Morning all.
According to the back pages, Arsenal have complained to the Premier League’s refereeing body about what they believe to be rough treatment of Bukayo Saka by opponents. In 2023, Saka was the league’s third-most fouled player, being on the receiving end of 87 fouls. Only Jordan Ayew (117) of Crystal Palace and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes (92) were fouled more. It is understood, by the Daily Mail that is, an accumulation of incidents prompted Arsenal to highlight that, in their opinion, opponents are free to clatter the winger without an initial punishment in Premier League matches.
Fouls are part of football and Arsenal can dish out their own fair share when they feel like it and they do. But, it’s not the fouls themselves which I find annoying it’s the amount one or two players receive each game. Gabriel Jesus goes to ground whether he’s fouled or not which has probably earned him a bit of a reputation amongst Howard Webb not so finest group of officials so unless VAR are given the right to review challenges which warrant a booking, it’s down to the referees to step up.
Not every foul is a booking – something we hear quite often from the commentators during a match and that’s true, or course it is but a gentle tug on a player to stop a breakaway will usually result in a yellow card because it’s cynical yet a clattering into a player or a blatant shove can be acceptable. Both are cynical with the same intention, to stop the player from doing what he’s trying to do.
I’m pretty sure every manager feels a number of his players are being targeted by the opposition because when a player is very good, the only way to stop him is by fouling him but the only way to eradicate this behaviour from the game is by dishing out an early booking for the first offence which by the letter of the footballing laws, warrants a booking. Forget the ‘it’s my first foul ref’ stuff, if it’s a bad challenge it’s a bad challenge regards of what time is on the clock.
Another gripe of mine, two actually is when I hear the commentators say ‘anywhere else on the pitch and that’s a foul’ and ‘if he hadn’t already been booked, he’d be booked for that challenge’. What ridiculous statements. If a challenge is deemed a foul it doesn’t matter what area of the pitch its happened, they should all be judged the same and if a player who has already been booked is stupid enough to commit another bookable challenge then he deserves to be sent off. If that happens to be an Arsenal player then so be it. All fans want in my opinion is honesty and consistency which I don’t think is too much to ask for.
I can only speak for myself but I wouldn’t want Saka to get any special treatment or protection from officials, nor any other Arsenal player but when they’re fouled time and time again during a game, I at least expect a referee or VAR to do their bleedin job properly. In many an Arsenal match I’ve watched this season as soon as the ball goes out to Saka, there’s two, often three players on him in a flash and when one of them get the ball, on a number of occasions it’s not been won fairly. How can that be ok?
If Arsenal Football Club has complained then good on them and I’m sure any complaint will have been backed up with video evidence. Whether Howard Webb and his cronies do something about it or not is anyone’s guess but I doubt it. But if every club complained, then they’d have to and I’m pretty sure it’s not just Arsenal who have cause to complain. After all, one only has to listen to a managers post match interview to know that footballers are getting away with far too much each week.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, first of all I’m not in favour of the club, represented by Arteta, publicly whinging about lack of protection for Saka. If he, Arteta, has a complaint he should make PGMOL aware of his concerns in private.
As you say Rico, Saka is frequently faced by two, if not, three defenders. He should take it as a compliment that the opposition are scared silly of him having the ball anywhere near their goal. I certainly do not want to see Var getting even more involved in the game by pontificating on fouls outside of the penalty box unless asked to do so by the on-field official.
Morning Cicero, all.
That’s reportedly what the club has done, they’ve made a formal complaint. This isn’t Arteta just moaning post match.
If Saka is being faced by three players then why is the ball being threaded through the eye of a needle to him when logic suggests there must be space somewhere else.?
However the kick Arsenal policy was started by certain clubs many years ago. To northern clubs The Arsenal were always considered ” Fancy Dans “and that was a quote from the 1930’s. Dirty Leeds who gave it to everyone but the fights with Bremner , Hunter and Collins stick in the memory
Ferguson however took it to a new level and his policy with all of his M6 /M62 mates Alladyce , Pulis et al was prevalent for many years . McLairs antics cost us two points at Highbury but only because Winterburn and the rest of the team stood up to be counted .
