Different era, same old ‘hate’.

Some things never change do they? Just a little sniff or a hint that Arsenal are doing well, the FA and media stick the boot in. Two charges against the club because the players got into the referees personal space on two separate occasions is just bonkers. An FA Cup fixture in Manchester on a Friday night at 8pm, equally as bonkers. Don’t get me wrong, players surrounding a referee in numbers is not nice to see and they shouldn’t really be doing it but, it’s like no other club gets slapped with an FA charge when their players behave in a similar fashion. Two wrongs don’t make a right I know but just like nearly every problem relating to the officials, where is the consistency?

Conte has joined the debate:

You have to show respect in every situation and especially also with the referee because I know very well the difficulty to be a referee, to take decisions. I think to intimidate or to create a bad atmosphere is not fair. I don’t like this. I hate the people that try to do it. Don’t forget that we are talking always about a game of football.

But I bet he doesn’t mind his players conning the referee into awarding them a penalty.  Kane, Son, Richarlison if he plays – they’ll all try it I’m sure.

Arsenal have three more fixtures this month. Totts away, Man Utd at home and then Man City away in the FA Cup. We have five fixtures in February and then things get busy, very busy as the Europa League start up again.

Only one fixture matters right now though and that’s tomorrow’s. Totts v Arsenal, probably the most hostile of all derbies in the game. Saying that, I suspect all fans think their own derby is the best.

Pre match interview with Mikel Arteta:

On his NLD memories:

Emotional, very passionate, an incredible feeling when you are on that pitch and look around and see the support, tension and atmosphere around it. When you win, it doesn’t get much better than that.

On if there is more pressure in this NLD than October’s:

That’s the challenge that we have. We have to beat them at their place.

On what he is expecting from Tottenham:

I don’t know. Sometimes they approach games in different ways. Sometimes they are very aggressive from the beginning and sometimes they allow you to make the game and they have a lot of tools to use to cause you problems. Let’s see how the game develops. We’ll prepare for any occasion in the best possible way and then it will be left to the players to do what they have to do on the pitch.

That’s just it with Conte’s team, they really are unpredictable. One day they’re thrashing Crystal Palace 4-0 at Selhurst Park, the next they’re losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa. Good old Unai eh…

I had a peep at NewsNow this morning, I know, you’d think I’d have learned not to by now but it’s amazing how many headlines are there, most of which relate to one man. Mykhailo Mydryk. Pretty much the same information just spun in different ways. The latest relates to Mikel Arteta’s big grin when the players name was mentioned which of course translates to a deal has been done. Perhaps it has but Mikel Arteta usually heads into a press conference with a smile on his face and why not when his players are doing so well. I don’t know if you’ve seen his interview from yesterday but it was quite amusing..

We’re halfway through this transfer window, a window in which I’m sure many of us would love to see Mydryk and a midfielder join before the end of it. Fingers crossed eh..

See you in the comments…

 

 

 

 

 

29 thoughts on “Different era, same old ‘hate’.

  1. Aussie Geoff says:

    Afternoon Rico and all,
    The officials have defiantly got it in for Arteta.
    I can’t believe it; I am hoping that Man u win today.
    Will the ref give Kane a penalty for no reason other than to upset Arteta or will the ref do a good job knowing everyone will be monitoring his and Arteta’s performance. only time will tell.

  2. rico says:

    Afternoon Geoff, it’s a quiet day. Another sign of Arsenal doing well.

    I suspect the ref will looking long and hard at all activity in our own box, VAR too.

  3. Aussie Geoff says:

    A win tomorrow and increase our lead and help our goal difference.
    As a neutral the Manchester Darby was a good match, it seems that stopping Man city captain is the secret to beating them.

  4. allezkev says:

    As for Anthony Taylor, he’s refereed 3 Arsenal games and we’ve won them all, he’s given us 7 yellows and given our opponents 5 yellows and 1 red.

  5. potter says:

    I was driving back from Norwich and spent half an hour listening to radio 5 . They had 4 people talking about the game Dion Dublin and 3 that I had never heard of however they all agreed that 1 the goal was offside due to the goalkeeper being interfered with and 2 City players surrounded the referee to complain .
    For the first time that I can remember I am recording match of the day , not to hear any more talking heads but in the hope of seeing it for myself.

  6. Adam says:

    Afternoon Rico. As ever the offside rule when used in combination with VAR is open to interpretation. There is no consistency. If the same situation occurs at WHL tomorrow with us, it’s offside and Walton or whoever will justify it. Even Pep has given up.

  7. rico says:

    Afternoon Adam, Klopp too. Lol

    Seriously though, why someone isn’t doing something about the standard of officiating I just don’t know. Per hall the managers should have a get together and agree to refuse to play.

  8. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Normality is M. United, Liverpool and Totts always benefiting from referees.
    Something that comes from afar.

  9. rico says:

    Chelsea reportedly agree Mudryk deal

    Chelsea have reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk to sign Mykhailo Mudryk, reports The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

    The deal is said to be worth €70m + €30m add-ons with a 7+ year contract agreed with the player

    Mudryk is leaving for London to undergo medical. Ornstein says it is not signed yet but that it is a done deal.

  10. potter says:

    Scholes and Ferdinand say it’s a goal and Walton who hasn’t got a critical bone in his body and would say that black was white to support a referee agrees .I have yet to see it when I have I will make my mind up .
    From what i heard Rashford ran with the ball across the area in front of Ederson and kind of shepherded the ball .If that is the case , there is a question about interfering.

  11. Potter says:

    Looks like Mudryk is a dead duck for us , wonder if we have any alternatives in the pipeline ?
    Strange that a Ukrainian should go to a club so tainted with Putin’s money , but money talks and the new American is obviously prepared to splash it about . I wonder if there is a history between Boehly and Kroenke.

  12. potter says:

    so halfway through the window and we have been chasing shadows
    Wonder if they have something oven ready up their sleeves .

  13. potter says:

    Well I have now seen it and it is impossible to argue that despite not touching the ball Rashford is not having a direct affect on proceedings .
    The one thing that comes from it is that the offside rule needs simplification , Linesmen need to put the flag up as the pass is made , not wait for the cows to come home before the game is halted .
    Had the flag gone up earlier , none of this would have happened , the players would not have had to surround the linesman and then after the decision given the referee .
    Off topic I wonder if that will get a fine for both of them too.

  14. Aussie Geoff says:

    If Arteta had nothing to do with transfer negotiations and If is true we didn’t get Mudyrk and their is no back up plan, I would like to be a fly on the wall when they tell Arteta,

  15. Aussie Geoff says:

    At the time I thought Man U first goal was a correct call, but after watching it again I guess the debatable part was, should the Man U off side player had kept running next to the ball or should he have stopped following the the ball. I don’t think the keepers view was blocked he just had a bad night, he was lucky Man U never scored earlier when he was innocent man’s land earlier in the match.

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