Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
Ten man Arsenal got here away from Wolves with all three factors yesterday, regardless of one of the best efforts of referee Michael Oliver who as soon as once more issued an absurd crimson card to one in all our gamers.
Just a few years in the past, Gabriel Martinelli was given two yellow playing cards inside 7 seconds for 2 offences at this exact same floor – the form of sending off you’ve by no means seen earlier than or since. Yesterday, Myles Lewis-Skelly was given a straight crimson card for an apparent yellow card offence, a call compounded by the very fact the idiots in VAR noticed the video and determined that sure, this was ‘severe foul play’. I say idiots, however maybe cowards is a greater description as a result of they had been too scared to inform Oliver he’d bought it mistaken.
Now we have had some dodgy crimson playing cards this season. The Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard playing cards that no different group has seen gamers despatched off for, and whereas I believe the William Saliba crimson at Bournemouth was iffy by advantage of the very fact it was a yellow upgraded to crimson, not less than it type of exists within the realm of a call that is likely to be given (though the very same offence wasn’t a crimson in one other sport that weekend).
This, nonetheless, is the worst of the lot. It’s a visit, it’s a cynical foul, it’s a yellow card. It’s not severe foul play. It’s not studs down the ankle or the shin. Anybody making an attempt to inform you that’s not price listening to. Screenshots and movies don’t show that. Have a look at it in actual time. It’s a foul and a reserving, by no means something greater than that. Nevertheless, the so-called greatest referee in England made that call, and that call was backed up by VAR. Truthfully, it’s past pathetic.
It’s not the primary time with Oliver both. He’s the one who despatched Trossard off for ‘kicking the ball away’ a cut up second after he’d blown his whistle, but is now content material to let gamers delay the restart in way more egregious style – even in yesterday’s sport. He’s the one who didn’t ship Mateo Kovacic off when, already on a yellow (that ought to have been a crimson), he crunched right into a sort out on Declan Rice’s ankle. PMGOL chief Howard Webb later justified that call by saying Oliver ‘didn’t need to damage the sport’.
He’s clearly fairly selective about how and when he applies these requirements. Right here’s my guess: if it’s an opposition participant, hold these playing cards away. If it’s an Arsenal participant, damage away. This was, by far, the worst resolution of this season and as soon as once more it’s one other of the ‘You by no means see it occur to some other group’ style, and with a ref who has earlier.
Truthfully, I can’t keep in mind the final time I used to be so offended at a sport of soccer. I’ve been across the block a bit at this level, I’ve seen some issues, plenty of issues, however at half-time I genuinely thought of simply turning off, as a result of what’s the purpose? What’s the purpose in making an attempt to analyse a group or a sport when the officers do this? I believe there’s now a physique of proof in relation to this referee and Arsenal that makes me greater than just a little suspicious about his motives. At greatest, rampant unconscious bias; at worst one thing extra sinister. A crimson card not lengthy earlier than we play a cup semi-final second leg towards the group he helps? Hmmmm.
With the whole lot else we’ve needed to take care of this season, this felt like one other blow that may lead to extra dropped factors, as exterior elements take their toll on this season. And but, Arsenal’s response was glorious. Already with out Martin Odegaard who was taken ailing on the day of the sport, Mikel Arteta withdrew Ethan Nwaneri and placed on Riccardo Calafiori to fill the hole at left-back.
We’ve struggled with 10 males earlier than, however yesterday we dug actually deep and began the second half in spectacular style. We didn’t appear to be we had been a person gentle, the one time it was obvious was when Wolves had a little bit of the ball ultimately and began spreading it huge, which means our lads needed to work actually laborious to cowl the bottom and shut down the areas.
Kai Havertz, who had two first half headers (one simply huge, one saved), virtually put us forward with one other one. Once you see the replay, the ball simply flicks off Jurrien Timber earlier than he heads it. I’m certain it might have been third time fortunate for him with out that contact (I’m selecting to imagine this morning, as a result of these gamers deserve quite a lot of credit score). On the different finish, David Raya made a superb save from Matheus Cunha, earlier than the Brazilian fired huge from the ensuing nook. One breakaway second a bit later pressured Raya into one other good save, however that’s mainly all they’d.
