Arsenal vs Brighton (31/08/2024|12.30)

[The Wengerbabies]

Must win.

[Mac76]

0-3 Welbz hatter

[Letters]

I hope we win tbh

[Letters]

0-3 Welbz hatter

Nah. 3-0, Sterling hatter :d

[dazthegooner]

Nah. 3-0, Sterling hatter :d

Even though Sterling in ineligable to play you'd probably get the same on odds for both :)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

TNT Sport's programme is on now.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think Trossard will start today



Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Havertz, Saka


Subs: Martinelli, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Califiori, Kiwior, Setford

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Peter Crouch being the interviewer is funny having to see him hunch over to get the mic to anyone.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think Trossard will start today



Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Havertz, Saka


Subs: Martinelli, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Califiori, Kiwior, Setford

Got that completely right apart from addition of Salah on bench

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Best Salah in Premier League history tbf.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think Trossard will start today



Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Havertz, Saka


Subs: Martinelli, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Califiori, Kiwior, Setford

Brighton: Verbruggem, Hinshelwood, Dunk, Van Hecke, Veltman, Baleba, Minteh, Minteh, Mitoma, Welbeck, Pedro.
Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Julio, Webster, Enciso, Rutter, Adingra, Ayari, Estupinan.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Why isn't Sterling eligible to play?

I'm guessing its due to the transfer paperwork timing?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wasn't registered in time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Merino and his wife? there will be a meme. :lol:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Wasn't registered in time.

:good:

Thought it was something like that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka probably could've done something more definitive there.

[KSE Comedy Club]

We seem to start games looking good but a little rusty, lol

[KSE Comedy Club]

Trossard has been as good as Martinelli so far....

[HCZ_Reborn]

All the threat coming on the right hand side again, have to say this seems to exonerate Martinelli to a degree, whoever it is on the left needs to see more of the ball.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Old Man Milner is cooked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Odegaard got there but a feather finish really.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Fuck sake Odegaard, SHOOT!!

[KSE Comedy Club]

What was Odegaard doing there????

Just pass it out wide

[KSE Comedy Club]

Some really questionable decision making from us

[McNamara That Ghost...]

HAVERTZ!!!!

[KSE Comedy Club]

HAVERTTZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!

[KSE Comedy Club]

60 million down the drain,

Kai Havertz scores again!

[KSE Comedy Club]

Thank god Ally Mccoist isn't a dickhead.

Can't believe the other commentator is trying to insinuate that was more than a yellow card from Rice.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How is that not a corner for Brighton. :lol:

[KSE Comedy Club]

How is that not a corner for Brighton. :lol:

Tbf I think we should have had one the other end when Gabriel appealed for it. Clearly came off the Brighton defender.

one a piece

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 HT. :bow:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Not a bad first half but we need to attack a bit more and be more clinical with our passing.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Is it me or are our players looking jaded in only the 3rd game of the season!

Everyone in the attack has been poor and we all know what happens when the 2 cogs (Saka and Odegaard) are underwhelming.

Luckily we are up and we are going to need our defence to win this game.

Its a shame Arteta bowed to pressure and started Trossard, I liked the formula of Martinelli doing all the huffing and puffing and Trossard coming in later to be the hero, but I guess seeing as its Brighton, he probably didn't want to piss off Trossard even more.

Anyway I think we missed a trick...I am almost certain Trossard would have guaranteed us a goal in the 2nd half if he'd come of the bench.

We are in trouble with both Partey and Rice getting stupid yellows and I think one of them needs to come off.

Our defence seems to me our only hope to win this game as we've got nothing on the bench that can change the dynamic.

This is what happens when you waste a 3 month transfer window.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Is it me or are our players looking jaded in only the 3rd game of the season!

Everyone in the attack has been poor and we all know what happens when the 2 cogs (Saka and Odegaard) are underwhelming.

Luckily we are up and we are going to need our defence to win this game.

Its a shame Arteta bowed to pressure and started Trossard, I liked the formula of Martinelli doing all the huffing and puffing and Trossard coming in later to be the hero, but I guess seeing as its Brighton, he probably didn't want to piss off Trossard even more.

