I am so proud of the boys by Konstantin Mitov
Well lovely Arsenal people, we should’ve won at the Etihad. Let that thought sink in for a moment. We went to Man City, started poorly, went one down, and then actually turned it on its head. Then again like so many times before against City, the ref decided to play the main character.
Doku and Bernardo Silva kicked the ball away and nothing. Trossard kicked the ball away and Michael Oliver just couldn’t wait to show the red. The same ref who didn’t book Kovacic for red carded challenges not to ruin the game last night. I’ve seen enough. City are always getting the benefit of the doubt. When we had them on the ropes on January the first a few years ago, again the ref couldn’t wait again with the red card.
City are pathetic. They’ve paid for everything in this world. They’ve cheated the system and everyone knows they’ll pay again whoever it is needed for that 115 charges. Rodri begging for a red card in the first minute, because Havertz gave him a little nudge. They had the audacity to tell us we weren’t ambitious last year when we got a draw, but they celebrated like they’ve won the champions league for a draw against 10 man with the help of the ref.
That said Trossard was just stupid. This has happened to Rice literally 2 games ago. You don’t need to foul Silva in the middle with half time seconds away. We know the refs hate us, everybody hates Arsenal because we are actually good. Also their first goal was avoidable. Mistake from Calafiori and then Gabriel not holding the line.
All that said, we rattled them. Pep was kicking the chairs, we had the psychological edge. It’s just so sad we gave them a point they didn’t deserve. The red card turned the narrative. It feels like a loss. That said, I am extremely proud of the team. We had next to nothing on the bench, played 50+ minutes with 10 man and almost won.
This is a serious defensive unit. Ben White is under pressure, can’t lie. Calafiori grew into the game after getting cooked in the first 15 minutes. Timber is an absolute beast. And David Raya unbelievable again.
It’s gameweek 5 and we’ve already dropped 4 points on ref decisions. Two points decided the title last year. Sadly, it is what it is, we have to live with the injustice again. Life is not fair, you could see it on Arteta’s face. Regardless of that, I am so proud. Shattered as well, devastated, but we’ve become a mightily good team.
I’ll be the first one to criticise the team when we don’t play well. Yesterday we should’ve won 3 points, talking about the great Calafiori goal and Gabriel bulleting it in the net.
Injustice!
Konstantin
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That game showed the character this team has developed, its unfortunate that we didn’t get all three points after that display.
I wont talk about the English officiating anymore, let they keep making a fool of them selves for the world to see.
Weldon to the lads.
What injustice?
Don’t kick the ball away
City were also hard done by for our first goal
It happens
Dan,
I totally agree. Having seen what happened to Rice in the Brighton game, Trossard should have known better. (I actually think that the challenge itself deserved a second yellow). Player’s already on a yellow card need to take responsibility and don’t do anything that gives the referee a decision to make.
As for those saying Doku should have been booked, he kicked the ball back on the referees instruction.
Having said all that, well done Arsenal for the regard action in the second half, (fell asleep for that final corner though).
As for that plank Silver bemoaning Arsenal’s approach to the game speciously in the second half, he didn’t really expect Arsenal to go toe to toe 11 against 10 did he?.
DH, but he didn’t kick the ball to where the free kick was.
No he didn’t look closely he didn’t, Oliver was talikng to Rice, Doku had no right to kick the ball, it was a yellow
👍
Doku did and he never got a yellow card.
Trossard was stupid and deserved to get a second yellow. But Doku should got the same.
Doku should NOT have been yellow carded. He was following Oliver’s instructions of where he wanted him to return the ball to.
He was instructing Rice as it was Arsenal’s free kick, Doku had no right to kick it, it was a yellow
Imo after seeing what happened to Rice against Brighton, fans let’s be sincere Trossard was stupid to kick the ball away. The team must be aware of how Epl is. Trossard has been around for a while. However, Epl referee and their association are bunch of inconsistent guys. Oliver could have waved the card and warn Trossard, it’s a matter of using his discretion it was already 8minutes after the 6 minutes given but he chose to be unfair.
Same thing happened second half some referee would stop the game at the 7th minutes.
City players complained Arsenal used football dark arts by falling everytime, they were simply been unreasonable. We all know how PEPG used to rant over their unfair schedule, they had extra one day rest despite playing at home in UCL. Arsenal Boys have been playing back to back away games, they are no machines cramp can happen. City were simply lucky to get a point. Well done to our Boys👍
Imo after seeing what happened to Rice against Brighton, fans let’s be sincere Trossard was stupid to kick the ball away. The team must be aware of how Epl is. Trossard has been around for a while. However, Epl referee and their association are bunch of inconsistent guys. Oliver could have waved the card and warn Trossard, it’s a matter of using his discretion it was already 8minutes after the 6 minutes given but he chose to be unfair.
