Crystal Palace v Arsenal, 12:30 GMT, (11/01, BT Sport 1)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hopefully Milivojevic and his stupid pelanties continue to be suspended for this match.

Palace are appealing against his red.

Martinelli should start if he's going to be at that pre-Olympic tournament after this one.

Hopefully Lacazette remembers goalscoring otherwise.

[I am invisible]

Is this the longest Arteta will have had between matches to work with the players?

[Marc Overmars]

I just really want to see an away performance full of cohesion and control. We've been consistently bad on the road now for a couple of years, if Arteta can sort that out he will have done half the job already.

[Mac76]

Palace are better away than at home and we ought to find the net, it's more about whether Sokratis and Luiz can avoid giving Zaha any pels - of course Xhaka will probably obilge in any case :rolleyes: he should be 'rested' for this game while we get that sale organised

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Hopefully Milivojevic and his stupid pelanties continue to be suspended for this match.

Palace are appealing against his red.

Martinelli should start if he's going to be at that pre-Olympic tournament after this one.

Hopefully Lacazette remembers goalscoring otherwise.

Hey!? :unsure: :faint: :sulk:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_CONMEBOL_Pre-Olympic_Tournament

However it doesn't fall on FIFA recognised international dates so clubs are not compelled to release players for the national sides.

Villa have already told Brazil to do one after calling up Douglas Luiz.

[I am invisible]

Need to see signs that we’ve been working on our pre-match prep / focus today - the players seemed just a little too pleased with themselves going into the Leeds game, and it took a half-time roasting for them to get their heads straight. Good to know that Arteta has that in him, and that the players can respond positively, but I’d rather it wasn’t necessary...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We don't often beat Old Man Woy anymore.

Then again, we did have a Mustafi special at Selhurst Park last season. The Emirates too, of course.

[GP]

0-3

[Mac76]

0-3

You know it's an away game right? ;)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Cahill, Riedewald, Meyer, Kouyate, McCarthy, McArthur, Ayew, Zaha.
Subs: Hennessey, Dann, Tosun, Wickham, Woods, Kirby, Keut.

The Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Martinez, Holding, Guendouzi, Willock, Nelson, Saka, Martinelli.

[Niall_Quinn]

That's just weird. It's almost like he's trying to field a settled team. Where's all the random rotation? And why hasn't Ozil been benched for no reason?

[Mac76]

He's certainly giving Laca every opportunity, but the guy needs a goal soon or we should switch back to the Martinelli/Auba/Pepe front three

[Niall_Quinn]

He's certainly giving Laca every opportunity, but the guy needs a goal soon or we should switch back to the Martinelli/Auba/Pepe front three

I think the manager is more concerned about the system right now, and the energy levels. Can Martinelli hustle for the full 90? Or is it a better option to bring him of the bench when the opposition is tiring? Laca usually puts in a big shift and he's tough on the ball too. If he can add a few goals, even better.

[Marc Overmars]

First time in a year we’ve named the same team consecutively. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Darren Fletcher (the BT commentator) says we're unbeaten since Arteta took over. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Team huddle.

Gallas is back. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Er, a corner that shouldn't have been given and then the corner was barely allowed to be taken.

Good start Tierney.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sexy turn from Mesut, he learnt that from Sokratis just before.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Keown getting in to Pepe early on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Football is about partnerships Fletch, no different to life - Martin Keown.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ayew boots Torreira in the air intentionally.

[Niall_Quinn]

How is that not a booking for Ayew? He did that deliberately. Nowhere near the ball. Classic yellow.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka does it to Ayew, unintentionally. :lol:

[Thierrymon]

Palace parking the bus here.

[Niall_Quinn]

We need to up the tempo. Too slow again.

[Thierrymon]

Auba!!!!!!!!!!!

[AFC Leveller]

Yesss what a move
0-1

[Niall_Quinn]

Like that.

AUBA! 0-1

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AUBAMEYANG!!!!! Monster.

[GP]

Liquid football

[Master Splinter]

Auba!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Laca's done well there. Boy did good.

[Niall_Quinn]

I bet Danny Murphy is furious with Ayew's fouling!

Oh, apparently not. He's still going on about Xhaka.

[Master Splinter]

Ayew should be off.

[Thierrymon]

Pepe terrible touches so far today.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Whack it Pepe!

[Niall_Quinn]

Pepe can be a real idiot sometimes. Should be 2-0

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Keown doesn't think Sterling is a dribbler. :sarcy:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not quite so delicate from Lacazette that time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ayew with another foul.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ayew should be arrested, nevermind booked.

[Master Splinter]

Ayew's 75th foul.