Anyway I think we missed a trick...I am almost certain Trossard would have guaranteed us a goal in the 2nd half if he'd come of the bench.

We are in trouble with both Partey and Rice getting stupid yellows and I think one of them needs to come off.

Our defence seems to me our only hope to win this game as we've got nothing on the bench that can change the dynamic.

This is what happens when you waste a 3 month transfer window.


I’d argue that you want Martinelli’s raw pace up against tired players who play too high a line as an impact sub

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Coming out to Sycho Sid's theme music. :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Send him off!

[KSE Comedy Club]

Here comes the bullshit

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not Rice.

WTF.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Not Rice.

WTF.

Stupid thing for him to do

[dostoy]

Stupidity beyond belief.

The boundaries of stupidity have been extended by Rice there.

[Marc Overmars]

What a ridiculous decision to send him off.

[KSE Comedy Club]

What about the player that kicked out at Rice - does he not get punished

Oh ffs!!!

1-1

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 Joao Pedro.

[Marc Overmars]

No chance we’re getting a result now. Rice is the one player you want on the pitch in these situations.

[KSE Comedy Club]

That's Rice out for the NLD as well now

[KSE Comedy Club]

Ths ref is a cunt

[HCZ_Reborn]

What a ridiculous decision to send him off.

How? He gave away a foul and kicked the ball away to stop a free kick from being taken. It’s utterly dimwitted to do that when you’re on a yellow (deserved yellow)

Ref should have booked Veltman as well but no way you can argue Rice didn’t deserve to be sent off

[KSE Comedy Club]

How? He gave away a foul and kicked the ball away to stop a free kick from being taken. It’s utterly dimwitted to do that when you’re on a yellow (deserved yellow)

Ref should have booked Veltman as well but no way you can argue Rice didn’t deserve to be sent off

The ball was kicked towards him when he was walking away, Rice stuck his toe out to try and stop it actually and it flicked away.
It's not like he smashed it one.

Completely harsh to book him

This ref is a shitcunt though so I'm not surprised.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oh Havertz.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Damn, good chance for Saka.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Saka...

This is where a proper striker would've been sprinting to get on the end of that, Saka was running not full pelt and it was too much for him

[KSE Comedy Club]

Good work from the crowd there:

The referees a wanker

Bravo :clap:

[HCZ_Reborn]

The ball was kicked towards him when he was walking away, Rice stuck his toe out to try and stop it actually and it flicked away.
It's not like he smashed it one.

Completely harsh to book him

This ref is a shitcunt though so I'm not surprised.

Sorry that’s bollocks, the defender is being a cunt but Rice needs to move away and not put himself in that situation

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 FT.

Had to come out of it with something.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Sorry that’s bollocks, the defender is being a cunt but Rice needs to move away and not put himself in that situation

lol, how is it bollocks?!?

He had his back to Veltman and was walking away - what exactly more should he have done. If anything Veltmen knew what he was doing by kicking the ball at Rice.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Overall the lack of a proper forward cost us.

3 good chances in the second half to win the game but no one with the killer instinct to finish them

[HCZ_Reborn]

We had to win really, and now we have to hope that West Ham do us a favour. You don’t want to be chasing City this early on in the season. And thanks to Rice being outwitted by a Brighton defender, the NLD derby is even harder. We can’t afford not to win that game or we are potentially five points behind City going to the Etihad.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Veltman did know what he was doing, if Rice had got out of the way right away he wouldn’t have given the ref a decision to make.

Me? I’m sick of this constant whining about how referees are harsh on us. We get good decisions, we get bad decisions. This was at most a little bit harsh, but you don’t give the referee the opportunity unless you’ve got shit for brains

Watch the replay again, it all happened in seconds, Rice is walking away and has his back to Veltman who then kicks the ball straight at Rice.

People can argue letter of the law, but a second yellow was a pathetic decision from the ref.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Well, the silly yellows proved decisive as suspected. Poor refereeing BTW.

A draw is probably a fair result for a game we approached poorly. Prepare for a lot more this season seeing as we've assembled the world's most fearsome bunch of CBs :lol:

On a serious notte, our threadbare squad has shown its true nature in only the 3rd game of the season. If not for the crowd, I'm almost certain we'd have lost this game.

