It's fair enough to point out and complain about bad referreeing decisions , but you're pissing in the wind if you think some kind of arsenal lead anti PGMOL revolution is in the offing.
You're preaching principles and morals but the Premier League is fundamentally amoral.
Cheating, diving, corruption off the field. It's all 'part of the game', and probably worse in other leagues.
I really don't think there's a comparable sport that has as much endemic deception and skullduggery as modern football. Everyone knows this and it's been this way for decades.
Arsenal fc won't pursue any kind of action against the PGMOL or the premier league.
That's because the club knows it won't get any help at all from any other clubs if it embarks on some kind of crusade.
On the contrary, it would invite derision and mockery.
I'm with you..Some of the woeful and highly suspect refereeing decisions this season have been outrageous and as a fan, it's hard to take but I'm afraid it's a case of:
the country’s pro football league start ref freelancing for a year’s salary for two games
offer the freelancing to prem refs
you will see improvement fast - double yellows in one sequence for liverpool players, red cards for city players for a whatever foul on their own penalty box, sending off of a newcastle player for kicking the ball to a teammate after 0.8 seconds.
Umm...yes it is. Hysterical hyperbole. We know VAR is an irritating blight on many decisions in the game and not remotely neutral or consistent. It has just mechanised the poor decisions refs have made for decades, and worse, has magnified every little error, by both refs and players, into an enormous industry of punditry and the wailing and whining of the online armies of 'experts'.
That is modern football and it is not going to change, unfortunately. But turning it into a paranoid conspiracy against one club alone is just desperate, victimhood-seeking of the type that lots of fans, of all clubs, absolutely love to indulge in. Just ask Millwall, lol.
The notion that we would still be challenging with those decisions is fantasy, because no-one knows how things would have played out with different decisions. You can still hear fans of many clubs deplore a big decision that was made decades ago in a cup final or similar. World Cup Final 66 anyone? Maradona hand ball? And so it goes on.
The fact is that Arsenal haven't been as good this year as last, for a lot of reasons, not least injuries, last summer transfers and the mismanagement of the squad. Oh and no recognised striker for three years.
With all that, to be second and the chance of a big upset in the quarter finals of the CL I don't think you can complain too much. But fans will. They always do. Their team is always the most hard done by. No-one likes them and they are all against us. rinse, repeat, whine.
Enjoy tomorrow night - with few expecting us to win, it is the ideal time to spring a surprise. When you have nothing to lose that is the best time to go full out for it. Stranger things have happened.
PS if the PL suffers a dip in popularity and therefore foreign 'investment', many of us will welcome that. We aren't supporting a corporate brand in some global competition, we are supporting a football club with all of the history, disappointments and occasional triumphs that entails. Who cares if the oligarchs lose interest and the TV networks lose money?
We have to avoid giving up any soft goals, make them work for everything.
He has to play Timber and Saliba as central defenders.. I wouldn't play MLS because defensively, he can be got at. Play Tierney instead as LB. He needs to trust Bew White as RB.
Isn't it time for Ben White to earn his money as a central defender for which he was bought? Why do we have to shift our best right back to a central defence when we are up against one of the best winger in the game? Sounds like shifting partey to the right back to me.
So rather than focus on soft pens and silly red cards people should be asking why we don't have a squad big enough that mitigates injuries or play a style of football that creates and scores freely or have any natural strikers or LBs or 8's in the whole squad. Instead of focusing on outside factors that we can't control we should have got our house in order.
Lol? I'm literally aware of all of that. I'm posting about what we lack as well.
But we were one draw into a win last season from winning the title against City in their prime. We could've been champions this season as well if all was equal.
How is it so incomprehensible that we can be a work in progress and still win the title like any other club has done over the years.
That we aren't perfect, sure. But neither are the other teams. Just referee us properly and we'd be neck and neck with Liverpool during an injury-ridden season.
This is one of those seasons to just forget, not to make excuses for.
We need to learn the right lessons and move on, not offer up excuses.
We were stupendously bad in the last two windows as an organization
The manager's tactical approach and style of play was also poor, he set us up to stop the opposing team from playing and grind out results...but he didn't buy a top quality striker to finish off the few chances we get.
We are also over indulgent on, and too dependent on lots of overrated but too-highly paid players like Odegaard and Havertz.
Also why is the manager playing our record transfer signing AWAY FROM HIS BEST POSITION?
Because we shouldn't have made him our record signing in the first place. Again because we have a better player in that position at the moment and Rice is better than our highest paid player who was actually bought to play in #8 who is now an agriculture striker. In short arteta doesn't know what he wants.
Yea, it's a domino effect of using one flawed signing to cover another flawed signing.
If we ever field a balanced starting 11 of players in their best positions, the bench will be filled with the most expensive misfits on the most lavish wages.
A deep dive into the preferential treatment of Liverpool and into how we've been hard done by is the stuff of untold. Absolutely pointless but I guess it beats a thorough analysis of what's wrong with Arsenal.
What's wrong with Arsenal was enough to reach 84 and 89 points in consecutive seasons.
What's wrong with Arsenal was that even in an injury-ridden season we should be, at worst, tied 1st at this point of the campaign.
What's wrong with Arsenal is that we don't have to be a perfect team to become a champion (just look at Liverpool), and a team with problems can still be the team with the most points at the end of the season.
Your giga critical analysis of why we're imperfect shouldn't be a reason why we can't lift the title same way if we had won the league last season, it wasn't going to be of importance to me saying we need better than Odegaard.
If you think Liverpool are in better shape than Arsenal, you're wrong. I want a perfect squad as well, I'm perfectly aware of the mistakes we've made - I was shitting on Tomiyasu's extension before it even happened while most posters were happy with it, or Jesus and Zinchenko not being sold last summer. I wanted creative and pacey players long time ago.
But I can see we're good enough to be ahead of Pool this season. The biggest factors were PGMOL, injuries and Salah having a generational season. The last two are part of the game, getting consistently fucked by the refs while the other contender gets most decisions in their favor isn't.
We're without a doubt on about -10 points due to ref decisions while Pool are on at least +8 points.
We've got big Manure, Fulham, Everton etc twitter accounts posting about it but we've got Arsenal fans mocking it. Weird one that opposition fans can see it but not our own.
You know you can condense down pretty much everything you say into hot air and waffle. At this point only a literal imbecile looks at how we've been playing for the last number of months and thinks it's been something other than ineffective and boring. You've also got Arsenal fans mocking it because we've been hearing the same shite since the Wenger days. It's 20+ years of ref conspiracies holding us back from trophies is it?
The seasons when we're not competing don't matter. If we're 3rd or 4th, who cares. We've been challenging in the last 2 seasons.