It was only beaten when we found players like Storey ,McLintock, Bould , Adams, Keown , Vieira , Petit , plus many others that gave it back . Dixon taking out Ginola was similar to the Saka treatment but at least it was one on one .
When you look at those names you see teams that had success.
When Wenger took over in his first period we had those players in the squad and we won things when he changed tack and went to more cultured football the league success dried up and we became a cup team that only had to win 6 games to get a trophy.
Under Arteta we have a similar style to that of the latter Wenger years and by comparison to the players listed above we have no-one to stand up and be counted .
Consequently we get bullied..
However I do believe that should we now retaliate we would spend most games short handed as It has long been a refereeing problem , they always punish the player that reacts but never the original perpetrator.
This smacks of someone at the F.A. leaking a story to the papers .
Perhaps they might like to look at that.
Morning Rico and all.
If this story about Arteta complaining about Saka’s treatment is true, then as said above, we need to know who leaked it.
As Potter said if the opposition put 2 or 3 players on Saka then why pass it to him, if I was Arteta I would be telling Saka to run backwards and draw the players away from our goals.
Because of the way players like Saka are treated I believe thats why player like Jesus goes to ground so easly to force the ref’s to look at the treatment they are recieveing, as some commentators say if you don’t go to ground you don’t the free kick you deserve.
The other thing I would like to see us do more is get our forwards to move into the goal square and put more pressure on there apponent who is on a yellow card.
I’m just glad that Arsenal are complaining now Rico, maybe Gareth Southgate should pipe up and say how concerned he is for the safety of one of his key players?
Players do go to ground easier now than maybe 20 years ago, but on many occasions that’s to highlight a foul that the referee would otherwise ignore/miss. We know more than most Rico, due to the unacceptable treatment dished out Jose Reyes, how continued fouling can debilitate a footballer and we don’t want to see our ‘star boy’ kicked out of the game, so good on Arsenal and Arteta and keep on keeping on about the lack of protection Bakayo gets.
Yes Geoff I get what you meant about the players and them being behind Arteta, fair comment.
Back to work today after 5 days of being ill with a virus, not Covid but it was a bastard. It’s actually quite a nice day today for January and thankfully it’s not been too cold so that’s saved on the gas a bit.
Looking forward to Sunday, I only went to Wembley in August and PSV in the CL so an FACup tie is a good way to start 2024.
I remember as a 7 years old kid sitting up with my family around 1am watching the FA cup no matter who was in it, so I have my fingers crossed we can beat Liverpool and move on to the next stage as the FA cup has something special about it.
ESPN claim Man U are looking at Graham Potter as there next manager.
Interesting rumour there Geoff, I reckon that Potter would do a good job at Man Utd, damn him…
Arsenal, or Nantes, have terminated the loan agreement for Marqinhos. He can surely be the back for Saka and won’t cost us a penny. ..👍
Afternoon Geoff, all..
Marquinhos coming back will be like a new winter signing. 😂
Me too Kev and through the right channels. As Potter says though, who is leaking this news to the press, Arsenal or the FA?
Potter would be crazy to go to Utd, they’re as bad if not worse than Chelsea.
Marquinhos, LANS…
If we can fit him into the squad then who knows?
Me too Geoff, love the FA Cup…
Transfer rumour round-up: Arsenal
Arsenal could line up three or four exciting signings this month, according to the latest reports (Evening Standard).
Arsenal have complained to the Premier League’s refereeing body about what they believe to be rough treatment of Bukayo Saka by opponents (Daily Mail).
Arsenal are prioritising a move for a left back in the January transfer window (Daily Mirror).
