I don’t tend to attack officials, but in a game of paper-thin lines, every decision counts. Today, things did not fall in favour of Unai Emery’s Arsenal. Two penalty decisions ruined an almost flawless execution of a peak-Mourinho-Chelsea game plan.
The first decision came when Xhaka gifted Spurs a freekick in a dangerous area. The well-delivered cross flew dangerously close to Harry Kane 8 yards out, Mustafi identified the threat late and leaned in with a nudge the ref saw. The penalty was awarded, but on closer inspection, it was clear that our defence had held its line really well, with Harry Kane clearly offside. Even worse, the linesman was behind the play half a yard. The penalty was never in doubt.
The next penalty fell our way, Mikhi released Auba who was bundled over, the decision was no doubt dubious, but the award felt fair if you’re of the ‘it evens itself out’ mindset. Auba took the kick, taking a straight line run-up, Lloris guessed right and palmed the ball away, Vertonghen then ran back and blocked the second wave attack, clearing off the line. Again, on closer inspection, it was clear that Jan had encroached dramatically into the area. There aren’t many things you need to pay attention to on the penalty, so it’s baffling this was missed. You get the feeling there are important rules and those that are deemed not so important.
You have the two sides of the VAR coin on full display here. If the refs have assistants in the cloud, both penalties aren’t given. Sure, you lose some of the excitement, but ultimately, do you really care if the result is just? If the season finishes and Arsenal miss out on Champions League by 1 point, is it fair? I would always prioritise a fair result over excitement. Also, interested to see how VAR affects the dark arts of Spurs next season.
The shame of the bad decisions is it ruined a mostly excellent tactical execution. Emery started with Ramsey and Lacazette. He left LT on the bench. We opted to give Spurs possession so we could strike on the counter. The plan worked really well, Arsenal broke up play in their own box, Xhaka released a quick long ball to the halfway line, Spurs made a mess of the ball, Aaron was released, he powered through, took the ball past Lloris and narrowly squeezed the ball into the empty net. World class composure. I always think of Theo when players break on their own like that. Banter years PTSD.
We had some great chances to further our lead. Lacazette blazed a cut back shockingly wide. Iwobi got the better of Trippier, making space to curl a shot at the top corner, Lloris with a cat-like jump to deny him.
The subs at halftime made sense, Lucas was brought on to bring more solidity. Emery took Ramsey off fairly early for Ozil and Lacazette was switched out for the pace of Auba.
Our sharpshooter from Gabon didn’t have a great time of it, he fluffed his lines in front of goal and took a particularly shite penalty considering his quality, but it is what it is.
1 point is no disaster away to a very good Spurs side, but there’s a good chance that slip will cost us in the run for top four. Particularly if the result doesn’t go our way when we welcome United next week.
Overall though, we had a strong game. We accepted that going toe-to-toe with Spurs wasn’t going to bring home the bacon, we set traps for them all day and we defended like we actually cared about the clean sheet. Our players pressed like demons, they camped outside our box and all took personal accountability for doing their bit. Nacho was excellent, Kos used his experience well and Sokratis was a thorn in the side of Harry Kane all day. I really love the Greek, he’s a proper warrior, you’d never give him a parking ticket, would you?
Ultimately, it’s hard to account for players like Mustafi and to a lesser extent, Xhaka. You just know the German cannot resist making dim decisions. He’s always in there with an unsneaky nudge or a rash slide tackle. He simply cannot resist it, he started early yesterday, he makes the refs hyperaware what he’s up to and then decisions go against him. There’s also no obvious excuse, he doesn’t lack pace, he’s not young, he must have been told about this by coaches.
Xhaka is a slightly different beast because most of his poor expressions on the pitch are because he lacks pace. He’s constantly a yard behind the play and the only way he can counter that is with niggly fouls. The challenge you have with the Swiss is his ability to move play forward is unchallenged in the league, that long ball to the halfway line gave us an opening (even if it didn’t make its intended target directly). The club has to be looking at this as we head into the summer.