I don't remember much ref drama when Saliba broke down in 22/23. Could be wrong.
Last season the decisions were 2 or 3 - the absurd Newcastle goal and the obvious pen against Villa on Jesus. Still unfair cause City got 2 or 3 in their favor - ridiculous penalties in their favor. So that was a good 5 point swing. But that's par the expectation.
This season it's gone way overboard. Never before seen or repeated again reds and pens. While the other team has been pushed to the title. It's too much and a huge swing. It's not normal.
Oh, I remembered. When they forgot to draw the lines against Brentford, I think. They scored from a mile offside and the refs forgot to draw the lines.
I tell you what's not normal a team going into yet another season without a natural CF or LB and with defensive midfielders played out of position. The squad composition and balance is nowhere near good enough and that means shit football and poor results. We address those things and we don't draw against the likes of Everton or come close to leaving results up to the whim of a referee
Liverpool brought a player with worse availability than Tomiyasu to their club. Their only transfer.
Solid team but nothing special. If Salah is having an off-day, they are fucked, as on display in recent weeks. You'll see where they end up next season.
The fact that Arsenal's team isn't perfect should not matter. We can still be the best team in the country without having a fully balanced/completed/perfect squad.
City have no valid backup of Rodri and Haaland. Their wingers and defenders are quite dodgy, Foden is their Odegaard so he only looks half-decent when it's a smooth sailing, now that KDB is past it and Rodri got injured, they look bad.
Pool have no valid backup of VVD, Trent and Salah. Their midfield is nothing to write home about, Robertson and Konate are not top quality and their idea as a whole is Trent to Salah, rinse and repeat.
There are no perfect teams. We have a shout for being the best of the three, however. At least in one of the three seasons we should have won the title.
Salah isn't having an off-day because they have managed him better because they know his importance to them. Every club has important players but arteta can't manage his well and we blame referees for it
You know the other Liverpool forwards accounted for over 70 goals and assists this season so hardly a one man team. But what does that say about us that we can't beat an apparent one man team
Van Dijk with 6 red cards spared in one season. While we've been buttfucked at every chance they've got even in ridiculous situations. We'd be up there with normal refereeing.
Instead, we get to hear how shit we are and Liverpool are so great. Couldn't be further away from the truth.
You speak like you're some impartial party with no relations to either side. No involvement at all. Content with the situation. Ready to take it up the arse next season again.
Eight Virgil van Dijk incidents that fuel preferential treatment claims
After another contentious call goes the Dutchman’s way, former referee Keith Hackett says officials are failing opposition teams
Telegraph Sport
Liverpool’s match at Fulham was just five minutes’ old when opposition fans hit upon a familiar theme – does Virgil van Dijk deserve his squeaky-clean reputation?
Once again cries of “penalty” were waved away, this time after the 6ft 4in Dutchman had come out flying and clattered into Rodrigo Muniz in a wincing body check.
VAR checks quickly dismissed two appeals, with officials also declaring that a challenge by Caoimhín Kelleher on Andreas Pereira in the same move was “a coming together and not a reckless action”.
Remarkably, Van Dijk was involved in another incident in the 71st minute – just before Luis Diaz made it 3-2 – when he swung a forearm towards the head of Fulham midfielder Sander Berge. But he escaped sanction.
Virgil van Dijk appears to swing a forearm at Fulham's Sander Berge
Virgil van Dijk appears to swing a forearm at the head of Fulham’s Sander Berge but this transgression, too, escaped punishment Credit: Sky Sports
So is the man who has been shown only one red card in his Anfield career really escaping punishment for violent conduct, serious foul play and similar transgressions? And, if so, have officials become dazzled by his status as the world’s greatest centre-back and ability to make defending look effortless?
Telegraph Sport asked Keith Hackett, the former head of Professional Game Match Officials Limited, to re-referee the incidents for which opposition supporters – and in some cases managers – have claimed Van Dijk should have seen red.
Van Dijk v Muniz
PGMOL verdict: The referee’s call of no penalty to Fulham following a challenge by Kelleher on Pereira was checked and confirmed by VAR, with it deemed a coming together and not a reckless action. The VAR also checked and cleared the incident between Van Dijk and Muniz.
Hackett said: Virgil van Dijk once again unfairly impedes his opponent. He knows exactly what he is doing. He has no chance of getting the ball, turns his back and effectively blocks Rodrigo Muniz. Under the old law this may have been obstruction but, under the new law, unfairly impeding equals a direct free-kick – and because this was in the box, it is a penalty kick. Van Dijk is a serial offender and gets away with another one. This came instantly after Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher had carelessly taken out Andreas Pereira. This was also a penalty – no wonder Fulham manager Marco Silva was going mad.
Verdict: PENALTY and YELLOW CARD
Van Dijk v Berge
Hackett said: Van Dijk swings his forearm at Sander Berge from a Fulham corner but it is ignored by the officials, who have a clear view. It is illegal use of the arm. It has excessive force so should be a sending off.
Verdict: RED CARD
Van Dijk v Onana
Just seen the Arsenal red card, reason, 'serious foul play' because it was above the ankle, this one here by van Dijk on Onana was just a yellow card which that slap head Gallagher agreed with, let's see/hear what he says on Monday's #RefWatch pic.twitter.com/Gkv6phTFgf
— Everton Views (@EvertonViews) January 25, 2025
This incident came at the start of the 2022-23 season and a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in which Van Dijk caught Amadou Onana on the “shin” with his studs. Referee Anthony Taylor brandished a yellow card and VAR Darren England did not advise it be upgraded to a red. Everton manager Frank Lampard said afterwards: “I love Van Dijk, as a player he is fantastic, but sometimes you mistime tackles. It was up on Amadou’s shin and Amadou’s foot was on the ground. I’m surprised it hasn’t gone to VAR and they haven’t asked the ref to go and look at it and make the correct decision.”
Hackett said: “Van Dijk’s challenge used excessive force and endangered the safety of his opponent, using his outstretched right leg, with studs landing on the shin of his opponent. The challenge fulfilled the criteria for serious foul play.”
Verdict: RED CARD
Van Dijk v Trusty
Van Dijk looks at Trusty and then puts his hands around his neck.
Ref sees it as stops the corner from being taken.
Given players been sent off for that this season, anyone surprised Van Dijk walks away without even a warning?!
The next incident came towards the end of last season during Liverpool’s home game against Sheffield United, in which Van Dijk grabbed Auston Trusty around the neck and pushed him to the floor. No action was taken by referee Stuart Attwell or VAR Chris Kavanagh. Manchester United fans compared Van Dijk’s conduct to that in which Casemiro was sent off for grabbing Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes around the neck the previous year.