Still no booking.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AMN with Zaha in his pocket. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Palace's first moment of note, created by us getting sloppy. This is the danger. It's too sleepy right now. Far too easy to get lulled into Woy World. Need to step it up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

McCarthy. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Dibley should have been booked for that.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arteta fell over Maitland-Niles according to Keown. :wacko:

[Thierrymon]

Palace dominating at the moment. Havent created anything to worry us though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

McArthur. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sokratis looking to hug Ayew.

[Niall_Quinn]

We've stupidly invited Palace into this game.

[Thierrymon]

Why are the Palace fans booing Kola? I must have missed something.

[Niall_Quinn]

Tame and wasted FK.

[Mac76]

Tompkins should be booked

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Blatant foul by Lacazette. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Leno knew what he was doing. :unsure:

[AFC Leveller]

This is a far cry from the Watford and Brighton games where we conceded 15 shots per half.

Keep it up .

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tactical fouling. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Fucking hell. All you have to do is look at a PL player now and down they go.

[Niall_Quinn]

Pepe booked. That's absurd.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe booked. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Kola.

[AFC Leveller]

Half time. Solid, restricted them to one chance I think.

Palace came back into it late on, we need to keep up the work rate.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ref denies us the inevitable second.

0-1 HT. Alright.

[Niall_Quinn]

HT 0-1 Auba

Low key performance against a really negative opponent.

All we need to do here is step up the tempo a bit and we'll steamroller them. Way too sedate at the moment. Inviting them back into it.

Pepe has been very poor.

[Mac76]

decent first half, would be better without Xhaka giving away all those free kicks though

[Master Splinter]

Ayew commits his 110th and 11th fouls going down the tunnel.

Ref books Sokratis.

Palace fans then boo because they have nothing to cheer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[Thierrymon]

Guendouzi coming on for Torreria at half time. Injury I presume.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Torreira off, Guendouzi on.

Torreira injured presumably. Balls.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Heavy pass from Kolasinac.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Luiz knew Ayew was offside.

[Thierrymon]

Ayew with his 700th foul. Stll no card.

[Mac76]

Torreira off, Guendouzi on.

Torreira injured presumably. Balls.

that sounds painful...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

AMN booked.

Fuck off.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fuck me! AMN booked now, for his first foul. WTF?

[Niall_Quinn]

We're going to need that second goal. Energy is way down today. No tempo. One lucky punt or a dive in the box and we have another shitty draw.

[Thierrymon]

Fuck sake 1-1.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 Ayew pubs it in.

[Niall_Quinn]

There it is. One fluke is all it takes.

Time to start playing now. Enough sleep already.

[Master Splinter]

FFS.

Palace are so shit yet we've let them pub their way back.

Ref gets his reward.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Meyer. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Need to be sensible at the back now. Ayew and Dibley will be diving all over the place.

[Globalgunner]

We always try to hold on to early leads. It never works.

[Niall_Quinn]

Bring Ozil on. See if he can create something.

What do you mean he's already on?

[Master Splinter]

Another player who shouldn't be on the pitch scores against us.

Same old Arsenal, always being fucked over by cunt refs.

[Globalgunner]

Another player who shouldn't be on the pitch scores against us.

Same old Arsenal, always being fucked over by cunt refs.

That excuse has been overused. We've had 1 shot on target all game. 1 shot.

[Thierrymon]

Luiz close with a header.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Luiz header over.

[Niall_Quinn]

Unlucky Luiz. Good effort. Our first attempt on goal since the goal, is it?

[Thierrymon]

Gotta get Martinelli on. Pepe seems the obvious swap.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Palace players are immune from a yellow in this game.

[Niall_Quinn]

Change needed now. Martinelli for Pepe. Introduce a bit of energy.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba booked. :haha:

This guy is a joke.

[Thierrymon]

Auba about to be sent off?

[Niall_Quinn]

Auba booked, deservedly. But it's a bit tough that we're the only team that's allowed to be booked.

VAR looking at it. For some stupid reason. He was late, that's all.

[RomfordPele]

This is corrupt. The whole thing stinks.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's being overturned to a red.

VAR is killing this game.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba sent off.

Fuck off.

[Thierrymon]

VAR is really good. Being put to such good use.

[Maestro]

Fuck this shit

shoud have wrapped up and closed off this game ages ago and now this

[Thierrymon]

Martinelli on for Ozil.

[Niall_Quinn]

Might as well get the officials into a Palace kit and get them on there. Ain't about what's happening on the pitch now. It's all about VAR and one minute silences and rainbow laces and girly men screaming and falling over. Football is fucked up the arse.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinelli to save us. :pray:

[RomfordPele]

They really make this shit up as they go along.

