I’ve been on something of a sabbatical from club football (although I have enjoyed the Women’s World Cup recently) and I was even off-grid last weekend when our beloved Arsenal began the new season. I missed all of the game against Forest, including those agonising last minutes, and only found out the score on Sunday evening, when the jeopardy was long gone. MOTD highlights were all I saw.
So, tonight’s game against Palace represented something of a return both for The Arsenal and for me.
In preparation, I warmed up with some Gavi, then polished of the last of yesterday’s Sancerre, before I pivoted seamlessly towards a pre-game Riesling and a large plate of Irish Lamb Stew.
As I cracked open a can of beer that seemed more appropriate for the sporting fare on offer, Havertz opened up the space for Gabi at the far post, who could have done much better with the chance.
Moments later, we played the ball out wide to Saka, who looked to square up Tyrick Mitchell. On commentary, next to Smudger, Seb Hutchinson set out quite an adversarial commentary style when he summed up the left-back’s chances against our dynamic number 7 with the words “Arsenal are looking to stretch the bitch!”
I mulled over these fighting sentiments for a few moments before deciding that, on balance, he probably said “pitch.”
The first half was hard fought. For the aforementioned reason of alcohol, as well as general incompetence, this will not be a tactically astute rundown of the game. Cesc la vie. Or something.
We had the better of the chances. Eddie ran through and played Saka in, but it came to nothing. Eddie did very well to get in on goal and hit the post with a Saka-esque left-footed shot. Then Rice flicked him through for a chance that he should have done more with but lobbed over the bar.
Saliba chased Ayew as he tried to get in behind and slide tackled him in a move straight out of FIFA (the computer game, not the morally bankrupt sporting body.)
On 41 minutes Ødegaard hit a shot that the keeper saved. Personally, I thought it was going over but the bloke (or bloke-ess) in charge of the stats chalked it up as our first shot on target. Surprising, as we had been far the better side, but evidently not wrong, and as the half-time whistle blew, we had to be more clinical in the second half.
Five minutes after the restart, we had a penalty. Gabi took a quick freekick and Eddie ran onto it, knocking it past Johnstone, who brought him down. VAR looked at a block from Partey, and I briefly imagined that we were about to be done by the sort of reversal that Manure never face, but somehow the decision stood. I breathed a sigh of relief and reflected that there was still plenty of time for refereeing incompetence to surface. I wish I had been wrong on that front.
I was nervous, but when Ødegaard took the ball off Saka and placed it down, he was the calmest man on the pitch and stroked it home like it was a Sunday League game, except with less riding on it; absolute nerves of ice. What a player!
At 1-0, the Arsenal crowd began some of the greatest hits, including anything with a Palace connection. We heard the tunes for Vieira and Rocky, as well as Wrighty’s song, which the home faithful declined the opportunity to join in with.
David Coote began his quiet assault on the headlines with a cheeky booking for Tomiyasu. He made it clear from a goal kick that he did not want to see us taking too long over dead balls. The Palace fans contributed, mysteriously on our backs as though we were some sort of slothful Newcastle and they had Erling Haaland up top, being denied a bevy of chances with every second we procrastinated.
“I’m a shit Premier League striker.” “Ayew?”
“I’m a shit Premier League striker.” “Doesn’t Mateta.”
“I never score any goals.” “Mate, it’s not that Edouard.”
Sorry. That bit was mainly for Trev.
Also, sorry Trev.
Anyway.
We next got a throw in but after we faffed with it for a while Havertz left it for Tomiyasu, who legitimately tried his best to throw the ball in but had to wait for movement from his team-mates. He held the ball for eight seconds before he threw it in! Indeed, he had released it by the time that David Coote decided those split seconds were the straw that broke his back and the Japanese had to be punished. (Disclaimer: I am not comparing David Coote to a camel. I have no desire to deal with that volume of dromedariac letters of complaint. Let alone the Bactrians, well known for having twice the humps.)
A few minutes later and Tomiyasu gave the briefest of grips to Ayew’s shirt, letting it go long before it was an offence as he was mindful that he didn’t want a second yellow.
However, the star of the show, David Coote, decided to let out his inner Mike Dean (warning: NEVER do this) and send off our defender for this heinous transgression.