Next week is huge. I think it’s fair to say that Arsenal certainly do have a squad good enough to sustain a top 4 challenge. We’re right in the mix and it’s now March, it’s not in doubt. There can be no complaints we don’t have the squad. We are more than capable of beating United at home, I am even more certain of that after we nearly pulled off a masterclass against Spurs. If Southampton can get at them, we can.
The squad cannot feel sorry for themselves after being robbed today. We have to come back fighting and take the game to United. They have a fast frontline and two players that are expert at finding them on the break. We need to be smart and counter that threat. We also need a really fucking big performance from our two strikers to make up for today.
A few additional shoutouts. Bernd Leno is really starting to look like a good keeper. I don’t think the team has adapted to playing out the back, so it’s hard to judge his impact there. However, his double save was world class. We finally have a keeper that is capable of stopping the unexpected. That’s so valuable to the defence.
Additionally, let’s give Iwobi some props. He had a very good performance, he created chances, nearly scored, defended well and made a nuisance of himself. I also thought it was another superb game from Mikhi who is starting to look like value for money. He’s ambitious with his passing, he’s working hard for the team and he’s proving a far more decisive of late.
It’s all about United. This is essentially our #Top4 cup final. We have to come away with three points. Especially after United just beat Southampton with a very late United-ish winner.
Right, see you in the comments xxx
No one here yet?
2nd
3rd
Trop4y
Picture of Jan charging in on Auba is epic.
How many officials watching this?
Mental.
Mustafi, oh Mustafi..
Diabolical match, I hate when refs play such a huge role in the result. If ref and linesman were on form today, no pen for Kane because offside and Rose sent off like Torr was later on which would have changed tempo of game.
Good performance today from the players and a very good tactically efficient show from emery.. Special mention for sokratis.. This guy is out of the bould-adams mould. A real defender and a leader at the back.
We should have won,but sometimes you just don’t get the crucial decisions.
Iwobi continues to get his head down and work at his game and for me he was a real positive down the left flank.
Kudos to Emery, he was excellent today on almost every aspect except the moment he hurled off Laca,poor Also AMN couldn’t have done any worse than the calamitous Mustafa.. Would be gobsmacked if he’s still here next season. Very poor defender Can’t blame the officials much, they tried to even it except Kane took his pen with aplomb while our ‘world-class ‘ striker bottled his Spuds were pony,looked suspect at the back and was just there waiting to be beaten and he hooked off our best striker only blight in his master plan today I know Laca missed some glaring… Read more »
PEA didn’t look like he had any confidence as he strolled up. Ramsey’s reaction to the miss was great. He’ll always be a Gunner..
Sal
Pen re taken Auba scores 0-2
“Auba took the kick, taking a straight line run-up, Lloris guessed right and palmed the ball away,”
Lloris didn’t guess. It was obvious what PEA was doing. You could almost see the liquid faeces trickling down his leg. He had bottled it long before he started the run-up, and the outcome was inevitable. In his favour, at least he won the pen.
Laca was having an off-day..he missed some decent chances… Emery was absolutely right to take him off….laca is a very good striker, but the sub was like-for-like,..unfortunately emery wasn’t to know auba was totally off-form as well.
The first decision came when Xhaka gifted Spurs a freekick in a dangerous area
Charlie is cracking his knuckles as we speak
Ultimately, it’s hard to account for players like Mustafi and to a lesser extent, Xhaka
He’s frothing at the mouth. Any second now a scathing rebuke from Charles…oh it was said by Pedro and not Ishola or Receding or Bamford… he’ll let it go so
Sal
Pen re taken Auba scores 0-2
_______
Your making a giant assumption that Auba makes his second kick.. no? Nothing about his first kick makes me think he would make another. and that’s the problem with picking and choosing decisions. The referees were poor but bottom line if Auba makes his kick we aren’t talking about it.
Just got home and watched the highlights almost smashed my fucking tv. Aubam you fucking cuunt
Laca missed two sitters as well what a missed opportunity. This match may wrll haunt us
Now swapping Lacazette for Aubameyang was a wrong decision because Aubameyang missed a penalty….you are funny Victorious.
