Michael Oliver was correct to send Trossard off and there is no conspiracy against Arsenal

. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

A referee’s job is to not agree with rules but enforce them. There is zero policy which says their decisions must be based on making a game entertaining for the viewer.

No protocol exists where their judgement should be altered by what happened (or didn’t) earlier in the same match or in another fixture.

Every summer representatives of the 20 Prem clubs meet with the relevant bodies to discuss any tweaks in certain laws for the upcoming season. So, managers and players were aware that officials were going to be stricter on perceived time wasting, such as kicking the ball away to stop a restart. How far the ball is kicked has zero bearing on this being a booking offense. One of your peers getting away with the action doesn’t mean the same will apply to you.

If you’re thinking you read a similar article a few weeks ago you would be correct. I assumed I wouldn’t have to write a piece so identical so soon.

Because whatever you think of Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton, no Gunner should have been kicking the ball away again this season.
You can accuse Michael Oliver of corruption, point how others escaped cards, accuse the whole Prem of having an agenda against us, etc.

The fact remains if Trossard doesn’t kick the ball when the whistle is blown, he doesn’t give the refs a decision to make.

Some of the entitlement from Gooners is astounding. It’s not up to us to like the laws made but to respect them. Some are asking for Trossard to escape a second yellow because they think the rule is nonsense.

Yet the whole rules changed because of the increase in the dark arts. Those in power haven’t decided to have a zero-tolerance policy out of boredom. They got tired of the rules being manipulated. The same players who are now asking for common sense are the same who created the issue by their deceit.

That’s what Roy Keane wanted to hear, some accountability. Yes, Mikel Arteta can still hug Trossard on the touchline, but will he privately be reminding the Belgian his decision-making cost us points?

In public our boss might feel it helps his squad to create an ‘us against the world’ mentality, but it would be worrying if that’s how he truly felt.

His job is to identify the small margins which separate the contenders to winners.

The only points the Gunners have dropped this campaign was when having a man disadvantage. That was due to a weak mentality and lack of composure.

The only way for the Spaniard to fix that is first to recognize the issue.

A section of our fan base have not shown the class Mr Keane asked for making Sunday’s red card at the Etihad more controversial then reality.

They either have mis-reported information such as Man City paying Mr Oliver to teach in Saudi Arabia his motive for helping them. City’s owners are from a different country! Of course, they failed to mention how City felt our first goal should have been disallowed, which in an instance makes conspiracy theories a myth.

All while having a childish lack of accountability.

You would tell a child unwanted behaviour does not become acceptable just because you witnessed someone else get away with it.

So, no Trossard isn’t allowed to kick the ball away just because you have seen others do the same without consequences.

Oh, and let’s be honest that we blatantly time wasted in that second half. I personally loved it as over the years we been too nice.

I have heard comments the last few days such as Mr Oliver shouldn’t be involved in another Arsenal game. Say this out loud and think how silly it sounds.

Someone should be demoted in their job for booking a player because they kicked the ball away when that’s the rule. It would be like getting caught speeding and your defence being that it was only slightly over the limit, and you see others do the same.

It’s such the wrong energy to have. Our focus should be on our pride for what we managed in Manchester. Not complaining.

As Mr Keane asked, ‘show some class sometimes’.

Dan Smith


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99 Comments

  1. Until Arsenal bring in a natural and traditional Striker like Viktor Gyokeres It will be very difficult to Win any Trophy this season. He is a man who uses half chances and converts them. Martinelli cannot use these chance to get us a goal. A man who can score three past Man City or any other team. Lets buy trophies this season at 85 Million pounds and we shall be assured of at least 2 Trophies this season.

  2. Technically he was right in sending off the Belgian but where is the consistency.

    Am convinced there will be no improvement, because of no repercussions of the officials transgressions.