In seriousness, the first one is soft, but fair enough in a team context. If we cycled each player to hold the ball for ten seconds before passing it on to the next bloke, then we could take two minutes over each throw in.
However, the second yellow is ridiculously soft as a standalone card, and it is utterly inexcusable as a second yellow. Perhaps David Coote was keen to send off a player whose first booking was for timewasting, just to show how serious refs are gonna be about timewasting offences. I would write that ‘perhaps he is just a woefully poor official’ but, of course he is a woefully poor official. He works for a body that specialises in churning them out and rewards them for being so.
To be clear: Tomiyasu does nothing even close to being worthy of a red card. That would be true of any Palace player sent off for the same offences, or anyone in an even more objectionable jersey. It is just awful game management from the referee, to say nothing of the multiple inconsistencies we will all see every week when players are not booked for the same amount of timewasting or receive no sanction for challenges far more worthy of a yellow than Tomi’s second.
Make no mistake, this decision changed the momentum and dynamic of the match in the way that red cards do, and there is simply no sporting justification for it. The fact that we held on for three points was all that kept this disgraceful performance from the ref being something we looked back on for months, instead of something angry Arsenal bloggers grumbled about for a couple of days and then got on with our lives.
The rest of the game was shit. Palace had all the ball but could not score. Gabriel came on and brought some more steel – he was clearly up for the fight.
Jorginho came on and, whilst I am sure he was up for the fight, he also could not be remotely arsed to fight a side miles behind us in quality and decided instead to shut the game down and keep the ball. Good lad.
Mitchell took a swipe at a ball that dropped in the area, but it went miles over. The pitch.
David Coote gave seven minutes of injury time (fair enough on that front) before finally blowing up. I mean this in the sense that he blew his whistle, not that his incompetence and Dean-inspired shoehorning himself into centre stage led him, like some sort of tragicomic Dickensian figure, to spontaneously combust. I would not wish that on anyone. But, like Dickens did until the end, I shall maintain that it might happen one day.
After the match, I saw an interview with the immense Declan Rice, who is growing into our side every week, as he did well to keep his head above water as the various Sky employees rained down their saliva-heavy inanities on him.
Arteta spoke well, and dodged any whiff of pointing out what a cunt the ref was.
Roy Hodgson was as classy as ever, spoke well of his side and the game, and, whilst saying nothing to jeopardise his side’s ongoing fortunes, also avoided saying anything that would cast any doubt on what a cunt the ref was. Good man!
We got three lovely points and we can forget all about this one.
I am on my fourth beer, I’m already working on it.
Until next time ‘holics, have a good one.
Thanks Dino! An enjoyable and amusing read, good to see you back.
“ I’m a very open person. I understand everything.”
Great stuff from MA when asked if he understood Tomi’s red.
Good review GSD. To win the league these are the kind of results you have to grind out, whether in August or April, it’s the 3 points that count. We should appeal Tomi’s second yellow. He touched Ayew briefly and the Palace man went down like he was stabbed. What a travesty.
At least Zinny is back. I want to see our back 4 from last year restored (White-Saliba-Gabriel-Zinny). Not sure what is happening with big Gabby? Has his head been turned by Saudi money? Not sure if Havertz has mastered the Xhaka role yet but I’d give him more time.
Cheers, GSD. A wonderfully amusing read in your inimitable style.
The Match Week 2 Leaderboard for the GHF PL Predictathon has been posted. Lots of change in the rankings.
“Arsenal are looking to stretch the bitch!” made me chuckle. Cheers, GSD. Well-in!
Coote is a runt.
MCMBD
That was the longest 8 seconds I’ve ever witnessed, and in the post-match interview it was pointed out to Arteta that it was 23, and to be fair, Tomi had been taking too long over his throws all game. You’d have expected that following last week’s White’s card & the clubs being warned of the new rules the message would have got through to the coaches and that they would have drilled the team on this by now.
During the game I didn’t think Tomi even touched Ayew, who himself should have got 2 yellows, but reading match reports there was a suggestion of a slight touch.
Perhaps we’ll get an apology from Howard Webb, which seems to be the form from PGMOL since he took control.
Very speedy turnaround, GSD, especially when the Gavi, Sancerre and Riesling are considered. Not to mention the beer. Makes you proud…..