The manager has zero percent blame today but you can go on and find a way.
Can we throw away the whole team?
Is that possible?
Them reload this game from an earlier save like 2004 or maybe 2006?
I would like to do that.
Aubam deffo bottled it could see it in his face. Not a big fam of ramsey but if he was still on the field? He should have taken it
Yes this match will hunt us.. Make no mistake. That penalty will cost us a top four place.
This is really classic Arsenal and the common denominator are our world class players.. Tell me more about mustafi being a world cup winner.
Receding
I think now everything rests on the man united game. If we win that we win the psychological bottle and get that crucial 2 point lead on man united.
M united have a much harder run in but I still think we need to beat them.
Mid
Football has rules
No encroachment into the penalty area being one of them
As for the rest of the match read Pedro’s post
End of
Also i know laca bottled some chances today. But aubam has been missing sitters all season despite his impressive goal tally. Sometimes he has missed a hatrick of clear cur cut chances like vs chelsea.
Im not a big iwobi fan but he does give us something we miss aka directness, pace and taking on those one on ones.
I have to say the reaction to this draw is just as laughable as the cheap Emery criticism that have come all season.
There are still 9 games left and we are right in the hunt for Europe
Fourth place is still attainable, united beating Southampton is exactly what was predicted.
Pedro
That’s a fair assessment of the game however, on this:
‘There can be no complaints we don’t have the squad.’,
I disagree.
Man city, man utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and spurs all have stronger squads than us, better individuals and better strength in depth I’m afraid.
What we have is potential and a very good manager. What we need is to spend a bit of cash.
Auba goal line miss was harder
Yes London Auba has missed sitters and overall is a bit of a fraud, plays with zero intensity, I hate the laid back way he plays.
If we beat Man United yes we might just get away with today, but I have a sinking feeling today will cost us dearly …we should have beat Tottenham and United at home and we have no one to blame but our players
Alex correct
I mean at their respective homes not ours
Pedro’s match review analysis was spot on
He just had to spice it with the same tired argument of having a good enough squad for fourth place.
The position on the table doesn’t prove that assertion of league strength.
It’s like saying that Leicester had the best squad in the league the season they were champions.
Alex I’m afraid not everyone agrees we have a very good manager
Marko Pedro doesn’t like the player but he’s not on here lambasting his every move like a fucking toddler. Unlike you he offers up what value he brings and doesn’t use every match as a means to slate. I’m not opposed to different opinions, I’m opposed to over the top bollocks from those that hold certain opinions. Iwobi was getting rinsed for no reason today too, it just became about Xhaka because the same droning voices made a point of critiquing everything about him irrespective of what was happening. Our CM is Xhaka, Guendouzi, Torreira, Elneny. You take Xhaka away… Read more »
Mid
Football has rules
No encroachment into the penalty area being one of them
As for the rest of the match read Pedro’s post
End of
________
Lol ok So by the rules of football I guess Auba doesn’t miss… got it..
RH
We needed the win more than spuds, Auba could have come on for Iwobi(who looked spent) and we still could have had as much chance to nick the win
Laca has a much stronger mentality than Auba and is also the better penalty taker.
Anyone who know a bit of the pairs history wouldn’t argue otherwise
Vic
Mate for once stop blaming emery for fucking once
We are all hungover and pissed off so dont be that guy winding us all up.
I know you have your wenger agenda but just for once allow it
Mid
No
You don’t get it
Arsenal were robbed of 3 points today
Mid
No
You don’t get it
Arsenal were robbed of 3 points today
________
No I get it… That’s what you believe.. cool..
Vic
“Laca has a much stronger mentality than Auba and is also the better penalty taker.”
Laca missed two sitters earlier…that’s why he came off
He didn’t deserve to be on the field at the time the penalty was taken
Hill wood – Mid
I’m acting under assumption that’s no Peno… it was clumsy so maybe VAR gives it.