Same thing happened second half some referee would stop the game at the 7th minutes.
City players complained Arsenal used football dark arts by falling everytime, they were simply been unreasonable. We all know how PEPG used to rant over their unfair schedule, they had extra one day rest despite playing at home in UCL. Arsenal Boys have been playing back to back away games, they are no machines cramp can happen. City were simply lucky to get a point.
100% agree with you Konstantin! The refs whistle had just blown whilst he was midway through kicking the pass to Martinelli. Delay what restart? The opposition player was still on the floor! Nonsense refereeing
Upon all these I respect Arteta for his tactics..
Trossard really hurt the team with his lack of discipline and situational awareness.
Regardless of Doku and Silva, don’t kick the ball! Clearly Arteta needs to get harsh about this stupidity from the players, simply can’t happen anymore.
11 vs 11 we had grown into the game, leading City 2-1, and you could see them rattled; from Pep on the bench to the players on the pitch.
A real shame Trossard’s actions changed the game. Even so, 10 vs 11 we still held our own against City.
They can complain, but why would we continue trading punches with them?
10 men to finish the 2nd half, leading 2-1, and Oliver as the ref; we remember his actions in the past.
The onus is on City, not us; we were protecting a well earned lead, it falls to them to step it up, not us to come out and play.
The more I see City getting beneficial calls (remember pool getting cheated against City last year), the more concerned I am about 115 charges. I don’t expect harsh punishment unfortunately.
its very simple to watch and comment when not in the game. they were fighting for every ball and some things will be reactionary/instinct.
yes by letter of law you could say trossard kicked the ball away, but it wasn’t delaying the restart. you see that kind of thing week in week out and not get punished so it is the incosistency of reffing that is frustrating.
I agree with you about the need for Arteta to take a strong line with our players over this. One dismissal was the warning, a second was stupidity in my opinion. That’s four points that have been lost from winning positions over
“kicking the ball away”. Daft, or what? He should read the riot act to the players before Arsenal get a third dismissal!
Arsenal had no option with a man down to play the way that they did, and they almost pulled it off. However, they didn’t so we have to be content with the point – not a disaster.
I thought it was a bit mean by Oliver TBH, because at the best Trossard’s kick was reactionary and he couldn’t stop himself AFTER Oliver whistled for the foul. But you could clearly see Oliver with the whistle to his mouth and his arm outstretched definitely BEFORE Trossard struck the ball.
No injustices .
Trossard could have gone for the barge alone ,doku was following refs orders .
No mention of the ref allowing a free kick 10 yards futher forward and player out of position because he called him over ,fans can’t have it both ways ,we had the rub of tbe green on both goals .
As for the injury time goal ,if our players hadn’t been falling down every 2 mins they might not have had that extra few minutes .
And let’s be honest before Rodri was taken out of the game they were all over us ,a ploy obviously Arteta had told the players before hand going by Kai’s barge into him in the first 5 seconds of the game .
The defence held up and the Raya had a blinder again but please stop with the conspiracy crap .
Maybe Artetas weekly moans have rubbed off on some of the fans ,take the blinkers off would be my advice ,we are starting to become a laughing stock amongst other fans .
You’re right of course, and the professionals, ie the pundits, journalists and the writers on The Athletic all agree. I may have missed stuff, but I’d say that Oliver’s one big match changing error was the pre, pre assist he gave us on our first goal. Disgraceful😂.
I think the referee lost control of the game as early as it was possible to do so by not carding Havertz for his challenge. Everything else in that first half stemmed from that non-decision.
On Arsenal’s side, Partey was fortunate not to get a yellow before the yellow he eventually got. Trossard’s red card could certainly have been avoided if he’d used just a little common sense (post-Rice). That said, City weren’t innocent by a long way either, with Haaland in particular throwing his not inconsiderable bulk around. In fact, his good goal aside, Haaland acted oddly throughout the game and afterwards – “rattled”, some reports suggested.
Anyway, as a spectacle, I think it was spoiled by the first half which meant the second half was a battle of wills as to whether Arsenal could hold out long enough. With eleven vs eleven it could have been so much better over the full 90+ minutes.
I did forget Haaland throwing the ball at Gabriel’s head and agree he should have been booked .
Personally speaking I think Oliver is the best ref around in the prem (not hard I know ).
Oliver is no where near as good as Anthony Taylor.
Taylor’s been quite kind to us since Wenger left.