I thought that Coote seemed to be channeling his inner Rik from the Young Ones with his silent, performance art screams of “Look at me, everybody, I’m an only child”, so desperate was he to be the star of the show. Tomi’s sending off was annoying, however I tend to agree with Jax @6 that Tomi had been doing it all night. Everyone knows how the rules are now, at last, being applied, and if this acts as a warning to the likes of Newcastle who came and wasted time for 90 minutes last season, then I’m happy. The second booking is for the kind of foul for which Man City never seem to get a foul called against them, let alone a yellow card. Will Rodri still be wearing the Fernandinho Cloak of Unbookability when he does it? You know it. PGMOL are nothing if not opaque and massively inconsistent.
Once Tomi went off, momentum was with Palace but I can’t recall Ramsdale making a genuine save from an on target effort, so good was the defence. And when Gabriel finally came on, he did not look or play like a man who was anything other than 100% committed to the cause. Good to see.
Typical GSD report full of wit, insight and detail. Thanks mate .
I got very nervous before and during this game partly I think because Ihave a lot of Palace mates who would have ripped me to shreds if we’d lost .
We defended in extremis well but the team doesn’t feel right yet. We get stretched with this new defensive shape and pass the ball slowly but the attitude was great and Declan Rice was terrific. We’ve got exactly what we paid for and he is a massive addition. I have been critical of the Havertz purchase and will suspend judgment but my initial impression is that he is producing exactly what he did at Chelsea ie not nearly enough . I hope Arteta can make him a player . Liked our resilience and apart from Rice I was very impressed with Saliba, White and Odegaard and thought Eddie made things happen upfront .
Three important points but I hope there is improvement to come . Palace didn’t offer much and it would be hard to survive at tougher places . But survive we did and we must be thankful for a satisfactory start to the season
Cheers gents.
Just before Tomi got booked for the throw, I shouted at him to hurry up. We could see the booking coming. Although, Jax, 23 seconds is the combined time Havertz and Tomi had the ball. Tomi only had it for 8 seconds himself.
As long as the refs apply the same standards all season then we will all be happy. But I won’t be accepting bets on that happening…
An excellent articulation of your thoughts on the Coote (enhanced nicely by CER). Exactly what I was thinking but couldn’t have said as well or amusingly.
On a more serious note, playing TP5 at RB is diminishing both his and Benny White’s contribution to the cause. Time to revert to last season’s back four as starters with Tomi and KT deputising at RB and LB respectively. While Havertz deserves time to demonstrate star quality, by the time we meet Manure, MA8 may have to take a hard decision on how to get the best from Partey and Declan (the two best DMs in the League) in the same team without our number 29.
Great three points and outstanding post-match commentary by Mikel.
Thanks for an excellent commentary GSD on what proved to be a tense night in South London (is there any other kind?). This game really reminded me of the match at Molineux two seasons ago, attended by myself, my son, CER and 21CG. Your remember the one, where Martinelli was sent off for two yellow cards in the same phase, something never seen before or since. We were leading 1-0 at the time with lots of time to go and had to activate the emergency Rob Holding who headed away what felt like dozens of crosses from Wolves to hold out for a win. Well last night had many echoes. A very soft red card, 1-0 up and 30 minutes to go. Arteta went full what we have we hold, went to a flat back five with big Gabby on from the bench. Palace threw in 19 crosses. All were repulsed. Splendid, backs to the wall stuff. One nil to The Arsenal at the end.
Let’s not forget that only two teams won at Selhurst Park last season, and they finished first and second in the league. Good omens. The team is clearly a work in progress, hindered by the disruption in the back line. Like Bath, I really hope we see the return of last seasons defence on Saturday.
Rice and Saliba were immense. It’s ironic that Eddie is usually described as a clinical finisher with not much else to his game. Last night he was brilliant is his buildup and linking play, rolling his defender three times. Unfortunately he missed two excellent first half chances.
I have a feeling it will all click against Fulham and we will batter them. But so far played two, won two. That will do me.
Thanks for reminding me of a great trip up to Molyneux. And 21CG will never wear that pink jacket again, having been subject to abuse from the entire Wolves main stand for wearing it!