Regardless we win.
Mid
Spurs had a pen they shouldn’t have as it was offside… how exactly were we not robbed?
London
It befuddles the mind how you’ve managed to connect the dots of what’s being discussed to wenger but alas I’m not surprised as anyone who didn’t hurl abuses on the man is made to have an agenda for simply pointing the obvious
Dissenter
What I’m insinuating is that i’v seen countless football matches when a vilified player who’s had a shocker ends up becoming the match winner
It’s dead simple we had a chance of a pen right at the death and the only player you’ll trust to stick it in has been hurled off..no agenda nothing.just the obvious
London –
They did yes. The referees and linesman in general are poor.. The league needs better referees. If you want to blame the referees and no Var feel free.. I blame our players for not being good enough.. It goes back to the Untold conspiracy that there is a referee conspiracy against Arsenal which is where this all started which is what Pierre basically said last post. BUt I don’t feel like rehashing the whole thing from last post comments feel free to reread.
It’s even funny people are tracing tone of criticism towards Emery in my comments.. My first comment on this very post today started with ‘Kudos to Emery’..
he’s doing a fine job giving what he has got to work with, just feel he should trust some certain players more,today being a classic example of just that
Mid
Are you a closet Spuddie…if so that’s cool 😎
Wtf is that comment?
Lol Hillwood … only thing in my closet is beer and Red boxers.. I bleed red … m y friend.. As I said in the end it doesn’t matter if Auba makes.. his kick.. the refs gave him a soft pk kick in the first place which, imo was a makeup call for the first half miscall.. because without VAR you have human error.. and I think the refs even know that. Anyhow, if I was a Spud I sure as fuk wouldn’t be on here hangin out with you negative b.astards.
Sorry about that chaps, the racist who is slightly insecure about his sexuality has been removed.
Dissenter, nothing tired about reality.
We are a top 4 challenger in March which would lead most to the conclusion the squad is good enough.
Anyone else think we are mixing it up moving forward? More play through the middle?
Thanks Peds.. Internet is troll heaven.. these days..
Thanks Pedro.. You shouldn’t be a host to the dregs of human civility
“Sorry about that chaps, the racist who is slightly insecure about his sexuality has been removed.”
Which one Pedro – they’re are far too many of them on here!
the only reason I would be happy with auba still at arsenal is if he agrees he would no longer be taking the penalties……..
auba is a stupid player…. that I’m very sure about.
if our next penalty comes in a crucial game and auba is on the pitch, I’m sure we’ll be let down by that clown…. just like he did against citeh in the cup final last season… if he’d scored that pen that would have given us the momentum to fight harder for a draw or maybe lose 3-2..but instead the clown bottled it.
Yep… I think whatever you think of Emery he isn’t stupid.. he probably watched a lot of film and realized fullbacks up the wings looking for cut-backs isn’t gonna cut it… as an attacking style…. So it looks as though he has made it a point to have one of Ramsey, Miki, or Ozil linking up play more through the middle interchanging with Lacazette or Auba coming back a bit deeper to receive the ball which leads to more counter- attacks, give and goes … etc… through the middle.
Mid west
Not doing very well are you.
Your dislike for untold is clouding your judgement I’m afraid .
the only reason I would be happy with auba still at arsenal is if he agrees he would no longer be taking the penalties…”
Don’t think Auba is our first choice penalty taker, Laca is, but was unfortunately not on the pitch in today’s scenario
Cant still get over that massive letdown from Auba….
Laca and Auba better get on their scoring boots next week
Hi Pierre –
Given your judgement on Ozil… I’ll take that with a grain of salt.. I;mdoing fine.. You can explain your referee conspiracy to me… sometime I’m sure it’s amazing.
Midwest
“Yep… I think whatever you think of Emery he isn’t stupid.. he probably watched a lot of film and realized fullbacks up the wings looking for cut-backs isn’t gonna cut it”
I could have told him 6 months ago that having both full backs so advanced is a tactic that is flawed.
It’s taken him 6 months , it took me 2 minutes to come to that conclusion.