The enjoying subject was levelled when Joao Gomes picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Timber which was far more of a crimson than Lewis-Skelly’s, nevertheless it was ten every, and we took benefit. You might see the Wolves heads go down at that second, and what a lift it was for Arsenal. Saliba celebrated Timber’s ankle being crunched like we’d scored a aim, Gabriel bought everybody getting in response, and we had some wind in our sails.
The aim got here when Martinelli put in a left footed cross which Wolves didn’t take care of correctly, and Calafiori was there to use a really good end on the half volley. It was his second aim of the season, each of them completely hit, and I don’t assume it was any lower than we deserved – not simply due to the injustice of the crimson card, however the way in which we performed regardless of that travesty of a call. This group of gamers tapped into their deepest reserves in a month once we’ve had a lot soccer to play, and that second was sufficient to take all three factors.
Afterwards, Arteta was requested in regards to the crimson card, and stated:
It’s that clear that I go away it to you guys. I’m completely fuming however I go away it with you. As a result of it’s that apparent, I don’t assume my phrases are going to assist.
And on the sport:
I’m extraordinarily pleased with all of the gamers. You’ll be able to discuss our braveness, you’ll be able to speak in regards to the spirit, however as effectively about intelligence. The best way they managed emotionally the sport, it was unbelievable. And particularly with what we now have to face and the way they felt about it. All of them, simply face the state of affairs, the problem. We went to the second half, the one message was to go on the market and assist to win the sport.
I believe he’s proper to be proud. As I stated, there wasn’t a participant on that pitch who didn’t put in an enormous shift, and it’s bodily very demanding to play a person gentle. And right here’s the factor: they needed to. There was so little on the bench to vary issues in areas we would have liked to. Arteta spoke earlier than the sport about his gamers having to deal with the shortage of reinforcements through the switch market, and so they did it once more yesterday.
We ought to be pleased with the trouble, and the very fact they did sufficient to win and take all three factors. However now assist them. HELP THEM. Give them the additions they want, as a result of there’s solely a lot you’ll be able to ask of them. Havertz, for instance, was completely shattered on the finish, and whereas we are able to all debate and focus on his output, you can’t query his workrate. He runs himself ragged for this group, and within the final ten days he has performed 90 minutes 3 times, and 120 minutes within the cup on high of that.
We had no one on the bench yesterday to present us a bit extra power up there within the last levels. It’s not about giving one participant a little bit of a breather, it’s about what that participant can do for the group and the way it can influence outcomes. I do know it’s their job and they’re handsomely paid for it, however you’ll be able to solely ask a lot earlier than there’s nothing left within the tank. I really feel like we’re near that time now, so it’s crucial we do what must be carried out available in the market. The gamers have earned it, the homeowners can not ignore it any longer. The dangers transcend simply working out of steam.
As for the crimson card, we now have to attraction. It was unhealthy sufficient that Lewis-Skelly was despatched off, however a 3 match ban on high of that’s simply not acceptable. Arteta cited precedent when Bruno Fernandes had a crimson card overturned earlier this season, and hoped frequent sense would prevail once more on this case. I wouldn’t maintain my breath on that, with Webb and PGMOL unlikely to do something to undo their plans for referees to develop into important characters increasingly more typically. We should always attraction right away, have it on their desk very first thing Monday morning, and if it fails … effectively, that may copper-fasten these suspicions even additional. Let’s see what occurs.
For now although, we are able to get pleasure from these three factors. They style all of the sweeter this morning, and let’s hope that this week brings what we’d like available in the market forward of a giant sport towards Man Metropolis subsequent weekend.
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For extra on yesterday, we’ll Arsecast Additional for you in a short time too. We’ve put out the decision for questions on BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or if you happen to’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod ought to be out round midday. For now, have an excellent one.