Brentford will not have to hand over 30 per cent of any transfer fee earned for Ivan Toney, it has been revealed amid talk of a January transfer to Arsenal (Evening Standard).
What a load of old tosh. 😄
Today’s news will be tomorrow’s fish and chips wrapper. 😉
You’ve gotta love the transfer window… 😴
I wonder who leaked the request to the PGMOL regarding Saka to the Media?
I’m sure that Arsenal aren’t the only club who ask for more protection for their players, but Arsenal ask and it’s out in the public domain….
PGMOL elements with an anti-Arsenal agenda perhaps?
Or used on the log burner. Does anyone even buy a newspaper anymore?
We can’t buy a defender unless we sell Kiwior.
We can’t buy a FB at all, because we’re extending a versatile Tomiyasu, and Timber will be returning soon with years on his contract… both play left and right. No way could we buy a FB unless White or Zinchenko make a surprise move.
A loan is the only possibility, and I’d pay a generous loan fee for the security for the 2nd half of the season.
Jnyc1, unless we know the club’s finances for definite, we’re only guessing who we can or can’t buy surely? Plus, there could be a player out there who Arsenal can afford.
No way would Arsenal want any complaint about the treatment of Saka to be made public surely.
That’s got to have been leaked by PGMOL/FA/Premier league. No shortage of anti Arsenal people there.
Maybe we could raise money by selling a few players from the academy, after all it seems Arteta liks to let them train with the senior team but he doesn’t like picking them.
Rico, my point was not that we don’t have the money…
Only that it makes no sense to add a defender on a 3 -5 year contract when we have White, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, Timber all locked down on long deals.
Liverpool have a League Cup semi-final vs Fulham next Wednesday 10th, only three days after facing Arsenal this Sunday 7th, so, with that many fixtures piling up does Klopp go with a heavily rotated team this weekend or not?
I never take a blind bit of notice of anything the German comes out with pre-match as he normally talks a load of old cobblers, but I wonder if with Europa League matches to come if he might let the FA Cup slide this season?
Ultimately it’s what Arsenal do that counts – and deciding to play in poxy white shirts this weekend isn’t a great start!
It’s virtue signalling Kev, Arsenal have succumbed to the Woke Brigade . 😕
Jnyc1, sorry, I read your comment differently.
I think a loan deal for a left back might happen if we don’t recall Tierney. Or a player who can play left and right in defence.
I believe we are all agreed that we need a new left back, it seems that Arteta/Edu are targeting just that by buying Jorrel Hato from Ajax. Sounds good? Yes but the description of the player tells another story. “17 year old Hato is one of Europe’s most exciting prospects who can play left back or centre back”. So he is not the answer to our immediate problem and, furthermore, what does it say to the youngsters already at the club who just do not get a look in when a vacancy occurs in the first team squad.
Imo, it’s not kids this squad needs right now, especially when we have our own under 23 players who could fill in, we need experience if we’re to really challenge for the league. The solution is obvious really if we have zero money etc…
I get the need to think about the future by the way, but not at the cost of the present.
Rico, stabbing incidents have rocketed since ‘stop and search’ was abandoned thanks to all the race grifters and wokesters out there. Bringing it back would be more beneficial and save lives, wearing a white football shirt is just window dressing.
Rico, I actually think we do have money but because of FFP and our recent appalling record in selling players we can’t spend as much as we’d like.
Cicero I’m a big proponent of our Hale Enders but if we sign a 17 year old from Ajax it could mean two things.
1. He is very very good.
2. Our youngsters aren’t as good as we’d like to think they are?
I can’t remember the last time the Arsenal Academy developed a top top quality defender. Kieran Gibbs perhaps, who we got from Wimbledon when he was 16 comes to mind…
As I said at 11:58pm why not sell some of our academy players, as it seems Arteta doesn’t rate them
If Arteta really wants this young 17 year old then I wonder if we could make a deal like buy him half now and the second half at the end of the season, plus we loan him straight back to the club he is at for the rest of this season. This guarantees we get him for next season.