What a way to ruin a Saturday.

Oh well at least we got a point from surprisingly poor Brighton side.

[Mac76]

Ref aside, Arteta's decision making was atrocious, to go ahead with the Calefiori sub after Brighton had equalised was insane and he completely destabilised the team by fiddling around with Martinelli and Saka's positioning

And why TF were we timewasting at the end, we HAD to win that game, a point is next to useless, the league's half gone already, I actually applauded the ref for booking Raya

[KSE Comedy Club]

We had to win really, and now we have to hope that West Ham do us a favour. You don’t want to be chasing City this early on in the season. And thanks to Rice being outwitted by a Brighton defender, the NLD derby is even harder. We can’t afford not to win that game or we are potentially five points behind City going to the Etihad.

I'm guessing it'll be Jorgy and Partey in midfield now

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

lol, how is it bollocks?!?

He had his back to Veltman and was walking away - what exactly more should he have done. If anything Veltmen knew what he was doing by kicking the ball at Rice.

This is the way people who actually play football will see the situation.

A pathetic decision.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ref aside, Arteta's decision making was atrocious, to go ahead with the Calefiori sub after Brighton had equalised was insane and he completely destabilised the team by fiddling around with Martinelli and Saka's positioning

And why TF were we timewasting at the end, we HAD to win that game, a point is next to useless, the league's half gone already, I actually applauded the ref for booking Raya

League half gone already. Wow.

[Mac76]

I can't see us getting more than a point at Spuds without Rice and Citeh away is a foregone conclusion

[Mac76]

League half gone already. Wow.

Yes because there's this team called Man City who win almost all their games or haven't you been watching?

[KSE Comedy Club]

This is the way people who actually play football will see the situation.

A pathetic decision.

Both Keown & Crouch have said he shouldn't really have been sent off.

[HCZ_Reborn]

lol, how is it bollocks?!?

He had his back to Veltman and was walking away - what exactly more should he have done. If anything Veltmen knew what he was doing by kicking the ball at Rice.

I’ve deleted my original reply to this because in real time it looked like he was crowding Veltman but he walked away before he got up and pretty much immediately after the whistle had blown.

Weak referee, been given new rules to enforce and is too scared not to enforce them. Should be a rule change in which VAR should monitor yellow card decisions in the event of it being a second yellow card

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yes because there's this team called Man City who win almost all their games or haven't you been watching?

They literally won the same amount of games as us last season.

And the season before they got the same amount of points as we did last season - granted they did win the league with games to spare in the end.

Can't get 114 points now so league is clearly done, seems rational.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Ref aside, Arteta's decision making was atrocious, to go ahead with the Calefiori sub after Brighton had equalised was insane and he completely destabilised the team by fiddling around with Martinelli and Saka's positioning

And why TF were we timewasting at the end, we HAD to win that game, a point is next to useless, the league's half gone already, I actually applauded the ref for booking Raya

I think he’d tried to bring him on before the equaliser. Dont get me wrong, years of neglecting the forward line means he doesn’t have enough faith in our players to soak up pressure and counter. But it is what it is, and I think under the circumstances it made sense to protect one point than risk losing going for all three.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I can't see us getting more than a point at Spuds without Rice and Citeh away is a foregone conclusion

Mac I think you are overdoing it.

There is still a lot to play for if we can get our act right...luckily we've got a break to think a bit.

Personally I think its turned out to be a blessing that we're playing our difficult games so early on.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I’ve deleted my original reply to this because in real time it looked like he was crowding Veltman but he walked away before he got up and pretty much immediately after the whistle had blown.

Weak referee, been given new rules to enforce and is too scared not to enforce them. Should be a rule change in which VAR should monitor yellow card decisions in the event of it being a second yellow card

Fair play, also they have just said that the new rules are applied when an incident seriously affects the flow of the game, then they showed the clip of pedro smashing the ball down the pitch when it went out for a throw - but nothing from the ref.

It's just so blatantly obvious when we have a corrupt and dodgy ref these days.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Yes because there's this team called Man City who win almost all their games or haven't you been watching?

Don't worry, we will get those points back when Sterling does the double over them this season :good:

[Mac76]

They literally won the same amount of games as us last season.

