UNTOLD ARSENAL » 2008 » July » 15

If you have ever thought the talk of the Curse of Arsenal was just so much blog based gibberish, then it is time to think again. It should also be a warning to anyone at Arsenal who is looking to leave.

The Curse, as you will know if you have been paying attention, was placed on one player and one club this year – Flamini and Birmingham City. I’ve reported before how since then Birmingham has been raided by the police who removed documents, David Sullivan and Karren Brady were arrested in April, a co-owner has been arrested after a complaint by a woman in Essex, and the club has been relegated when (at the time of the Eduardo attack, which started this) that seemed very unlikely.

No charges have been made as a result of the arrests and raid, and there is no suggestion anyone is guilty – but that is not how the Curse works. It undermines and annoys, causing frustration among those who are under it.

Now we find that City of London police are going to interview David Gold, the Birmingham City chairman, and Julia Shelton, the Championship club’s secretary later this week. We must be clear that these two are being questioned as witnesses and not suspects – and it is all to do with allegations of false accounting and conspiracy to defraud – as was the case with earlier events (except the woman in Essex of course). There is no suggestion that Gold or Shelton has acted improperly.

Sullivan is clearly feeling the effect of the Curse, and said to the Guardian, “It’s the most horrible experience I have ever had.” Eduardo probably said the same after the horrendous tackle on him that caused the Curse of Arsenal to focus on Birmingham City FC. A spokesperson for the Curse of Arsenal said, “we don’t make threats. We just advise players, clubs, agents and newspapers not to play silly games with Arsenal FC.”