Hackett said: “Van Dijk, using his left hand, grabs his opponent around the throat and then holds on to him and pushes him to the ground. When I ran PGMOL, this would have been an automatic red-card offence but it is not punished as often now.”
Verdict: RED CARD
The remaining four incidents have all taken place this season as Liverpool stormed to the top of the Premier League, romped into the last 16 of the Champions League and reached the EFL Cup final.
Van Dijk v Havertz
I had to rewatch MOTD2 this morning just to make sure I actually heard this properly.. @StephenWarnock3 saying "there's no kicking out as such", after he's just watched Van Dijk kick Havertz twice 😂 pic.twitter.com/GVSgr70j5J
— Catherine 🌹 (@cathxafc) October 28, 2024
During the league showdown at Arsenal in October, Van Dijk used his arm to fend off Kai Havertz, who grabbed the Dutchman’s shirt before receiving two swift kicks in response. Referee Taylor awarded a foul, while VAR Michael Salisbury decided the incident did not merit a red card.
Hackett said: “Whilst attempting to kick an opponent is a red-card offence, because Van Dijk’s actions lacked a degree of brutality and limited force, I do feel that the referee should have produced a yellow card for an act of unsporting behaviour.”
Verdict: YELLOW CARD
Van Dijk v Gordon
Where would Liverpool be this season if Van Dijk was rightfully sent off in these 5 incidents?
The next incident occurred in Liverpool’s thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle United at the start of December. Newcastle were 1-0 up when Van Dijk knocked over Anthony Gordon in the box while both players were nowhere near the ball. Referee Andy Madley did not award a penalty, a decision VAR Attwell did not view as a clear and obvious error. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said afterwards: “I think VAR looked at it and concluded nothing happened, so we have to accept it. I was surprised by it initially though.”
Hackett said: “Gordon was brought down to the ground by a late and deliberate body check, Van Dijk deliberately changing direction to move in front of and use his shoulder against his opponent. This should have resulted in a penalty kick and a minimum yellow card.”
Verdict: PENALTY AND YELLOW CARD
Van Dijk v Solanke
Seems Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is very angry about Lucas Bergvall escaping a 2nd yellow…
Did he have anything to say about this vicious stamp on Dominic Solanke?! 👀🤔
— Football Confidential 🌐 (@footballconfid1) January 8, 2025
Almost a month before the Richarlison incident, Van Dijk was accused of raking his studs down the back of Dominic Solanke’s calf during the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Referee Attwell took no action.
Hackett said: “You’ve got contact with the bottom of Van Dijk’s right foot into the calf of the player. Definite yellow.”
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 6, 2025
Assessing the clash, for which Craig Pawson did not even award Spurs a foul, Hackett said: “If in this incident the referee had issued a red card, there would have been no intervention by VAR. The very minimum sanction that should have been issued was a yellow card for a reckless act. When reviewing this type of incident for a red card, you are looking for a clenched fist, a bent arm and a backward movement of the arm and elbow with excessive force.”
Verdict: YELLOW CARD
Of the seven incidents examined by Hackett, all but one have occurred since Van Dijk became Liverpool captain in the summer of 2023. Hackett suggested this could be behind the perceived lack of action taken over them, rather than it being a case of the player’s reputation preceding him.
Hackett said: “One of the things we need to understand is that, one hour before a game kicks off, Virgil van Dijk will, with his manager, go into the referee’s dressing room and be introduced. He will then be seen as a bit of a conduit between the officials and the players in terms of behaviour.
“I just wonder whether the conversations between the referee and Van Dijk are fairly amicable and that the referees are falling into a trap.
“But there is no doubt as far as I’m concerned that this player has become a serial offender and match officials are failing to apply the appropriate sanctions.”
Another elbow Tom. How many this season?! How many before he gets any punishment? I'm not sure the ref has given a foul to either of his elbows, let alone yellows or reds.
Even with a straight arm, shouldn’t that be a foul and a yellow at a minimum? I mean he wasn’t using his arms to jump for a header or push a player away. He was intentionally swinging his arm backwards hard enough to bust the other player’s nose if his head was not turned slightly. I don’t know how that is not with intent to hurt a player.
It looked very similar in its action to what Sadio’elbows’ Mane used to get away with weekly.perhaps it’s something they practise in training at Liverpool.Must say they’re v.good at it.
You could argue Pool should’ve conceded a pen on that play ( clown car defending instigated by Konate ) when the keeper wiped out the Fulham attacker but the VVD involvement was a simple coming together/clash of bodies.
I have only been following Arsenal and the PL for a few years so I do not know the history. Why do people say Arsenal is hated more than anyone else might hate a rival?
As far as the refereeing, I blame VAR more than the referee on the field. MLS was beat on that play so even though I think it was a 50/50 if you want to call the foul okay, but VAR can see it started before the penalty box. Is that not the rule? Is it not the whole point of VAR is to be able to have time to take a proper look?
I suspect, Manchester United and Chelsea are 'hated' more than Arsenal.
The problem with VAR is that the officials are usually mates of the ref on the pitch and are supportive of him. The system should always be about getting the right decision and at the moment it fails to do that. The idea that it should be a 'clear and obvious ' error to overturn a decision made in a split second without the benefit of replays from different angles and slow motion, is ridiculous.
I would argue as a matter of course, if a penalty decision is tight, the referee should ALWAYS go to the monitor. Then, just like in rugby, we should hear the conversation between VAR and the ref, talking through how they see it and agree a decision based on the TV pictures and NOT based on the original on field decision. The pictures should also be seen in the ground.
With the lack of transparency, the grey area of 'clear and obvious' and the sense that the VAR official is somehow being disloyal to question the on field decision, it makes it all about the ref and not all about getting the right decision. PGMOL needs to be broken up as it is run like a Northern cabal where refs are pathetically defensive and not putting the game first.
I could go on as various rules should be simplified to make the refs job easier but I'll stop!
I am played rugby a little bit, but don’t follow it so I don’t know how VAR works.
In American football the coaches are limited to a couple of challenges so it does not slow the game down, but the referee does walk over to the monitor.
I don’t want the game to slow down anymore that it has (I mean goals can not even be enjoyed anymore), but on game changing calls is it too much to ask for the referee to run to the monitor real quick? I get not wanting to call out your mate, so just let them get a second look. It’s impossible to see everything all the time.
Oh, and VAR should be able to rule on blatant fouls when the referee’s back is turned. Like blocking Raya yesterday and that BS karate chop Guimaraes did in the middle of the field a few years ago. No matter how good he is, I think he crosses the line, is a dirty player, and hope he never plays for us.
