Morning all.
I detest the PGMOL, probably as much as most Arsenal fans and a lot of football fans in general. From the outside, it seems little more than a group of men, most of which were born in the north of England, picking and choosing which games to officiate, looking out for each other along the way. As we football fans know, we have our “own team” to support from an early age but as the years go by, there are clubs we learn to dislike. Those reasons could be down to local rivalry, the way their fans behave, the way the club conducts itself or any one particular manager. I’d never really given Stoke City much thought before the day Shawcross broke Aaron Ramsey’s leg, or Sunderland before Dan Smith fractured Abou Diaby’s ankle, or Birmingham before Martin Taylor’s “brutal” tackle left him with a double broken leg and an open dislocation of his left ankle.
My point, referees are no different. They might support a particular club but they have in all likelihood, have a reason or two to dislike others.
Years ago, I never really gave much thought to the officials, after all, they were only human and humans make mistakes but then along came Sky Sports etc and it became more and more clear how poor some of the decision makers were at their job and they are only getting worse. VAR was meant to help in a way technology helps in every other sport but in reality, most of the time it’s useless. Not the technology I hasten to add but those who operate it. Not surprising really as it’s the same group of men looking out for each other.
The Myles Lewis-Skelly decision was just one in a long list of cockups by the officials against us. Yes, one can look at stills from every angle and after a while come up with a reason to defend Oliver but no one will convince me that in reality time, he saw anything but a cynical trip to stop Wolves from breaking away. How long did VAR take to check? Not long enough to see what stills showed a few hours later that’s for sure.
Regardless of what “we” think though, it’s no excuse to go onto social media to vent our frustrations in an unlawful way. It’s wrong. Just as it was wrong for those who verbally attacked Kai Havertz and his family just a week or so ago on social media. Trust me, I was calling Oliver every name under the sun on Saturday afternoon in my own home but at no point did I think it would be a good idea to repeat such things on social media or anywhere else for that matter.
I’ve no idea how the PGMOL is going to sort itself out or if at all it can but I think it’s fair to say, it’s not working. It won’t until someone impartial holds it to account. I read that VAR has been scrapped in Norway but even if the Premier League followed suit, it wouldn’t solve anything in my opinion. After all, as the old saying goes, “a bad craftsman always blames his tools”. Technology is a brilliant tool, it’s just not being used very well all the time. No other sport has the problems football seems to have.
Just eight days of this transfer window remain and we’re still in need of a player or two.
Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth reports this morning that Arsenal are in talks with Rosenborg over a deal for teenager Sverre Nypan. A number of other clubs are thought to be interested in the 18-year-old.
Sheth also reports that Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund both remain interested in signing Oleksandr Zinchenko from Arsenal this week and that the club are prepared to listen to offers.
Not a hint of a striker coming to Arsenal anywhere, well, other than what’s been written before but that doesn’t mean one is coming. At least I hope it doesn’t…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, death threats to Oliver and his family over a bad decision are disgraceful.
That said something has to be done, hardly a match day goes by without yet another Var/referee cock-up but the POGMOL personnel stay tucked away and mute in their ivory tower.
Nice post Rico, I can see you gently seething between every line.
PGMOL PR is in full swing, favourite pundits and ex-footballers are falling into line as Webb drives his narrative, Alistair Campbell would be impressed…
The online abuse is unhelpful because it allows Webb to change the conversation, but the bottom line is that Oliver overreacted, Darren England and his assistant didn’t have the courage to bring Oliver back on track and Webb is behaving like your average South Yorkshire copper and covering up a big cock-up.
Arsenal will appeal and common sense should reverse the decision but Oliver has made himself a target now and God help him when he’s next officiating at Ashburton Grove…
Morning Cicero, Kev.
Agreed re the death threats, so wrong on many levels.
I am Kev, I am. As we all are I’m sure. It was that about Webb which I thought would improve Pgmol. I should have known better…
As for transfers, we’ll probably try to push the boat out on deadline day only to be told it’s too late for the selling club to bring in a replacement and the deal collapses with Arsenal claiming ‘we did try’…
The young lad looks more encouraging, I hope we can get it over the line?
Mind you Rico, I have a theory (said in a Baldrick tone) regarding transfers, maybe we leave it late in order to counter any late gazumping bids from Chelsea?
I reckon the Mudryk deal still has an effect on how we conduct transfers?
Hopefully Kev, Odegaard is convincing him as I type…
We could have a deal done already with the selling club just need to find a replacement first. 😜
Signing a young midfielder, even if the media say he’s the next Odegaard, will do nothing to fill the gap in our attack. Maybe in four or five years he will replace our club captain but we need a striker this week.
I’m not sure Kev, Mudryk could have said no to Chelsea, and I bet he wishes he did.
Exactly Cicero..
My friends who are Norwegian and have close links to Norwegian youth football with clubs around Oslo are not enthused by the prospect of Sverre Nypan joining us . One comment from a youth coach at ODD says that he likens him to Vieira , very talented but too lightweight for the Premier League.
Whether he can be built up is a question but even so he is one for tomorrow and not what we need right now .
Surely we wouldn’t go for another lightweight?
Angel Gomes is linked to us, just what we need, not……
Good afternoon Rico and all.
Fine post Rico. It practically says all that everyone of us is feeling atm.
With regard death threats…..MO does not have any social media account. So I wonder if the mention of death threats was just a spin from the part of PGMOL to hide the inefficiency by which refs control the game in England.