[Globalgunner]

Fuck this shit

shoud have wrapped up and closed off this game ages ago and now this

No one has told this team that 1-0 is not an insurmountable advantage. They seem to think its far better than 2-0

[Thierrymon]

Ref found a card for a Palace player. :yikes:

[Niall_Quinn]

Same old Arsenal though. If we get the chance to be lazy we'll take it. Woy sung us to sleep and asleep we went.

Palace players allowed to be booked now that the big red joker card has been played. Need to make it look at least a little balanced.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

McCarthy booked now the damage has been done giving one of ours the red.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ayew has also been credited with the goal :haha:

[Letters]

Football is fucked up the arse.

Probably because of the rainbow laces.

[Niall_Quinn]

BUT! Our worst enemy here is ourselves. Low tempo means few chances, less pressure on the opponent. It's an equaliser for lesser teams. Why we don't play at a higher pace I just don't know. We're more than capable.

[Master Splinter]

That excuse has been overused. We've had 1 shot on target all game. 1 shot.

And they would be down to ten with no goals if it was refereed properly. Just because we haven't played that well doesn't absolve them of pathetic officiating. Does playing well mean you get better referees?

Responding with "it's an excuse" every time someone points out someone failing to do their job in a professionsal manner is also overused.

[Mac76]

let's not be too partially-sighted about this, it was a stupid tackle and if it was a Palace player on one of ours we'd all be calling it a red

either way we're now without Auba for three games which means any hope of top four is gone bar Laca remembering how to score a goal

[Niall_Quinn]

Is a straight (or in this case totally gay) red still a 2 match ban?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Is a straight (or in this case totally gay) red still a 2 match ban?

Three if it's for dangerous play, which is what this will be classed as.

[Mac76]

Xhaka takes a crap shot then fouls Zaha - -what a player

[Niall_Quinn]

Is VAR about to fuck us again?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sokratis clears off the line, blatant cheating from Palace.

[Globalgunner]

And they would be down to ten with no goals if it was refereed properly. Just because we haven't played that well doesn't absolve them of pathetic officiating. Does playing well mean you get better referees?

Responding with "it's an excuse" every time someone points out someone failing to their job in a professionsal manner is also overused.

The ref doesnt stop us taking shots. If we were 2-0 up wed still be winning this game. When youre away you dont expect anything from refs. Its an 11th commandment. Didnt you know. We stink away from home... is it all down to the refs?

[Mac76]

Is a straight (or in this case totally gay) red still a 2 match ban?

two for dissent, three for dangerous tackles

[Niall_Quinn]

Three if it's for dangerous play, which is what this will be classed as.

Any jail time?

Drives me fucking crazy. We've had momentum for 3 games and then we decide to put in a dog shit performance like this, which brings on all the other problems. One step forward, two back.

[RomfordPele]

Brace yourself for the 12 mins of injury time if it’s still 1-1

[Thierrymon]

Pepe off the post!

[Niall_Quinn]

Not going to be our day. Fucking hell. How did that stay out?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette somehow avoids scoring in any situation now.

[Mac76]

Lacazette somehow avoids scoring in any situation now.

even managed to do it twice then

[Niall_Quinn]

Standard barge is now a foul. Where did the nasty defender touch you?

[Master Splinter]

The ref doesnt stop us taking shots. If we were 2-0 up wed still be winning this game. When youre away you dont expect anything from refs. Its an 11th commandment. Didnt you know. We stink away from home... is it all down to the refs?

Expecting anything resembling competence from referees is probably futile, yes. Just as expecting comprehension from this exchange was.

[Niall_Quinn]

LOL. If Auba's was a red then that was a clear red too.

[Thierrymon]

Why do we let Luiz take free kicks?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tomkins booked. Palace have been allowed to hack away at this stage because of the ref's allowances in the first half.

[Niall_Quinn]

Why do we let Luiz take free kicks?

Because he once scored one - about 50 years ago.

[Mac76]

Tompkins should definitely be off now

[Master Splinter]

Tomkins booked. Palace have been allowed to hack away at this stage because of the ref's allowances in the first half.

Stop making excuses Maccy!

[Mac76]

Why do we let Luiz take free kicks?

especailly when Pepe is still on the field

[Thierrymon]

Palace have an exxtra player and still playing park the bus.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fucking hell! What's with all the backwards passing?

[Globalgunner]

Stop making excuses Maccy!

Yeah. Palace have more points than us and its all because of the refs

[Niall_Quinn]

Laca booked. :haha:

Ridiculous. Absolutely bonkers.

