Match Reaction vs Swansea (home).

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

3 points. Walcott really should have put the game to bed in the end but we should have never been in that sort of position in the first place. Scored 2 easy goals and but a lapse in concentration from Xhaka let them back in. An on and off game for Alexis and slow start for Ozil but that was a heck of a 3rd goal. Great pass and great finish.

We somehow fuck up again and Xhaka decides to go full retard. It was cynical and wasn't surprised the ref reached for his back pocket. Wenger needs to have a word with him. He had a poor game.

I thought the script was written and we'd choke but we didn't. Good subs from Wenger. They worked for once. Some good play by Ox and Theo staying on for 90 minutes for a change makes sense. He just needs to finish the chances off.

Theo getting more stick than Xhaka who was almost single handedly responsible for why it was even a contest. Typical. He of course should have scored but the lines men and ref were in a competition to see who could be the most incompetent.

Very good showing from the Ox indeed and as you say.....Wenger should have a word with Xhaka. Nobody got on his back for the first goal and then he makes a ridiculous foul in an area of little danger.

[Letters]

Didn't watch the game

Xhaka sending off - harsh or fair?

If it was a straight red, and I think it was, then I thought it was harsh.
It was reckless and from behind but a yellow would have been enough IMO.

[Niall_Quinn]

But tackles from behind are classed as a serious foul worthy of a red. Look it up.

They've relaxed the rule on automatic reds that prevent goal scoring opportunities so you're wrong about that one too.

Sigh.

That's a trip, not a tackle. You won't see a red given for a challenge like that again this season. Unless it's Moss reffing us perhaps. Yes, cynical. Yes, a trip. Yes, yellow.

But when it's a red it means the ref has created a new rule and as I understand it he's not permitted to do that. So either he's utterly incompetent or he's a cheat. I would say both in this instance.

[Goonermerree]

But tackles from behind are classed as a serious foul worthy of a red. Look it up.

They've relaxed the rule on automatic reds that prevent goal scoring opportunities so you're wrong about that one too.

I thought it came in a few years back that tackles from behind were a sure yellow, nowhere does it say red, if it does, show me and I'll agree. I see players taken out like that all the time and it's yellow, even if they get the ball, which admittedly, Zhaka was not even attempting to do.

[Letters]

A few people here will say it's harsh but it was cynical and from behind. It wasn't an attempt to play the ball. If the roles were reversed, I'd be pissed if it were just a yellow.

It was cynical but it was about on about the half way line. If he'd been bearing down on goal and he'd done that then I'd agree, but not there.
Yellow card, for me.

[Niall_Quinn]

If it was a straight red, and I think it was, then I thought it was harsh.
It was reckless and from behind but a yellow would have been enough IMO.

Certainly wasn't reckless. He had full control over what he was doing. That's where the cynicism came into it. Reminds me of the ludicrous Kos red some years back where he brought down the last man somewhere near the corner flag. Red again. Made up rules again.

[Globalgunner]

But tackles from behind are classed as a serious foul worthy of a red. Look it up.

They've relaxed the rule on automatic reds that prevent goal scoring opportunities so you're wrong about that one too.

These type of tackles are at least 20 a season. its hardly ever a red card.

[Kano]

Theo getting more stick than Xhaka who was almost single handedly responsible for why it was even a contest. Typical. He of course should have scored but the lines men and ref were in a competition to see who could be the most incompetent.

Very good showing from the Ox indeed and as you say.....Wenger should have a word with Xhaka. Nobody got on his back for the first goal and then he makes a ridiculous foul in an area of little danger.

I think Wenger and all of us knew about the other side to Xhaka when he signed. It was just a matter of time before he got a red. Was it four last season? He's already seen red for the national team this time round. He didn't help himself by making such a daft tackle. The mistake for the goal was horrible but the defence were far more at fault today with how poorly they organised themselves.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I agree with NQ, it was a trip not a tackle. If Xhaka actually thinks he could win the ball there he has no business being at Arsenal let alone being ahead of Coquelin.

You won't see another straight red like that this season.

[Niall_Quinn]

But tackles from behind are classed as a serious foul worthy of a red. Look it up.

They've relaxed the rule on automatic reds that prevent goal scoring opportunities so you're wrong about that one too.

No I'm not wrong because I used that very comparison previously and said "maybe". So no Internet Points for you on this occasion.