Good point well made re the only 2 teams to win at Selhurst Park last season. I’ll settle for that. We clearly haven’t clicked yet. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Arteta persevere this Saturday with the setup he has used for the 2 openers. I don’t particularly like it but then 6 points from 2 games speaks louder than words.
1-0 to the Arsenal and a red card – back to the future?
Officiating is still a mess and VAR is still an inconsistent mess. It won’t get any better and we’ll all have to live with it.
I don’t understand why Gabriel is on the naughty step – can someone please explain?
UTA.
Marvellous job, GSD, a fun filled, fantasmagorical, fumeé fuelled, Ferrari of a follow-up to our fantastically fought… ah, enough !
I have just enjoyed my final holiday breakfast of tomato,
egg and sausagey, bacon actually, substances, a luxury normally denied me by a lack of time in early morning. Talking of egg and sausagey substances – David Coote – and what a dog’s breakfast of a game he had, albeit a lack of accountability will mean no egg on his face this morning.
Watching on an ad-infested stream last night, I missed Tomi taking too long on previous throws but did see Coote brandishing a yellow for what I thought was an exaggeration of the directive to crack down on time wasting – in itself a good thing we would all agree. ( I had also missed Havertz wasting the initial bit of time before giving the ball to Tomi)
However, none of this circumstance diminished my ire at the second yellow for a non-pull of the shirt which caused both of Ayew’s knees to collapse leaving him sprawling on the floor.
Coote seized his opportunity to become an entity and produced a second yellow and a proudly waved red with a swish of the hand that told Tomi to just “fuck off – be gone – go !” in a style reminiscent of a Michael McIntyre sketch.
With that the game was quite needlessly turned in its head and we endured – quite impressively – 20 minutes of the Alamo, while Palace managed not to score despite 3,257 attempts to do so.
I am indebted to and appalled by GSD’s mention of me in dispatches – actually they were pretty damn fine puns, mate !
An excellent account of yesterday evening’s torrid affair in saaarrfff lundin (as C100 observes, ‘is there any other?). At the end, MA8 was like a cat with two tails, delighted with the three points. I think his philosophy is distilling to its essence, ‘Just win, baby!’
It was a masterclass in how to break down a deep block and our front five showed great invention and determination as well as superb ball retention in their attempt to prise open Palace’s well drilled and equally determined 10 man defence. I thought Eddie was superb and it’s a damn shame neither of his largely self-created one on one attempts went in. However MotM for me was ‘Our Declan’. He was everywhere and reminded me of EP17 as a man who covered every blade of grass in order to intercept, interrupt, dispossess opposition moves, recycle the ball and take his part in build ups. I am not a fan of TP5 at RB, invert if you will, but I thought he too had a superb game and until we were shocked for a few minutes by the loss of Tomi, those two effectively ‘owned’ the midfield while Saliba and White hoovered up the scraps that got through and recycled efficiently.
Ah yes, the loss of Tomi. Much has already been written and I agree with much of it. It was a card waiting to happen, despite no reaction to Palace’s tardy restarts either before or after. Having a brain the size of a small waterbird, the official in his traditional black plumage with a white head, wanted to react seconds earlier to TP5 failing to act like a ballboy when the ball went out close to him at the edge of the byeline and fluttered his wings. He then froze in indecision as the throw-in was passed first to Havertz who failed to take it after a faux-effort and passed it to Tomi whose eight seconds of possession, indecision then effort to find a free teammate was the final straw for bird-brain. He booked the wrong Arsenal player – if anyone was booked it should have been Havertz, or even TP5 earlier – but Tomi took that one for the team. The zeal with which Coote brandished the second yellow for a gentle push on the execrable, painful haemorrhoid that is Ayew (who had, himself, it must be observed, been spared a nailed-on second yellow for attempting to disrobe Saka after a well deserved first yellow for slyly taking down either Martinelli or Havertz (I forget which) as our man tried to break away) was offensive and reeked of inequity and agendas.
Our ten men and the men who joined them were massive. Adamsesque is the adjective I used at the time. It wasn’t an enjoyable watch for much of that period of Palace dominance but the manner in which we wrested back control after the addition of Jorginho (is there a better man on any bench on the planet to help see out a game?) then Zinchenko and Kiwior was reassuring. C100was correct in his allusion to that Wolves game – an unjust dismissal changing the game and producing a spirited defensive masterclass. I think Ramsdale was called into service twice in the whole game and did his case proud.