[Thierrymon]

Saha tried the trademark dive.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette booked. :haha:

[Master Splinter]

Totting up for Lacazette, but not for Ayew of course.

[Niall_Quinn]

Why hasn't Dibley been booked for that?

[Mac76]

Why hasn't Dibley been booked for that?

because he's not an Arsenal player

[Niall_Quinn]

Ayew gets MOTM from Keown. :haha:

[Master Splinter]

Ayew MOTM.

:haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Pepe has talent but no brain. Liability rather than asset.

[Mac76]

Pepe has talent but no brain. Liability rather than asset.

Xhaka just walked off giving Pepe noone to pass to, so if you want to talk about brainless...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah. Palace have more points than us and its all because of the refs

Strawman argument.

[AFC Leveller]

VAR and a deflection did us in the end. Still a good point and some encouraging signs.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 FT. Another game without an away win in the league.

I fucking hate Palace, can't wait for them to sod off.

[Globalgunner]

Strawman argument.

So is blaming the refs for our obvious defects

[Mac76]

no auba = we're fuhked

though at least one of them is an FAC match which he probably wouldn't have played anyway

[Thierrymon]

THat was one of the most negative performances I have ever seen from a home side. Even with the extra man Palace were piling 10 men in their half.

Point is ok result once we went down to 10. Pepe's shot so close to stealing it for us.

[Niall_Quinn]

FT 1-1

Threw 2 points down the shitter.

Obscene ref. But we make our own problems when we play like that.

Defence was okay. Midfield, slow, plodding, nothing. Which meant nothing for the front men.

All it would have taken was to move the ball just a bot quicker and that would have been 3, 4 maybe 5 against a really shitty, negative bunch of pubbers.

But we went with tip tap instead.

[Master Splinter]

Xhaka just walked off giving Pepe noone to pass to, so if you want to talk about brainless...

Xhaka had made a good run there. Pepe has been woeful today, apart from his corners.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

So is blaming the refs for our obvious defects

What the ref has done in this game has a direct impact on this game. You talking about overall, in all games, does not.

[Niall_Quinn]

Xhaka just walked off giving Pepe noone to pass to, so if you want to talk about brainless...

Pepe was shite all game, and has been in most games so far. It's like he's got zero confidence. He plays far too deep and with his back to goal, neutralising most of his advantages. Would be better to give Martinelli a chance there. The kid is far more positive. Or Nelson. Same deal.

[Master Splinter]

So is blaming the refs for our obvious defects

Thanks for confirming you're not worth conversing with. Not one person has ever said anything close to this.

That you struggle with something so simple is incredible.

[Niall_Quinn]

AMN was MOTM (in the real world rather than Keown's World of Weird) by a country mile.

[Globalgunner]

What the ref has done in this game has a direct impact on this game. You talking about overall, in all games, does not.

1 Arsenal player made a shockingly bad tackle the kind that Killed Diaby. Palace did all game what we knew Palace would do. Why the surprise?

[Niall_Quinn]

1 Arsenal player made a shockingly bad tackle the kind that Killed Diaby. Palace did all game what we knew Palace would do. Why the surprise?

Surprise comes from the blind eye that was turned when Palace, and particularly Ayew, put in a similar foul and many other fouls without comeback. VAR is utter shit. It's killing football. The ref knew well that Auba was late, not malicious. He saw the incident in real time. He could judge the intensity. He could judge the intent. But he'd let a lot go and he was prepared to let more go. The trouble with VAR is it steps in without reference to the overall game. I'll go along with it being a red - PROVIDED the same standard is applied evenly.

It's not.

[Mac76]

Surprise comes from the blind eye that was turned when Palace, and particularly Ayew, put in a similar foul and many other fouls without comeback. VAR is utter shit. It's killing football. The ref knew well that Auba was late, not malicious. He saw the incident in real time. He could judge the intensity. He could judge the intent. But he'd let a lot go and he was prepared to let more go. The trouble with VAR is it steps in without reference to the overall game. I'll go along with it being a red - PROVIDED the same standard is applied evenly.

It's not.

Agree there were double standards, tompkins should have had two yellows if not a straight red

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

It was kinda both tragic and comical watching our players huddled around the ref all turn their heads at the same time at the big screen and wince at the sight of Auba's tackle, LOL! Why it was shown is anyone's guess and really didn't help our cause.

The refereeing in our last handful of games has been pretty poor in the league. Even in the one we actually won.

I like Pepe but he was seriously dreadful in this game and really needs to do more off the ball runs. My son AMN is coming of age though.