    The problem is Howard Webb himself, not all times a good referee make that’s transition to manage and lead

  3. 8 seconds between kicking the ball and the whistle. This is so different to a dead ball. If your leg is already moving to the ball before the whistle, are you supposed to control the flow of your leg in that split second. This is a dumb decision. You can argue that Rice was stupid but this is very dumb officiating.
    I doubt you have played football before. Why not turn footballers to robots.

    1. 👍
      Remove emotions from football (most especially clash of Titans) and the excitement goes of.
      Every neutrals would have been bored watching that game because Trossard kicked the ball away while watching Raya laying down multiple times.
      Yes, it’s a bookable offence but leniency is required to Very emotional games. We do see Ramos and co during El-clasicos
      afterwards

  4. My concern with this line is that I’m not convinced trossard had enough time after the whistle to react to it. If that’s the case, then I don’t see how you can really blame him and the best you can say is he was unlucky (which is allowed in football, you c can be unlucky).
    Imo, though, the ref should have used his discretion and given trossard the benefit of the doubt there. I don’t think the rule is meant to stop unintentional time wasting – otherwise there’s absolutely no reason you could reasonably give as to why the brighton player and doku weren’t booked. Intent has to matter here, surely.
    The rice one was different – there is almost no doubt DR knew what he was doing as he effectively tackled a player taking a freekick. Odd that many pundits came out supporting rice but not trossard. Imo that is genuine bias towards a well-liked, English player, funnily enough.

    1. You know why there was more support for rice? Because that was sheer incompetancy by Kavanaugh. Trossard gave Oliver 2 choices at the same instance ..plain stupidity from trossard. Seconds to half time…dumb yellow card challenge in a non critical situation…i will give him the benefit of not hearing the whistle

      1. Rice walked across and intentionally kicked the ball as the Brighton player was swinging to take the free kick – it was intentional and did delay the free kick.
        Trossard kicked the ball less than a second after the whistle, which is what he was booked for, not the foul. You expect him to have the reaction time of cat? I can clearly understand why trossard might have kicked before registering the whistle, I can’t see how rice didn’t know what he was doing.
        And I’m not having a go at rice – I’m just saying the difference in the subsequent reactions is odd

  5. I was expecting this article, especially from Dan.

    Here’s my take: when there are consistent inconsistencies, conspiracies naturally arise. Neither those who support a conspiracy nor those who deny it can definitively prove their points. It all boils down to beliefs. You, Dan, don’t believe there’s a conspiracy, while many others do. No argument can definitively prove one side over the other; it’s all about beliefs.

    If everything were truly clear and transparent, people might not resort to their beliefs, and conspiracies wouldn’t be a thing.

    So far, referees aren’t helping their case by being massively inconsistent in their decisions. From an onlooker’s perspective, certain patterns always emerge if you look hard enough. If anyone wants to eliminate conspiracies in football, they should focus on the inconsistencies shown by officials and push for consistency. Saying there’s no conspiracy is like debating the existence of God—try convincing anyone.

    One thing is factual: inconsistencies and conspiracies are natural side effects. It’s human nature to seek patterns when faced with inconsistent outcomes. I can’t complain. And personally, knowing how the world revolves around money and businesses committed to making a profit, it’s not far-fetched to think some conspiracies might hold true.

    1. Disagree mate
      If I can find one example of a decision going in our favour then a conspiracy/agenda will would makes zero sense

      For example ,
      Let’s say Mr Oliver is part of this corruption to hurt Arsenal
      Why wouldn’t he disallow our first goal ?

      1. There was nothing to disallow in the first goal. If you watched closely, the free kick was taken after his whistle, so he can only disallow himself to be honest in this case, and that would be a great thing for football.

        1. I agree mate there’s nothing wrong with the goal but your missing the point

          Your saying the reff is corrupt , he’s part of an agenda to stop Arsenal so if he had a reason to disallow the goal wouldn’t he not take it ?

