Took me a day to partially recover from the horrendous performance at toilet bowl, I’m still sad with what I saw! Not particularly interested in going into the match details for this one (sorry!), it was a game to forget but I shan’t let go the two things – game plan and referring.
The level of refereeing in Premier League needs to be fixed. It’s not because Spu*s benefitted of a soft penalty. It’s because the inconsistency we see in Premier League. I don’t give a fuck about other teams but it’s never consistent for us, Arsenal. For every half decisions coming our way, we are denied at least 10.
How many of you can say hand to heart if that same push was done by a Spu*s defender to Martinelli or Nketiah, we would have got a Penalty kick? If Rob Holding was a United or Liverpool player, would he have been sent off?
Why a player from a certain team wasn’t punished after steping on Tomiyasu’s face? Where the fuck was VAR at that time?
It was a soft penalty. If you start penalising them, score line would look like 9-7 every other match. We would have celebrated like an FA cup win if it was in our favour, against Spu*s at Emirates in a game so crucial for Champions League qualification.
Second point, game management. Last time we played against Spu*s, Tomiyasu did a great job in restricuting Son. Almost everyone (you too, if you put down those glasses that has ‘Arteta is great’ written on the sides) knew it would be difficult for Holding to restrict Son. Everyone also knew what a fucking drama he is, the same guy who broke 16 ribs because a dead ball hit him with 0.06 miles / hour.
What were those sideline shouting for, if it didn’t meant for Holding to be careful after a yellow card? I’m a Holding fan, I still feel it was a good decision to play him ahead of Ben White since he is better with headers and can compete with Kane but I have never seen him that aggressive. Was it a game plan? If yes, it was sh*t. If he was not told to keep calm after first yellow, it was sh*t.
We are too good to be competing against Spu*s and United level of bullying and getting away with it. You don’t try it in a crucial game. It backfires!
One last thing, Conte can fuck right off. Isn’t it surprising to complain about someone complaining? I mean if not more, he is on the same level to Mourinho in complaining! Arteta only qualifies as an assistant complainer (pun intended) in front of him.
I’m devasted with that loss. There shouldn’t have bad decisions. There shouldn’t have been a red card. A fair loss after 90 min in a 11v11 is acceptable. This inconsistency should stop. Arteta should stop shouting nonsense and use that energy for his in-game management.
Right, I know you are frustrated too and I’m not helping here but it is what it is. Hopefully this Tuesday, we manage to beat New Castle and then grab a win against Everton in our last game of this season. Europa League is not where I want to see the best club in the world play. If we don’t ask questions if we don’t qualify for Champions League when no one else wants to, that mediocrity which crept in in the later days of Wenger is not gone. If we don’t qualify for Champions League after coming this close, we are just one of those midtable clubs (West Ham, Man United and Spu*s).
Signing off..
Ambarish
An article with no analysis? Don’t worry about that mate, we’ve been fed the same thing for years on le Grove.
I’m gonna get some hate for that last paragraph but if we don’t qualify under a manager who is here from 2.5 years, spent over 200m and got his own playing XI then we are delusional.
Just read your write up Ambarish. Some really good points there. In a nutshell, I agree that there clearly is inconsistency (and that drives fans bonkers). In terms of bias I agree that Liverpool and Man U have been overall beneficiaries down the years and there’s no getting away from the fact that many referees originate from NW England. That said, I’m not sure Arsenal is on the receiving end of explicit Anti-Arsenal bias. You’re right to highlight the widespread discontent with the standard of officiating. I think the answer lies in the world’s richest leagues contracting the services of the world’s best referees, irrespective of their nationalities. A hologram of Pierluigi Collina would have been preferable to Paul Tierney on Thursday.
Kroenkephobe
It may not be as explicit these days as the 50th against United, but it’s there. Mané alone get away with 50-50 decisions than all of our playing XI combined.
I don’t know if someone is out there watching these inconsistencies thinking how we can fix that? Not because it favours one team or not the other, but because it’s ruining games. People are emotional about results and people out there should be innovative enough to think ways to reduce such errors.