Trey I can help you with that mate it's a victim mentality thing. During the Wenger years there was a particular group of fans and a couple blogs that were pushing the PGMOL and referee conspiracy theories when success dried up and we became stagnant. Now you have a similar situation after we haven't won anything the last couple seasons. It's basically an easy cop out to blame others than to look inwards.
I like Arteta and his passion. Watching the TV show about Arsenal was the reason I started following him. I think everyone can agree he has made some mistakes and he is still learning, but some fans take winning for granted. Imagine poor Everton fans. Their club may not be in the top money wise (I know paying for the stadium hinders them), but they are middle of the pack yet they have been fighting relegation for the past 3 or more years.
And plenty of teams in American football have never won anything and suck almost every year. I think we should be ecstatic about our performance this year. Thank goodness for our defense or we could be Spurs.
Our cup match against united this season, we could do anything and get away with it the way they officiating was in our favour. Even if we scored by throwing the ball into the net. But what happened? United played 10 against 13 and still dumped us out. But some are here crying because we weren't allowed to beat mighty Everton because of a soft penalty. What arteta did to hypnotize the owner and the fanbase needs to be investigated.
So you’re saying that it’s not reasonable to complain about a penalty decision that cost us 2pts? We’re football fans ffs!
You want to make it to be all about blaming Arteta and you think the fan base' who is atm is happy with him, are being unreasonable.
I’m not an apologist for Arteta but sometimes this blinkered black and white narrative that he’s lost us the PL in the last three years comes across as deluded.
You believe he should be gone, sure but give it a rest!
I think maybe if we went on othe fan blogs, they'd be all up in arms about the same issues, it's a systematic problem and not some big conspiracy against Arsenal to stop us never winning anything again.
The refs are not against Arsenal football club if not we'd probably not have won any single trophies this far
First off Bob you don't speak for the fanbase and secondly it's far from delusional to think that we would have won the league last season had Saliba not gotten injured or we had backup or we would have won the league this season had we got a striker and not defensive players last summer.
First off Marko, no I don't speak for the fanbase but I do attend pretty much every home match and I can hear the crowd sing his name numerous times every match.
How do you base your take, 'Londonisred'? If you base it on Legrove I suspect a disproportionate number of readers broadly take the view that he's done a decent job but if next season stills sees us fall short after being supported in this summer's TW, then his time is up and significantly, don't post!
Counting up the posters on here who are rabidly anti Arteta and chip away on most days,hardly backs up the argument that most people think everything wrong at Arsenal is his fault.
My take being that not everyone is happy with him as you claim? I mean common sense suggests that not everyone is happy with the manager responsible for how we're performing, responsible for the transfers and how players are available.
'Not everyone is happy with him as you claim.' I did not say that, you are putting words into my mouth.
What I said was:
'I suspect a disproportionate number of readers broadly take the view that he's done a decent job but if next season stills sees us fall short after being supported in this summer's TW, then his time is up.'
I backed that up by saying that those who sing(not everyone!), chant his name several times, every single game.
It's fecking obvious not everybody likes him as there are repetitive posters who cannot stop themselves from droning on about how much they dislike Arteta.
Xavi won the title for Barcelona in his first season but lost out in his second season. Barcelona didn't play on sentiment (he is a far far far greater legend than arteta is to Everton, because we have too many legends to consider arteta a legend), they sack him and now they are on their way to the title despite Madrid buying the best forward in the world. But arteta fans want us to worship him because he has brought us from third tier mid table club to the elite class.
Guardiola has won 5 in 6. Ferguson won 10 in 14. Epl is easier by all accounts and epl is the home of cheating and the league management DO NOT HAVE THE BALLS like la liga and série a to act.
Leicester getting molested by Newcastle
Ruud is one of the worst premier league manager appointments of all time.
They should have left Steve Cooper in charge
Have Zero expectations for tomorrow night.
I have high expectations but I won't be going after anyone if we don't get past Madrid.
What I fear will happen is we eke a win over Madrid by penalties next week to win the tie and then lose to Emery in the semi finals
Call it the curse of Pedro 😁😁😁
Pedro
It's fair enough to point out and complain about bad referreeing decisions , but you're pissing in the wind if you think some kind of arsenal lead anti PGMOL revolution is in the offing.
You're preaching principles and morals but the Premier League is fundamentally amoral.
Cheating, diving, corruption off the field. It's all 'part of the game', and probably worse in other leagues.
I really don't think there's a comparable sport that has as much endemic deception and skullduggery as modern football. Everyone knows this and it's been this way for decades.
Arsenal fc won't pursue any kind of action against the PGMOL or the premier league.
That's because the club knows it won't get any help at all from any other clubs if it embarks on some kind of crusade.
On the contrary, it would invite derision and mockery.
I'm with you..Some of the woeful and highly suspect refereeing decisions this season have been outrageous and as a fan, it's hard to take but I'm afraid it's a case of:
'move along , nothing to see here'.
there is a solution, actually a pretty easy one
kroenke buys a country
the country’s pro football league start ref freelancing for a year’s salary for two games
offer the freelancing to prem refs
you will see improvement fast - double yellows in one sequence for liverpool players, red cards for city players for a whatever foul on their own penalty box, sending off of a newcastle player for kicking the ball to a teammate after 0.8 seconds.
free consulting service, you’re welcome
"That’s not bias, hyperbole, or excuse-making"
Umm...yes it is. Hysterical hyperbole. We know VAR is an irritating blight on many decisions in the game and not remotely neutral or consistent. It has just mechanised the poor decisions refs have made for decades, and worse, has magnified every little error, by both refs and players, into an enormous industry of punditry and the wailing and whining of the online armies of 'experts'.
That is modern football and it is not going to change, unfortunately. But turning it into a paranoid conspiracy against one club alone is just desperate, victimhood-seeking of the type that lots of fans, of all clubs, absolutely love to indulge in. Just ask Millwall, lol.
The notion that we would still be challenging with those decisions is fantasy, because no-one knows how things would have played out with different decisions. You can still hear fans of many clubs deplore a big decision that was made decades ago in a cup final or similar. World Cup Final 66 anyone? Maradona hand ball? And so it goes on.
The fact is that Arsenal haven't been as good this year as last, for a lot of reasons, not least injuries, last summer transfers and the mismanagement of the squad. Oh and no recognised striker for three years.
With all that, to be second and the chance of a big upset in the quarter finals of the CL I don't think you can complain too much. But fans will. They always do. Their team is always the most hard done by. No-one likes them and they are all against us. rinse, repeat, whine.
