Morning all.
At the end, Man City celebrated their last gasp goal of the game as if it was the winner which in itself shows what they think of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and the threat they are to City’s dominance in this league.
Mikel Arteta rested Ben White yesterday meaning Jurrien Timber switched to the right and Riccardo Calafiori, starting for the first time since his summer move, slotting in at left back. As expected, Leandro Trossard returned to the side.
Gundogan had City’s first chance which he fired wide thankfully but it wasn’t long before Haaland scored. Savinho got past Calafiori, played a lovely ball into the path of Haaland and he slipped it past David Raya. Must admit, I feared the worst after conceding so early in the game and City had started really well. Gundogan then hit the woodwork from a free kick.
Twenty minutes in and Rodri went off injured. That’ll teach him to get too close to Thomas Partey. A quick free kick taken by our midfielder out to Gabriel Martinelli on the left, he cut the ball back to Calafiori. I doubt our Italian defender will hit a sweeter shot this season. A left footed strike which swung away from Ederson and into the top corner of the net.
We were more than a match for City at the time of equalising and we only got better. A fine corner from Bukayo Saka saw Gabriel nearly give us the lead but the Brazilian’s header went just over the bar. Trossard was next to see a chance fly over the bar. Just before halftime, another corner from Saka was perfectly crossed into the box. Walker, who’d been tasked with stopping Gabriel, thought poking him the stomach would be enough to distract him but he was wrong. Gabriel peeled away from his marker, rose high to head the corner past Ederson. 2-1 up and we were looking good. Very good.
Referee Michael Oliver must have been thinking about blowing for halftime when Trossard challenged Silva. Instead, he awarded City a free kick and as he blew his whistle, Trossard, already booked, kicked the ball away. When Oliver produced another yellow card followed by a red one, Arsenal players looked astonished. That red card must have been burning a hole in his pocket though because it was out in a flash – 0.84 seconds according to Sky Sports. What Oliver did was ruin what was until the dismissal, a very good game of football. Still, that was probably his plan all along.
Oliver had previously ignored City’s Doku for doing the same thing, again it was one rule for them and one for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta was livid.
We were more efficient and went 2-1 up and then there were two incidents, very similar, one in particular, but had a very different outcome which then forces you to have a game which nobody wants to watch. I think it’s very clear. Very obvious. Hopefully what 100 per cent of what people thinks. It’s not my job to come here and judge what happened. My job is to survive in the most difficult environment you can throw in football for 55 minutes. And try to get things done to survive. That’s my job, the rest is not my job. – Mikel Arteta
45 minutes of football with 10 men against City’s 11. It was backs to the wall football. Arsenal’s defence stayed compact and disciplined and City couldn’t find a way through so opted for shots from distance. Kovacic, Akanji and Walker tried but Arsenal stopped everything. David Raya was superb again, pushing away a header from Haaland and a couple of shots from Gvardial. Then, as the final minute of added time passed, City were award a corner and Arsenal’s defence was finally breached.
Of course it was disappointing to see Stones nab an equaliser right at the end of the game but my goodness, how hard did the ten men of Arsenal work throughout the second half? Stones can moan all he likes about Arsenal’s dirty tactics but he’s wrong. Arsenal did everything they could to ensure they came away from the Etihad with something. How can Timber be accused of time wasting late in the game when as he went to ground he signalled to the bench that he needed to go off. Yes, he might have been able to leave the pitch quicker but I suspect he wanted to make sure Miles Lewis-Skelly was ready to come on.
Man City are the masters of dark arts in the game, remember the Silva dive at The Emirates and the nasty challenges by Kovacic for which he should have been sent off for but wasn’t? For years Arsenal have been accused of being soft, lacking in defensive discipline and easy to be bullied. Well, that’s all changed now and I love it and the pundits, football writers and blokes like Stones can stick their opinions where the sun doesn’t shine.
Every one of those Arsenal players on the pitch yesterday afternoon should feel proud of themselves.
Catch up in the comments.
I’m literarily tired of this..