Everyone can digest a deserved loss. But couple of decisions which can go either way, went against us, and helped Spu*s win. The problem is it always goes against us.
Whether the referee factor is real or just perceived, a good manager will exploit that to motivate his own players.
I think it was 1991 where our entire team (bar Seaman) got into a physical battle at OT with Rocky and Limpar weighing into bastards like Brian McClair and Dennis Irwin. We had 2 points deducted, Manure had none(?). Ambarish I’m even more crspbatcresearch than Almunia I’m afraid.
Anyhow, GG – god bless him – used the incident to motivate his players for the rest of the season. He instilled a strategy which allowed the team to develop a siege mentality.
Arteta on the other hand, just sulked and whined and got told off by Conte.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JERdIAMmFNQ
Here it is. Man, I absolutely loved GG and all the players at that time. We’d fully returned as a club and were taking shit from absolutely no-one.
Limpar, Rocky, Davis, the Merse, Alan Smith, the best back 5 that’s ever played together etc. It was a brilliant time to be in London and following the club.
Kroenkephobe,
I think that mentality in the GG years is what many fans thought they were seeing in Arteta’s approach this year, defensive solidity,team unity,hale enders heart beat. It’s easy to understand why many people desperately wanted to believe. Unfortunately I don’t believe there are any real comparisons that stand up to scrutiny. I won’t go into detail, you know my thoughts.
As for that battle at OT,Arsenal got docked 2 points,utd one. From memory Arsenal were punished more severely as they had a suspended sentence hanging over them from the previous season, a similar clash with Ipswich or Norwich, can’t remember! The real scandal was that points were deducted. Had never happened before or since. Very questionable. In a season where Liverpool won 12 of their opening 13 games the docked points seemed as a seal on an early title win for them. But that was not how the footballing gods saw it(or should I say God,GG). I seem to remember Arsenal fans created a chant about it” You can shove your points deduction up your arse” or some such melodic delight. Kroenkephobe you have me lost in bittersweet memories here,will we ever see the likes again?
It was Norwich. I was there. Of all people it was our old mate David O’Leary swinging most of the punches. I loved spider and always thought he was such a beautiful, cultured player (which he was). But he really shocked me that day in a good way.
I think the ditty was even more reductionist than that. To the same tune as ‘you’re supposed to be at home’, it was ‘stick your two points up your arse’. The ban was a tonic – it really galvanised the players (as if they needed it) and the fans.
Frankly, anyone who allowed themselves to see MA as a reicarnation of GG in any way, shape or form should have gone to see a psychiatrist. You’re right – there was never a comparison to be drawn there.
Those memories are all sweet Almunia. No bitterness in my heart from The 90s version of Arsenal.
I’m steering clear of footy til about 5 or 6 pm. Get the results and decide whether we’ve been helped or not. Any gaelic on the box today?
Mb,
I really enjoyed your article,you are very good at remaining balanced,credit to you. For most of my life I have sought to find the grey area in my thinking,not to look at things as black or white and never ever find myself taking a position on one particular extreme. But I hold my hands up that when it comes to Arteta I have lost my balance. Worryingly I don’t regret it! A cult like support has formed around him. To be clear I’m not saying all Arteta supporters are guilty,but there is a significant number who seek to shut down any reasonable debate. They resort to personal attacks,twisted agendas,strawman arguments, abuse of statistics and a mob like mentality. This is anathema to me. It has triggered me in every way possible. It is true that to defeat a monster we must be careful not to become a monster and I have rarely seen people who question Arteta use the tactics that I’ve mentioned above. Hence I’ve firmly nailed my colours to the Arteta out mast,rightly or wrongly because they must not be allowed to believe that they can simply bully their way past intelligent arguments with neanderthal behaviour.