Mid
I’m off to the pub
Enjoy your beer while wearing your red pants
Pierre
Your dislike for untold is clouding your judgement I’m afraid .
Said like one ready to defend his brainless cronies. CG was a classic example of the brain dead idiots that roam that crap blog. (Tried once; just like trying to read the Sun, it just gave me a massive headache).
that facial expression by PEA when he picked up the ball and placed it on the penalty spot was disgusting…. that guy lacks conviction.
and why stand on a parallel line with the ball….. with that position you can only kick the ball to a certain part of the goal…
that said…. can we swap auba with Pepe??????
it would be great for both parties Involved.
auba can go out every defender in the French league and scored lots of goals, while we get a much needed winger to balanced our dreadful squad.
People that get kicks from saying mean things online generally have meaningless lives.
Anyway, binned.
Auba, one of the most clinical strikers on the planet, does not lack conviction.
could have told him 6 months ago that having both full backs so advanced is a tactic that is flawed.
It’s taken him 6 months , it took me 2 minutes to come to that conclusion.
__________
Ummm except is was working .. or maybe you skipped the part where we didn’t lose for 21 matches.. but who knows maybe you missed your calling..? I have a an under 10 youth team that needs a manager if your interested.
Today ,we had full backs playing as full backs and surprise surprise we looked solid at the back.
Really it’s a bonus to have an assured penalty taker in the side..RVP was the last striker we had who could strike it well anytime anyday
Arteta and Santi was the last reliable pair we had.. Both midfielders
kane almost never misses for the spuds and you could see the confidence in him from a mile anytime he gets the chance
Complete contrast to Auba who was utterly bereft of any confidence to score that pen, I bet he secretly wished he didn’t win it in the first place
I think somebody needs to take Auba to one side and have a quiet word with him about mentality and composure.. Always liked him in his Dortmund days but his horrific misses against Chelsea at the Bridge meant i have been uneasy with him despite being our top scorer.. Dude misses so many chances you have to think he is onto some sort of challenge that only he understands. For heaven’s sake, we could lose to United next week, the least we need is a little bit of cushion, psychologically it would weigh spurs down and drag them into the… Read more »
Aubameyang cost 57m and 200k a week. He is a striker who scores goals and scored a penalty against Spurs at the Emirates.
And he actually won the penalty so all this Laca would have buried it talk is strange. Taking off Lacazette was not a mistake no matter how you try to spin it.
The officiating was very poor
Maybe the league should start importing the best refereeing talent as well.
Jan Vertonghen was almost level with Auba at the time the penalty was taken.
:large
What a shitty referee
Midwest
Are you saying that we have been defensively sound this season.
Mid
I’m off to the pub
Enjoy your beer while wearing your red pants
____________________
Oops missed it.. Have one for me.. or 3.
“Auba, one of the most clinical strikers on the planet, does not lack conviction.“
I’ll have to disagree, it’s precisey what he lacked on the spot kick. Those moments reveal personality, and his smiley chilled character was exposed there as lacking edge. Dribbly cunt the other end by contrast is ruthless.
Someone we know or a blow in Spud?
Pierre we weren.t talking about defense we were talking about attack… Pedro asked if we looked better going forward.. especially through the middle and I said yes we did… Emery made an adjustment probably after our spell of poor matches.
Not sure what your going on about … with defense.. please do try and keep up..
I would have thought when in doubt he should have just smashed it, gone for power…why try to be cute when your confidence is low
Look at LaLiga match of Huesca and Sevilla right now. PL is a disgrace for not implementing VAR this season tbh. There are no absence of drama either if you argue from that perspective.
Only put more pressure on the officials though especially if the decision against the home team.
I hope we appeal against the three game ban of Torreira. Such a stupid decision by the ref IMO
Pedro
“Additionally, let’s give Iwobi some props. He had a very good performance, he created chances, nearly scored, defended well and made a nuisance of himself.”