            1. It’s obvious lol
              The moment Arsenal are ever awarded a penalty ….that wouldn’t happen if there was this nationwide conspiracy

            2. Stumped DK? Mr Oliver blew the whistle to restart the game so how could he then stop it?
              Plus, of course, he had no idea that a goal would result from him restarting the game anyway!! 🤔😂

              1. So awarding The Arsenal a penalty would prove there’s no conspiracy Dan?
                Your argument is full of holes – awarding a penalty doesn’t mean The Arsenal would win the game.
                Sometimes, it’s unavoidable not to give clear cut penalties anyway, but decisions later on in the game can still override previous decisions as you well know!!

                1. Yes 100 percent
                  If officials are being sent out with an agenda to hurt Arsenal we should not be getting big decisions
                  Example , your agreeing that there is agenda against us correct ?
                  Yet last day of season Jesus handled ball before Havertz scores
                  Surely that would be disallowed

                1. Oh dear Dan!! Your coming over as completely irrational here.
                  What your saying is, to prove there is no conspiracy (either way) is for Mr Oliver to listen to a player and then…. stop the game that he’s already started and disallow the goal that he didn’t know would happen anyway!
                  Yiu still haven’t answered the four questions directly, but keep coming up with complete nonsense or hypothetical examples that you know will never happen – just answer each question directly!!
                  Here’s one more, do you think Hartland should of been sent off for deliberately throwing the ball at the back of Gabriel’s head?

                  1. What hypothetical examples have I come up with ?
                    Yes if Oliver is essentially on pay roll to screw us over he would listen to Kyle Walker
                    Halland should have got a yellow but officiating is poor
                    Should ben white be allowed to play with keepers gloves at corners ?
                    How come he got away with that

                    1. If he was essentially on the payroll he wouldn’t have even had to listen to walker, it (“how can I disallow this goal”) would already have been on his mind. You’re completely correct – situations where a ref could screw us over but decides not to occur all the time. Therefore it’s extremely unlikely they’re paid to go against us. They’d have to be playing some sort of long game, to just hurt us enough to stop us winning the title but giving us just enough so it’s not blatantly obvious all the time. They’d all have to be ridiculously intelligent and calculating, and while I don’t think they’re idiots, I dont think they’re anything like that.

                    2. Still not answered the other four questions Dan – by the way, dangerous play is a sending off offence, so why are you saying he should have got a yellow?

                    3. I said I cant answer them mate because I simply think it’s poor officiating
                      But if the accusation is all officials are conspiring against us I can’t ignore other games where we benefitted from decisions
                      As for Halland I can’t be two faced
                      When Keown shoved Van N I loved it lol

              2. Oliver called walker over to speak to him he was out of position before partey passed to martinelli .
                Furthermore the ball was placed 10 yards ahead of where the foul took place ,didn’t you 2 weeks ago defend rices red card by saying the ball was moved forward and not in the right place ?
                The Pont Dan was trying to get across was that if there was a conspiracy against Arsenal then Oliver would have called it back ,we got away with that one .
                Onto Gabriel goals ,Martinelli backs into the keeper without even looking at the ball ,2 goals that could have been chalked off ,especially if this childish conspiracy theory was real .
                🙄😂

                1. The referee called both captains over, then blew the whistle as he was happy where the free kick was to be taken from.
                  City115 had ten players behind the ball and Mr Oliver had no idea whatsoever that forty seconds later, a superb shot would result in a goal – no idea whatsoever.
                  He was immediately surrounded by every city115 player, something that should have resulted in ten bookings, as only the captain can approach the referee to discuss a decision.
                  Meanwhile, Pep is kicking a chair into the back of his technical area (not a water bottle, but a chair) and Mr Oliver takes what action?
                  None at all.
                  Totally different to the Rice situation, as the referee hadn’t blown his whistle for the free kick to be taken, it was a moving ball and Rice was walking away from the incident and had his back to the ball.
                  I’m not interested in what other referees or teams do, I’m talking about Sunday’s game and the fixture with city115 at the Emirates last season – both refereed by Mr Oliver.
                  Mr Oliver stated that he didn’t want to send off Kovacic for a career threatening tackle on Odegaard, as he didn’t want to ruin the game as a spectacle – on Sunday, he did the complete opposite and sent off a player, not for a career threatening tackle, but for kicking the ball away on the stroke of half time.