Without putting any thought into it whatsoever I can remember West Ham conceding a penalty to us and having a man sent off for a perfect tackle,so much so that the card was retrospectively rescinded. I remember White falling to the floor against Villa when he hadn’t been touched,villa were through one on one but the ref bought it. I have commented several times about Arsenal players noticeably diving this season. We might not get the same rub of the green as pool,city,utd etc but there are 20 teams in the prem and 80% of them will tell you that they don’t get the rub against the big teams( including Arsenal). The victim mentality is another narrative being driven to defend Arteta. They will literally clutch at anything and everything to excuse his failings and it is beyond my capacity to accept it anymore. They are enablers and they put Arteta before Arsenal because of some belief that true fans should be sheep who accept every excuse and buy every lie. Blind faith is what they want. Not for me I’m afraid.
But your balance is refreshing and necessary and I do see the logic in your arguments even if I’m too annoyed to admit it sometimes,just wanted you to know that your writing makes a lot of sense to me.
Kroenkephobe, loads of GAA on today, a real tonic when the football is going wrong. Mayo already lost their first game,next defeat is the end of them, already!
I always thought O’leary was more valued by Arsenal than Ireland. He was unlucky that he was around at a time when Ireland had the most amazing selection of centre backs,Mccarthy,Moran,McGrath ,Lawrenson to name a few. He also fell out with Big Jack. But we’ll always have Genoa’90.
The bitterness of those memories comes from being reminded of how great our club was and should be now. To think there are those who constantly seek to justify our mediocrity while claiming to have the club’s interests at heart,it makes my blood boil…..
Feels like I’ve watched Spurs every weekend. Burnley are really devoid of quality aren’t they. If we could have their whole squad the only player I’d take is Nick Pope. Hope he has a classic today. The rest,Lowton as back up and that’s a stretch. Anyway,here we go,fingers crossed.
Almunia
There are more black than white here, if someone suggests Arteta is doing okay and needs another 2 seasons to do anything important, I’m okay with it. But creating a cult and criticizing anyone who doesn’t fall for it is unacceptable. Some fans are okay in defining their own version of success, but then the rest of us should have the same freedom. I, for one, think there should be defined goals and people should be made responsible for it. If it don’t go as you want, you replace things and do it any other way. Hate to say it, but Chelsea is closer to this model.
It’s a competitive sport, it’s sad to see teens picking up City and Pools in my part of the world when it could have been Arsenal. Only because we are not winning anything, AND not showing any ambition to change it any time soon.
3 seasons and a top 4 trophy which don’t look easy with games against fucking Everton and New Castle and people are talking about progress… In british words, progress my arse.
Hate to say it again, Wenger would have finished 3rd with this team this season.
Ambarish
Any half decent manager would have – this season has seen so many teams play below their usual levels.
As for defined goals or targets of course their should be, the thing is the fan boys will give them to you – If we miss out of CL this season next season the target will definitely be getting top 4 – they’ll then move the goal posts when Arteta cocks it up again.
Don’t you remember being told last season that missing out on Europe altogether was a good thing because it would give us a clear run at CL this season. Now CL was never a target and if we do get it (I’m 50-50 tomorrow will be huge) Arteta will be a genius and no other manager in the world could have got it with this team.
It’s become a cult – Pedro over on Le Grove is reaching levels of hysteria that should require medical intervention.
Well the Spud’s have done it and with their goal difference so superior (piss poor goal difference is also a regular Arteta thing) 2 wins are now required – if we fail it should be a sacking offence.
Oh yes, shifting of goal posts are not allowed. What’s the point of setting it in first place lol
At least Edu and Arteta didn’t commit to one 🤣
It *should have been*, now that they have already given him a contract, we will live with it I guess..
Ambarish
Most clubs now put a clause in a managers contract limiting the pay out to the remainder of that season – QUICK SACK HIM NOW!!!
West Ham taken the lead against City – could make things interesting.
Fucking hell West Ham 2 nil up.
Either going to make the last weekend something to watch or see a massive comeback from City.
Fucking hammers,if Liverpool win the quad I’ll have to emigrate.
Almunia
That emigration idea raised a chuckle. Where are you going to find a place where there are no bin dippers? Saturn? Uranus? Fnarr fnarr.