Enjoy tomorrow night - with few expecting us to win, it is the ideal time to spring a surprise. When you have nothing to lose that is the best time to go full out for it. Stranger things have happened.
👍
PS if the PL suffers a dip in popularity and therefore foreign 'investment', many of us will welcome that. We aren't supporting a corporate brand in some global competition, we are supporting a football club with all of the history, disappointments and occasional triumphs that entails. Who cares if the oligarchs lose interest and the TV networks lose money?
Boom
Great comment
The “investment” has actually made the game worse
We have a chance tomorrow when you think of it
We have to avoid giving up any soft goals, make them work for everything.
He has to play Timber and Saliba as central defenders.. I wouldn't play MLS because defensively, he can be got at. Play Tierney instead as LB. He needs to trust Bew White as RB.
Isn't it time for Ben White to earn his money as a central defender for which he was bought? Why do we have to shift our best right back to a central defence when we are up against one of the best winger in the game? Sounds like shifting partey to the right back to me.
Jurriën Timber is a center back too, he's been played out of position, same as Ben White.
His skill set at center back against a very speedy Madrid attack will be better than BW
and c'mon BW s pretty good at RB too so the analogy of Partey as RB is gross hyperbole.
BW played as a RCB in a 3 man defence for BH before we signed him. He's actually an average CB in a 2 man defence
Olumide is the one who wants BW as CB, I want him in the RB role.
Timber is quicker and more nimble as center back imo.
Tomiyasu was being preferred to white against speedy wingers when both were fit. Playing central defence in Holland isn't the same in the epl.
We are talking about playing center back in a CL game. He played CB for Ajax in the CL before he came to Arsenal.
So rather than focus on soft pens and silly red cards people should be asking why we don't have a squad big enough that mitigates injuries or play a style of football that creates and scores freely or have any natural strikers or LBs or 8's in the whole squad. Instead of focusing on outside factors that we can't control we should have got our house in order.
raptora is impervious to reason
You're wasting your time
You do have to admit that Pedro has made his blog the new untold Arsenal.
Lol? I'm literally aware of all of that. I'm posting about what we lack as well.
But we were one draw into a win last season from winning the title against City in their prime. We could've been champions this season as well if all was equal.
How is it so incomprehensible that we can be a work in progress and still win the title like any other club has done over the years.
That we aren't perfect, sure. But neither are the other teams. Just referee us properly and we'd be neck and neck with Liverpool during an injury-ridden season.
This is one of those seasons to just forget, not to make excuses for.
We need to learn the right lessons and move on, not offer up excuses.
We were stupendously bad in the last two windows as an organization
The manager's tactical approach and style of play was also poor, he set us up to stop the opposing team from playing and grind out results...but he didn't buy a top quality striker to finish off the few chances we get.
We are also over indulgent on, and too dependent on lots of overrated but too-highly paid players like Odegaard and Havertz.
Also why is the manager playing our record transfer signing AWAY FROM HIS BEST POSITION?
Because we shouldn't have made him our record signing in the first place. Again because we have a better player in that position at the moment and Rice is better than our highest paid player who was actually bought to play in #8 who is now an agriculture striker. In short arteta doesn't know what he wants.
Yea, it's a domino effect of using one flawed signing to cover another flawed signing.
If we ever field a balanced starting 11 of players in their best positions, the bench will be filled with the most expensive misfits on the most lavish wages.
Transactionals style of football is physically damaging the players and mentally damaging to the fanboys. e.g (MrsSerge, Rich, fence sitter)
I’d argue it’s more mentally damaging to the mong brigade who’d rather we lose under Arteta to feel some sense of superiority
Merino at CF is mong football
The type of football we are playing is causing referees to suffer from neurosis.
A deep dive into the preferential treatment of Liverpool and into how we've been hard done by is the stuff of untold. Absolutely pointless but I guess it beats a thorough analysis of what's wrong with Arsenal.
What's wrong with Arsenal was enough to reach 84 and 89 points in consecutive seasons.
What's wrong with Arsenal was that even in an injury-ridden season we should be, at worst, tied 1st at this point of the campaign.
What's wrong with Arsenal is that we don't have to be a perfect team to become a champion (just look at Liverpool), and a team with problems can still be the team with the most points at the end of the season.
Your giga critical analysis of why we're imperfect shouldn't be a reason why we can't lift the title same way if we had won the league last season, it wasn't going to be of importance to me saying we need better than Odegaard.
If you think Liverpool are in better shape than Arsenal, you're wrong. I want a perfect squad as well, I'm perfectly aware of the mistakes we've made - I was shitting on Tomiyasu's extension before it even happened while most posters were happy with it, or Jesus and Zinchenko not being sold last summer. I wanted creative and pacey players long time ago.
But I can see we're good enough to be ahead of Pool this season. The biggest factors were PGMOL, injuries and Salah having a generational season. The last two are part of the game, getting consistently fucked by the refs while the other contender gets most decisions in their favor isn't.
We're without a doubt on about -10 points due to ref decisions while Pool are on at least +8 points.
We've got big Manure, Fulham, Everton etc twitter accounts posting about it but we've got Arsenal fans mocking it. Weird one that opposition fans can see it but not our own.
You know you can condense down pretty much everything you say into hot air and waffle. At this point only a literal imbecile looks at how we've been playing for the last number of months and thinks it's been something other than ineffective and boring. You've also got Arsenal fans mocking it because we've been hearing the same shite since the Wenger days. It's 20+ years of ref conspiracies holding us back from trophies is it?
Well,if the cap fits.Think I’ve said it before.” Conspiracies.No.”- unconcious or deliberate bias.Yes.Certainly.
The seasons when we're not competing don't matter. If we're 3rd or 4th, who cares. We've been challenging in the last 2 seasons.
I don't remember much ref drama when Saliba broke down in 22/23. Could be wrong.
Last season the decisions were 2 or 3 - the absurd Newcastle goal and the obvious pen against Villa on Jesus. Still unfair cause City got 2 or 3 in their favor - ridiculous penalties in their favor. So that was a good 5 point swing. But that's par the expectation.
This season it's gone way overboard. Never before seen or repeated again reds and pens. While the other team has been pushed to the title. It's too much and a huge swing. It's not normal.
Oh, I remembered. When they forgot to draw the lines against Brentford, I think. They scored from a mile offside and the refs forgot to draw the lines.
We lost the title last season because arteta decided to play his two pet project at the same time. Jesus and havertz against villa.
I tell you what's not normal a team going into yet another season without a natural CF or LB and with defensive midfielders played out of position. The squad composition and balance is nowhere near good enough and that means shit football and poor results. We address those things and we don't draw against the likes of Everton or come close to leaving results up to the whim of a referee
Liverpool brought a player with worse availability than Tomiyasu to their club. Their only transfer.