No, no, and no. He created next to nothing. Took one shot that Lloris easily saved. And was mostly ineffective. Him, Elneny, and the like are what I call “busy” players. Meaning that it looks like they are doing something but it’s basically useless. Running around like headless chickens without any purpose. All noise, and nothing else. Zero end product whatsoever.
How did Auba not score the rebound? Worst then the penalty miss imo.
Pierre what’s the Man United score going to be and tell us Emery formation for next week?
And while you’re at it tell me the lottery numbers?
Samesong he missed rebound because he tried to be cute again, he seems a bit too preoccupied with how he strikes the ball, stylish and all. If he had been a bit more forceful it might have gone in, he made the clearance easy for the defender who was encroaching when the penalty was taken by the way
Alright Y’all… off for a few cold ones myself.. All bantered.. out..
Next match Rennes.. I think Pedro. said he has been following them.. maybe some good posts coming up.
Ahahaha all of the eleven players hounding the ref.
I am still trying to get over our draw. For me, we really missed a hell of an opportunity to try and secure that top 4 spot. Really dissapointed with Auba’s penalty miss. As said by others, he seems to not realise in some cases how some of his misses can be really crucial. That’s where we miss an RvP to create something out of nothing/or like with the pen, make sure it is burried in the net.
Makes our game vs Manure even more important as loosing will certainly not help us at all.
Granit just put up a post on insta and my rage is now gone. ‘We win together lose together draw together’ with Auba head down actually feel quite sorry for him now lol. We all love you Auba!!!
who was encroaching when the penalty was taken by the way
Totally missed that.
How many times is Mustafi going to cost us points did he really have to foul Kane? was the ball actually going to Kane?
CC
Dribbly cunt the other end by contrast is ruthless.
Could not have posted a more accurate description of that cunt Cane. Made me seriously chuckle!
Great post Pedro. I’ve still got a sore throat and my 2 year old has just about recovered from my shouting. She’s not used to seeing her dad a raging lunatic! On BT Sport after the match they had a ref with VAR who went through it all. FIVE and not just Kane Spurs players offside as the free kick was taken, Aubameyang was pushed and was a penalty and there was definate encroachment from Vertonghan so the kick should have been retaken. Also Torreira clearly got the ball first but the type of tackle and contact in the new… Read more »
Upstate, he created the most chances and had a blistering shot on target.
Upstate
“No, no, and no. He created next to nothing. ”
Why three “no”/
Why not continue to chant no, no, no …as you walk off into Sambisa forest
He didn’t have a bad game, could have been more forceful but didn’t do much wrong.
He laid off a pass that Auba should have buried at the end to win the game.
Get over your Iwobi derangement syndrome.
Benny The corruption is across the league. Our refs are underpayed and can only survive on backhanders. Which makes it a sorry sight considering that the PL is the most watched league across the world. Not to mention the huge amounts of money that swirl around this league. Unbelievable that no one in the FA wants to correct this. One reason that has been pointed out before is that there are more refs coming from the North than the South. Creates a bias that should not exist. The best example that football should look up to is refeering in rugby.… Read more »
Really executed the plan well today, very unlucky to not come away with 3 points imo. Impressed with sokratis who is a proper organiser and leader back there, monreal played well and is pretty consistent anyway, miki is showing encouraging signs, and Leno is the best keeper we’ve had in a while. That linesman fucked us today and golden boy Kane should have been banned after the other day anyway but the FA will do anything to protect him. Only is a good point if we go on to beat united, otherwise was a missed opportunity. Can be proud of… Read more »
Good perfomance by the boys except a few but I also have to add that refereeing in the so called ‘best league in the world’ is embarrassing..I was actually arguing with a friend yesterday about there being a possiblity of bribes/bias by referees in the epl and am beginning to get convinced there should be an investigation on some match officials.On another note,ffs how many penalties does that rat Harry Kane have to score against us…it feels like in every NLD that clown has to score a freaking pen.I am so fucking angry right now..Lastly,who else hates the sight of… Read more »
Bribes???
Come on guys
We need var, la liga is miles ahead on that one