As to starting TP5 at RB, I expect to see the same formation start against a currently toothless Fulham. If Balogun wants a starting place, he could do much worse than join the Cottagers though it sounds as if that silver-tongued Master of the Universe Boehly has persuaded him that opportunity knocks at the Bus Stop.
Perhaps a more equitable punishment for timewasting at throw-ins would be for the throw to be turned over to the other side.
Not a bad idea, Ned, or maybe a ref who had the gumption to book Havertz if he was responsible for the time wasting rather than book Tomi who had taken EIGHT SECONDS which a perfunctory perusal of his time piece would have told him.
Sorry, but GSD has this referee spot on. Thank god we won and he didn’t have the final say on the result as well as the performance.
Actually, your idea is quite nice, Ned, as turning the throw over to the other side would punish a time wasting team rather than an innocent individual.
BtM@10: It strikes me that Partey and Rice are perfectly able to play together in midfield, as that is how they play most of the game, even if Partey nominally starts at RB. What Arteta seems to be doing is using the formation to push another midfielder further forward to create more overloads against a low block.
As for Havertz, I think he is a coach’s player, a lubricant essential to the smooth functioning of the other ten, but not one who catches the fan’s eye. His strength is moving the ball forward; his progression stats are impressive, a pre-assister like Alexandr Hleb, for those who remember the Belorussian, but not one who provides the ultimate or penultimate goal-scoring touch. He also racks up good numbers for the unglamorous defensive work of tackling and intercepting. That all sald, I don’t think we have seen the best of him yet. It took Arteta some time to make Xhaka the player we were sorry to see go rather than being ready to drive to the airport.
Don’t forget to check out the new Leaderboard for the Predictathon under the GHF Contests tab above. Some of the big dogs are on the move.
Eek ! I’ve slipped from 14 to 15 in the Prediction League – not too bad at this stage but Bath and C100 ….! 😱
Never a truer word, Ned @18.
Good presentation of the Predictathon results, Ned.
Consistency! That’s what we’re all calling out for, right?
More power to you, young dino.
Ned @ 18, I really like both Declan and TP5 in midfield and if we’re going 4-3-3 no better companion for them than MO8. If we need an overload, Zinchenko’s my man. And I like last night’s front three (I’d echo C100’s comments on Eddie).
TP5 at RB dulls our effectiveness on the right wing when we’re attacking and imho White contributes more both in speed of recovery and interaction with Saka.
Great ‘problems’ to have of course (and I’m pleased to have MA8 to sort them all out after creating them) and I’m looking forward to being bowled over by Havertz’s qualities in due course.
East Herts appears to have become a barren floating ticket wilderness with regard to Saturday’s Fulham game. Let me know should one float by any of you Hoilcs.
The surfeit of media coverage leads to unnecessary scrutiny and some unjustified conclusions sometimes .
Brighton look promising but they’ve played Luton and Wolves . We’ve played two sides who will probably just finish in the bottom half but we’ve won the games and shown some good moments . But I don’t like the shape of the side at present . Losing Timber is a big blow and I think Havertz unbalances the side .He’s our new left 8 but I don’t think he should start ahead of ESR and Martinelli .
But there are many plusses . I think our defenders have done well . Saliba is such a quality centre back . Rice has settled in incredibly quickly and Odegaard is a top midfielder . Saka is a gem and I’ve enjoyed Eddie’s movement and pace . It’s a decent start
Breaking news! Sancho Panza currently bottom of the predictions league after two games have sacked head coach Don Quixote and replaced him with .. his donkey. You could not make this shit up.
What TRG said. Sums it up pretty well for me !
TTG even !
Thanks Dino, I missed the seeing the match live as playing bowls – county league match. Your inimitable style very readable and gave a full flavour of the evenings events. Quite happy we came away with 3 points from a tricky fixture.
We are not yet firing on all cylinders, possibly the players still adapting to changes that MA is undertaking. Hopefully this will be rectified over the coming weeks and picking up maximum points along the way will do very nicely thank you very much.
Mavro back to Wham it seems, with a couple of bob chucked our way. Be curious to see how he does, I don’t think he’d suit us but I he may be a good fit for the stadium-nickers.