Agree Kev, trouble is, it was abused..
Kev, January is never the best time to spend money but if we do have, I think the club have little choice but to spend it. Wisely of course. 😜
Ashley Cole probably Kev.
Who is our under 23 defence coach?
Tierney has made it clear he doesn’t want to return this month. Oh well….
Arteta: We’re open for business this window
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on defensive additions:
“Unfortunately, Jurrien has a very long-term injury. He’s doing really well but is still far from training with the team.
“It’s what we have, with Tomi having to leave. We’re open for the market, but the emphasis is of making the most of the players we have.
“We’ll work with the club to understand if there are any possibilities.”
Could no business be done? “It’s a possibility.”
Yeah I get that about Police over-reaching Rico but if I had a teenage son on an inner city estate I’d rather he was searched by the Old Bill than laying on a mortuary slab.
Too many ‘community leaders’ are more interested in promoting themselves than protecting their kids.
Ashley Cole was probably coached by Pat Rice, another full-back Rico.
Apparently Geoff we can’t get a work permit for Hato without jumping through a load of hoops, it’ll be easier when he’s 18, so yeah, signing him now and loaning him back to Ajax until the summer makes sense.
I’m sure that Arsenal will sell some youngsters Geoff but that happens in the summer as a rule. It’s just the way the business operates.
Kev,
We had the same stop and search debate in NYC. Except in our case it was guns, not knives. The sensitive, woke types took over and crime and murder have skyrocketed since.
Surprisingly….. kneeling at sports events hasn’t brought down the murder rates.
Observing from the outside Rico and it’s been regularly opined on here by almost everyone, but it bares repeating and that is we need to sell first before we can buy. Any number of players could be available it just depends on the offers made for them.
Of course Arteta will play the game ‘so and do is not available and is a key part of my plans’ he’ll say earnestly and he’ll mean it – well until some team bids £30m or £40m for whomever.
In the meantime Arsenal will have deals set in motion, deals Edu probably set up last summer or even a year ago, football clubs are talking to each other all the time. Klopp for example is probably on the phone regularly to the agents of Martinelli.
All the same I won’t believe anything until it’s been reported by Arsenal Fan TV, Fabrizio Romano or Lee Gunner.
Tell me about JNYC, some of your cities have murder rates approaching levels only seen in the Third World, no surprises to see leftists are in charge of those cities, the type of leftists talking about defunding the Police, they should all be in jail, that’s the politicians/activists/journalists.
I meant the current coach really Kev. We know Tony Adams sorted Cole out.
I’d like to think Edu and co know who they want Kev 😜
Mehmet Ali coaches the U21’s Rico, he’s worked his way up through the academy and of course we have Jack Wilshere coaching the U18’s.
Well if Edu isn’t sure who he wants then he should come onto HH and we can all tell him… 😉
Thanks Kev, I couldn’t think who it was. Shame there was never a place for Keown or Adams.
Ha ha Kev, do we know though, really 😂
Arteta has denied that Arsenal made a complaint to PGMOL about the rough treatment Saka is regularly subjected to. Another example of Fake News?
Sells papers and gets hits, My Dad told me all those years ago not to believe anything you read in the papers.
What I find annoying about the academy is we spend a lot of money on it and Arteta has put his say into who stays and goes inregards to coaches yet Arteta seem to be struggling to find young players to promote to our senior side. somethink has to change at the academy, maybe new coaches or new recuiter, as they should know how good a player is by 16
If Tierney doesn’t want to come back this month and help us out, then the question should be asked, does he like Arteta or not also does he really want to be at Arsenal full stop. if he says yes then him bring him back and if he says no then sell him, personaly I would sell him, he is too injury prone for my liking.
He probably will be in the summer Geoff. Apparently he’s really happy in Spain and would be happy to stay. That is according to quotes in the newspaper but as we know, they can twist the truth.
New post up.