Bertie,
I read a quote by Havertz, where he said that Rhodri tried to block him, so he left something on him.
If Rhodri is silly enough to try and block someone when their running in a straight line like Havertz was doing from the kick-off, then Havertz doesn’t have to change his direction to accommodate Rhodri’s foul.
If anyone should have been booked it was Rhodri and not Havertz. (And by the way, I’m not Havertz greatest fan either).
Derek, Havertz wasn’t booked
Jax,
You misunderstood me. I wasn’t saying that Havertz got booked, I was just saying that if anyone should have been booked, it should have been Rhodri.
Although on reading my sentence again, I can see why you arrived at your conclusion.
My apologies.
👍
DEREK, you are correct on the incident between Rodri and Havertz. I, at first, thought it was Havertz that was guilty. Then after looking at it closely, you can see Rodri slightly stick his left shoulder in the way of Havertz, and falls to the ground.
Dan, be careful, you are being factual. You will get slated.
Water off a ducks back mate ,I’m not a raving child who believes everyone is against us .
For me I think we got more help from Oliver than Man City when you look at the incidents from a non blinkered stand point .
I thought, he had a bad game, but not for the things some are bleating for!!!
“Opta stats reveal the ball was in play for 63 mins 29 secs which is the FIFTH longest of any Premier League game this season. Therefore, there is confusion over why there was so much added time with eight minutes at the end of the first half and nine at the end of the second half.”
From an article today. Wouldn’t say it’s conspiracy theory but I was surprised at the amount of added on time.
As for Trossard barging Silva, was it as bad as Haalands flying barge on Saliba beforehand?
Have you considered that out players might genuinely have been falling down with cramp after a tough away leg to Atalanta and a days less rest, plus playing with 10 men for for the 2nd half. The only conspiracy theory I hear mate is from you claiming Arteta is rubbing off on us because I’ve spoken to other fans and they are saying the same, this refereeing doesn’t add up. Let’s see them get of all those charges against them though. How are the going to get out of failing to cooperate with the financial regulator? They either did or didn’t and I don’t think they would have a charge bought against them for that, if the complied!
Waooh arsenal leading man city with a man down with our captain (Odegaard) injured..gosh Arteta is a gift to arsenal and football in general, this team looks scarier to opponents everyday..🎩Artetagician🪄
Man City vs Arsenal is a game filled with emotions just like El Classico, and the emotions is one of the main reasons neutrals also watch. You are actually sniffing the fun out of it by saying they shouldn’t be emotional about it.
We have watched El Classico and seen Ramos and the likes kicking Neymar and co without the referee issuing red
True, to an extent. I too have watched a few El Classicos (live) – both at Real Madrid and Barcelona. I think it would be correct to say that there have been quite a lot of “card (red/yellow) bloodbaths” in that fixture’s history though which makes what happened yesterday look quite calm.
The Ref are meant to manage games. We know the law says yellow for kicking the ball away, but it won’t have generated much protest from Man C players and pundit, but red card for that is extreme
Trossard did get a yellow card for kicking the ball away.
… If the Ref had only warned him
The warning was three weeks ago when Rice was sent off which cost us two points
After that , no Arsenal player should be making same mistake
👍
Not sure I can class that as a mistake, he was running up to the ball to kick it whilst the whistle was actually blowing and just after he stopped blowing, Trossard kicked but almost hesitantly, as if he was trying to pull out. The whistle was still in the refs mouth. What now, we train our players in Football Musical chairs – when the whistle blows you freeze!? Last one to stop moving gets sent off?
Nah, after watching that refereeing then it should be 116 charges. This ref was paid (by ADNOC Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) last year to referee a game in an ADNOC Pro league match, here’s a link to the match click on ‘lineups’ and click on ‘Officials’: https://www.uaeproleague.ae/en/fixtures/d5f295d8-0f45-11ee-afb1-d481d7b85086
How is that not a conflict of interest? He was paid by the owners of Man City to be an official for a game in another country, a lot of money, more than he would have been paid than for a game in England. Sheikh Mansour is the Chairman of ADNOC and the owner of ADUG, the investment company that owns Man City. This game was on the 28th September 2023. We played Man City 2 weeks later on 8th October, same referee. Not saying he cheated us in that game but do you remember Kovacic’s nasty foul on Odegaard? It should have been red but was only a yellow and then a few minutes later Kovacic again, this time foul on Rice but no second yellow?
Conflict of interest or not to accept money from Mansours other company and then refeering in a match, where the Mansours team play against someone else? Is receiving that money going to make it easier or harder to maintain unbias for Michael Oliver?
Suspected of cheating? I think a lot of people are thinking yes and also outside of our fan base.