Balogun to the bus stop still being reported too, 100m to the likes of them should be our starting point. If they agree that, then it’s 150m.
SP@25: Will be watching for the new donkey bounce in next week’s round of games.
OM@29: Mavro will have to do very well to replace either Aguerd or Zouma as one of Moyes’s starting CBs. He is not a bad CB by any means, but he is not elite class, and I doubt he would be anywhere near our starting team if he had stayed.
Matt @29, get on the blower, mate, and tell Edu you are coming over to conduct the sales negotiations for the remainder of this window.
Bath,
I’d be happy to be Mr 10% for a week or two….
Ned,
Agree on Mavro, though I have confidently predicted Moyes to be gone soon….
Still waiting on that apology from Howard Webb for Tomi’s sending off.
Must be busy annulling that one for Liverpool.
For all the talk of us having the youngest team in the Premiership, a study by the Centre International d’Etude du Sport shows we have the third most seasoned starting XI, measured by minutes played in recent top-level competitive club and international matches, and, now, the second most experienced bench. The Blue Mancs top both lists, with the Red Mancs second on the starters list and third on the bench list.
Across the Big Five European leagues, Real Madrid and Barca push us down to fifth on the starters list, and Madrid alone to third on the bench list, which may bode well for a deep CL run.
The Charabanc saga has now run its course.
Opps. premature commit, there.
(and again. I think I’ve mastered this thing now…)
The dodgy valve was a “EGR”; the part cost £214.56 before tax and they racked up 5 hours to fix it. It’s my local garage, whom I trust, and they also found that I needed a new injector and cambelt and water pump. Throw in a new set of filters and oil and the number of digits in the final cost wasn’t too much of a suprise. The leading digit was a shock, but the car was bought second hand, is twelve years old now and hasn’t cost a lot to run up to now, so I’m just going to suck it up.
In other news, I haven’t seen enough of the season so far to have formed an opinion on the shape of the team. I remember the last “coach’s player” and how much of a hit he was through most of his career. I see no reason why I shouldn’t expect Havertz to follow a similar trajectory. As to the Mavro transfer saga, you all know what others think, and you probably know what I think too. I won’t bore you all by repeating myself.
COYG UTA
Pangloss – do you service it every year? The cam belt and water pump are both serviceable parts based on mileage …..
Re: Pangloss @36
Apparently not quite run its course quite yet, judging by the drinks that came after. 🤣
Glad to hear your once (and future?) trusty steed has now returned Pangloss.
I always favoured a quick transfer of cars at the first signs of recalcitrance
myself but then I haven’t owned one for more than 25 years so my reasoning
is rustier than an old er…. car part. Unless they’re all plastic now.
I expect TP5 to continue at nominal RB at Fulham.
The Manure game may be a different matter, though I must admit
I would enjoy the implications if we did continue the same way…..
Pangloss@38: I have yet to encounter a garage mechanic who can’t find something else that needs fixing.
I hope you have set your assistants to laminating duties again, bt8.
PG, I also just put a fair penny into my old car rather than look for a new one.
Ned 😎
C100 – time was, I believed firmly in regular servicing, but a combination of The Pandemic and much reduced mileage due to retirement has somewhat put paid to that. I was aware that the belts needed replacement from time to time and not really surprised to find that time was now.
There are two popular strategies for car ownership – “ditch and replace at the first sign of trouble% and “run until it falls apart”. I incline towards “fix once and then look to replace”, but that has to be reviewed in the light of reduced travel needs.
I’m quite fond of the old bus and she’s been good to me, so we’ll see what we see.
[In the interest of clarity, allow me to emphasise that the subject of the preceding sentence was my car NOT Oxonne.]
Excellent report GSD!
Our 10 men defending was flawless. No panic, calm and organized. Bodes well.
Would like to see more of Trossard. Was in sparkling form in pre-season and always brings that effervescence along with his technical qualities.
Pangloss. I always keep my cars a long time. My current one is 7 years old and I’ll keep it a good deal longer, especially as it’s only done just over 50k miles. But I always service it annually, when its MOT comes due. Suppose the brakes had failed? Still it’s your call.
Use the handbrake?
Handbrake released and nips in.