                  So can anyone, including you, DK and anyone else explain to me why Mr Oliver would use leniency towards a city115 player, but not to an Arsenal player, when the former was a much more serious foul?

                  1. Ok Ken 😂😂
                    Did not realise you was a flat earther ,but here we are .

                    Your post never answered the question put to you but just a mumbling of excuses.
                    Maybe next time eh , wouldn’t hold my breath though .

                    1. Ask me the question again, as I thought I’d answered it.
                      Explain why you couldn’t understand my mumbling and I’ll try to write it in a simpler way for you.

                2. Actually DK, just before Party connected with the ball for the free kick, Walker was in line with the other City defenders.

          1. If a ref never gave favours to other teams but just one, can that be called conspiracy? It would be a clear cut proven bias.

            The very fact that the refs decisions have favoured a team more than any other, the conspiracy arises.

            And don’t tell me City players have been saints in the last several seasons. They have always been the king of time wasting in the league. It’s only when they are on the receiving end, they cry.

              1. I would t bother Dan ,some our fans cannot take their blinkers off when it comes to Arsenal .
                It will be a back and forth for the next week just like when Rice got sent off .

                1. That’s exactly what I’m saying. No argument can prove one or the other. It’s a conspiracy debate. There’s always a counter argument to every argument in it.

                    1. Nobody is asking you to believe there is a conspiracy. At least I’m not. Conspiracies can’t be proven or disproven.

                      We can only show patterns that point to a conspiracy or the opposite.

                      In Michael Oliver’s case, there are patterns that show his decisions favoring City way more than other clubs. I don’t think there’s denying that.

                    2. Well Sid Daulat and his decisions when it comes to The Arsenal versus city115, show such bias and inconsistency, there has to be a reason why!!

          2. Self-preservation. He would have to have blown the whistle as soon as we took the free kick (after having signaled that we could take it). And would have to have disallowed it after running down the field and watching us score it. Even MO is not that shameless (or willing to admit he cocked it up).

    2. We’re talking about football here. In that context, inconsistences and conspiracies are completely different.

      In order to understand the difference, it’s necessary to understand what a conspiracy means. The definition is:

      noun: “a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.”

      So, anyone who believes that there is a conspiracy against Arsenal believes that different officials in charge of different EPL games are working together as a group to a pre-determined plan in order to deliberately disadvantage Arsenal in the EPL by unlawful means.

      You’re right that persuading someone who has gone down that rabbit hole to the contrary is probably impossible – but that doesn’t make their view any less nonsensical, does it.

      1. It doesn’t mean that referees involved in other matches are involved at all.
        What nonsense!!
        I’m arguing that a referee can influence the result of a game where The Arsenal are involved.
        When an individual referee like Mr Oliver can make completely opposite decisions that favour one team over another in two seperate games, one should ask why?
        Why did he not want to ruin the home game against city115 last season by not sending off Kovacic, but had no hesitation in doing the complete opposite last Sunday?
        That is the question that needs to be answered and the reason given by Dan, that our referees are not good enough is just shrugging his shoulders.
        He’s supposed to be our best referee and yet he isn’t questioned by the powers to be.
        It’s about time the PGMOL allowed such referees to be questioned directly, rather than hiding behind a cloak of secrecy and ONLY THEN would fans be able to understand and accept their decisions – until then, in my opinion, Mr Oliver conspired on two seperate occasions, to favour city115 over The Arsenal in a deliberate way.

        1. That’s cool then
          I thought you were one who was suggesting there was a conspiracy going on lol
          I don’t know why mate ?
          Like I don’t know why Odegarrd gets away with a handball but Spurs didn’t ?

