David Ornstein is the one everyone wants to hear from during a transfer window, but does ‘the Ornacle’ ever get anything wrong?
If you’re an Arsenal fan, there is no more reliable journalist around than the BBC’s David ‘Ornacle’ Ornstein.
During a time when a lot of misinformation and outright rubbish is presented as fact, Ornstein appears with precise timing to share the truth of Arsenal’s transfer window.
He’s often the bringer of good news, but he also imparts the bad. All he brings are cold, hard facts.
But even he must have gotten some things wrong, surely? After all, so many things happen during a transfer that even the most concrete information can turn to dust in just a few hours.
There are a few occasions where what he reported didn’t happen. It’s true. But that’s not the same as being ‘wrong’ (or guessing like many others do).
For example, in August 2012, he reported that Nuri Sahin was close to joining Arsenal on loan.
Arsenal close to completing Sahin deal. Season-long loan with view to permanent. Confirmation likely early next week #bbcfootball #afc #rmfc
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) August 19, 2012
Weeks later, the midfielder joined Liverpool. The deal to Arsenal collapsed in the days following his tweet.
A couple of months prior, he reported that Robin van Persie was keen to stay at Arsenal.
Van Persie to resume talks with Arsenal when back from Caribbean break. He's keen to stay, with or without new contract. Ball in #afc court.
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) June 27, 2012
That ended up being false, as van Perise released a statement announcing his unhappiness with Arsenal.
He eventually joined Manchester United.
Sudden changes during deals can make information look old very quickly.
This proved to be case in August 2011, when Ornstein announced that the deal for Mikel Arteta was off.
Can confirm Arsenal move for Arteta is completely OFF but Benayoun is now likely to join on loan from Chelsea #bbcfootball #afc #efc #cfc
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) August 31, 2011
Hours later, the deal was back on, and Arteta completed a move to Arsenal.
Ornstein hasn’t been wrong on any of these occasions. Rather, he is victim to the volatile nature of the transfer market just like everyone else.
Yet, few have proven to be as reliable as him. It’s almost as if dealing in facts and confirmed information from reliable sources makes you, yourself, more reliable by default.
Shocking, huh?
Football journalists have a terrible reputation and most of it is rightly earned by the many. A few, however, like Ornstein, stand head and shoulders above the rest, and rightly so.