And the season before they got the same amount of points as we did last season - granted they did win the league with games to spare in the end.

Can't get 114 points now so league is clearly done, seems rational.

If you consider 1 point from six is the most likely outcome of our next two games, yes

[Mac76]

Don't worry, we will get those points back when Sterling does the double over them this season :good:

Ofc sorry I was forgetting :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Mac I think you are overdoing it.

There is still a lot to play for if we can get our act right...luckily we've got a break to think a bit.

Personally I think its turned out to be a blessing that we're playing our difficult games so early on.

I actually agree with that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

If you consider 1 point from six is the most likely outcome of our next two games, yes

Ah yes, which would only leave...33 games left. Not enough to win in clearly.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Arteta is pissed off, hopefully we appeal Rice red card on the grounds of total and utter inconsistency from the ref

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Fair play, also they have just said that the new rules are applied when an incident seriously affects the flow of the game, then they showed the clip of pedro smashing the ball down the pitch when it went out for a throw - but nothing from the ref.

It's just so blatantly obvious when we have a corrupt and dodgy ref these days.

BTW I wasn't too impressed with Arteta's behaviour when Rice was walking off, he literally ignored the shit out of him when the easier thing was to acknowledge him...as a recent ex-player he should have realised the decision was bullshit straight away and showed some empathy. Especially as this occured in front of the fans.

Oh well, just thought I should mention this because if I was one of his players I definitely wouldn't be taking any bullets for him with that sort of attitude!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I don't think we can appeal a second yellow.

Well we can but it wouldn't get anywhere.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Arteta is pissed off, hopefully we appeal Rice red card on the grounds of total and utter inconsistency from the ref

Can’t appeal it as it’s not a straight red

However as I’ve stated VAR should look at second yellow card incidents, that would surely have had to be overturned. Rules need to be changed to allow this

[KSE Comedy Club]

BTW I wasn't too impressed with Arteta's behaviour when Rice was walking off, he literally ignored the shit out of him when the easier thing was to acknowledge him...as a recent ex-player he should have realised the decision was bullshit straight away and showed some empathy. Especially as this occured in front of the fans.

Oh well, just thought I should mention this because if I was one of his players I definitely wouldn't be taking any bullets for him with that sort of attitude!

I think that was more because he didn't want to fuel the situation any further.

[Letters]

Ah yes, which would only leave...33 games left. Not enough to win in clearly.

I agree Mac is overreacting somewhat but the trouble is City are so sodding relentless that the only way to beat them is to be the same. And last season we were very close to pulling it off, and it still wasn’t quite enough. The only team to have stopped them was Liverpool who basically won every game till the title was all but won.
It’s obviously not over this early and our run in lends itself to a good winning run, but we cannot let City get away from us.

[Ollie the Optimist]

https://x.com/ctt_carys/status/1829902733488636322?s=61&t=BpboIw8g5nKNIY1AZaWvQw

So no yellow given here but PGMOL will argue rice was right decision because it’s the law.

They just simply make it up each game as to which laws they will apply and when

[Ollie the Optimist]

Last season when Kovaic wasn’t sent off in the home game against city (1st foul was a clear red imo but you cannot argue that the second one wasn’t a clear second yellow), we had Howard Webb Michael Oliver on basis that the referee didn’t want to negativity impact the game yet we get a decision today that you will not see again all season, indeed we’ve seen this afternoon players not being booked for same thing.

Todays referee was also the same one who last week in the Bournemouth Newcastle game decided that Joelinton clothslining the keeper wasn’t a straight red card (it was as clear as red card as you will see in rugby let alone football) and they just keep getting games. If a player is playing badly, he gets dropped, if a manager has poor results he is sacked yet the referees are getting it majorly wrong each week and nothing happens.

[Letters]

If a player is playing badly, he gets dropped, if a manager has poor results he is sacked yet the referees are getting it
majorly wrong each week and nothing happens.
:gp:

The lack of consequence for poor refereeing is not conducive to it improving.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Also, next time Trossard does some weird sulking celebration because he isn't starting games, can Arteta just ignore the petulance.

He was non existent today & did nothing.