When will people take action? When will the protests start?
We can’t keep letting the people who are suppose to be in charge keep ruining the game and we aren’t allowed to say anything.
Yes, the ref could have given a yellow card to several Man City player and Pep. But Trossard has to take full blame for what he did, it seems we have not learned from Rice’s red card.
There are some in the media saying that Calafiori goal should not have stood, as Man C captain Walker was running back to his position after the ref spoke to him and Saka but on an Aussie radio station, they claim the goal was allowed as Walker was running back to his position then stopped for no reason.
Great post Rico, with you all the way mate, City players and staff can ‘do one’ but it shows how worried they are about us. Btw I thought our support at the Etihad was amazing, all you could hear before the equaliser were Arsenal chants.
I did see an interesting comment from another broadcasters pundit yesterday, it was that when he managed in Greece, the league would bring in foreign referees for their really top games because of favouritism, intimidation perhaps, possibly bribery and it seemed to work and still does. That would be a decision by the Premier League and outside of the PGMOL remit, although it’s doubtful they’d ever do it, but foreign refs wouldn’t generally be supporters of any EPL club and they importantly wouldn’t live in areas where they would come into contact with fans and fans of the clubs competing.
Trossard was naive Geoff but, it’s double standards once more from Oliver. This is what’s cheesing Arsenal and the fans off.
Oliver was just waiting for his moment of glory..
Mexy, Arteta can’t say anything because he’ll be in hot water.
Thanks Kev.
The idea of overseas referees is a good one imo but with the game so big now, even they have a PL favourite I’m sure. Why these officials can’t just be consistent I don’t know. Kicking the ball away isn’t a subjective decision to make, it’s black and white and should be easy to officiate.
Oliver ruined a great game yesterday…
Morning all.
Oliver totally ruined what was an absolutely enthralling game of football for what should have been 51 minutes, but in the 52nd minute, he and he alone changed the whole nature of the contest. He also broke one of the refereeing cardinal rules, vis. Every effort must be made to keep 22 players on the field of play at all times!
There seems to be a mismatch in the severity of fouls that earn yellow cards. Endangering an opponent with a reckless tackle is worthy of a yellow eg Gibbs White v Brighton yesterday, as was his first booking pulling an opponents shirt! Both worthy yellows.
Time wasting the same punishment, or kicking the ball away are not in the same league, annoying though they are, but they are punished with the same value of a career wrecker! the referee is ‘in control’ of the time wasted and empowered to add ‘extra time’ on if he deems fit! The punishment does not fit the crime.
I think the “rules” have to be revisited, perhaps non aggressive ‘fouls’ should be awarded orange cards? If two are given to the same player, a little like rugby, they should be sent to a new fangled sin bin and not the un drawn early bath.
It won’t happen of course as it will be seen as undermining a referees authority aka power!
It’s a bit of a conundrum but there is no doubt the referees intervention completely wrecked what was one the most competitive games of football seen this season. He turned it into a training ground scenario of attack v defence! Not very good value for the fans at the ground or the viewers on tv! Most unsatisfactory. Wrecked my Sunday. I’m still seething, a bit😀
Controlled rant over……..I’ll take the point so valiantly earned and move on!
Morning Rico
Arsenal were magnificent yesterday. We were looking in charge when we went 2-1 up and good odds for the win. Then Oliver steps in to make his mark. What a fool!
Don’t buy into the narrative pushed by the media that Trossard deserved to be sent off. Complete b@ll@cks of a decision that seems to follow us around.
That’s twice this season we’ve had players sent off in the first half for kicking the ball away. That’s highly unusual. As I stated before this is corruption being played out right in front of our eyes. This needs closer investigation.
Guess which two games we dropped points in?
I would have taken a draw before the game and considering the circumstances I’m happy with the result.
This is the type of performance that shows what a team is made of. After that I feel confident enough to say We will win the league this season.
The draw yesterday could be very vital at the end of the season.
Rico we all want to see fair and consistent referring, but all I am saying is we have to take some responsibility for our action and not give the ref a chance to hand out cards, Trossard knowns better and he could have cost us the match.