Do you remember Doku’s studs in Mac Alistair’s chest, Michael Oliver waves play on and VAR sticks with onfield decision. When the audio was released it said both players come in high. Mac Alistair’s feet were on the ground btw.
Let’s take the point and move on. There will always be controversy in big games between competitive teams, we showed with 11 players that we can match them, and that bodes well for this season.
👍 correct. There were some dodgy decisions but none of them were the ones people are trying to use. Shit happens!!!!
Great article, I totally agree. The second yellow should always be something closer to red than just a free kick, and if a player on a yellow makes a tackle that can give a second yellow a good ref sholuld first talk to the player and remind him instead of ruining the game, but most of them just love showing red cards for Arsenal.
The wreckless challenge alone was a yellow. Stupid from Trossard. And I say that as a massive fan of his work. But he let us down. Thats the crux of the matter.
Fellow Arsenal fans,
Can we please get the time added on concerns addressed.
The time added on by the referee, is at least the time specified. And it is still possible to have time added on in added time if you get my drift.
The amount of fans that seem to take the time added on like its gospel makes me laugh.
I have got my facts right here haven’t I?.
Arsenal did well I am proud of Arsenal
Yeah
We can’t deny we were time wasting so it got added on
Yep, you’ve got it right DEREK, it’s the minimum time. Time will be added to it for substitutions, injuries and time wasting.
Derek, yes the time suggested is advisory and more can be added if there are injuries or time wasting during added time, and the referee has the final decition.
Decision
Some fans has been pointing the Kovacic incident of last season when Oliver refused to send him off for a bad tackle because he didn’t want to ruin the game but the in-house referee’s apologists we have here like Jax, Regie, Dan kit and of course Dan Smith are turning a blind eye because they want to protect their ever infallible English refs at all cost. I wonder what more the cheating/corrupt refs need to do for them to realize that they are picking on Arsenal.
What a BRILLIANT comeback Matthew – I sat here reading the views of the guys you mentioned, all of whom I respect, but just couldn’t believe what they were saying.
Oliver referees every match as he sees the rules, he doesn’t follow the rules, he chooses what rules to follow and how he interprets them – your example of Kovacic was simply superb in showing just how he referees The Arsenal differently to City115.
Let’s also not forget his double yellow card booking in one incident that saw Martinelli being sent off – never happened before or since.
Let’s see how our respected fellow Gooners explain your excellent point regarding Kovacic and my point regarding Martinelli shall we?
By the way, I expect Oliver will be winging his way to the land of the city115 owners very soon to referee another game and collect a further £120k plus.
Brilliant comeback !
😂
Good one , enough interweb for me tonight .
Ken, Oliver was the ref in the Liverpool Vs Forest game last week when Szoboszlai kicked the ball away, delaying a free kick. No yellow card given, and people wonder why we moan about the inconsistencies.
Exactly HD – but if we mention these recurring and blatant examples, we’re told we are just conspiracy fans and the PGMOL are not corrupt when it comes to policing their own!
Wrighty is going into meltdown over Haaland throwing the ball at Gabriel – var officials looked at the incident and decided it wasn’t against the rules to throw a ball at an opponent!!
Let’s see how that pans out over the season!!
The mind boggles when it comes to city115 and the decisions they get.
Because there is evidence are as many examples of where decisions go in our favour
Like our first goal
…which one or two or even three choose to completely ignore😂
Dan, you seem to dismiss one clear cut example of a city player actually using violent conduct, by ssyu other decisions went our way!!. Why not give your thoughts as to why Haaland got away with it?
Don’t tell me you’re on about Walker being out of position when the free kick was taken 😂
Talking of time-wasting.
There is two simple things that can be done to rid us all of this annoying plague.
First of all, take the time keeping away from the referee, and have an official time keeper.
Secondly, adopt the Rugby League/Union model.
ie: When the ball is not in play. examples: Goes out of play whether for a goal-kick, throw on, or a corner. Free-kick, goal-kick, injuries, Substitutions. The clock stops, and the clock does not restart until the ball is back in play.
So, these players can take as long as they like with all there time wasting antics, and the fans would finally get there full moneys worth of a ninety minute football match.
Anybody out there agree.
Derek, this has been suggested a number of times, and I believe even put up for consideration by the FA & football leagues and nothing has come of it. I believe one of the issues was that games that massively overun could effect travel arrangements of visiting fans. Unlike in rugby sometimes more than half a match is lost through stopped play.
I’d vote for it though.
Jax, the ball was in play for 35 minutes during the second half, the most minutes of any PL match this season, according to the reports.