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://youtu.be/mceL7paiopg?si=0xjZEE-CVZ7dViqU

I’ve said it before, I like Mark Goldbridge. Not only is he hilarious to watch when United lose, he is often quite fair minded with his opinions

[HCZ_Reborn]

Also, next time Trossard does some weird sulking celebration because he isn't starting games, can Arteta just ignore the petulance.

He was non existent today & did nothing.

For me this is now a case of needing to look at how we attack. I’d love to see a map of our passing distribution today. But will be extremely surprised if it doesn’t show how the ball will always end up on the right.

I suppose the only positive about Rice’s sending off is that Rice won’t be playing at number 8 (sorry but he can’t play there, he’s a number 6). And actually with someone in there who might have a better overall passing ability we won’t necessarily see Odegaard squeezed out towards the right, interchanging passing with Saka whilst defenders double up on them whilst whoever we play wide left gets isolated.

[Mac76]

Also, next time Trossard does some weird sulking celebration because he isn't starting games, can Arteta just ignore the petulance.

He was non existent today & did nothing.

Trossard was good and if Odegaard had got his timing right he'd have had an excellent assist yesterday

[LDG]

https://x.com/ctt_carys/status/1829902733488636322?s=61&t=BpboIw8g5nKNIY1AZaWvQw

So no yellow given here but PGMOL will argue rice was right decision because it’s the law.

They just simply make it up each game as to which laws they will apply and when


The biggest problem for me, is that the Brighton player looks to take the freekick 10 yards further than where the foul was given.

If the freekick isn’t being taken from the right place, he can’t be delaying the restart, because he’s walked away from where the incident occurred, and its only the Brighton player chucking the ball at him that brings Rice back into the situation.

[HCZ_Reborn]

The biggest problem for me, is that the Brighton player looks to take the freekick 10 yards further than where the foul was given.

If the freekick isn’t being taken from the right place, he can’t be delaying the restart, because he’s walked away from where the incident occurred, and its only the Brighton player chucking the ball at him that brings Rice back into the situation.

All ends up, it’s a complete fuck face of a decision for the referee to make


I don’t believe in all the conspiracy cobblers, but same time I wouldn’t be against demanding that our games are no longer officiated by a referee from the greater Manchester area

[Ollie the Optimist]

The biggest problem for me, is that the Brighton player looks to take the freekick 10 yards further than where the foul was given.

If the freekick isn’t being taken from the right place, he can’t be delaying the restart, because he’s walked away from where the incident occurred, and its only the Brighton player chucking the ball at him that brings Rice back into the situation.

Exactly. It’s another case of a red card that only will be given to Arsenal. Other examples include the Xhaka red card for a professional foul that was never given as a red to anyone else, the martenilli double yellow (made even worse by Michael Oliver being the referee and then not sending kovacic off last year for two clear yellows) and the Tomiyasu red against palace last year.

None of those incidents have been given as a red card to anyone else

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

All ends up, it’s a complete fuck face of a decision for the referee to make


I don’t believe in all the conspiracy cobblers, but same time I wouldn’t be against demanding that our games are no longer officiated by a referee from the greater Manchester area

I don't really buy into all either but we've got Anthony Taylor for our game against United today. He just happens to support Altrincham. Just looked, your ref yesterday supports Droylsden :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

They're clever. The cheat at the start of the season, not the end. Those two points won for City (or whoever was paying him) will probably be vital in the run in. But if you cheated at the end it would be obvious enough even for the Norman's who bleat - "It's in the rules!". The red card was introduced to punish violent conduct. Now it is used to satiate egomaniacal officials or facilitate pay-offs to same officials. You get a free kick for diving and a red card for Celebrating a goal. More of the same general insanity that has infected the world on every level. That ref shoud be sent down and investigating for taking bribes. Same shit happened at the start of last season and the season before that. Remind me, how many points did we finish behind the arabs last season? And how many points did refs win for them? Pretending this isn't a thing is fine, if you want to do that. But you have to ignore the pattern in the process of denial.

[Niall_Quinn]

And I don't really care and didn't watch the match. But it really fucking irks me that scumbags who pull obvious shit right in front of our eyes expect us to be so stupid we won't notice. Only half of us are that stupid FFS!