Thank Rico for the writing. In addition, was was thinking when conceding that corner? He should’ve just kicked the ball forward.
Good summary Rico and probably one of the most unbelievable games I have seen.
If you kick the ball away just two feet it’s a bookable offence but that should apply to every team.To play 55 minutes Away with ten men men was outstanding yet I had the feeling Oliver would use every trick in the book until City scored .Trossard by the law was right to be sent off but that was 7.5 minutes into an allotted 6 minutes and the equalizer was again well beyond the allotted time .Haagland didn’t get a look in after he scored and i thought Martinelli looked back to form.Those 8 days must have a physical effect on all the players.
That’s the problem Wavy, different officials see similar incidents differently… until there is consistency, we’ll always going to get decisions go against us. Mind you, it’s not just us who’ve been in the end of wrong decisions. Villa were denied a blatant penalty in their game.
Also, the Totts keeper got away with handball outside the box..
Morning Pete, by the letter of the law, Trossard deserved to be booked imo but it’s the speed of Oliver’s actions which amazed me. It took him less than a second to make up his mind which kind of suggests he didn’t really know whether he was booking Trossard for the foul or the kicking away of the ball.
Thanks Kelsey. That’s what is sad about yesterday, 90 mins of 11 v 11 would have probably seen the match of the season play out.
Anyone see the challenge by Martinez against Palace yesterday? Shocking that he wasn’t sent off.
We were immense yesterday; securing a point against ALL odds (so close to three). Yes, Leo was reckless and perhaps by the letter of the law deserved to be sent off. That aside, we were in the ascendancy after Gabriel stunned the Etihad with another thumping header. We should all be accustomed to the bias and criticism by now because the rest of them love to hate us gooners! Great article by the way Rico.
Martinez is a “thug”. That “tackle” was a disgrace.
Ball kicked away at Anfield last week, Szoblazai smashed it , second yellow incoming , no ,Oliver ignored it.
Exactly Allen, no consistency throughout the Pgmol. Oliver used to be the best yet now he’s as bad as most of the others..
Good afternoon Rico and all
Good report Rico. I just enjoyed reading that.
Geoff, many misinterpret the freekick rule and when it is given. The debate about whether Calafiori’s goal should stand or not is only started by those who know absolutely nothing about the rules. The rules state that once the ref whistles for a foul, UNLESS the player taking the kick asks the referee to move any opposition player away from the ball, he can restart the game any time he wants. there is no need for the referee to whistle restart. Neither if the referee is talking to any player of the opposition. Therefore if the referee whistled for a freekick any opposition player can kick the ball immediately. The city players who protested about this either dont know anything about the law or else they were just being cry babies.
The brown envelope hangs heavy over Oliver’s head. Every decision he makes in a City match is subject to scrutiny against it . What appals me is that the media know about it , the players know it , the supporters know about it and so do the PGMOL and yet they still appoint him to the most contentious games featuring City.
If they really wanted to stifle the murmurings of conspiracy and corruption they would not let him referee City’s games but they blindly and arrogantly carry on because they can.
By picking on Arsenal as one team to address these rules they ensure that fans of other teams will not wake up and complain. All of my Spurs , Wham and Chelsea supporter friends think it’s all good fun and are taking the moral high ground and they are our neighbours , any team north of Watford treat us as public enemy number one anyway so PGMOL know that if they ride things out for a couple of weeks it will pass and they can just carry on without any real recrimination.
By the very letter of the law Trossard should not have given Oliver his big chance but at the time I commented that he might have thought it was the half time whistle . Back in the day a referee would have used common sense and called the half over and diffused the situation but was this payback for the envelope ?
We will never know and even if it creeps out later it’s too late and the damage is done , All Arteta can do is think about how to make the players think about their actions because if you don’t give them the chance , they can’t do it.
Watch it on youtube since you cant see it here.