I have a flat in Highbury Barn. 5 minutes walk from the old clock end. In the old days I’d be out and about on Saturday lu chtine before a home game and you’d still see little kids in Liverpool and Manure jerseys. Used to make my blood boil. 😡
You’d have to imagine we beat that depleted and quite frankly(pun intended) shite Everton team with the spuds likewise accounting for Norwich. It’s all or nothing (more puns!) at James Park tomorrow. No point in predicting, literally anything is possible with this Arsenal team. I am beginning to dread sitting through our matches. Remember when we used to wonder what we’d win by?
Kroenkephobe,
I haven’t seen a kid in an Arsenal shirt over here for months. And those poor guys are wearing old ones handed down so it’s doubtful they’ve even committed to the cause. Probably bullied into by their aul man like my poor young lad!
” Remember when we used to wonder what we’d win by?”
It’s not only the uncertainty around what we’ll do, the football is shit and rarely entertaining and the level of apathy is piss poor as well.
Thanks for the making me laugh:
Where are you going to find a place where there are no bin dippers?
Answer: Ur Anus 😆
Lads
Win, lose or draw tonight, I solemnly promise not to have a Pedrovian-Attwood psychotic meltdown like I did against the spuds and will endeavour not to shit in anyone’s bed, least of all my own. The cleaning bill for my boudoir last Friday just about broke the bank.
There’s no point trying to predict what’ll happen tonight with this team and manager so I’m going to screw the nut and keep my counsel. But happy to listen to any other erudite prognostications. Fire away!
Spuds has only a game left against Norwich. I’m sure they are gonna win it.
That leave us with no other option than to win our remaining 2 games. On paper, we should win but we sometimes shock ourselves.
I’m in the same boat Kroenkephobe. Not gonna predict anything, and just watch a 90min display against New Castle tonight and hope we win.
A loss today will most likely be an end to our campaign for top 4.
Ambarish
Unless someone in a Norwich Hotel has the recipe for a dodgy lasagne, failure to win today will CERTAINLY end our top 4 campaign. It should also produce a resignation letter from MA but that would be wishful thinking.
Someone’s resignation is someone else’s firing off.
Though, not gonna happen it seems. Lets hope we win.
Ambarish
True. But if the players can still somehow finish fourth AND make the manager look like a dickhead, it’ll be a utopian moment. Two hours to lift off.
I’ve moved back to an evening shift, which means a late night match is perfect time to watch for me. I should have been excited, but it’s the hope that kills you.
One nil,early goal,hold on like peak Wimbledon ’88. Cue Arteta coronation (followed by next season’s guillotining (is that a word?). Glory days here again(readers may choose appropriate tone for last sentence).
Anyone looking for comforting signs, bookies have Newcastle at 4/1,draw at 3/1 and Arsenal odds on 4/5. They do this for a living……
Then again Arteta manages for a living…..
It’s going to be tough tonight Newcastle will spend big in the summer so players will either be trying to convince that they’re good enough to stay on or putting on a show for a new club.
How we respond to the other night is also massive we tend to have clusters of results if we’re too defensive we’ve got no chance.
Yep,attack a defensively weak team or defend against a team that are offensively very dangerous,Callum Wilson and St Max are real live wires everytime I watch them.Also worried about Bruno G,seems to want to prove he chose correctly in picking the toon (ahead of us?). But they are poor at the back. Can Arteta send a team out away from home to play on the front foot?
Almunia
Arteta’s problem (well one of them anyway) is that he over thinks things and thinks he’s cleverer than everyone else so comes up with plans that are too convoluted and not half as clever as he thinks.
If he could learn to play to the strengths of the players he has he’d do a lot better.
Marc
I think that’s right about Newcastle. They’ll also want to press and compete for possession. No low block. Our front 5 need to be at their threatening, high energy best and I think we should have enough. First goal vital – get it and I sense the barcodes will become passive. I think I’d start ESR and get him running at their back 4.
Aaaagh. Just seen an old Arsenal v Hull game from 08 appear on Sky. Guess who’s in goal Almunia – oh fuck I’ve just given it away.
Sky starts coverage of tonight’s games by replaying the spurs goals. Murdoch owned cunts.