Solid team but nothing special. If Salah is having an off-day, they are fucked, as on display in recent weeks. You'll see where they end up next season.
The fact that Arsenal's team isn't perfect should not matter. We can still be the best team in the country without having a fully balanced/completed/perfect squad.
City have no valid backup of Rodri and Haaland. Their wingers and defenders are quite dodgy, Foden is their Odegaard so he only looks half-decent when it's a smooth sailing, now that KDB is past it and Rodri got injured, they look bad.
Pool have no valid backup of VVD, Trent and Salah. Their midfield is nothing to write home about, Robertson and Konate are not top quality and their idea as a whole is Trent to Salah, rinse and repeat.
There are no perfect teams. We have a shout for being the best of the three, however. At least in one of the three seasons we should have won the title.
Salah isn't having an off-day because they have managed him better because they know his importance to them. Every club has important players but arteta can't manage his well and we blame referees for it
If Salah is having an off-day, they are fucked
You know the other Liverpool forwards accounted for over 70 goals and assists this season so hardly a one man team. But what does that say about us that we can't beat an apparent one man team
Jeez raptora, you need to maybe just pick up some other sport in your free time, Liverpool are champions of England either way
Van Dijk with 6 red cards spared in one season. While we've been buttfucked at every chance they've got even in ridiculous situations. We'd be up there with normal refereeing.
Instead, we get to hear how shit we are and Liverpool are so great. Couldn't be further away from the truth.
You speak like you're some impartial party with no relations to either side. No involvement at all. Content with the situation. Ready to take it up the arse next season again.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/04/06/virgil-van-dijk-referee-decisions-preferential-treatment/
Eight Virgil van Dijk incidents that fuel preferential treatment claims
After another contentious call goes the Dutchman’s way, former referee Keith Hackett says officials are failing opposition teams
Telegraph Sport
Liverpool’s match at Fulham was just five minutes’ old when opposition fans hit upon a familiar theme – does Virgil van Dijk deserve his squeaky-clean reputation?
Once again cries of “penalty” were waved away, this time after the 6ft 4in Dutchman had come out flying and clattered into Rodrigo Muniz in a wincing body check.
VAR checks quickly dismissed two appeals, with officials also declaring that a challenge by Caoimhín Kelleher on Andreas Pereira in the same move was “a coming together and not a reckless action”.
Remarkably, Van Dijk was involved in another incident in the 71st minute – just before Luis Diaz made it 3-2 – when he swung a forearm towards the head of Fulham midfielder Sander Berge. But he escaped sanction.
Virgil van Dijk appears to swing a forearm at Fulham's Sander Berge
Virgil van Dijk appears to swing a forearm at the head of Fulham’s Sander Berge but this transgression, too, escaped punishment Credit: Sky Sports
So is the man who has been shown only one red card in his Anfield career really escaping punishment for violent conduct, serious foul play and similar transgressions? And, if so, have officials become dazzled by his status as the world’s greatest centre-back and ability to make defending look effortless?
Telegraph Sport asked Keith Hackett, the former head of Professional Game Match Officials Limited, to re-referee the incidents for which opposition supporters – and in some cases managers – have claimed Van Dijk should have seen red.
Van Dijk v Muniz
PGMOL verdict: The referee’s call of no penalty to Fulham following a challenge by Kelleher on Pereira was checked and confirmed by VAR, with it deemed a coming together and not a reckless action. The VAR also checked and cleared the incident between Van Dijk and Muniz.
Hackett said: Virgil van Dijk once again unfairly impedes his opponent. He knows exactly what he is doing. He has no chance of getting the ball, turns his back and effectively blocks Rodrigo Muniz. Under the old law this may have been obstruction but, under the new law, unfairly impeding equals a direct free-kick – and because this was in the box, it is a penalty kick. Van Dijk is a serial offender and gets away with another one. This came instantly after Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher had carelessly taken out Andreas Pereira. This was also a penalty – no wonder Fulham manager Marco Silva was going mad.
Verdict: PENALTY and YELLOW CARD
Van Dijk v Berge
Hackett said: Van Dijk swings his forearm at Sander Berge from a Fulham corner but it is ignored by the officials, who have a clear view. It is illegal use of the arm. It has excessive force so should be a sending off.
Verdict: RED CARD
Van Dijk v Onana
Just seen the Arsenal red card, reason, 'serious foul play' because it was above the ankle, this one here by van Dijk on Onana was just a yellow card which that slap head Gallagher agreed with, let's see/hear what he says on Monday's #RefWatch pic.twitter.com/Gkv6phTFgf
— Everton Views (@EvertonViews) January 25, 2025
This incident came at the start of the 2022-23 season and a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in which Van Dijk caught Amadou Onana on the “shin” with his studs. Referee Anthony Taylor brandished a yellow card and VAR Darren England did not advise it be upgraded to a red. Everton manager Frank Lampard said afterwards: “I love Van Dijk, as a player he is fantastic, but sometimes you mistime tackles. It was up on Amadou’s shin and Amadou’s foot was on the ground. I’m surprised it hasn’t gone to VAR and they haven’t asked the ref to go and look at it and make the correct decision.”
Hackett said: “Van Dijk’s challenge used excessive force and endangered the safety of his opponent, using his outstretched right leg, with studs landing on the shin of his opponent. The challenge fulfilled the criteria for serious foul play.”
Verdict: RED CARD
Van Dijk v Trusty
Van Dijk looks at Trusty and then puts his hands around his neck.
Ref sees it as stops the corner from being taken.
Given players been sent off for that this season, anyone surprised Van Dijk walks away without even a warning?!
Very very odd officiating. pic.twitter.com/AXXeaKRwev
— CAPEL (@laurencecapel) April 4, 2024
The next incident came towards the end of last season during Liverpool’s home game against Sheffield United, in which Van Dijk grabbed Auston Trusty around the neck and pushed him to the floor. No action was taken by referee Stuart Attwell or VAR Chris Kavanagh. Manchester United fans compared Van Dijk’s conduct to that in which Casemiro was sent off for grabbing Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes around the neck the previous year.
Hackett said: “Van Dijk, using his left hand, grabs his opponent around the throat and then holds on to him and pushes him to the ground. When I ran PGMOL, this would have been an automatic red-card offence but it is not punished as often now.”
Verdict: RED CARD
The remaining four incidents have all taken place this season as Liverpool stormed to the top of the Premier League, romped into the last 16 of the Champions League and reached the EFL Cup final.