Another report says that, on average, The Arsenal take four seconds more than city115 when taking goal and / or free kicks.
I completely agree with the suggestion that time keeping should be taken away from referees and I would go further and say the var officials as well.
A dedicated stop watch person, who stops the clock when the referee indicates that the ball is dead, would be the perfect remedy for any time wasting.
Ken, if the ball was in play for 35 minutes then the complaints (on here) that the extra minutes added to the seven allotted are nonsence.
I think the clock idea is the only sensible solution, but the powers don’t don’t seem to favout it for some reason. If I was jetting down from Scotland to watch in my expensive seat, I’d expect to see a full match.
…favour it
Don’t know about jetting down Jax, sounds like I have my own private jet 😂
The ball being out of play for ten minutes, doesn’t mean there has to be ten minutes added on though, as it may have been a legitimate reason (throw ins etc) for that time.
There has never been a rule that states time has to be added on for such incidents, rather it’s time added on for on field stoppages, such as an injury.
I think the point made about the PL not wanting to inconvenience fans by adding on the type of minutes we saw at the world cup, was expertly put to bed, when it was noted that they have no issue changing the day or starting times to suit their own requirements
Just another load of BS by the powers that be, who couldn’t give a damn about the supporters.
Jax,
As for the over-running and could effect travel plans for visiting supporters, read Marty’s article. I fully agree with him.
And also, one of the reason’s it’s not going to happen is, I read somewhere that the player’s are against playing the full ninety minutes.
You can’t make this stuff up.
Completely agree, I’ve said the same thing for ages. As for the FA saying they won’t do it because it might impact on fans getting home they don’t seen to mind impacting fans by changing match dates and times at the last minute.
The Trossard incident was a red card all day; not only did he kick the ball away after the whistle,he aggressively protested the referee’s decision. That alone can earn you a yellow card. Trossard was just needlessly too aggressive and that was the sole reason he had issues controlling his emotions.
Hmm, but you didn’t think that the city115 players surrounding the referee and questioning his decisions was aggressive then?
How many cards did Oliver issue in that instance, especially as the rules state only the captain can approach the referee?
Did they have issues controlling their emotions?
Some of us here have gone overboard to be rational, sensible and fixated on the letter of the law. So Trossard kick the ball away deliberately to waste time, not because he was simply following through in his intent to play a fast ball to forward, Trossard could certainly have stopped, Doku kick the ball back by the order of the ref., Harvetz rammed Rodri to try to take him out of the game and was let off the hooked by the ref., our first goal had stood only with the misplaced discretion of the ref., in the end may be Haaland was only letting off steam in the excitment of celebration when he threw the ball at the head of an opposing player….
So next time we score, the players can let off steam by throwing the ball at the back of our opponents head then?
Take another look at Havertz’s run and explain to me what Ridri was doing and how Havertz could have got out of the way?
Bet he will come here and say our player acted stupidly by throwing the ball at an opponent’s head
Shame
I did agree with you on three issues you raised here
1) Hervetz never rammed on Rodri with the intent to take him out: infact the Rodri’s antics was annoying to say the least,he got on the way of Hervetz with the intent to block his movement when he tried to press for the ball. Hervetz at that point is without the ball,so rodri has no business doing what he did.
2) There was nothing actually wrong with the first goal : ref called called Saka and Walker to have a talk with them. After the discussion he blew the whistle for a free kick to be taken,then Arsenal swiftly played the free kick. There is no foul play here,once the whistle is sounded the free kick can be taken.
3)Haaland throwing the ball on Gabi’s head shouldn’t have been ignored for any reason whatsoever.
I disagree with you I mean
Buchi, the point people have been making about our first goal was that Oliver should NOT have blown for the kick to be taken until Walker was back in place, especially as he’d called him over to speak with him & Saka. You’re right of course, by blowing he allowed Partey to take a quick kick. Olivers error really, and Walker should have shifted himself to get back in position.
Jax, I wish I could post a photo I received this morning, as it shows Walker was in fact back in line with his fellow defenders when the free kick was taken.
If you watch it on MOTD you will see clearly that Walker walks away…not run…walks away and the free kick comes 8 seconds later when Walker is already in a back line. The problem was he didn’t do his job and pick up Martinelli cos Walker has been prone to mistakes lately. Nothing wrong with the free kick
That’s what I posted, Walker was in line with his defenders when the free kick was taken. As you say, nothing wrong with the free kick.
We should have kept ESR and bought a real striker. Toney would have been perfect but he is now in Saudi Arabia.
Don’t worry, Arteta has given Edu his top 3 transfer targets for January, a striker and 2 refs. Only way to compete with city115
👎🏼