There is more proof today, if Arsenal fans needed it, that the Gunners and probably every other English Premier League club get a raw deal from the Uefa referees in the Champions League. It happens too often and has been going on for too long for it to be a coincidence any more.
A Metro report has revealed that as well as the Belgians first goal being offside, there was clear encroachment from one of their players on the penalty for their second. And with them having missed their last five UCL spot kicks, there is a good chance that they may have folded under the pressure again.
I do not know whether there is a problem because the English FA have been stronger critics of UEFA and FIFA corruption or whether it is just as simple as the fact that football is played in a more robust way in England than on the continent, but neither of these reasons is an excuse for the fact that Arsenal and the likes of Man City keep finding ourselves on the wrong end of decisions.
Just look at this season.. Arsenal had a man sent off for a second yellow in both legs of the play-offs against Besiktas, while the players of the Turkish club were let off for similar if not worse offences. Remeber last season when Laurent Koscielny was booted in the face, gashing his head and forcing him off? Not even a card!! Szczesny’s harsh red card against Bayern Munich, van Persie’s ridiculous sending off against Barcelona and the list goes on.
And if you saw the last two Man City UCL games you cannot help but feel sorry for them. As well as Uefa turning a blind eye to the flaunting of the Moscow fans ban, they were denied a couple of clear penalties and CSKA got a soft one in Moscow. And last night the visitors’ first goal came from a free kick that should not have been and they should have had a man sent off for two yellows but the ref booked the wrong player.
THese things can happen of course, but they keep happening to us and it is getting beyond a joke. Do you agree Gooners?