          Lack of consistency? Not saying it’s okay but it’s not an agenda

          1. But it’s not “cool” Dan is it?
            Shrugging your shoulders and saying “I don’t know why” and then giving examples that didn’t involve Mr Oliver anyway, is just a smokescreen.
            When WILL the FA and the PGMOL address what you see as unexplained and poor refereeing?
            Why is the PGMOL still allowed to police it’s own members and thus inviting, at the very least, a sense of corruption in its organisation?
            After witnessing Sunday’s game and referencing back to our home fixture last season with Mr Oliver, instead of calling out some of our own fans for what they oerveive as biased referring, shouldn’t you be writing an article questioning the PGMOL and one of it’s own members?

    3. Inconsistancies ARE NOT a conspiracy. It is exactly that… inconsistant..a conspiracy is a planned outcome.
      Now inconsistancy and incompetence usually align. I was livid against kavanugh BUT on hearing the tape..shows my opinion that the refs manning VAR are the incompetant ones. They have the tech to come to a decision but usually f…it up. Brentford game…didnt draw the line?…Newcastle…
      Just observe var refs. That aussie ref is a shocker when he is on var but on field, he is still poor BUT isnt team biased. That Spuds game when vittorio handled outside…how did var miss that?

  6. The fact that we have had two players sent off has nothing to do with “weak mentality” and more to do with sheer stupiditity.It is up to our Manager to get the message across and ensure that we keep eleven men on the park.With regard to the input from Roy Keane,he would not last 5 minutes in today’s game which is fast turning football into a no contact sport.Ironical that we have two guys sent off for non contact offences.

    1. Grandad
      I agree with you, it’s stupidity on the part of players to even create that situation when they kick the ball. Simply don’t do it, don’t kick the ball!

      Hopefully Arteta rectifies this situation, and we will not see this again. Situational awareness, and the idea that he was looking to play to Martinelli is ludicrous. Trossard meant to boot it, and got what he deserved, unfortunately it hurt the team.

  7. Dan, I don’t think you replied to a previous point made about Mr Oliver with regards to our match against city115
    He said he didn’t want to send off Kovacic, as he didn’t want to spoil the spectacle.
    How do you explain that decision versus his decision to follow the rules against Trossard?

      1. Inconsistency that favour only certain club(s)?

        When did the Inconsistency hurt City or whoever has a bigger check?

            1. Manchester Derby City’s offside decision against City
              Last season City awarded a free kick , they take it quick and as soon as they are clear though on goal against Spurs it’s pulled back
              Foden at Anfield denied a clear pen
              In CL a clear hand ball from Trent disallowed
              Penalty City concede against Real Madrid when Foden gets ball

              1. Usually agree with you but disagree with your ‘argument’ that oliver allowed our 1st goal….walker HAD time to get back into position…partey didnt take the freekick that quickly But generally Oliver wasnt biased against us. He was years ago but seems to have mellowed. Thats why i was screaming at artetas tactics of getting the players to waste time…all it does is add on mins…duh

      2. That’s not an answer Dan, it’s an excuse!!
        Your saying that Mr Oliver can referee a match as he sees fit and without following the rules.
        If he felt that sending Kovacic off would have spoilt the spectacle, why did he not apply the same thinking Sunday?
        There’s also the Martinelli two yellow cards in one incident to follow up on – again it’s The Arsenal and, once again, he’s never done it before or since has he?
        As for your weak effort to try and say he let our first goal stand as proof he’s not bias, he’d already blown the whistle to restart the game, so what excuse could he possibly have had to disallow it?
        If he, along with the other referees, are just not good enough, then why are they not replaced?
        Four questions for you Dan and I hope you give meaningful answers and not just kioservjce!!