Van Dijk v Havertz
I had to rewatch MOTD2 this morning just to make sure I actually heard this properly.. @StephenWarnock3 saying "there's no kicking out as such", after he's just watched Van Dijk kick Havertz twice 😂 pic.twitter.com/GVSgr70j5J
— Catherine 🌹 (@cathxafc) October 28, 2024
During the league showdown at Arsenal in October, Van Dijk used his arm to fend off Kai Havertz, who grabbed the Dutchman’s shirt before receiving two swift kicks in response. Referee Taylor awarded a foul, while VAR Michael Salisbury decided the incident did not merit a red card.
Hackett said: “Whilst attempting to kick an opponent is a red-card offence, because Van Dijk’s actions lacked a degree of brutality and limited force, I do feel that the referee should have produced a yellow card for an act of unsporting behaviour.”
Verdict: YELLOW CARD
Van Dijk v Gordon
Where would Liverpool be this season if Van Dijk was rightfully sent off in these 5 incidents?
- Shoulder to the head of Gordon
- Kick out at Havertz
- Elbow on Richarlison
- Elbow on Ouattara
- Stamp on Solanke
All unpunished. LiVARpool cheating to a title win again. pic.twitter.com/kodkkx4QVy
— 🍊 (@KPmufc) February 7, 2025
The next incident occurred in Liverpool’s thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle United at the start of December. Newcastle were 1-0 up when Van Dijk knocked over Anthony Gordon in the box while both players were nowhere near the ball. Referee Andy Madley did not award a penalty, a decision VAR Attwell did not view as a clear and obvious error. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said afterwards: “I think VAR looked at it and concluded nothing happened, so we have to accept it. I was surprised by it initially though.”
Hackett said: “Gordon was brought down to the ground by a late and deliberate body check, Van Dijk deliberately changing direction to move in front of and use his shoulder against his opponent. This should have resulted in a penalty kick and a minimum yellow card.”
Verdict: PENALTY AND YELLOW CARD
Van Dijk v Solanke
Seems Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is very angry about Lucas Bergvall escaping a 2nd yellow…
Did he have anything to say about this vicious stamp on Dominic Solanke?! 👀🤔
No…? Funny that! 😂😭😭pic.twitter.com/E45dXgnhY9 https://t.co/SoRvkXUPZ3
— Football Confidential 🌐 (@footballconfid1) January 8, 2025
Almost a month before the Richarlison incident, Van Dijk was accused of raking his studs down the back of Dominic Solanke’s calf during the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Referee Attwell took no action.
Hackett said: “You’ve got contact with the bottom of Van Dijk’s right foot into the calf of the player. Definite yellow.”
Verdict: YELLOW CARD
Van Dijk v Richarlison
Was Van Dijk lucky to escape punishment for this challenge on Richarlison? 👇 pic.twitter.com/Ng7E5YAIDv
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 6, 2025
Assessing the clash, for which Craig Pawson did not even award Spurs a foul, Hackett said: “If in this incident the referee had issued a red card, there would have been no intervention by VAR. The very minimum sanction that should have been issued was a yellow card for a reckless act. When reviewing this type of incident for a red card, you are looking for a clenched fist, a bent arm and a backward movement of the arm and elbow with excessive force.”
Verdict: YELLOW CARD
Of the seven incidents examined by Hackett, all but one have occurred since Van Dijk became Liverpool captain in the summer of 2023. Hackett suggested this could be behind the perceived lack of action taken over them, rather than it being a case of the player’s reputation preceding him.
Hackett said: “One of the things we need to understand is that, one hour before a game kicks off, Virgil van Dijk will, with his manager, go into the referee’s dressing room and be introduced. He will then be seen as a bit of a conduit between the officials and the players in terms of behaviour.
“I just wonder whether the conversations between the referee and Van Dijk are fairly amicable and that the referees are falling into a trap.
“But there is no doubt as far as I’m concerned that this player has become a serial offender and match officials are failing to apply the appropriate sanctions.”
Part of the article:
Where would Liverpool be this season if Van Dijk was rightfully sent off in these 5 incidents?
- Shoulder to the head of Gordon
- Kick out at Havertz
- Elbow on Richarlison
- Elbow on Ouattara
- Stamp on Solanke
And that's before yesterday's game against Fulham where he committed yet another one red card offence.
Been saying it for months but some of our own Arsenal fans that shit on our team consistently, say there's nothing there.
Only a complete moron thinks VVD deserved a red for anything he did yesterday.
https://x.com/UTD_INEOS_ERA/status/1908891082735202309
Another elbow Tom. How many this season?! How many before he gets any punishment? I'm not sure the ref has given a foul to either of his elbows, let alone yellows or reds.
A compilation - https://x.com/KPmufc/status/1887807317812383813
Absolutely nothing to see there, right.
If this is what you consider throwing an elbow ( straight arm swing) I’m at a loss for words raps.
Yellow at best.
If you told me you saw a cock and pair of hairy balls, I’d have to consider at this point you were probably looking at a vagina.
Even with a straight arm, shouldn’t that be a foul and a yellow at a minimum? I mean he wasn’t using his arms to jump for a header or push a player away. He was intentionally swinging his arm backwards hard enough to bust the other player’s nose if his head was not turned slightly. I don’t know how that is not with intent to hurt a player.
Yea, it probably should.
The problem is VAR can’t recommend yellows or fouls unless it’s a pen.
It looked very similar in its action to what Sadio’elbows’ Mane used to get away with weekly.perhaps it’s something they practise in training at Liverpool.Must say they’re v.good at it.
You're subjective to the situation in an unexpected for an Arsenal fan way.
There are compilations of his offences. Meanwhile we get reds for ridiculous stuff. Come on. You're having a laugh.
I don’t do bias, on any subject, ever.
I just told you Pool should’ve conceded a pen on the very same play you were concentrating wrongly on VVD.
Your own bias prevents you from seeing the real foul on the play which was keeper wiping out attacker with ball still in play.
You could argue Pool should’ve conceded a pen on that play ( clown car defending instigated by Konate ) when the keeper wiped out the Fulham attacker but the VVD involvement was a simple coming together/clash of bodies.
I have only been following Arsenal and the PL for a few years so I do not know the history. Why do people say Arsenal is hated more than anyone else might hate a rival?
As far as the refereeing, I blame VAR more than the referee on the field. MLS was beat on that play so even though I think it was a 50/50 if you want to call the foul okay, but VAR can see it started before the penalty box. Is that not the rule? Is it not the whole point of VAR is to be able to have time to take a proper look?
I suspect, Manchester United and Chelsea are 'hated' more than Arsenal.
