the way, scored more league goals than Bukayo Saka did last season).
Abusing him with these embarrassing, toddler-tier stunts – knowing full well they'll have all the impact of a Jorginho shoulder barge – just makes Arsenal fans look like Sol Campbell running for London Mayor: a bit dim, overindulged and completely out of touch with reality.
Noni Madueke battles Jurrien Timber for the ball
Arsenal fans aren't happy about the imminent arrival of Noni Madueke.(Image: Getty Images)
Article continues below
They make me Real Mad
What do Real Madrid and James Corden have in common? They’re both biologically incapable of going five minutes without being unbearable.
In the latest episode of 'We're Real Madrid and Everyone Else Can Get Stuffed,' those Ballon d'Or-boycotting, ref-abusing, Super League-simping muppets have demanded their opening La Liga match be postponed. Why? Because their precious darlings might be a bit tired after the Club World Cup. Well boo-friggin'-hoo!
If they're worried about fatigue, then dragging their already-knackered squad halfway across the world for a month-long sweat-fest, just to pocket £50m playing in a glorified PowerLeague event, is about as sensible as using a chocolate teapot, or trying to build a £1.5billion super-team with Robert Sanchez playing in goal.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid had the cheek to ask for their opening La Liga match to be postponed because of their Club World Cup participation(Image: Getty Images)
The truth is, those bozos give as much of a toss about player welfare as Jude Bellingham does about treating match officials with respect.
The sheer brass neck to beg La Liga to do what they flatly refuse to – put players ahead of profit – boils my blood more than listening to Steve McManaman on commentary.
Article continues below
Honestly, Real Madrid are just a bunch of shameless pillocks who are as allergic to self-awareness as Trent Alexander-Arnold is to tracking back. Like Prince Harry and the average Tory MP, they're proving that money and prestige buy you neither sense nor class.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, La Liga told them to sod off. Vamos.