        1. I can’t answer them mate as I simply think it’s a poor standard of officiating that happens to all clubs
          I can name times when decisions have gone our way
          Why did Odegarrd get away with an handball at Anfield but we get a pen against Spurs for handball …that’s a lack of consistency correct ?
          And of course he could have ….if he’s got an agenda against us he would listen to Kyle Walker and say ‘ oh did they take it too quickly , from wrong place , that will do ‘

            1. Because that proves there can’t be an conspiracy
              If Arsenal are getting decisions there way as well it proves its just bad officiating
              Fact you can’t defend it is why you want to stick to Sunday

              So when we get decisions are way can we ignore that
              But when we rightly get a red card it’s an conspiracy ?

              1. Not once have I mentioned the word “conspiracy” Dan – you seem to think that anyone who questions a referee is in that camp, why?
                DK, I have mentioned Mr Oliver and the two games, simply because he refereed both matches, buy used different criteria tehat favoured city115 on both occasions.
                If you can’t see the reasoning behind that, then I give up!!

                By the way, I haven’t said that Trossard shouldn’t have been sent off either, but Kovacic most certainly should have… or do you disagree with that as well 🤔🤔

        2. The idea is not that Trossard was right. The idea is that Oliver did not apply the law/s evenly and thats his game for Arsenal games

    1. I’m not of the conspiracy theory notion but punishment melted out for an insignificant mistake defined the whole game.
      I just found out the Kovacic case, which I feel should be the better decision.
      What was supposed to be “CLASH OF THE TITANS” became the most boring game of the season

  8. I dont believe there’s an anti Arsenal conspiracy, however…
    There is an alarming amount of inconsistency when it comes to decisions made by officials.
    Yes, officials are there to enforce the rules but there is scope for interpretation of actions which though subjective are often baffling. On numerous past occasions a player who’s already on yellow card has not received a seconded yellow for an action that appears to warrant a second yellow card, but not received one?
    Ahead of this season clubs were told (yet again)that players crowding the referee would not be tolerated & that holding in the box at set pieces would be clamped down on…but there’s been little evidence of either of these “rules” being enforced.
    The allocation of “added on time” by the fourth official is completely arbitrary & often suspect.
    It’s little surprise that conspiracy theories abound when PGMOL officials are permitted to work in leagues that are owned by countries that also effectively own premier league clubs.
    Given Roy Keane’s history as a footballer & outbursts as a pundit he’s the last person on earth to be recommending that Arteta show some class.

    1. Officials are inconsistent, but I think you’ll find that they’re inconsistent with every other club in the EPL over a season. Unfortunately, like players and coaches match officials do make blatant mistakes, don’t always use common sense etc., whatever.

      Over a season these things often balance themselves out one way or another, but it’s got nothing to do with “looney-tunes” conspiracy theories.

    2. If Roy Keane and Paul Scholes had played the exact style of game playing for Arsenal instead of Man Utd they would have picked up 25 red cards per season.
      Have no doubt about that and Referees penalizing Arsenal more than Man Utd, Liverpool, and Chelsea has been going on since the 1950’s ! Can add Man City nowadays!

  9. And speaking of Roy Keane, he was probably zoning out during the match counting the goals his beloved team would have conceded if they were playing 10 men against City at Etihad.

    Apparently, he never reached to the final count before the final whistle of the match. Of course he is pissed.

  10. I would have to support and agree with Dan and say he deserved to go
    He got a stupid yellow
    Makes a lazy challenge and could or have got a yellow for that but he then decides to hoof the ball away.
    If as he has said he didn’t hear the whistle and decided to punt the ball across and up field to apparently to Martinelli then what a poor pass.
    You don’t need to have played the game as a professional to know he knew exactly what he was doing and pure stupidity got him sent off
    I will always stick up for our players and did for DC when he got sent off for the previous week for the same offence which imo was harsh.
    LT Knowing what happened to DC should have been smarter and not put oliver in a position to make a call like that.

  11. Meanwhile Haaland unprovoked assault against Gabriel was not punished and it keep getting defended by the honest and uncorrupt officials.

    No conspiracy at all. Just someone wallet or bank account got bigger on Monday morning.