Pepe is reportedly about to board the Saudi gravy train. I doubt we’ll get much of a transfer fee as he is such damaged goods and has less than a year left on his contract, but at least the sale will get £140,000 a week off the wage bill.
Vulpinely sniffed, Ned at 50.
Did anyone see the 1500 m final yesterday? I urge all sports fans to watch and then watch the 2022 final. Hopefully, Arteta will be showing the lads the videos to show how the odds on favourite can be overtaken and keep a lead on the finishing straight.
A fox in the box, me, bt8.
SP@53: I did. Fantastic run by Kerr, especially given he didn’t run a particularly good race tactically (if you can say that of someone who has just won a World Championship gold).
Saving the kick for the end and not fading in the home straight is the bit we really have to master.
Ned @54 – and I thought Ingebrigtsen behaved with all the grace of a common or garden Mourinho after the race.
Going back to the referee for a minute, take a look at the below
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66612570
You couldn’t make this sh*t up. So this homunculus believes that sparing his “mates” feelings is more important than doing the job he was being paid for – to ensure correct decisions were arrived at? “ I would have arrested Mr Kray, Your Honour, but the thing is, he loves his mum, so I couldn’t bring myself to do it”.
And at what point does this most hideously unacceptable of excuses get used as a cover for darker deeds?
Yet more proof, we’re it needed, that the man is unfit to scrape chewing from pavements, let alone referee, or comment in referees in his new role on Sky.
To be honest I think Sky and Dean are well matched.
Thanks SP, I Hadn’t seen anything of the World Championships but enjoyed
that 1500m, Kerr was the only who remembered to wear his
go faster shades. I assume our players will be suitably bespectacled
this weekend 😎
CER @56, for many years I have believed that most referees were inept, some just stupid and a few actually corrupt. This revelation is astonishing and speaks volumes for the culture in PGMOL but also explains some of the inexplicable decisions made over the last couple of seasons by VAR officials. That he has confessed to this unprofessional behaviour is also astonishing. If a VAR official will make a decision primarily driven by how it affects a friend who is the match official, could he make decisions when he’s the on-field referee primarily upon how it affects a friend who is a coach, player or supporter? Not a huge leap.
He fails to fulfil the role for which he is paid because of how it affects his ‘friend’. Imagine a policeman, surgeon or judge in the same position. They would never work again.
It simply proves that the term ‘professional referee’ is a misnomer.
CER@56: Dereliction of duty, plain, simple and confessed.
In other news, OM needs to take over from Edu if there is anything to the reports that we are letting Balogun go for £35 million.
I refer you to the remarks of my friend @58, Mr Speaker.
Cheers GSD!
Could be wrong but from memory you had a touch of the teetotals some while back? Glad to see you’re fully recovered!
Ned at 60, I beg to differ. I think £35m (according to Ornstein it’s €45m which is closer to £38m) is an excellent price for a young man who hasn’t played one game in the Premier League. For comparison, Gabriel Jesus cost us £45m.
C100@63: I refer you to @29.
Ned @ 60 – I concur with c100 that €45 million is reasonable for player having nothing more than 1 successful season in League 1 on his cv – not the highest of tests! I would hope that there is a sell on clause as a further boost. Some may consider it falls short but in comparison with much of our selling failures this could be considered successful. Balogun has started just 1 EPL match for us – the ill fated opening match v Brentford a couple of years ago when our main strikers were all down with Covid. Young Balogun appeared well out of his depth on this occasion.
Spot on C100 @63. £38m does seem a reasonable sum for a player who has only played once in the PL and as Uply observed, unsurprisingly looked somewhat raw.
We Arsenal supporters do seem often to have an inflated sense of our players’ values and an unrealistic expectation of Edu’s (or indeed anyone else’s) ability to bring in large sums for players whose flaws are often widely known or who are on disproportionately high salaries for their talent. We also often overlook the benefit of offloading large salaries or difficult characters by ensuring a sale goes through. We also have a disappointingly low threshold for a group feeding frenzy – expect a move from the medical team to Edu at the end of this transfer window.
Hoping to be able to watch some of tomorrow’s game in the Minneapolis airport waiting for my flight to New Jersey for the celebration of my wife’s auntie’s 100th birthday. Born in Brooklyn, 1923.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>