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

TBH, after what occured this weekend, i'st hard to argue the game isn't bent and we are all just dancing to a despicable tune.

To think its been so difficult for everyone (and I especially mean past professionals) to agree that the decision deserves nothing but contempt makes me wonder what's going on in footballdom.

[Letters]

TBH, after what occured this weekend, i'st hard to argue the game isn't bent.
I like to think it's more incompetence than corruption.
Every club thinks that refs are uniquely biased against them.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think Kavanagh is weak, both Veltman and Welbeck as well as other Brighton players were yelling at him to send Rice off.

If there was a conspiracy I think it was amongst Brighton players and their coach to get either Rice or Partey sent off. Can imagine it was a subject of discussion in the dressing room at half time

[HCZ_Reborn]

Anyway have we had Dermot Gallagher come on to do his bit for PGMOL?

[Mac76]

I think Kavanagh is weak, both Veltman and Welbeck as well as other Brighton players were yelling at him to send Rice off.

If there was a conspiracy I think it was amongst Brighton players and their coach to get either Rice or Partey sent off. Can imagine it was a subject of discussion in the dressing room at half time

There wasn't a conspiracy, it was just typical on-the-spot cheating by Brighton (for whom you could substitute any team playing against us, because they know they will get away with it every time) which the ref just let go but punished Arsenal for everythig - no change there then...

[HCZ_Reborn]

There wasn't a conspiracy, it was just typical on-the-spot cheating by Brighton (for whom you could substitute any team playing against us, because they know they will get away with it every time) which the ref just let go but punished Arsenal for everythig - no change there then...

Maybe, I wouldn’t have put it past that dickhead of a coach of theirs to suggest it as a possible tactic. Clear red card?, fuck off you cunt…maybe don’t comment when you’ve never played the game beyond a semi professional level

[Letters]

I don't even think it's cheating, it's fairly standard gamesmanship. A player's on a yellow, see if you can rile them up, get a reaction and get the man advantage. Rice didn't even fall for it, he just flicked the ball away and the bellend of a ref decided to be officious rather than using some common sense.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don't even think it's cheating, it's fairly standard gamesmanship. A player's on a yellow, see if you can rile them up, get a reaction and get the man advantage. Rice didn't even fall for it, he just flicked the ball away and the bellend of a ref decided to be officious rather than using some common sense.

Well it’s not cheating in the sense that it’s illegal, but it’s horribly cynical behaviour. I knew Brighton could be a bit of a tough nut to crack, but that’s really the lowest of the low.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Common Sense and Refereeing don’t go hand in hand according to Dermot Gallagher

Better to arbitrarily impose rules, and blame the player for having his back to someone who kicks the ball at them

[Letters]

I reckon they all do this sort of stuff. Was it Ben White trolling the Spurs' keeper in the NLD last year trying to undo his gloves or something?
I have no issue with that sort of thing, I do have an issue with terrible officiating with no consequence which we see week-in, week-out in the game.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I reckon they all do this sort of stuff. Was it Ben White trolling the Spurs' keeper in the NLD last year trying to undo his gloves or something?
I have no issue with that sort of thing, I do have an issue with terrible officiating with no consequence which we see week-in, week-out in the game.

Shit housing is a little different to getting a player sent off because you don’t think you can get a result 11 vs 11

It’s appalling scumbag behaviour. Veltman should be ashamed of himself

Brighton and their Cunt manager can fuck off. Hope they lose every game between now and end of the season

[KSE Comedy Club]

Trossard was good and if Odegaard had got his timing right he'd have had an excellent assist yesterday

Yes on that one occasion in the game he was good, but after that where did he go?

I get that our one attacking tactic is pass the ball around a million times on the right wing, but when he did get on the ball he was often dispossessed or shied away from making any attacking runs.

[KSE Comedy Club]

They're clever. The cheat at the start of the season, not the end. Those two points won for City (or whoever was paying him) will probably be vital in the run in. But if you cheated at the end it would be obvious enough even for the Norman's who bleat - "It's in the rules!". The red card was introduced to punish violent conduct. Now it is used to satiate egomaniacal officials or facilitate pay-offs to same officials. You get a free kick for diving and a red card for Celebrating a goal. More of the same general insanity that has infected the world on every level. That ref shoud be sent down and investigating for taking bribes. Same shit happened at the start of last season and the season before that. Remind me, how many points did we finish behind the arabs last season? And how many points did refs win for them? Pretending this isn't a thing is fine, if you want to do that. But you have to ignore the pattern in the process of denial.