I’ve given up the idea of any Arsenal signings,then if does happen it’s a nice surprise.
That’s a very good point about the abuse of you know who (I get the feeling he absolutely loves being the centre of attention)
Having said that death threats are vile,I thought the language on some Arsenal blogs was OTT – it is only a game after all and we did win,despite the efforts of the PGMOL.
Kai’s wife published the threats she received online. she did not hide them.
have we seen any of the threats of MO??? up till now I have seen none, although others may have. but the fact that he doesnt have any social media account says it all.
Angel Gomes?? I dont follow french football so I know nothing about him except that he is 5ft 6 tall and has played 4 times for England.
Afternoon
Death threats NO. But are there any?
Rico the point you made on unpopular teams etc has made me question myself where I had “compared views ” with others then accepted their opinion and banter over my AFC conspiracy theories. Of course it’s possible some refs dislike us enough to bully us, and MO has reasons to do so, Newcastle in the cup and league and maybe we’re hassling for Isak.
I really hope all of the premier league teams do get together and confront Webby.
Afternoon Devil, thanks.
Oliver doesn’t need to have a social media account to receive nasty stuff. Someone somewhere has obviously seen something. As Kev said earlier though, all it’s done is allow Webb to change the conversation.
I’m the same Berg, often chuckle when other teams, certainly the ones I don’t like, have decisions go against them but perhaps all clubs should stick together. Gather the evidence and take it to the PL/FA.
The Premier league clubs hold all the power….the same one which they had when they broke off from the Football League.
They can easily gang up together and tell the FA they will not play unless the refs are either changed or get foreign refs.
But they all need to have the balls to gang up together.
I imagine some of the smaller clubs would bail out especially the relegation fodder as they may feel it’s karma for the likes of us and they’ll be on their own in the Championship and they’d be right, it’s unlikely we’d fight for them if the league vented revenge in some form.
I think the lower Premier League clubs get a rough deal too though. I recall Gary O’Neil saying there was/is a bias towards the bigger clubs..
If you read around the various fans websites you will see that every one of them feels that the system is wrong and that they don’t think that they are getting a fair shake . This of course is how the authorities get away with it, whilst everyone is looking at themselves there is no concentrated campaign that they can’t ignore .
Already looking through the web it’s full of many complaining about the MLS decision but there is also a fair number of ” Same old Arsenal always bleating ” which is exactly what the PGMOL want.
If it was only us moaning about the officials/Var/pgmol then it’d be different but I don’t think there’s a weekend goes by without controversy. It’s just this time, nearly every pundit and ex ref are agreeing with the sending off being wrong and they’re voicing their opinion.
Next rumour coming from Romano is Jhon Duran from Villa . He seems to be getting ahead of Watkins in Emery’s eyes so maybe there’s a sneaky opportunity there.
Morning Rico and all.
I agree any threats to players or ref’s is crossing the line. but on the other hand surly the PGMOL and other bodies have to say enough is enough and starting making ref’s responsible for there decisions and have a good look at the ref’s records and band them from referring certain clubs that they look after or penalise far more than other clubs.
Duran would be a good addition imo. Mentioned him in the summer and spookily enough, again this month. Get me eh… 😜
Morning Geoff.
Good morning all,
The Key Match Incidents Panel which reviews, since 2023, all major refereeing decisions in the Premier League has said Oliver made the right decision in the case of MLS. So it’s up to Arsenal whether or not to appeal against the sending off, but in reality it’s hard to see the red card being rescinded.
The K M I is made of three former players or coaches, one representative from the Premiership and one from PGMOL.
I wouldn’t worry about an appeal, just save our money for better things that will help us.
Bonkers isn’t it…
‘United closing in on agreement for Arsenal prospect’
Manchester United are close to agreeing a fee with Arsenal for defender Ayden Heaven, according to The Athletic.
The 18-year-old was reportedly in attendance at Old Trafford for the Europa League game against Rangers last week.
Slap a £100 million price tag on him, we don’t owe United any favours.
He is still on scholarship terms and is holding back on signing a professional contract which we have offered. His agent is playing the field , hawking him around the premier league and Europe . Apparently clubs in Germany are interested , maybe we should do a Saliba and give him a great deal and put him on loan for a year or two in the Bundesliga and get him first team ready for when Gabriel goes over the hill . However United are probably promising the earth now and the ear worms are telling him that he is ready now .
Headline this morning : – Ayden Heaven is close to joining Eintracht Frankfurt on a permanent transfer.
(Chris Wheatley)
Hope we have put in a buy back deal , although I am not sure we can.
He’s free in the summer Cicero.
That makes sense to me if his next move is only about money.
Morning all, so I gather that the MLS decision will stick then, I wonder if the online threats had an influence? If they did then well done to the morons involved…
MLS can play tomorrow and then he’ll have a nice rest. I wonder if his suspension might scupper Zinchenko leaving in this window?
Likely so Kev, especially as Tierney and Calafiori have injury issues
I think that Tomiyasu and White are back in training Rico.
Apparently, we’ve appealed the MLS red card, the club are just gathering evidence to support the appeal.
That’s good news Kev although Tomi isn’t really reliable, or at least hasn’t been.
But, with both back, perhaps we will accept an offer for Zinchenko, especially if we’re going to spend big on a forward player
There’s a new post.