Even the commentator knows zilch about freekicks. He said that the defence should be allowed to organize themselves. This in itself is hilarious and pathetic and smacks of ignorance. He even said that the player showed unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Not.at.all.
Nacho totally did everything according to the rules. Simple.
Yesterday’s game highlighted the lack of knowledge about the rule by the City players (or they know the rule well but dont like it when they are on the receiving end). PArtey was right to restart play immediately whether or not the referee was talking to anyone and he caught City napping. Gabriel Martinelli was able to get to the edge of the box and lay the ball back to Calafiori who scored a peach.
Let’s say, Saka is on a breakaway attack with Martinelli around 5 ft behind him. The goalkeeper brings down SAka and since he has denied a goalscoring opportunity he will be sent off. The ref blows the whistle and before he could take any other step the ball stops. Martinelli, who was slightly behind rolls the stationery ball in the net before a defender could even come near.
That is a perfectly valid goal. The ref is obliged to give it and red card the keeper subsequently.
Mark, the numbers etc in your original name will always go into moderation so that’s why I change it.
on a different view of the match……I think that yesterday’s result did more harm to city then to Arsenal. Sure we were all disappointed. Players more than us since they were the ones who fought. But I can assure anyone that seeing City players celebrate a draw at home, in the last seconds of added time given after added time had elapsed means only one thing. We had them rattled in their own backyard.
And Arsenal just showed the rest of the teams in the EPl that City can be stopped.
And if Haaland did what he did to Gabriel against Utd of Roy Keane’s time I doubt he would want to play in the return game unless he really wanted to go out on a stretcher. I am still amazed that the FA have decided not to take any action against him. because that is a red card all the way.
Afternoon Devil, thanks..
I thought we’d have learned that lesson after the Rice incident but then Saliba gets booked for the same thing v Totts and then Tross
Always said similar, give the ref no decision to make and he can’t make it…
the thing is that Trossard got two yellows for the same type of offence. First he picked up the ball….rightly got yellow carded. then after fouling the city player the ref whistled and Trossard kicked the ball away. As you said…..give the ref no decision to make.
Tross was initially booked for the softest of shirt pulls. Yet Haaland gets nothing for throwing the ball at Gabriel’s head.
One thing that VAR has done is narrow the options for referees to influence games in the ways they used to. The old favourites dubious penalties and straight red cards can be reviewed and reversed.
That leaves one clear way the referee can influence a game: two yellows. Usually one soft card, followed by another yellow for something so minor it raises eyebrows (let’s say kicking the ball away). In this situation VAR cannot intervene. The rules allow the referee total discretion.
11 players vs 10 is an uphill battle for 15 minutes. Make that 45 minutes plus and you have an overwhelming advantage.
How often do you recall players being sent off in the first half for two yellow cards? Not many, I’m sure. Arsenal have had two in the first five games of the season. Odd.
Good points Pete. The only way to avoid the stupidity of it is to not kick the ball away.
The ref was right in giving yellows for kicking/holding/delay restart to game. Its in the rules and it should be enforced.
But it shouldnt be enforced where Arsenal are concerned only. It should be enforced for everyone. It happened in the game against Brighton and against City. It happened elsewhere as well. So the ref was right in all counts. But wrong were it suited the opposition.
Its either the Arsenal players never learn or they are doing it on purpose. I doubt that Arteta is telling them to do so. I prefer to think that Arteta himself is arguing with them because they are doing it and they should stop earning yellows for such blatant offences.
Exactly, either everyone or no one..
Arsenal’s next six fixtures:
Bolton H
Leicester City H
PSG H
Southampton H
Bournemouth A
Shakhtar Donetsk H
Tbh I only care about Bolton, Leicester, Southampton and Bournemouth. I want 9 pts and getting into the next round for the Carabao cup.
Calafiori,s goal made me think when did we last score a goal from that distance as opposed to a header from a set piece or intracate passing literally practically walking the ball into the net.
Variety is the spice of life, Kelsey. 😉
Ditto Devil.
Jorginho strike v Villa, Rice v West Ham – I think there’s been a few Kelsey.