Exactly this.

The 'letter of the law' is applied selectively, when it suits.

[Letters]

Shit housing is a little different to getting a player sent off because you don’t think you can get a result 11 vs 11

It’s appalling scumbag behaviour. Veltman should be ashamed of himself

Brighton and their Cunt manager can fuck off. Hope they lose every game between now and end of the season

Honestly, I see it as more shit housing. It's up to the referee to show a bit of common sense, book the player who is doing the shit housing.
My ire is far more directed towards the referee in this instance. (I haven't seen the first yellow card, that may change my view)

[HCZ_Reborn]

Honestly, I see it as more shit housing. It's up to the referee to show a bit of common sense, book the player who is doing the shit housing.
My ire is far more directed towards the referee in this instance. (I haven't seen the first yellow card, that may change my view)

The refereeing is institutional, the whole thing is designed to protect referees from their shitty decisions. Plus I’ve no evidence that it was malign. Brighton players especially Veltman set out to have one of our players dismissed.

[Mac76]

Yes on that one occasion in the game he was good, but after that where did he go?

I get that our one attacking tactic is pass the ball around a million times on the right wing, but when he did get on the ball he was often dispossessed or shied away from making any attacking runs.

Well as you say he doesn't see enough of the ball, there was a sequence on Saturday when Saliba tried three times to switch play by giving it to Gabriel, only to get it straight back each time, Trossard was going up the wall and with good reason

[HCZ_Reborn]

The same is the issue for Martinelli who is a superior player to Trossard. I did say it was only fair to give Trossard a start, but the idea that anyone was expecting anything much better when all our attacks come down the right because of Arteta’s weird obsession with our left backs playing in midfield (and fuck me Timber was awful at that)

[Mac76]

Timber was really disappointing

I think the most disappointing thing for Saturday was not the inevitable anti-Arsenal bahaviour from the officials, but the signs that Arteta is still capabale of points-losing decision, like messing up the subs and essentially throwing in the towel

people can point to how close we cam last year but crucial points were lost via mistakes like playing Zin at LB, e.g. Fulham at home he lost us two points

Can he really get us over the line? I really don't know but he needs to win something this season

[Niall_Quinn]

I like to think it's more incompetence than corruption.
Every club thinks that refs are uniquely biased against them.

Yes, we know. The constant stream of incompetence in every walk of life that, entirely coincidentally, favours the same beneficiaries each and every time and costs the same targets, of course it's just incompetence. But, you have to admit, it;s very competent incompetence given the 100% return.

The main thing to remember is there is absolutely no chance people who are making a great deal of money would ever do anything untoward to ensure they continue to make a great deal of money. The mere thought of that is preposterous. These people who are making great deals of money (because they are incompetent) just stumble blindly on the winning formula each and every time. Occam's razor, init? The most pussy whipped explanation is the most feasible explanation and also has the benefit of requiring zero thought.

[Niall_Quinn]

The biggest problem for me, is that the Brighton player looks to take the freekick 10 yards further than where the foul was given.

If the freekick isn’t being taken from the right place, he can’t be delaying the restart, because he’s walked away from where the incident occurred, and its only the Brighton player chucking the ball at him that brings Rice back into the situation.

It's just a ridiculous yellow full stop. That twat had to have been looking for the slightest infringement, or even imaginary ones. He's notorious and he's deservedly notorious. Obviously a cheat, obviously on the take, can't prove it because the PL refs are run by somebody who is obviously a cheat and is obviously on the take. Boys club.

[Letters]

Yes, we know. The constant stream of incompetence in every walk of life that, entirely coincidentally, favours the same beneficiaries each and every time
No it doesn't, that's just your confirmation bias at play.

All that stuff about they only cheat at the start of the season. Did they just forget to two seasons ago when Arsenal went off like a train before running out of steam in the run in?