  12. Trossard and Rice both deserved the second yellow, but it is the fact Oliver ignored the giving the Liverpool player a second yellow for kicking the ball away against Forest but didn’t, Doku did the same yesterday, no yellow, it is the inconsistency that is making fans angry, the so called number one ref is a coward and a joke, he couldn’t keep hold of the game. Let’s hope Arsenal players take heed, do not give the ref cause to book you

    1. That’s because doku kicked the ball where Oliver pointed to ,how on earth is that an advantage to mancity ,if anything that was a disadvantage as an Arsenal
      Player would have had to pick it up and go back and place it .

      1. The rules are the rules, as we are often told. I can’t be bothered to review the footage, but the rules are the rules and he should’ve be yellow carded.

        1. You cannot be bothered to review the footage but then say he should have been yellow carded.
          The mind boggles it honestly does .

    1. Just like your posts every match day ,like clockwork talking about refs and conspiracies .
      Like you said “what a load of BS

      1. Sorry did t mean to come off harsh ,but when you get called useless by yourself,it comes natural to then have a dig when I see fit ,I’m sure you can understand.
        Keep up the Saturdays vibes though it makes for good reading and a good laugh for ones self.

  13. Why wasn’t Haaland sent off after chucking the ball at the back of Gabriel head and then banned for being intimidating and swearing at Jesus? Two tier refereeing and adjudicating. He’s a preening narcissist and a disgrace, even without the stupid hair.

      1. He picked the ball out the back of the net after they scored and chucked it at the back of Gabriel’s head as Gabriel was walking away, How Oliver and VAR claimed to have not seen it is beyond belied, especially as it all kicked off afterwards. Haaland starting mouthing off at Arteta after the game Jesus asked him Who are you? and he pushed him and starting f’ing and blinding. Minimum punishment, a seasons ban and head shave, I think. You can guarantee if it had been one of our players, it would’ve been a red card, or a retrospective ban.

      2. Well Dan, I find the Haaland incident hilarious too. A real hoot and in the normal scheme of things it’s just that

        What has to be taken into consideration is that feelings can run high in such an important fixture. There really could have been a scene where Gabriel reacted negatively and another sending off could have ensued.

        I’ve read so much on the subject of Rice and Trossard having to handle themselves correctly and the team not using the dark arts, but do you or anyone else know that Haaland wasn’t trying it on?

        1. I think it’s added time and they are emotional
          I like that
          I remember Henry celebrating in peeps faces and loving it
          Ben white last season was playing with keepers gloves in the Derby
          He didn’t get booked

          What I would say is this… If Haaland had got red carded it’s his fault as it’s his actions

          Trossard chose to kick the ball away on a yellow knowing the rules

      3. Dan, what happened to Keown and the club afterwards?
        Do you expect the same punishment to be given to Haaland and city115?
        Don’t hold your breath mate, or you won’t be writing any more articles, that’s for sure.

        1. It be sad I think if someone got fined for throwing a ball at someone
          Did Fabregas get fined for throwing a pizza ?

          I’m confused though your saying there isn’t a conspiracy but still suggesting we are treated differently ?

          1. Why are you confused, when we actually ARE being treated differently by Mr Oliver?
            When in one Arsenal versus city115 game he decides not to send a player off (despite the rule book saying he should have done for violent conduct ) in order not to change the spectacle of the game, then does a 180 degree turnaround in the next city115 versus Arsenal game?
            That’s why I’M confused, but you seem not to be?!
            The conspiracy that I refer to, is the insistence by the PGMOL not to be open with the fans and allow referees to explain the reasons why, for instance, Mr Oliver took two different decisions, both of which favoured one club over another?
            I find it difficult to understand why you cannot see such fundamental and glaring issues that are simply never addressed and will never be, until the PGMOL is told to stop policing itself.

            I assume you mentioned the Fabregas incident to show we got away with it – we didn’t and Fabregas didn’t publicly own up to it until many seasons later.