The problem with VAR is that the officials are usually mates of the ref on the pitch and are supportive of him. The system should always be about getting the right decision and at the moment it fails to do that. The idea that it should be a 'clear and obvious ' error to overturn a decision made in a split second without the benefit of replays from different angles and slow motion, is ridiculous.
I would argue as a matter of course, if a penalty decision is tight, the referee should ALWAYS go to the monitor. Then, just like in rugby, we should hear the conversation between VAR and the ref, talking through how they see it and agree a decision based on the TV pictures and NOT based on the original on field decision. The pictures should also be seen in the ground.
With the lack of transparency, the grey area of 'clear and obvious' and the sense that the VAR official is somehow being disloyal to question the on field decision, it makes it all about the ref and not all about getting the right decision. PGMOL needs to be broken up as it is run like a Northern cabal where refs are pathetically defensive and not putting the game first.
I could go on as various rules should be simplified to make the refs job easier but I'll stop!
I am played rugby a little bit, but don’t follow it so I don’t know how VAR works.
In American football the coaches are limited to a couple of challenges so it does not slow the game down, but the referee does walk over to the monitor.
I don’t want the game to slow down anymore that it has (I mean goals can not even be enjoyed anymore), but on game changing calls is it too much to ask for the referee to run to the monitor real quick? I get not wanting to call out your mate, so just let them get a second look. It’s impossible to see everything all the time.
Oh, and VAR should be able to rule on blatant fouls when the referee’s back is turned. Like blocking Raya yesterday and that BS karate chop Guimaraes did in the middle of the field a few years ago. No matter how good he is, I think he crosses the line, is a dirty player, and hope he never plays for us.
Trey I can help you with that mate it's a victim mentality thing. During the Wenger years there was a particular group of fans and a couple blogs that were pushing the PGMOL and referee conspiracy theories when success dried up and we became stagnant. Now you have a similar situation after we haven't won anything the last couple seasons. It's basically an easy cop out to blame others than to look inwards.
Hahahahaha
Hahahahah
Victim mentality thing
Coming from you!!??
That is fucking irony at its finest
Tell us your pronouns again buttercup
Wrong.But I can’t be arsed to keep repeating the facts ad NauseumTheres more to life.
I like Arteta and his passion. Watching the TV show about Arsenal was the reason I started following him. I think everyone can agree he has made some mistakes and he is still learning, but some fans take winning for granted. Imagine poor Everton fans. Their club may not be in the top money wise (I know paying for the stadium hinders them), but they are middle of the pack yet they have been fighting relegation for the past 3 or more years.
And plenty of teams in American football have never won anything and suck almost every year. I think we should be ecstatic about our performance this year. Thank goodness for our defense or we could be Spurs.
Our cup match against united this season, we could do anything and get away with it the way they officiating was in our favour. Even if we scored by throwing the ball into the net. But what happened? United played 10 against 13 and still dumped us out. But some are here crying because we weren't allowed to beat mighty Everton because of a soft penalty. What arteta did to hypnotize the owner and the fanbase needs to be investigated.
So you’re saying that it’s not reasonable to complain about a penalty decision that cost us 2pts? We’re football fans ffs!
You want to make it to be all about blaming Arteta and you think the fan base' who is atm is happy with him, are being unreasonable.
I’m not an apologist for Arteta but sometimes this blinkered black and white narrative that he’s lost us the PL in the last three years comes across as deluded.
You believe he should be gone, sure but give it a rest!
"I’m not an apologist for Arteta"
LOL.
You probably think nuance is somebody mispronouncing 'you nonce'.
Stop trying to be witty, you brown nosing old cunt. It's not your strong suit.
I think maybe if we went on othe fan blogs, they'd be all up in arms about the same issues, it's a systematic problem and not some big conspiracy against Arsenal to stop us never winning anything again.
The refs are not against Arsenal football club if not we'd probably not have won any single trophies this far
First off Bob you don't speak for the fanbase and secondly it's far from delusional to think that we would have won the league last season had Saliba not gotten injured or we had backup or we would have won the league this season had we got a striker and not defensive players last summer.
First off Marko, no I don't speak for the fanbase but I do attend pretty much every home match and I can hear the crowd sing his name numerous times every match.
How do you base your take, 'Londonisred'? If you base it on Legrove I suspect a disproportionate number of readers broadly take the view that he's done a decent job but if next season stills sees us fall short after being supported in this summer's TW, then his time is up and significantly, don't post!
Counting up the posters on here who are rabidly anti Arteta and chip away on most days,hardly backs up the argument that most people think everything wrong at Arsenal is his fault.
How do you base your take,
My take being that not everyone is happy with him as you claim? I mean common sense suggests that not everyone is happy with the manager responsible for how we're performing, responsible for the transfers and how players are available.
I'm done. Enjoy your day!
'Not everyone is happy with him as you claim.' I did not say that, you are putting words into my mouth.
What I said was:
'I suspect a disproportionate number of readers broadly take the view that he's done a decent job but if next season stills sees us fall short after being supported in this summer's TW, then his time is up.'
I backed that up by saying that those who sing(not everyone!), chant his name several times, every single game.
It's fecking obvious not everybody likes him as there are repetitive posters who cannot stop themselves from droning on about how much they dislike Arteta.
HYPNOTIZED
the fan base' who is atm is happy with him,
That's what you said
Only Arsenal fans get into arguments about two non CFs...
What a bitter little muppet you are
Xavi won the title for Barcelona in his first season but lost out in his second season. Barcelona didn't play on sentiment (he is a far far far greater legend than arteta is to Everton, because we have too many legends to consider arteta a legend), they sack him and now they are on their way to the title despite Madrid buying the best forward in the world. But arteta fans want us to worship him because he has brought us from third tier mid table club to the elite class.
It’s far easier to win la Liga as a big club
Especially when you are cheating, which they’ve been publicly outed as doing
Guardiola has won 5 in 6. Ferguson won 10 in 14. Epl is easier by all accounts and epl is the home of cheating and the league management DO NOT HAVE THE BALLS like la liga and série a to act.
4 wins in 9 games since Havertz was injured is a 44.44% win ratio
Clearly merino is not doing as good as Havertz
Havertz is an extremely under rated player in this team
Havertz is still shit, you smelly pisshead.
Numbers are saying youre a thick insecure incel who has an AI girlfriend
LOL, you're a cuck that doesn't know who the father of his kids are.
Put down the drink, you smelly pisshead.
You’d have to have sex with a real human female to stand a chance at having kids you sad act basement dwelling goblin
Fella, you managing to find a 3/10 to have kids with isn't difficult. Even raptora could probably manage that.
It's understandable. You are a smelly pisshead, and she would have to settle for a cuck to pay the bills.