            I’m confused that you would feel sad if someone was punished for throwing a ball at the back of another player’s head though, are you now advocating that your previous comment that Haaland should have been yellow carded has now changed and violent conduct should be allowed?
            Of course, unlike the Fabregas incident, we can ALL see Haaland throwing the ball into the back of Gabriel’s head and I wonder why you always seem to take the side of an opposing player versus one of our own?

            1. But because Koviac didn’t get sent off last season doesn’t mean we can never get a red card again against City

              Simple, Trossard doesn’t kick ball away he can’t get sent off can he

              Officiating isn’t consistent for any club and hasn’t been for years

              1. Dan, why don’t you answer the questions that are put to you and deviate away away from them?
                I didn’t say that, because Kovacic wasn’t red carded last season, we shouldn’t get a red card this season did I?
                Simple, if Kovacic didn’t make a two footed tackle on Odegaard from behind, he wouldn’t have to have Mr Oliver ignore the rule book and say he didn’t want to ruin the spectacle would he?

                Haven’t said anything about Trossard kicking the ball away, your just trying to make it seem I’m disagreeing with the red card itself.

                Notice you didn’t mention your change regarding Haaland and didn’t answer the question about violent conduct.

                Never said that officiating isn’t consistent for any club and hasn’t been for years – another deflecting attempt!!

                Still looking for your explanation as to why Mr Oliver decided to make a decision in one game, that helped city115, while taking the complete opposite in the next game which helped city 115?
                No need to bring in other clubs, referees etc just your view as to why he would do this, along with sending off Martinelli for two yellow cards in one incident.
                He’s the only referee who has ever done this and it never happened before or since of course.
                I still await an actual answer that doesn’t gloss over these two questions, let’s have your opinion on them and them alone.

                You still haven’t answered my point about PGMOL policing itself – do you accept that, by doing this, corruption is inevitable, as it has been in every other institution that also regulated itself?

                1. Because I dont have to answer every point mate as we agree
                  The article is about me saying there is zero conspiracy against Arsenal
                  You agree there isn’t
                  The rest is deflecting
                  Yes in one game he helped City but in others reffs helped us

                  The Halland thing I don’t see as serious
                  But even if he got a yellow card who cares really

                  1. Who cares?
                    Well, if you care about football and the rules, you should care?
                    I can’t believe your doing a “Oliver Twist” on Haaland.
                    One minute he should be yellow carded, then he shouldn’t, then throwing the ball at the back of an opponents head is good fun and a laugh!!

                    I’m saying that there are so many inconsistencies when Mr Oliver referees The Arsenal versus city115 matches that always benefit the latter, that he should be made to come out and publicly explain them – and that would include the quickly taken free kick that eventually led to a superb Arsenal equaliser.
                    If he can’t referee these games in a consistent way, then he should be demoted and taken off the PL rota.

                    1. Ken1945
                      I think your last sentence sums it up

                      I also think that Haaland should have been reprimanded but unfortunately the VAR operative could only intervene on a definite red card call (?) which I’m not sure it was.

  14. It is the energy and the need some people on here take as their responsibilities to defend the officials after each game and decisions that went against us, that always amused me…. I don’t need anyone to tell me when to defend and not to defend my club… If I believe there is conspiracy with the way some decisions go against the club I’m supporting, I’m within my right to think so…. People trying to tell us otherwise on here are also limited to the same information we all exposed to as a fans… It’s not that you are part of the officials or premier league authority or own a club for you to have access to extra information than others which may have put you in a position to tell us what to think….. Let people believe whatever they want to believe because it’s not your job to convince them not to.

    1. What a load of nonsense.
      You could have spent the time it took writing that and put it to better use ,imagine what you could have got done in 5-10
      Minutes.

  15. No reason to complain about the cards to Trossard. We must learn from these incidents and and become more disciplined.

    Every time Dan claims that there is no conspiracy against Arsenal, I become more convinced that the conspiracy is real. Who’s this guy?

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